Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon is known as the city that never sleeps. It can be said that the city is even more charming and magnetic when the darkness covers Vietnam’s sky. You won’t be disappointed by going out at night in Saigon as you can choose some of the top nightlife experiences in Ho Chi Minh City to have fun in this vibrant city.
Discover the life and culture of Ho Chi Minh City through many promising destinations with a joy ride on a traditional Vietnamese Cyclo, tickets to a popular Water Puppet Show, and finally an elegant dinner cruise by booking Saigon Cultural Evening Tour with Water Puppet Show and Dinner River Cruise
1. Walking along Nguyen Hue Street
The first place in the list of our top nightlife experiences in Ho Chi Minh City is walking along Nguyen Hue Walking Street. This is a fun place at night which is attracting a lot of people, especially young Saigonese and expats to hang out with friends, so it’s good to come here for local nightlife experience.
Nguyen Hue Street with a length of 670 m and width of 64 m was rebuilt and renovated in 2015. Here you will have a chance to witness and enjoy weekly music shows. Not only free street music shows are attractive, you will also be dazzled by colorful lights shining on high-rise buildings and beautiful cafes. Be noted that you need to be alert and careful with your belongings because this area is often crowded with people creating favorable conditions for pickpockets.
2. Relaxing at Bui Vien Street
Besides Nguyen Hue Street, Bui Vien Street is also the famous place for foreigners' nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City. Bui Vien Street is not only popular between foreigners from everywhere but also Vietnamese tourists. This crowded area consists of 4 famous streets named Bui Vien Street, De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao and Do Van Dau.
The area around Bui Vien Street is also a popular place to stay because hotels there are quite cheap and located in the city center, making it very convenient to move to the surrounding city’s attractions. The highlight of Bui Vien Street is a big number of restaurants, hotels, hostels, travel companies and bars that are operating all day and night.
3. Cruising on Saigon River
For a romantic night in Ho Chi Minh City, there's nothing better than taking a cruise down Saigon River. Not only you will enjoy dinner on the cruise, the reflection of lights on the water and the traditional music and dance performances will make your evening an unforgettable experience.
Suggested cruises for dining on Saigon River:
Bonsai Dinner Cruise that combines a slow river cruise on a beautiful wooden barge with an Indochinese-contemporary inspired cuisine and live band on board and a traditional Vietnamese dance show.
Saigon Princess Cruise - a luxury cruise ship where you can enjoy 2-hour scenic journey along Saigon River with local and international meals and live band.
4. Shopping at Ben Thanh Night Market
Ben Thanh Market is one of the main tourist attractions of Ho Chi Minh City. Ben Thanh Market is bustling from early morning until late night. It is a great place to buy local handicrafts, brands, arts of Vietnam and other souvenirs.
Here, you will also find local street food including fried noodles, Bun Cha, Banh Xeo, Pho, and sweet soups sold by street vendors around the market. Prices at Ben Thanh Market are quiet high and bargaining is a must.
5. Shopping at Hanh Thong Tay Night Market
Hanh Thong Tay Night Market is considered to be a shopping paradise of Saigon people. The market is very rich and diverse in terms of items, especially fashion clothing. The market consists of 400 stalls and is open day and night, peaking at around 20:00.
6. Watching the show at Saigon Opera House
Saigon Opera House, also known as Ho Chi Minh City Theater, was built in neoclassical style, inspired by the Opera House in Paris, and is located in the heart of the city. In the evening, many people come here to sip coffee or simply watch the theater under the night sky. The restored Opera House was built in 1897 and is used to display not only opera but also a wide range of performing arts including ballet, concerts, and traditional Vietnamese dances.
The special show that you cannot miss when coming to Saigon Opera House are the following:
A O Show
“A O” is the name given to an amazing show and a new kind of art performance for Vietnam, which is a combination of acrobatic skills, comedy, poem, tricks and music. The main props used in the show are bamboo basket boats so you will have a chance to see the charming beauty and peaceful life of Vietnamese in the countryside through A O Show in Saigon. You can book discounted ticket to the show here: A O Show Ticket at Saigon Opera House.
Teh Dar Show
Teh Dar Show continues the successful concept of A O. It represents the culture of all ethnic groups in the Central Highlands. Teh Dar is a performing art that combines circus, balance, acrobatics, juggling, and contemporary dance. You will have a chance to see the lifestyle and spirit of Vietnamese people through this show that combines modern and traditional elements. You can book discounted ticket to this show here: Teh Dar Show Ticket at Saigon Opera House.
7. Visiting Starlight Bridge
Anh Sao Bridge, also called Starlight Bridge, is located in the new urban development Phu My Hung Town, District 7 in Ho Chi Minh City. The bridge crosses through Thay Tieu Lake connecting with Ho Ban Nguyet (The Cresent Lake). The bridge is 170 m long with more than 5,000 bulbs lighting arranged from the road surface and two sides of the bridge to create a shimmering space and constantly changing the color. From the distance, the bridge looks like bright star in the galaxy. This is one of the ideal photographic locations for photographers and many young people. If you want to see the sparkling Starlight Bridge from above, remember to choose a hotel in District 7 for your stay in Ho Chi Minh City.
