Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife Tips by Cavsrule

Nightlife Spot: Underground Bar and Grill

The Underground is always a place for me to visit at least once when in HCMC and is a very popular expat hangout. The staff is great, the beer icy cold and the food is tasty. I love their pizza and have heard their barbecue buffet is great (maybe next time). Place gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights so if you are planning to hang out there on the weekend, get there early to get a table.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: Totally casual dress - anything from sandals, shorts and tee shirt on up.
Address: 69 Dong Khoi. District 1
Directions: Right next to Lucky Plaza

Nightlife Spot: Apocalypse Now

This was the first place I was taken to in HCMC on my first trip. It was late on a weekday when I got there and pretty dead. I wasn't looking for hard partying though after a 26 hour trip - just a couple of icy beers. We sat out back in the garden area and it was pretty relaxing. The place didn't impress me or disapoint me.

I went back a few trips later on a Friday night and the place was hopping. I was with a group of partyers and we just hung out near the pool tables and drank like fish. There were some pretty good looking girls there but certainly most were pros - not that there's anything wrong with that. I left with the same group I came in with.

I wouldn't put this on my "must go back" list but I think everyone should swing by for a cocktail if you're in HCMC. There are much better nightclubs in HCMC than this place but if you don't feel like getting dressed beyond jeans and a tee shirt, this may be th eplace for you.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Jeans & T-shirt okay, bit nicer if you're on the prowl...
Address: 2D Thi Sach
Directions: District 1

Nightlife Spot: SAIGON SAIGON

I've been to Saigon Saigon a couple of times but never stayed to listen to the band (they have one inside). The outside terrace area is quiet and romantic with oil candles - a great place to meet your date for a drink before heading out to dinner. The drink prices are very high for HCMC (5-star hotel prices) so I wouldn't recommend staying for more than a couple. The view isn't so astounding as I see in the other reviews and you can't see anything if you're sitting down, anayways. Just think dark, romantic and pricey and you'll get the ambiance...

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Theme: Live Music
Dress Code: I wouldn't feel comfortable here in shorts and a T-shirt, more like high-end casual like club attire.
Address: 19 Lam So Square
Directions: 10th Floor of the Caravelle Hotel

Nightlife Spot: Q Bar

I really like Q Bar! It is a pretty cool place with a cavern-like feel. You have a choice between a lot of nooks and crannies to hide away into or you can lean against either bar - they have two -or- you can sit out front at a patio table to watch the street action. I don't recall if they have table service except for outside as I only remember ordering drinks from the bar. If they do have service inside, it must be pretty bad because I had to always go to the bar to order drinks when I was inside.

This is another cool place to start your night of clubbing from or head to if the club you're at closes at midnight, like many do. I think they're open until 1:30a or so on Friday / Saturday. When they close, you can head to the Backpacker District to Allez Boo or one of the dives in that area (I try to avoid that area).

The people that hang out here are either expats, business travelers or the upscale and trendy locals. It's not cheap so I'm sure that plays a major role on the type of crowd. Definitely worth a visit! Good "eye candy", too...

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Theme: People Watching
Dress Code: Trendy if you want to feel comfortable but I've dropped by in jeans & sneakers and didn't feel out of place.
Address: Right in the center of District 1
Directions: Across from the Caravelle Hotel, next to the Municipal Theater

Nightlife Spot: Gossip

I think this is the best club in HCMC. Their sound system is incredible and they always seem to be packed on the weekends (I never went on weeknights). The crowd is mixed with lots of pretty ladies and I think some are working girls but I have never really been propositioned so that's just a gut feel. If they are working girls, they are discreet and not pushy. I have always gone there with friends so I wasn't really "in the market" if you know what I mean.

I highly recommend you check this club out on a Friday but, keep in mind, they do close early - I think 12:30 or 1 the latest. Too bad because this is the type place you would like to stay open until 5. Really hopping club and great crowd watching. The dance floor isn't huge and gets packed but no-one seems to mind the crowd. Thumbs up!

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Definitely club attire as this is a pretty trendy crowd. You could get in wearing jeans and T-shirts but probably feel a bit underdressed. Dress to impress!
Address: 79 Tran Hung Dao
Directions: District 1

Nightlife Spot: Lush

This place is different but definitely cool. I say it's strange because it's not really a dance club, not really a pub, not really a bar - it's like a combination of all of these to some extent. For example, they have a DJ but no discernible dance floor - rather, people just move to the music wherever they happen to be standing. The bar is in the center of the joint and you may get lucky to find a seat or two at the bar. There are two floors although I never ventured upstairs but from the main floor, the upstairs looks like there's some small tables and people standing about. There is also an outside fenced off patio area if you want to sit outside and chill and take a break from the crowd. The place is packed on the weekends and definitely standing room only. Lots of pretty ladies, expats and trendy locals. The music is decent and played at a level that yuo don't really have to scream to the person next to you to be heard. Check it out!

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: I would recommend club attire but you could pull off jeans and a T-shirt
Address: District 1
Directions: Not sure, just tell the Taxi Driver "Lush" and he'll get you there...

Nightlife Spot: Allez Boo

This place is a dive but is open late for all you all-night party animals. Things get real interesting here after 3 a.m. I have never seen any real trouble but have witnessed exPats who were totally out of their minds drunk so beware of drunken exPats because you never know what to expect! I have personally watched the sun come up and watched the early risers coming here for breakfast while I was still partying from the night before.

The girls are what you would expect to see this late (or early) so "buyer beware". I think most are skanks so I would not recommend finding your next girlfriend here...

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Theme: Other
Dress Code: anything goes
Address: Pham Ngu Lao
Directions: right on the main corner - can't miss it