There are a countless number of places to drink in Ho Chi Minh City. From your local no-name watering hole to a fancy rooftop hotel bar.
For the average traveler or local though, we’ve narrowed down the list of places to drink that are great for happy hours and casual hang out spots to catch up with friends or meet others.
I’m also biased for quieter, low-key bars. Look out for our next post on top rooftop bars and clubs in Ho Chi Minh City.
Rum Bar
13 Phan Van Dat, District 1 (Right next to Black Cat)
I love this place. I don’t think it has a real name but it’s commonly referred to as “Rum Bar” by everyone I know. It’s a street side “bar” that serves home made rum by the bottle. It’s dirt cheap and you mix the rum local style, with coke and kumquats. This is a very local place to drink. Think tiny plastic chairs and stainless steel tables. Great atmosphere and definitely unlike any bar you will find back home. They also serve fatty and in no way traditional (but secretly kind of good) beer food. Drink lots of rum with coke and kumquats and order the Mi Xao Bo (instant noodles stir fried with beef and garlic)
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144 Pasteur, District 1
Pasteur Street Brewing Company is a tap room serving great locally made craft beers. It’s not cheap by local standards (95,000 VND or $5 USD per glass) but the beer is amazing and so is the food. My favourite is the Jasmine IPA. It’s kind of hard to find. Look for a tiny alleyway next to the Rex Hotel and then head up a flight of stairs.
Broma Not a Bar
41 Nguyen Hue, District 1
Broma is right off the main walk way of Ho Chi Minh City. Located a couple stories up, it features a relaxing rooftop view of the Nguyen Hue walking street. Prices are fair for the location, it’s one the few rooftop places that also won’t play music too loudly.
The View
195 Bùi Viện, District 1
Located at the top of the Duc Vuong Hotel, the view is another great rooftop bar. It’s far more relaxed than any of the other rooftop bars in town. It’s not quite as high as Chill Skybar, so the view is not as good but don’t let that put you off. The view is still very good, the drinks are incredibly cheap and the atmosphere is low-key and relaxed. Beers here can be as low as 30,000 VND compared to other rooftops that charge at least 80,000 VND. The food isn’t great so I would recommend eating elsewhere. At any rate, this is a favourite evening hangout of mine.
Ranger Bar
5/7 Nguyễn Siêu, District 1
This is my favourite spot for some live music. It’s very much an expat hang out, so don’t expect much in the way of local music (for that try the acoustic bar at 45 Ngô Thời Nhiệm). The bands here are usually quite good. The atmosphere is going to be dictated by the style of music that is on, so be sure to check their website first and see if the band that night is your kind of speed.
Last Call
59 Dong Du, 1st Fl, District 1
The best cocktail bar in town, Last Call is located directly across from the Sheraton. It’s quite a relaxed atmosphere with a retro feel. Amazing drinks and a great location for some after dinner drinks if you end up at the northern end of town at the end of your day.
Cork & Bottle
7 Thai Van Lung, District 1
Quiet, simple, and there’s no loud music. If you want a glass of wine and to enjoy the atmosphere, this place is the spot to do it. Centrally located, you won’t have to go too far to get your daily glass here.