8. Joining motorbike tour to explore Saigon
The motorbike is the most popular transportation in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a good way to really explore the city like a local. Discovering Saigon by motorbike is also an amazing experience as you can drive through small alleys, enjoy street food in hidden areas, and try encountering the streets full of traffic, which might sound thrilling but is very worth trying.
There are many tours where you can hop on a motorbike and explore the city:
Night Tour with Aodai Rider in Saigon: This tour brings you to try incredible food and see attractive destinations that glow in the nighttime by a professional team of Aodai-clad female riders.
Saigon at Midnight Motorbike Tour: This tour will bring you around Saigon, from the wealthiest districts to the city's slums to visit various places such as Midnight local market, Flower market, Chinatown and Bui Vien Street.
9. Enjoying the view from Bitexco Tower
Bitexco Tower has been named the tallest building in the city for many years. The tower design is inspired by a lotus, the symbol of the country and people of Vietnam. At Bitexco Tower, there is Saigon Skydeck which is located on the 49th floor. It is considered to offer the best 360-degree view of the city from above. From the viewpoint, you can see all main architectural works of city center such as Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the financial district of Saigon. Don’t miss a chance to see the entire splendid and magnificent beauty of the city from Skydeck by booking admission ticket here: Saigon Skydeck in Bitexco Financial Tower.
10. Trying your luck at casinos in Saigon
Casinos in Saigon are usually called Gaming Centers and are not the same as Vegas casinos. In Saigon, a number of poker tables, along with many other card games, are available on computer screens. The possibility of winning is also a bit risky because you bet on the computer, but the experience is fun.
One of two biggest casinos in Saigon is Vegas Club casino, which is located at Caravelle Hotel. This is the best rated casino in Ho Chi Minh City, providing the best gambling experience, combined with high standard customer service, and the latest gaming machines.
Another popular casino is Palazzo Club, which is located at Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers. Here you can try your luck on a variety of slot machines and electronic table games.
11. Spending the night on a rooftop bar
Ho Chi Minh City rooftop bars are one of the ideal tourist destinations in Saigon that attract many tourists with the view of the whole city at night. Ho Chi Minh’s most popular rooftop bars are well worth to sit and sip a drink while admiring the sparkling scenery of the city at night.
Recommended rooftop bars in Saigon:
- EON Heli Bar: 52th floor of Bitexco Tower
- Level 23 Wine Bar: 23rd floor of Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers
- Rooftop Pool Bar: 24th floor of Hotel Des Arts Saigon
- SOHY Sky Lounge & Dining: 25th floor of Centec Tower
- Glow SkyBar: 13th Floor of President Place Building
- The View Rooftop Bar: 9th Floor of Duc Vuong Hotel
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Ho Chi Minh City has some of the most impressive rooftop bars in the world, offering panoramic views of the vibrant city and beyond. Check the list of Best Rooftop Bars in Ho Chi Minh City to find yourself an ideal place to enjoy the night.
12. Immersing yourself in nightclub
In this never-sleeping-city, you can easily find a lot of places to party in style. If you are young and passionate about excitement, you should not miss visiting some of best nightclubs in Ho Chi Minh City.
Saigon’s most popular nightclubs for locals and foreigners:
- Sax n’ Art Jazz Club: No 28 Le Loi Street, Ben Nghe, District 1
- Hard Rock Cafe: MPlaza Saigon, Le Duan Street – Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1
- Lush Nightclub: 02 Ly Tu Trong, District 1
- Fox Beer Club: 13 Ham Nghi, Phuong Nguyen Thai Binh, District 1
13. Watching Water Puppet Show
Water Puppet Show rapidly became a traditional art and important part of Vietnamese culture that tourists shouldn’t miss. Water Puppet Show was born from the wet rice culture in the Red River Delta more than 10 centuries ago. The show is a great way to learn more about Vietnamese way of life, its culture and local folklore. Most shows narrate stories from day-to-day life and often have humorous twists for you to enjoy.
You can watch Water Puppet Show at Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater in Ho Chi Minh City. Booking a ticket in advance is recommended and it can be conveniently done here: Golden Water Puppet Admission Ticket.
14. Sharing books at Nguyen Van Binh Book Street
Nguyen Van Binh Book Street is a road stretching for over 200 meters right from Hai Ba Trung Street to Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. It is home to more than 20 bookstores and large publishing companies that introduce and sell books. The special thing here is that there are often book sharing sessions for exchanging books between book lovers. On weekends, the book street becomes more bustling and crowded as more people come to visit the place and buy books.
15. Dining in the dark
Noir is ranked the first in the list of TripAdvisor restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. This is one of the most unforgettable things to do in the city. As you step into Noir, all your senses will be stimulated as you will dine in complete darkness. One of the special things at Noir is that food is being served by blind and visually impaired people, but their service is absolutely excellent.
If you want to join unique dining experience, you can book you visit at Noir. Dining in the Dark.
Tips
If you are looking for a luxurious, modern and convenient hotel in Saigon, choose from the list of Top Luxury Hotels in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Saigon boasts rich history and culture that are depicted through its numerous museums and art galleries. The best places in the city can be discovered in the list of Best Museums in Ho Chi Minh City.
Food in Saigon is delightfully different from other regions in Vietnam. Check the list of Must-try Food in Ho Chi Minh City and prepare to taste the city.