Rex Hotel Rooftop Beer Garden, Ho Chi Minh City

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Part two of the Rex Hotel Roof Top Beer Garden tips with more pictures.

During the Vietnam War, the Rex was a favorite watering hole for American officers and after the end of the war, it has several renovations but the roof top garden remained and still packs them crowds specially the former Veterans of the Vietnam war and curious tourists like us. Many of the city's best shops and restaurants are within easy walking distance. The hotel also has three restaurants, including the famous Rooftop Garden where you can enjoy a drink or a meal overlooking the busy streets below. The Rooftop Garden was given the distinction as being “One of the Best Bars in Southeast Asia” by Newsweek magazine in 1996. It is also listed in the well-known book 1000 Places to See Before you Die, by American travel writer Patricia Schultz. The bar is also a popular spot for office parties and wedding receptions. The bar offers nightly live entertainment featuring a variety of local and international bands. There are nightly drink specials and has a wide selection of all the most famous brands of beer and spirits. In addition to drinks, Vietnamese, Western, and Chinese food is served. The Rex also has its own revolving icon atop its building, a jewelled crown at the edge beside the stage for the live bands.

During the French time, the Rex began as a two-story garage located in the heart of commercial center of Saigon. Between 1959 and April 1975, Mr. and Mrs. Ung Thi, a Vietnamese couple purchased and renovated it into a six-story building with 100 guestrooms and renamed it as Rex Trading Center and then the US Information services rented much of the premises for office and residential use. The remaining space housed three cinemas, a cafeteria, a dance hall and a library.

live bands operate from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm with no cover charge

drinks are rather expensive like a bottle of Saigon beer will cost 80,000 VND, Heineken at 90,000 VND, assorted cocktails at 95,000 VND or more.

The Roof top garden is open 24 hours a day but the best views is at sunset.

Dress Code: smart casual, no flip flops or tank tops allowed.

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During the Vietnam War, the Rex was a favorite watering hole for American officers and after the end of the war, it has several renovations but the roof top garden remained and still packs them crowds specially the former Veterans of the Vietnam war and curious tourists like us. Many of the city's best shops and restaurants are within easy walking distance. The hotel also has three restaurants, including the famous Rooftop Garden where you can enjoy a drink or a meal overlooking the busy streets below. The Rooftop Garden was given the distinction as being “One of the Best Bars in Southeast Asia” by Newsweek magazine in 1996. It is also listed in the well-known book 1000 Places to See Before you Die, by American travel writer Patricia Schultz. The bar is also a popular spot for office parties and wedding receptions. The bar offers nightly live entertainment featuring a variety of local and international bands. There are nightly drink specials and has a wide selection of all the most famous brands of beer and spirits. In addition to drinks, Vietnamese, Western, and Chinese food is served. The Rex also has its own revolving icon atop its building, a jewelled crown at the edge beside the stage for the live bands.

During the French time, the Rex began as a two-story garage located in the heart of commercial center of Saigon. Between 1959 and April 1975, Mr. and Mrs. Ung Thi, a Vietnamese couple purchased and renovated it into a six-story building with 100 guestrooms and renamed it as Rex Trading Center and then the US Information services rented much of the premises for office and residential use. The remaining space housed three cinemas, a cafeteria, a dance hall and a library.

live bands operate from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm with no cover charge

drinks are rather expensive like a bottle of Saigon beer will cost 80,000 VND, Heineken at 90,000 VND, assorted cocktails at 95,000 VND or more.

The Roof top garden is open 24 hours a day but the best views is at sunset.

Dress Code: smart casual, no flip flops or tank tops allowed.

Most of the news stories during the Vietnam war between the late 1950's to 1975 were written from this hotel by various foreign news correspondents, and the war tales that were exchanged from the hotel's rooftop bar must have been very interesting pub stories. It's a a strange bar though, with lots of bird cages hanging from the roof and even stranger sculpture of two large blue elephants in one corner. It has a so-so view of the old L'hotel de Ville and the gentrified neighbourhood down below.

Price for a beer is quite steep though so this is not a good place for binge drinking.

