Experiences
Ho Chi Minh City Nightlife for Golf Groups
Saigon does nights better than almost anywhere in Asia. The trick on a golf trip is enjoying it without wrecking a 6.30am tee time. Here is how the city works after dark, and how to pace it.
Start high: the rooftop bars
District 1 is where most golf groups stay, and it has the rooftops. Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar sits on the 10th floor of the Caravelle hotel opposite the Opera House: an old-school terrace with a view down Lam Son Square. Chill Skybar on the 26th floor of AB Tower (76A Le Lai) is the dressier option, with DJs later in the night. EON Heli Bar is on the 52nd floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower for the highest view in the centre.
Rooftop cocktails in District 1 typically run around 220,000–350,000 VND. Most tower rooftops close between midnight and 1am, which suits golfers nicely.
Craft beer and cocktail bars
For a group that would rather talk about the round than shout over a DJ, the craft beer bars are the better fit. Pasteur Street Brewing Company (144 Pasteur) pours its own beers and is an easy first stop after dinner. Nguyen Hue walking boulevard and the lanes around Dong Khoi and Hai Ba Trung hold dozens of smaller cocktail bars within a short walk of the main hotels.
Bui Vien: the loud one
Bui Vien Walking Street, in the backpacker district a short taxi ride from the Opera House, is the opposite of a rooftop: plastic stools, cheap beer, music from every doorway and huge crowds at weekends. Most groups go once for the spectacle. We have written a separate Bui Vien guide with timing and tips.
Fitting it around the golf
- Plan the big night for the evening before a rest day or a travel day, not before a 7am shotgun.
- The South courses are a drive out of the centre, so an early pick-up from District 1 is normal. Work back from that.
- Eat first. The city's street food and restaurants are the main event; the bars are the second half.
- Use Grab or a booked car to get back to the hotel late at night, and agree the price before ordering at street bars.
- Keep phones and wallets in front pockets in crowded streets.
Common questions
What should we wear to the rooftop bars?
Smart casual. Collared shirts and closed shoes are safe at every rooftop; golf polos are fine at most.
How late does Saigon stay open?
Ordinary bars generally close between midnight and 2am. Clubs run to around 3am, and a few late bars go later at weekends.
Is it safe for a group at night?
District 1 is busy and well lit late into the night. The usual big-city care applies: watch your phone in crowds, use booked transport, and check prices before ordering.