Vietnam is known for its lovely culture, history, and landscapes. But have you ever heard or experienced Vietnam’s nightlife? What you’ll see is the highly diverse and lively places and streets of Vietnam. In this article, we will cover the lively streets of Hanoi, the beachside towns of Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City.
From vibrant street markets to rooftop bars to traditional Bia Hoi (fresh beer) bars and serene riverside cafes, the nightlife scene is as diverse as the country itself. For singles, couples, backpackers, and luxury travellers alike, Vietnam’s nightlife offers infinite possibilities for fun and entertainment.
History of Nightlife Scene in Vietnam
Vietnam’s nightlife scene has dramatically changed over the last couple of decades. The country which was quiet and conservative in its approach to nightlife a few decades back, is pulsating with life as a hot destination for both locals and tourists today. Cities like Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, starting with the Đổi Mới reforms that opened up Vietnam’s economy in the late 1980s, were the first step to adopt an international nightlife culture.
International Inflows: Tourism, expats, and foreign businessmen have introduced international trends in food, entertainment, and nightlife into the country. Rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City and trendy clubs in Hanoi are like any other clubs in the world.
New Venues: Places such as Chill Skybar in Ho Chi Minh and Summit Lounge in Hanoi are some places where one can experience a modern world nightlife. It offers not just drinks but also luxurious dinners with DJs, thematic nights, and everything that is quite up-scale.
Tradition Meets Modernity: Despite the increased modernisation through bars and clubs, Vietnam has excellently blended its tradition into its nightlife. It is only this blending between the old and new that makes nightlife in Vietnam unique. One is likely to find a food street vendor or cultural festival sitting adjacent to a modern lounge or restaurant. Amazing, right?
Sustainability in Vietnam’s Nightlife
As Vietnam is fast on the road to modernisation, sustainability is becoming a huge part of this country’s nightlife. Most bars have taken major steps to go green and epitomise sustainable nightlife across the world for conscious travellers.
Eco-Friendly Bars and Restaurants: Some bars and restaurants stand out for their sustainable practices, which include sourcing locally, reducing plastic usage, and encouraging recycling.
Popular Venues: Da Nang boasts The Green House, an eco-friendly initiative. In Ho Chi Minh City, Noir Dining in the Dark provides a dine-in experience while promoting sustainable projects.
What to Expect: You will encounter organic cocktails, plant-based menu options, and utilise reusable or biodegradable materials in their operations.
Sustainable Festivals: Other festivals Vietnam celebrates are those that place much priority on sustainability, such as the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival.
Vietnam Nightlife in Key Cities
Hanoi: An Old-New Mix
Here, the capital Hanoi seamlessly blends old and new elements, from the traditional popular culture of Bia Hoi to the constantly evolving club scene.From the street beer joints in the Old Quarter to stylish bars in Tay Ho District, there is never a dull moment here.
Old Quarter’s Bia Hoi Culture (Street Beer)
The old quarter is recognised for its open-street Bia Hoi bars. These street corner beer stalls sell their fresh brew straight from the brewery at an affordable price. They are generally excellent destinations to enjoy some refreshing beer while getting a feel of the local way of life.
Where to Find Bia Hoi: Ta Hien Street is famously called “Beer Street”. It is here that most of the tourists and locals indulge in this street beer in the evenings.
What to Try: The prices start from 5,000 VND to 10,000 VND per glass; therefore, it also stands out as one of the cheapest drinks to try in Vietnam.
Trendy Bars and Clubs (Tay Ho and Hai Ba Trung Districts)
For those who need something more up-to-date, Tay Ho and Hai Ba Trung Districts come with cooler bars and clubs, mostly attracted by expats and younger Vietnamese crowds.
Popular Spots: Hero Bar in Hai Ba Trung offers live music and has become a hotspot. Savage in Tay Ho offers electronic beats and will get people dancing.
What to Expect: Generally, the cost of entry is around 150,000 VND to 300,000 VND. An average drink is priced between 50,000 VND and 100,000 VND.
Best Places to Experience Hanoi’s Night Markets
Hanoi’s night markets, such as Dong Xuan and Hang Dao, offer quality shopping and a variety of local food.
What to Expect: They operate until midnight and are a destination for street food venues, clothing, and souvenirs. The prices you’ll pay depends on your bargaining skills.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): The Party Capital
Ho Chi Minh City—the largest city in Vietnam, former capital Saigon—is famous for its heady and dynamic nightlife. Whether one is an aficionado of streets throbbing with bars or an admirer of elitist rooftop lounges, there is something here for everybody.
