Gay Saigon

There is little trace of a gay community in Saigon, which is typical of Vietnam as a nation. The ‘gay lifestyle’ of the west is an unknown concept in Vietnam. The result of this ignorance means many gay Vietnamese live their life with a spouse and children, despite their homosexual desires.

Saigon lacks a gay scene, so visitors hoping to meet up with other gays in Saigon must use other measures to make contact. The internet is the most common way for working gays to interact in Saigon. However, this can also be a dangerous way to meet new people.

Some tour operators organize gay tours to Saigon, which allows gay travellers to travel and mingle with other gays while on holiday. This is a safer way to meet people. These tour groups often stay in designated ‘gay-friendly’ hotels which have been selected by the operator.

There is little evidence of a gay scene among Saigon residents; however, due to the cosmopolitan nature of the city, many clubs are ‘gay-friendly’. If using the internet to initiate meetings in Saigon, it is important to be very cautious. Many gay tourists who used such methods have been targeted in the past. Creating a friendly relationship for a lengthy period before travel is recommended.