HO CHI MINH CITY / SAIGON -- area code (84-8)

Many clubs popular with gays are located in District 1, just a short hop, skip or taxi jump from one another, in the heart of the tourist area.

The downtown section of District 1 is easy to navigate using our Utopia map:

DISTRICT 1

Eden Bar (mixed) 236 De Tham St, Dist 1 (Pham Ngu Lao area), 836-8154, email. A safe and G&L-friendly bar with pool room and restaurant located in Saigon's backpacker area (similar to Bangkok's Khasan Rd). Downstairs bar is a mix of beer drinkers, families, and friendly staff. 2/F is a stylish restaurant with a bit more privacy for gay and lesbian friends to chat and dine. The international menu features Vietnamese specialties along with pizza and pasta, burgers, sandwiches and much more. There's a wide range of drinks including beer, wine and cocktails. The owner is young, professional, and protects the premises from prostitutes and moneyboys. His manager is educated and speaks excellent English. Although not a gay bar, it's a great place to inquire about the do's and don'ts of the local scene. They ask you to please let them know you are from Utopia so that they may welcome you personally. Utopia Member Discount

Comments from Utopians:

"Q Bar in Dist 1 (under the opera building) is the happening place now. Warm up at Vila (which is close by) and then around 1am go to Q Bar. Many young, cute gays around, dancing." -- WhiteHCMC, Feb 18, 2010

DISTRICT 1
• Apocalypse Now (mixed)
  Thi Sach St. 2B-2C (see map), Dist 1, 825-6124, FAX 910-0476. The majority of the audience are straight, rich young Vietnamese. Some female prostitutes. About 10% of the crowd is gay (beware of hustlers) and they tend to stay in just one corner area indoors or sometimes the outdoor patio area. Two dance floors, plus an open-air garden café. Entrance fee is arbitrarily applied, but usually free for foreigners. Young crowd, under 25. Open daily from 8pm until late.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Apocalypse Now is large, the music was good and the people were fun." -- Witty1978, Feb 12, 2010

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Villa has nice lighting but is very small. Drinks were a little expensive and 10% is added on top of the price you see on the menu. I was there last night and my change was miscounted by waiter three times. The price was about D$96,000 +10% so it was a bit over D$100,000. I paidD$200,000 and got only D$1,000 change. I didn't notice that at first (blame the wine I had during dinner). The 2nd drink I paid the same. This time I got a D$1,000 and D$20,000 note. My brain started working, but slowly. I felt something strange. For my 3rd drink, I paid the same but received a D$1,000 note and a D$10,000 note. This time I knew I was cheated. I tried to talk to the waiter but the music was loud, so I went directly to the cashier and the cashier called the waiter to come. When he arrived he waved his hand and walked out of the door for a few seconds. When he came back, he got the correct change for me and I left." -- Witty1978, Feb 12, 2010

  "Villa is the current gay disco. It opened in the old location of Samsara at 2/F 131 Dong Khoi St (see map), on a corner across from Gucci and the Sheraton Hotel, above Gloria Jeans)." -- kopisusu69, Nov 21, 2009

  
  

DISTRICT 3
• Paris Dong Phuong
  22 Ba Huyen Thank Quan P6, Dist 3, 930-2796. Crowded with cute gays who come to sing.

  
  DISTRICT 10

• Golden Smile Karaoke (mixed)
  656 Su Van Hanh St, Dist 10.

  
  TAN BINH DISTRICT

• Nang Xanh Café Bar (mixed)
  Phan Xich Long St, Tan Binh Dist. Gay karaoke and café. Popular for singing and dancing from 9pm-midnight.
• The Time Café (Café Thoi Gian) (mixed)
  28 Tan Xuan St, Tan Binh District (near the Thing Nhat Hospital). Popular with gays from 8pm-midnight.