Dress Code: Smart Casual

TIP: Though this place is listed under Patricia Shultz's "1000 places to see before you die", I feel that it is over-hyped. Not a must see, in my opinion.

This place is simply known as the REX ROOFTOP BAR but I call it the 'elephant bar' as the whole place is eccentrically decorated with bird cages and a blue elephant.
Now before you think I got a thing for elephants and birdies, let me just tell you that I went because of all the hype I heard.
Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. I really disappointed to find out that it was several levels lower than "Saigon Saigon" (another watering hole at Caravelle Hotel).
Well, no point staying right?
I went to Saigon Saigon for a better view of the city.

To see my comments on Saigon Saigon, click on b'packer's hcmc page

Dress Code: Its al fresco so do what you have to to avoid melting in the saigon heat.

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The evening we were there the place was dead. We only stayed for one drink. Little pricey by Vietnam standards. I think it would be a great place to go on a busier night. There was live music playing and a few people dancing.

Dress Code: Dress well.

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We were in a group travelling Vietnam and had several nights at the Rex Hotel enjoying their fabulous rooftop bar. On the 5th floor the area is decorated with beautiful palms, coloured lights and a view over the city centre. A few cold drinks are certain to set the scene for an enjoyable evening.

Dress Code: Casual

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THE REX HOTEL WAS A PLACE I JUST HAD TO VISIT ON OUR TRIP TO VIETNAM.
I HAVE READ SO MUCH ABOUT THIS HOTEL AND ITS PLACE IN HISTORY.
WE WERE ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND COULD NOT AFFORD TO STAY AT THE REX, BUT A DRINK AT THE ROOFTOP GARDEN BAR WAS WITHIN SIGHT.
THE REX WAS BUILT IN 1950 AND DURING THE VIETNAM WAR HOUSED US ARMY OFFICERS, PLUS FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS FILED THEIR REPORTS FROM HERE WHEN THE WAR WAS AT ITS PEAK.
THE NIGHT WE WENT THERE WAS A BAND PLAYING AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET A TABLE RIGHT BY THE EDGE OF THE ROOF WITH GREAT VIEWS OVER THE CITY..
DRINKS HERE COST A LOT MORE THAN YOU WOULD PAY IN THE REST OF SAIGON BUT WHAT THE HELL IM A SUCKER FOR DOING THINGS ONCE.
AND TO BE HONEST ONCE IS REALLY ENOUGH..THE VIEWS ARE GREAT BUT I GET THE FEELING THIS PLACE IS LIVING ON PAST GLORIES..WE DIDNT STAY FOR ANYTHING TO EAT SO I CANT SAY WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE..BUT IF YOUR LIKE ME AND LOVE YOUR HISTORY THEN GO TO THE REX HAVE YOUR DRINK TAKE IN THE GREAT VIEWS AND TRY AND PICTURE WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE WAR.
BECAUSE IF NOTHING ELSE THIS OLD HOTEL IS A LIVING PIECE OF HISTORY.

Dress Code: CASUAL...BUT NO SHORTS.

If you are HCM City, you should at least try this rooftop restaurant, when I was there in January this year, there is also a Filipino band playing pop and oldies. The food here is decent, I highly recommend if you want to have your dinner and get a few beers at the same time.

Dress Code: Casual

I had to visit this rooftop bar because of the history of the place. I had read various journalistic pieces from the 50`s, 60`s and 70`s about anyone who was anyone taking cocktails at the Rex rooftop bar. What I didnt recall was reading about the elephant statues and the fact that there was really no view from sitting at a table, you almost had to climb on the wall to see the city below while sipping a Tiger.
I think I should have visited this bar before I went to Saigon Saigon at the Caravelle as it was bound to suffer in comparison.

Dress Code: It is a hotel but they appeared not to be too fussy, it was late April and 37degrees but shorts were frowned upon

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Its a nice pace to chill out and its quite easy to get there. There is a nice band and it seems that Friday Nights are the best time to be there. Sont forget to get the Saigon Beer . Its only 33,000Vnd

And the bill its also stated in US$. How nice for the concerned traveller.

Dress Code: No shorts please!