One night in Saigon - evening guide to Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon has a lively nightlife scene
Back in the 1960s, Saigon developed a raunchy nightlife to offer some rest and relaxation to the American GIs who would spend time here before and after combat sessions. With the disappearance of the Americans and the introduction of strict communist discipline, Saigon’s nightlife was non-existent, partly because the Party did not approve and partly because nobody had any money to spend anyway.
Since 1990, the resurgence of the Vietnamese economy has led to a re-birth of the city’s nightspots, and now visitors have a wealth of alternatives when it comes to an evening out on the town. However, the powers-that-be still have the idea that any entertainment after midnight must be bad, so they enforce midnight closing quite strictly, apart from a few bars in the De Tham area to which they turn a blind eye in exchange for a contribution to their welfare.
If you’re looking for traditional Vietnamese dance or drama, check out what’s on at the Municipal Theatre (04 3829 9976) or at the Conservatory of Music (04 3824 3774). There’s a more touristy experience awaiting at Binh Quoi Tourist Village which lies eight kilometres outside the city.
Most hotels and guest houses can arrange tickets, which cost around 150,000D, for an evening that includes a boat trip to the site, followed by a buffet dinner of traditional Vietnamese dishes and a show of traditional music and dance.
One result of the intense development in downtown Saigon is that there are now several rooftop bars where you can sip on a cocktail while taking in the sweeping panorama of the seething city below. A couple of favourite spots for a sundowner are the Rooftop Garden at the Rex Hotel and Saigon Saigon Baron the 10th floor of the Caravelle Hotel.
However, for the most breath-taking view, head for the aptly-named Panorama Bar on the 32nd floor of the Saigon Trade Centre on Ton Duc Thang, where you’ll gasp once at the incredible vista and then again at the exorbitant price you are charged for your drink.
Several bars in Saigon feature live music, including Sax ‘n Art, Vasco’s andSeventeen Saloon, where local musicians play energetic covers of classic rock songs, and there are several nightclubs in town, of which Apocalypse Now is perhaps the longest running.
Other nightclubs with more of a local feel are America at the Windsor Plaza Hotel and Cage, situated down an alley near the river. For a real late night, head for Go 2 or Eden, both located on De Tham, where you can continue drinking and dancing till the small hours. For more on Saigon bars.
A word of warning for single males. At many of these venues, such as Apocalypse Now, freelance hookers cruise around looking for a likely catch, and many have the looks that make their task an easy one. However, you need to be aware of the very real danger of AIDS and also the fact that most hotels will not admit ‘outside visitors’ in order to protect their reputation.
More on Saigon nightlife.
