Nightclubs and bars in Ho Chi Minh City

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Universal bar is a relatively new bar in Saigon that has become one of my favorite hangouts.
The main reason why i like it is that they have really good live music there on most nights.
The musicians are a wide range of people from around the world but they usually put on a good evening there and i really like the place.
It's not a big posh place, but a nice little hole in the wall bar with a lively scene.

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This will be my tips on the Wine Bar part of the Level 23 bar.

Level 23 Bar of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel is the second highest bar in Saigon (the highest is the Alti Helibar at the Bitexco Financial Tower at the 52nd floor, too bad I have no time to go there). Level 23 is located at the 23rd floor of the tall hotel. Sheraton Saigon is also owned by the Huge Conglomerate Saigon Tourist Company, whichs owns most of the hotels in District 1 like the sheraton, oscar, palace, kimdo, bong sen, etc).

They have a separate Wine Bar Facing the City and a Night Spot with Live Band located inside (I have separate tips for it) but both offer the same set of menu, cocktails and snacks.

The Wine Bar part of the Level 23 is the open air area with magnificent views of the Saigon Skyline. the bar is subdued and quiet, unlike the nearby nightspot which is loud. the prices of the drinks and meals here are through the roof!

A bottle of Saigon beer will cost 90,000 VND, a bottle of Heineken at 105,000 VND, Cocktails start at 145,000 VND if a Mai Tai and goes up to 170,000 if a Tequila Sunrise and 190,000 VND for a Pina Colada.

bar chow will start at 1500,000 VND an order and goes up to 800,000 VND.

hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM

according to their website:

Wine Bar: Outdoor rooftop bar is the perfect place to enjoy a pre- or post-dinner cocktail or beverage of choice while taking in the fresh air and sounds of the bustling city below.

Dress Code: Smart Casual, no flip flops, shorts and tank tops allowed.

from their website:

WINE BAR:

Outdoor rooftop bar is the perfect place to enjoy a pre- or post-dinner cocktail or beverage of choice while taking in the fresh air and sounds of the bustling city below.

Cuisine: Light Fare

Hours: 4:00 PM till late

Setting: Rooftop and Airy Deck

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This will be my tips on the Night Spot Area of the Level 23 bar. The Night Spot Area of the Levl 23 Bar is the more popular setting as many tourist hang in there for the loud and lively music and some dancing.

Level 23 Bar of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel is the second highest bar in Saigon (the highest is the Alti Helibar at the Bitexco Financial Tower at the 52nd floor, too bad I have no time to go there). Level 23 is located at the 23rd floor of the tall hotel. Sheraton Saigon is also owned by the Huge Conglomerate Saigon Tourist Company, whichs owns most of the hotels in District 1 like the sheraton, oscar, palace, kimdo, bong sen, etc).

They have a separate Wine Bar Facing the City and a Night Spot with Live Band located inside (I have separate tips for it) but both offer the same set of menu, cocktails and snacks.

The Night Spot Area of the Level 23 Bar is the louder version of the bar, it is located in the enclosed area of the bar ad inside are lounges and a dance floor and there is a canadian live band performing the latest RNB, Chill out, Pop, Rock, Lounge Music. They have the same menu and drinks like in the wine bar and the prices of the drinks and meals here are through the roof!

A bottle of Saigon beer will cost 90,000 VND, a bottle of Heineken at 105,000 VND, Cocktails start at 145,000 VND if a Mai Tai and goes up to 170,000 if a Tequila Sunrise and 190,000 VND for a Pina Colada.

bar chow will start at 1500,000 VND an order and goes up to 800,000 VND.

there is no cover charge!

hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 7:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Cuisine: Light Fare

Hours: 7:00 pm till late

Setting: Stand Up Cocktail and Lounge Areas

Dress Code: Smart Casual, no flip flops, shorts and tank tops allowed.

from their website:

Nightspot: Our nightspot is the first and only International Live Band club in town offering a sleek and stylish atmosphere where you can dance the night away and enjoy wonderful cocktails and drinks.