Bustling District 1 (Bui Vien Street and Ben Thanh Market)
The epicentre of Saigon’s nightlife is in District 1, with Bui Vien Street known as the “backpacker’s street”. It’s all bars, clubs, and street food stalls in there, and that’s what makes it one of the town’s most lively places.
Where to Go: For a less energetic night, head out to Ben Thanh Market, which opens late at night for late-night shopping and local delicacies. For an energetic experience, there are bars in Bui Vien, one of which is Crazy Buffalo and Sahara Bar, the most popular ones.
What to Expect: Drinks on Bui Vien start from 40,000 VND, but prices vary by the place. Most bars and clubs here stay up till the early morning hours, which makes it excellent for night owls.
Upscale Rooftop Bars and Clubs
Ho Chi Minh City offers its tourists different trendy rooftop bars that can be oriented against the city’s aerial views for an expensive experience.
Top Choices: If you’re out for a night of excess fun, then your top choices would include EON Heli Bar at Bitexco Financial Tower or Chill Skybar. Such places are classy with cocktails ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 VND.
What to Wear: The rooftop bars are one of those places that dress up quite formally, so smart casuals are what you have to wear.
Live Music Venues and Themed Bars
The city also has many live music venues and themed bars that cater to different tastes of music.
Top Spots: Acoustic Bar in District 3 is the place where one can find live rock and acoustic performances, while La Fenetre Soleil offers a unique bohemian feel with regular nights of live jazz performances.
What to Expect: Cover Charge Live music venues charge a cover charge that can be anywhere between 100,000 VND and 200,000 VND, according to the band and night.
Da Nang: Coastal Nightlife
Da Nang is located on the central coast of Vietnam, combining both laid back beach life and exciting nightlife. It is suitable for those who like spending their time in the bars along the beachside and in energetic riverside clubs.
Beachfront Bars and Lounges: Da Nang’s seaside location makes it a beachside bar hot spot; enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset over the ocean.
Best Bars: Beachside venues like Surf Bar, My Khe Beach, and Holiday Beach Club are some of the more relaxed stops at around 50,000 to 100,000 VND.
What to Expect: Spots for bonfire parties and live music get-togethers, often on weekends, for a laidback beachside experience of happy times.
Riverside Bars and Clubs
The riverfront of Da Nang is always alive at night since several riverside bars and clubs are lined along the riverside, offering great views.
Top Picks: The Waterfront Bar on Bach Dang Street is excellent for locals and travellers, with a mix of local and Western drinks. The Golden Pine Pub is another nice spot that keeps going to very late hours.
What to Expect: Bars along the Han River generally cater to very relaxed crowds and are moderately priced, with cocktails starting from around 80,000 VND.
Night Markets and Local Festivals
Da Nang city also has several night markets where one can experience local food, shopping, and entertainment.
Where to Go: The Helio Night Market is the place to visit because it’s lively, stocking up on all sorts of street food, clothes, and souvenirs.
What to Expect: The prices in night markets are quite budget-friendly, making it an amazing area to explore for people who are on a budget and searching for cheaper shopping places.
Hoi An: Romantic and Relaxed Nightlife
Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage town that has the romantic and serene nightlife of a world-class experience. Hoi An, compared to the noisy streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, will prove to be an experience suitable for any couple and a calmer, more quiet evening out.
Lantern-Lit Streets and Riverside Cafes
Here, with hues of colours of sunset lanterns adorning its streets, the town is well prepared to sit through a peaceful evening walk.
Recommended Places: Cafes on the Thu Bon River are some of the best places to relax and see the city while having a drink. Some of the best ones include the Cargo Club and Mango Rooms.
What to Expect: Prices are affordable at around 100,000 VND a cocktail. Most cafes have local specialties, such as White Rose Dumplings, which can fill your stomach if you get peckish in the long, long nights.
Full Moon Lantern Festival Experience
The Full Moon Lantern Festival, happening on the 14th day of every lunar month, is probably one of the most unique nightlife experiences in Hoi An. There, the people turn off electric lights and the place is lit by lanterns alone. You may even float your lanterns down the river to spread good luck.
What to Expect: The festival is quite popular, so it would be better if you go early during the festivities. Lanterns cost around 10,000–20,000 VND.
Best Spots for a Quiet Drink: There are many chill bars in Hoi An for those who prefer less rowdy crowds and areas instead of hanging out within the usual tourist spots.
Where to Go: If you want a peaceful drink with live music in a cosy environment, go to Tadioto Hoi An or the Dive Bar.
What to Know: Drinks are about 70,000 VND to 150,000 VND each at the venue.
