Ho Chi Minh Nightlife: 10 Top Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night
Known as one of the most bustling trading and entertainment hubs in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City attracts tourists both domestically and internationally. You may think of this city as a hustle-and-bustle city during the day, but the nightlife can bring it to a whole new level.
Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City is more vibrant than you imagine how it is
If you are planning on a Ho Chi Minh City tour or wondering what to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night, you are in the right place! In this travel guide, Asia Private Travels will show you the 10 best nightlife things to do in Ho Chi Minh City with enough places to hang out for any traveler.
Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night
1. Visit Nguyen Hue Walking Street
If you ask any local, or even a random Vietnamese this question: “Where is the most fun place to hang out in Ho Chi Minh City at night?” The answer will be 100% Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
Nguyen Hue Walking Street is a popular spot for locals to jog or hang out
Despite its modest size as a walking street, Nguyen Hue Walking Street is always crowned and sparkling with colorful lights. Many local people gather on the street every night just for a walk or to stop by the nearby shops to have a drink or a snack. If you look down from the above buildings, you can see the pedestrian street is packed with vendors and live performances of young kids running and having fun at the water fountain.
No matter how long you spend in Ho Chi Minh City, a 2-day trip or a 3-day trip, you should visit Nguyen Hue Walking Street in the evening to join this messy yet authentic scene. It is the shortest way for tourists to immerse themselves in the daily lives of local people.
Symbolic Coffee Building on Nguyen Hue Walking Street
Don’t be afraid to join the performance of a band or say hi to the adorable kids. They would love to wave back, and you can even have some bonding with them at Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
2. Join a Street Food tour
It won’t be a Saigon night city tour without culinary adventure, trust us. Street food here is just like vampires - they come out at night - and joining a food tour in Ho Chi Minh City can be one of your most exciting things to do at night in Saigon. Try sitting back on a bike or motorbike and venture through Ho Chi Minh City to get some local dishes or some fresh drinks; it may sound simple but truly feels peaceful.
Tourists are excited about the huge Banh Xeo in Ho Chi Minh City
Some of the best-recommended street foods may be Banh Trang Nuong, dishes of snails and avocado ice cream, and you can find them anywhere in the city, especially Co Bac and Co Giang - two of the most favorite street food alleyways among Ho Chi Minh City attractions. Most dishes here just cost around a dollar, so prepare an empty stomach for a delicious food tour.
A night food tour in Ho Chi Minh City helps you learn about stories behind dishes
3. Romantic Dinner Cruise
If you want to level up your dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, how about embarking on a Saigon dinner cruise? Escape the busy street restaurants full of tourists. A dinner on board will be an experience as you can savor delicious food and watch the nighttime landscape along the Saigon River. On dinner cruises in Saigon, live music will be on offer, which often combines traditional and modern ethnic music. The menu is prepared by professional chefs with elegant flavors and fresh ingredients; they can even show you how they create the dish if you want.
Savor delicious food and watch the nighttime landscape along the Saigon River on a dinner cruise
For more information about the night cruise trips in Saigon, you can contact Asia Private Travels for recommended cruises and advanced bookings.
4. Let loose at a nightclub in Saigon
Compared with other big cities in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City will stand out when it has a thriving nightlife with countless bars and clubs. Bars in Ho Chi Minh City have different styles and decorations, ranging from typical Vietnamese bars to Latin clubs. Pick one, break your night into chapters, and dance the night away!
A Skybar in Ho Chi Minh City
5. Drink Beer at Bui Vien Street
Ho Chi Minh City nightlife cannot be complete without a cup of fresh beer, and Bui Vien Street is legendary for doing that. Bui Vien Street is the backpacker district of the city, and it never sleeps! Both sides of the street are tightly packed with nightclubs. Some of them even hold big entertainment events on certain nights, but one common thing is that they offer cheap beer, delicious finger food, and really loud music, and you can see drunk tourist crowds everywhere.
Crowds on Bui Vien Street at weekends
For some people, this street can be quite messy, but it’s worth checking out to learn about the nightlife culture of Saigon. Even if it is not on your to-do list, you can find some spots to enjoy beers and snacks with your group of friends. Besides, there are restaurants and vendors located around Bui Vien Street, so you can have some late-night bites conveniently.
