Live bands seem to be going extinct, replaced by DJs twirling imaginary knobs and playlists of computer-generated music. But not everywhere. Here are the best venues in Ho Chi Minh City still providing space for talented musicians to strut their stuff.
If you’re looking for a place that has both good music and a chill atmosphere, you can’t do much better than Yoko Cafe. They have live bands playing every night of the week, featuring rock, jazz and pop. This cafe is popular with both locals and expats alike because it’s a cool place to be, and if you’ve got some musical talent of your own, the band might even let you join them onstage.
Yoko Cafe, 22 Nguyễn Thị Diệu, District 3 +84 28 3933 0577
Yoko Cafe | Courtesy of Yoko Cafe
The entrance to this bar is one of the strangest you’ll ever pass through. It’s a tiny hobbit door, made of aged stones and bricks. It feels like a portal, which is fitting, because once you get inside, you feel like you’ve been transported into a Spanish club. The band plays flamenco and up-tempo versions of popular songs which are sure you get you out of your seat and dancing.
Carmen Bar Saigon, 8 Lý Tự Trọng, District 1 +84 90 361 85 77
This is a familiar venue for most—the memorabilia, the heaping portions of food and a large assortment of collectables to show off your travels. For live music, the Hard Rock Cafe is one of your best options in the city. The bands play an assortment of modern rock and classics.
Hard Rock Cafe, 39 Le Duan, District 1 +84 28 6291 7595
For your dose of professionally trained musicians, wine and cigars, Overture is where to go. They feature music graduates and concert singers, with special shows on Saturday and Sunday. The venue is classy and so are the clientele, so you’ll feel right at home if you have impeccable tastes.
Overture Cafe, 109 Trần Quốc Toản, District 3 +84 28 7307 8888
Indika Saigon is probably the hippest addition to this city’s music scene, which is why it’s a popular hangout for artists and musicians. They have a wide variety of bands that play there—reggae, funk, rock, jazz, and others. The place has a really chill vibe, so you can relax and take your mind off things with good music.
Indika Saigon, 43 Nguyễn Văn Giai, Đa Kao +84 165 658 1648
Saxophones make everything better. It’s just a fact. At the Sax N’ Art Jazz Club, you get to enjoy modern jazz, traditional Vietnamese songs and American classics in a cool space awash with neon hues. If jazz isn’t normally your kind of music, this place will change your mind and your tastes.
Sax n Art Jazz Club, 28 Le Loi, District 1 +84 28 3822 8472
Everyone loves saxophones | Courtesy of Sax N Art Jazz Club
This popular spot has live music starting every night at 9pm, except Sunday. The music is usually a mixture of modern and classic rock, with other genres mixed in from time to time. The crowd is hip, the vibes are positive and the staff is friendly, so you really should check it out.
Acoustic Bar, 6E1 Ngô Thời Nhiệm, District 3 +84 127 677 7773
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