Unique Nightlife Experiences in Vietnam
Vietnam’s nightlife is so much more than just bars and clubs. A few different experiences can make your night on the town so much more enjoyable.
Bia Hoi: Vietnam’s Fresh Beer Culture
A Nightlife Staple Bia Hoi is a must for any Vietnamese nightlife. One can drink this fresh beer throughout Vietnam from tiny street-side stalls.
What is Bia Hoi?: An unpasteurised beer freshly brewed every day and meant to be consumed on the same day it is brewed.It’s light, refreshing, and unbelievably cheap!
Best Places for Bia Hoi: In Hanoi, go to Ta Hien Street or Luong Ngoc Quyen Street. In Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll have it on Bui Vien Street.
What to Expect: It costs you as low as 5,000 VND to 15,000 VND per glass, making it one of the cheapest beverages out there.
Street Food and Night Markets: Vietnamese night markets have a wide variety of street foods that will surely fill your late-night cravings.
Must-Try Dishes: Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich), and Goi Cuon (fresh spring rolls) are not to miss while going out during the night.
Destinations: Dong Xuan Market in Hanoi, Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, and Helio Night Market in Da Nang.
Prices: You can expect to pay between 30,000 and 70,000 VND for most street food dishes.
Karaoke Bars: A Local Favourite
Karaoke is a huge favourite in Vietnam, and karaoke bars can be found just about anywhere in the country, in any city or town.
What to Expect at Vietnamese Karaoke Bars: The bars consist of private rooms with sound systems and huge song selections. You can rent rooms by the hour and sing into the wee hours of the morning with your friends.
Best Cities for Karaoke Night: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang boast wide choices of karaoke bars. Prices vary from 100,000 to 300,000 VND per hour according to the location.
Vietnamese Nightlife Etiquette and Tips
What to Wear: Dress Codes at Bars and Clubs
In street bars or night markets in most cities, casual clothes are allowed. In the case of bigger venues like rooftop bars and clubs in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, a smart casual dress code should be observed. Avoid flip-flops and shorts in these settings.
Staying Safe: Nightlife Safety Tips
Generally speaking, Vietnam is a very safe country, but you should still be careful about possessions with the crowds around, especially in places such as Bui Vien or Ta Hien streets. Stick to lights-on places and taxi services like Grab when you need to go out late at night.
Understanding Local Customs and Social Etiquette
Drink with locals and toast saying “Mot, Hai, Ba, Yo! ” (One, Two, Three, Cheers!). Observe the locality and consider the country’s moderate consumption attitude on alcohol.
Nightlife for Types of Tourists
Backpackers: Budget-Friendly Bars and Hostels with Events
Vietnam, being so cheap at night, has its favourite hangout places for backpackers. Places such as Bui Vien in Ho Chi Minh City and Ta Hien in Hanoi offer affordable drinks and really lively atmospheres, besides numerous hostels that have nightly events going on.
Luxury Travellers: Upscale Lounges, Rooftop Bars, Fine Dining
For luxury travellers, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi hold exclusive lounges, upscale bars, and fine dining served with world-class service.
Couples: Romantic Spots for an Evening Out
Couples can enjoy their time at the riverside dinner spots in Hoi An or view the beautiful cityside from one of Ho Chi Minh’s rooftop bars for an evening out.
Expats and Long-Term Travelers: Local Hangouts and Hidden Gems
For those who plan to stay in Vietnam for an extended period, venturing into the local hangouts outside of the main tourist centres will give them a better feel of the real place. These may be West Lake in Hanoi or Thao Dien in Ho Chi Minh City.
Best Time to Experience Vietnam’s Nightlife
Seasonal Considerations for Vietnam’s Nightlife
The best time for nightlife in Vietnam depends on the city as well as the time of year. A dry season makes beachside nightlife at places such as Da Nang and Hoi An very enjoyable; however, at other cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the destination can be enjoyed at any time of the year.
Festivals and Holidays that Bring Nightlife Alive
Festivals in Vietnam give a typical view of the nightlife culture of the country. The most outstanding ones are the Tet Festival, or Lunar New Year, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Nights filled with traditional lanterns, street performances, and markets in cities add much colour to these events.
Conclusion
Vietnam’s nightlife is as diverse as its landscape. You will find something to suit every taste. While the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City seems to know no bounds, the riverside cafes in Hoi whisper romance, and at night, city life comes alive with entertainment, relaxation, and cultural immersion galore. Whether budget-friendly, luxurious on the rooftop or just a quiet night beside the river, Vietnam’s nightlife has it all for you!