Note: Bui Vien Street is open later on Friday and Saturday, usually till 3 a.m. the next day.
6. Do some night shopping
Ben Thanh Market, the emblematic symbol of Saigon, is absolutely the best place for shopping. Right when the main market closes after 6 PM, the night mark on the side street opens. Besides the similar items during the day, such as clothes, bags, electronics, and showers, the night market sells plenty of food and somehow it gets more bustling and hustling.
Street food market right nearby Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City
The roadside pedestrian zone opens till midnight so you can walk around, do some shopping and enjoy the diversity of street food after some sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City.
Besides the traditional market, Ho Chi Minh City is famous for many local brands of clothes and accessories. Many tourists take a chance on their trips to shop for comfortable and unique items. Recently, BLACKPINK Lisa quickly went from Thailand to Saigon for only two days—just to shop around the local brands! Now you can be sure of the magnetism of these shops!
BLACKPINK Lisa spent 2 days shopping at local brands in Ho Chi Minh City
7. Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing
This thing to do may sound boring, but it is a favorite activity even for the locals. Simply rent a motorbike or a bicycle and drive around the city. Enjoy the fresh air, and a little less crowded roads; you can feel more freedom and peace compared to the stock traffic during the day. There are also several parks in the center of the city. They are open 24 hours a day, so you can grab some snacks and sit there to enjoy a simple evening. Another option is to head over to the Saigon Riverside, where you can sit on the benches or the sidewalk to enjoy the breeze. Sometimes you just need a gentle night like that.
Ho Chi Minh City sightseeing on a motorbike
8. Listen to live music
Besides the buzzing image that you usually see, Saigon also has a great live music scene as well. As many artists in Vietnam choose to move from other cities to Saigon, you can be sure to be spoilt for choice from smooth jazz to heavy rock at live music bars.
Experience a live music performance in Ho Chi Minh City to level your night
Whether you are going on a night out with friends or a spontaneous outing, a live music experience can offer something for everyone to enjoy. Sing and dance along or enjoy watching the show—your choice, but it will be memorable. Going up and lighting your voice might be a memorable thing to do in Sagon at night. If you need some courage - have some tequila first!
9. Stroll along Book Street
Located in the center of District 1, Nguyen Van Binh Book Street is a road over 200 meters long in Ho Chi Minh City. When visiting this corner, you can see more than 20 stalls of different book publishers from all over Vietnam. Even though you might think there’s no point in visiting here when most of the books are in Vietnamese, taking a walk and looking at the books can be a very relaxing activity. You can find some foreign languages at a very cheap price and learn more about the reading culture of Vietnam.
Colorful decoration on Ho Chi Minh Book Street
10. Relax at Turtle Lake
When night falls, many locals like to gather at Turtle Lake, a great place to see the bustling Saigon streets soaking in the shimmering lights at night. There are benches for you to sit and chat; you may see many people bonding here. They can be couples, groups of friends or children walking around.
Turtle Lake at night looking from above
Compared to the Nguyen Hue Walking Street we mentioned earlier, Turtle Lake can be considered a less crowded version, and more relaxing but it doesn’t mean it can’t bring a lively and joyful atmosphere. There is a street paradise here that sells many snacks for young people, such as Banh Trang Nuong, fruit, juice, milk tea, and so on.
Tips for your Night in Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon nightlife is something that you cannot forget, even if you just spend one night here. No matter how you utilize your night drinking beer at Bui Vien Street or hopping on a Saigon night cruise, bet that you will see the charming hustling Saigon, completely different from the day. If you want to find more things to do in this puzzling city, feel free to contact us or check out our favorite tours to Ho Chi Minh City. Asia Private Travels offers Ho Chi Minh City itineraries that already include the best things to do in the city, as well as accommodation and flexible transfers for you to have a completely convenient trip in Saigon.
Night tour in Ho Chi Minh City
Hope that you have gained some useful information about what to do at night in Saigon. Experiencing these 10 top things to do in Ho Chi Minh City at night would be a remarkable highlight on your Vietnam tour package. Plenty of nightlife activities and surrounding destinations like Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta are some of the reasons that you should not miss this city. So visit this city once, and you gonna love it! Reach out to us now to plan your journey to any destination in Vietnam!