Cuisine: Light Fare

Hours: 7:00 pm till late

Setting: Stand Up Cocktail and Lounge Areas

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One of the most popular Nightlife things to do in Saigon for tourists is to go on a two hour Dinner Cruise along the historic Saigon River with a wide variety of River Cruise Boats and Companies Available, from the budget to the Expensive. The assorted Tour Bouts are of different built and sizes like the traditional indo china junk ships to the most modern and sleek cruising boats. the dinner cruise can have set meals (either local vietnamese food or international or a combination of both) or a grand buffet with several cooking stations located at points around the boats. some even offer unlimited open bar as options. saigon river tours usually start at 6:00 pm up to 10:00 pm, depending on the tour company and the package includes the hotel pick up and drop offs at the Touristy Bach Dang Pier along District 1 in the Saigon River.

Prices of the Dinner Cruise range from $ 20 to 100, depending on the tour companies, buffet lunch or set meals and if you have open bar options.

some of the tour companies include:

Bonsai Dinner Cruise- www.bonsaicruise.com.vn/
+84 (8) 3910 5560
+84 (8) 3910 5095

Indochina Junk-www.indochinajunk.com.vn/

Tel: 08 3895 7438 – 35471651 – 0989 679 802 Fax:(+84)38487551-35471652

or you can just book a saigon dinner cruise from your local travel agency here at Saigon or from Saigon Tourist (the largest tour operator in vietnam)

Dress Code: casual, there is no dress code.

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All Around Sai Gon!: "Sai gon By Night (1)" Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife Tip by machomikemd



part two of my Saigon Nightlife tips with more pictures around Saigon Nightlife

Saigon again became a hotspot when it was opened to tourism in the 1990's and bars abd lounges grew like mushrooms, favorite places for night owls include Apocalypse Now(see my tips) , Rex Hotel Penthouse Bar (see my tips), Saigon Saigon bar, Level 23 at Sheraton (see my tips), Coffee Lounge and a lot more, mostly concentrated in District 1. for the backpackers, Pham Ngu Lao is known for cheap drinks and for looking at no frills drinking and eating, try the Bia Hoi, these are stalls set up at night and offer cheap beers and bar chow and these places serve other food, though local vendors come by hawking peanuts, rice cakes, and other snacks. for those just wanting to lounge around and relax, Highlands Coffee Houses dot the City (a Rival of Starbucks) and they also offer free Wi-Fi and on a revisit in 2012, Gloria Jeans is now available plus Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has now arrived in Siagon.

Dress Code: : If on the Bia Hoi's or at Pham Ngu Lao, none, but for the bars like apocalypse now or Blue Gecko or Level 23 at the Sheraton, smart casual.

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this will be a two part pictures with more pictures around Saigon Nightlife

Saigon again became a hotspot when it was opened to tourism in the 1990's and bars abd lounges grew like mushrooms, favorite places for night owls include Apocalypse Now(see my tips) , Rex Hotel Penthouse Bar (see my tips), Saigon Saigon bar, Level 23 at Sheraton (see my tips), Coffee Lounge and a lot more, mostly concentrated in District 1. for the backpackers, Pham Ngu Lao is known for cheap drinks and for looking at no frills drinking and eating, try the Bia Hoi, these are stalls set up at night and offer cheap beers and bar chow and these places serve other food, though local vendors come by hawking peanuts, rice cakes, and other snacks. for those just wanting to lounge around and relax, Highlands Coffee Houses dot the City (a Rival of Starbucks) and they also offer free Wi-Fi and on a revisit in 2012, Gloria Jeans is now available plus Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has now arrived in Siagon.

Dress Code: If on the Bia Hoi's or at Pham Ngu Lao, none, but for the bars like apocalypse now or Blue Gecko or Level 23 at the Sheraton, smart casual.

Saigon can be hot and sticky and your thirst level goes up a decibel or two. Nice to know there is a cool and dark pub where you can enjoy some Irish getaway. It's dark, cluttered, plenty of oak wood with low ceiling that takes you back to Celtic sensibilities. Expats like to come here and meet up. Occasionally, they have live jazz music. Shame there's no Guiness on tap. Yet!!

Dress Code: As you are.

Known as the backpackers corner, Pham Ngu Lau district is HCM City's version of Bangkok's fabled Khao San Rd ghetto. Here is where mainly budget travellers hang out, with many cheap hotels and convenient travel agents. And where there are backpackers, there are plenty of pubs. Most are along Biu Vien Street and they range from big entertainment complex to small hole-in-the wall watering holes.

Dress Code: Backpacker costume.