Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife

The Eon Heli Bar is one of the smartest places in town - as well as one of the highest. You’ll find it on floor 52 of the Bitexco Financial Tower, which dominates the city’s skyline. The strange platform seen extending from the building is the helipad, hence the bar’s name. Drinks are a little pricey, but the views across the city are priceless. There’s a great choice of beers, spirits and cocktails, plus DJs playing on the weekend.

The Breeze Sky Bar may not be the trendiest place in town, but it is a laidback choice with a good selection of cold drinks on offer. Enjoy a quiet one with great views over the Saigon River from its spot on the 5th floor of the colonial Majestic Hotel, where the open terrace allows drinkers to watch the busy, intriguing river traffic, particularly the ferries crammed full of bicycles, motorbikes and people. In the evenings, observe the brightly-lit cruise boats as they glide on by.

Situated in Bui Vien, a corner of town renowned for its drunk backpackers, loud music and cheap trick scammers, TNR shines out above the rest as a place of refuge from the madness. With good music, craft beer, dim lights and a pool table, this ‘Dive Bar’ offers a chill vibe with friendly staff… the perfect antidote to the infectious Bui Vien.

The International Tourist Club is a well-established entertainment complex located in an annex of the New World Hotel. It’s famed for the Catwalk Club, which boasts private, hi-tech private karaoke rooms with their own DJs, a Singsation open lounge karaoke area, plus a chill out room for those looking to relax. It’s all stylised with chic, chintzy décor, some comfy sofas and chairs and an array of drinks on the menu. Check out the big hits in the Live Zone where professional singers and bands play the latest hit songs on request or have a flutter in Chats, the in-house casino that’s open 24 hours a day.

This contemporary spot pumps out hip hop, electro and house music on a state of the art sound system as the preened and pretty of the Ho chi Minh City set dance away late into the night. If the action below all gets a little too much, there are sofas upstairs to chill out on, plus two garden areas and a bustling outdoor bar where ravers can still enjoy the music.

It’s difficult to miss the location of this world famous franchise restaurant, bar and live music venue - just look for the large, neon-lit guitar on the street. Rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia adorns the walls here with clothing worn by John Lennon, Rod Steward and Jimi Hendrix. It’s the house bands and happy hours that attract repeat customers, though, as nightly music swings from retro records to contemporary tunes. The wide variety of burgers are pretty good too.

Several of the larger hotels host local and international live performers and this includes the Park Lounge in the Park Hyatt, which holds concerts each night. If you’re staying at the Park Hyatt Saigon hotel, these weekend events are more than convenient as you won’t have to travel far for a fun night out and you can be sure you’ll get back to your room safely. As one of the fancier addresses in the city, you should be dressed in your best when the DJ comes out to play.

Nightly performances by saxophonist, local jazz musician and owner of the club, Tran Manh Tuan, are extremely popular because of his blend of contemporary jazz with traditional Vietnamese influences. Sax n'Art Jazz Club is a small venue with an intimate, relaxed ambience and boasts regular appearances from international guest artists. Arguably, though, the most special is when Tuan’s daughter plays alongside her father.

The Opera House is a beautiful colonial building dating from 1899 and is home to the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Opera. It has undergone a serious upgrade recently and features a state-of-the-art light and sound system. It has regular performances and occasional shows by international classical artists and also features dance and music performances. For an exciting taste of new Vietnam, make sure you catch the fabulous AO show, a truly breathtaking performance that combines circus and dance - with a twist.

Vietnam is famous for its water puppets and Ho Chi Minh City has its own water puppet theatre with daily performances that last around 50 minutes. Water puppetry originated in the Red River Delta in the north of Vietnam and was performed by rice farmers. Traditional stories and scenes are performed by the puppets accompanied by musicians wearing conventional costumes and a Vietnamese narrator. The Water Puppet Theatre is a must-see for all visitors to the city.