BLACK FRIDAY: Save up to $1,322 on our trips! Limited spots. Book Now.

Top 10 Things To Do in Ho Chi Minh City at Night

City Hall
City Hall | © Dennis Jarvis/Flickr

Ho Chi Minh is a city that never sleeps. You may think the city is amazing and bustling during the day, but the night takes it to a whole new level. Here are the best things you could do in Ho Chi Minh City at night – and only some of it involves alcohol!

Cheap beer at Bui Vien

The drinking scene in Bui Vien and Pham Ngu Lao is legendary. This is the backpacker district of Ho Chi Minh City, and it never sleeps, although every morning it looks a little post-apocalyptic after all the crazy partying. Both sides of the street are lined up with bars packed tightly, each offering cheap beer, delicious finger food, loud music and fun, drunk tourist crowds. This street is equivalent to Khao San Road in Bangkok.

Bui Vien

Even if cheap party places are not your thing, it’s worth checking it out, especially if you are with a group of friends. Some bars here are quite decent, like Thi café, and there are even great clubs such as Republic. Besides that, there are plenty of restaurants that offer late-night bites that are so hard to pass on when you are under the influence of all that 30-cent beer.

Classy cocktails at a rooftop bar

The Ho Chi Minh City skybar scene is fantastic, with plenty of options for you to choose from. These include Chill Skybar, Air360, Heli Bar, Glow, Saigon Saigon, and Broma, Not a Bar. Each of these has their own styles and attracts certain crowds.

Sky lounge

These skybars usually offer classy cocktails, mellow lounge music, comfortable sofas and a great vantage point from which to watch the sun set over the bustling metropolis down below. Some even have a dance floor for you to let loose after a couple of drinks until the early hours of the morning.

Jam to some live music

Ho Chi Minh City has a great live music scene as well. From smooth jazz at La Fenetre Soilel to heavy rock at Fang Pub, you are spoilt for choice. Sing along, dance or just enjoy watching the show. On open mic nights you can even go up and sing, but we don’t blame you if you need a little liquid courage in you first!

Sing your heart out at karaoke

Karaoke is a favorite Asian pastime and Vietnam has taken it to a whole new level. You will find giant lounges, decorated so lavishly as if they are expecting royalty. Rooms can be booked for as low as USD$30.00 per group, which includes drinks, finger food and hours of loud music. Want to sing some Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne or even Guns ‘n’ Roses and Outkast? No problem. The playlists are endless. Check out King Karaoke, one of the most popular karaoke bars in town.

Karaoke time

Let loose at a nightclub

Just like there are great rooftop bars, live music bars, and karaoke spots, there are also great nightclubs to dance the night away. Lush and Apocalypse are two of the favorites, along with Republic located right in Bui Vien. Here you will have to dress to impress and not be afraid to spend a little cash — do not expect to be let in with a pair of shorts and flip-flops.

Romantic dinner cruise

This is for those looking for something a little more romantic to do with a significant other. Take a leisurely evening dinner cruise down the Saigon River, far away from the honking cars of the city. There will be a sumptuous feast, live jazz performances, fire dancing, and gorgeous night views to make the night comfortable and memorable. Check out Bonsai River Cruise or Les Rives, the two most popular and best-rated options.

Bonsai Cruise

Dine along the streets

Street food vendors in Ho Chi Minh City are like vampires — they come out at night. You will find so many individual and groups of stalls scattered around the city. Locals love sitting on the sidewalks and enjoying a hot bowl of soup or dish of rice after a hard day’s work. Check out Co Bac and Co Giang, two of the most popular street food alleyways. Most dishes here will cost you around a dollar.

Grilled chicken feet

Do some night shopping

Ben Thanh Market is an emblematic symbol of Ho Chi Minh City and opens in the wee hours of the morning. When the doors to the main market close after a hard day’s trade at 06:00 p.m., the night markets on the side streets open. Here you will find similar items being sold, from clothes, bags, electronics and souvenirs to plenty of food. The road becomes a pedestrian zone till midnight so you can stroll about leisurely, do some shopping and eat to your heart’s content.

Go for a night drive

A favorite activity of the locals is to drive their motorbikes around at night. Roads are a little less crowded, giving more freedom, which is much better than being stuck in traffic during the day. Plus the wind is much, much cooler. Many parks are open 24 hours too, so you can grab yourself some street snacks, sit at a park and enjoy it by yourself or with a friend. Or you can head over to the riverside where there are plenty of benches for you to sit on and enjoy the breeze. If you head away from the center to the neighboring districts, you will find roads all to yourself to explore.

Night drive

Wander aimlessly around town

Walking around Ho Chi Minh City is the best way to get around, especially at night. If you head over to the city center, around Nguyen Hue Boulevard, you will have easy access to other spectacular attractions such as the City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office and Opera House. All these buildings are so beautiful at night when the flood lights come on.

Saigon Opera House

Wandering through the maze of alleyways is also fun. You will get to watch as people pack up their daily life and head inside to get a nice night’s sleep, while others come out, ready for their night shifts.

About the author

I'm what they call a Third Culture Kid. I move around way too much. Currently in Vietnam and loving how cheap it is.

If you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue. All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip.
close-ad