We love to find places that offer good views of a new city and the rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City provided not only an excellent opportunity to get a good orientation to the city, but also the chance to savor some delicious cocktails. Ho Chi Minh City, often still referred to as Saigon, is a booming city on the rise—quite literally! You’ll see the shorter historical French colonial buildings next to giant sleek glass-and-steel skyscrapers throughout the downtown area making for an interesting city landscape. We discovered that there are essentially two places to look for good rooftop bars in the city: hotels (old and new) and business towers. You have a wide array of choices from historical colonial-era hotels to up-and-coming glitzy nightspots, depending on whether you feel like contemplating the war-era days of Graham Greene or hanging with hipsters in a modern lounge. You can also have your choice of views from sweeping big city views to broad riverfront views to intimate street-level views, and the views change dramatically from day to night. We only had a few days in the city so we couldn’t sample all the rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City (sad I know), but we did get around to several and we’ll also list all the others we considered! Without further ado here is our list of 10 rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City offering both drinks and great views of the city. The majority are clustered near each other in District 1 (although check the address listed) and they are listed in alphabetical order by the name of the hotel or tower they occupy.
The Best Rooftop Bars in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are 10 of the best rooftop bars in Ho Chi MInh City, list in no particular order:
1. A & B Tower – Chill Sky Bar
Address: 76 Le Lai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3827 2372
Website: www.chillsaigon.com
The Chill Sky Bar offers views from the 27th floor of the A & B Tower in a hip and contemporary setting. A bit away from many of the other rooftop bars in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the popular Chill Skybar offers sweeping views of the financial district and the chaotic Ben Thanh traffic circle. The bar does have a “smart casual” dress code so make sure you wear closed toed shoes (shorts may also be prohibited but seems they may be easing on that rule after multiple complaints from shorts-wearing visitors).
2. Bitexco Financial Tower – Heli Bar
Address: 2 Hai Trieu Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (entrance to Skydeck located at 36 Ho Tung Mau Street)
Phone: (84 8) 6291 8752
Website: www.bitexcofinancialtower.com
If you want to feel like you are on top of the world, head to the Bitexco Financial Tower which is one of the tallest buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. This modern skyscraper was built by Ecuadorian architect Carlos Zapata and was designed to resemble a lotus bud (you be the judge). If you are looking for intimate views or colonial-era cachet, you won’t find any of that here, but if you are looking for spectacular 360 degree sweeping views of the city in a contemporary setting, you can’t get much better than those at the 52nd floor Heli Bar which is named for the large helipad that juts out of the building. In addition to the Heli Bar, you can also dine at the 51st floor EON 51 or head to the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor. The Saigon Skydeck requires an entrance fee but may be a good way to get top-of-the-world views for families and those who are not interested in a drink or meal.
3. Broma
Address: 41 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3823 6838
Website: facebook.com/bromabar
Officially named Broma: Not a Bar, don’t worry this place still serves up drinks. The hip but casual little bar occupies the fourth floor of an old French colonial building and its open lounge offers some good views of the city streets and the Bitexco Financial Tower. Broma offers cocktails, over 30 varieties of beer, food, and regularly hosts live entertainment and themed music dance parties.
4. Caravelle Saigon – Saigon Saigon Bar
Address: 19-23 Lam Son Square, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3823 4999
Website: www.caravellehotel.com
Opening in 1959, the grand sweeping views offered by the 10th floor rooftop Saigon Saigon Bar, the tallest at the time it was built, soon became not only a fashionable place for drinks, but would become a safe lookout point for foreign correspondents in wartime Vietnam. While wholly renovated and no longer the tallest building in town, the Saigon Saigon Bar still evokes a bit of the historic flair of Old Saigon and offers great views of the city, including the Notre Dame Cathedral (the one in HCMC, not Paris!). We were actually drawn to the Caravelle Saigon hotel not for its famous rooftop bar, but for its recently revamped afternoon tea menu at the ground floor lobby lounge named Café de l’Opera which offers good intimate views of the Opera House and Lam Son Square.
5. Centec Tower – Shri Restaurant & Lounge
Address: 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3827 9631
Website: www.shri.vn
The modern Shri Bar sits atop of the Centec Tower on the border between District 1 and District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City. While you can also eat at the stylish restaurant, Shri offers a separate open-air terrace seating area for non-diners and offers great 23rd floor views of the Reunification Park area.
6. Grand Hotel – Grand Café
Address: 8 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3915 5555
Website: www.grandhotel.vn
This 20th floor rooftop bar is a great place for coffee during the afternoon and drinks in the evening which also come with live piano performances. Built in 1930, the Grand Hotel is one of the oldest of the historic hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and like many of the historic hotels in town, the Grand Hotel added a new wing and it is here you’ll find the 20th floor hotel bar. The views here include the downtown and the river, which is unique as most of the hotels do not offer river views (see Hotel Majestic).
7. Hotel Majestic – Breeze Sky Bar and M Bar
Address: 1 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3829 5517
Website: www.majesticsaigon.com.vn
The Hotel Majestic sits alongside the riverfront and was one of the first buildings visitors would have seen when arriving by ship to old Saigon. Opened in 1925, this is another of the old colonial era hotels in the city and it offers two bars with great Saigon River views: the 5th floor Breeze Sky Bar and the 8th floor M Bar. The Breeze Sky Bar offers food and drinks all day while the M Bar offers late afternoon and evening drinks, snacks, and live entertainment. While these bars are very low to the ground compared to those in the more modern hotels, they offer some of the best views of the river and riverfront. We had drinks at the Breeze Sky Bar during the afternoon and while the river views are not exactly beautiful (more industrial) we enjoyed watching the slow river traffic and soaking up a bit of that colonial-era atmosphere.
8. Rex Hotel – Rooftop Garden Bar
Address: 141 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3829 2185
Website: www.rexhotelvietnam.com
The Rex Hotel has strong associations with the Vietnam-American War. The first hotel guests were actually U.S. Army soldiers and the rooftop bar would serve as a popular hangout for military personnel and war correspondents. Nightly war-related briefings, known as the “Five o’ clock Follies”, were held at 5pm at the Rex Hotel and the hotel was used as the location for the press conference announcing the reunification of Vietnam in 1976. The Rooftop Garden Bar is a large rooftop terrace occupying the 5th floor of the hotel and offers some great close-up views of the street life in the area. The Rex has a bit of a Las Vegas feel to me, but the bar is open 24 hours a day, making it a great choice for those wanting to visit at any time of the day or night.
9. Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers – Level 23 Wine Bar
Address: 88 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3827 2828
Website: www.sheratonsaigon.com
The Sheraton’s Level 23 Wine Bar offers a sleek setting, an extensive drink menu, and big sweeping 180 degree views of downtown Ho Chi Minh City. One of the highest bars in the city, this 23rd floor view offers a look at both the short old colonial buildings and the sleek tall modern skyscrapers such as the giant Bitexco Financial Tower. We really enjoyed the evening views from here as you could see all the buildings lit up at night.
10. Windsor Plaza Hotel – Top of the Town Bar
Address: 18 An Duong Vuong Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
Phone: (84 8) 3833 6688
Website: www.windsorplazahotel.com
If you want to check out some good views from outside District 1, you can check out the Top of the Town Bar at the Windsor Plaza Hotel. Located in District 5, this 25th floor bar offers 360 degree views of the District 5 area.
If you are heading to Vietnam, don’t pass up the chance to catch some great and unique views of the city from up high at one of the many rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City. Have you been? Have any recommendations for rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh City we missed or personal reviews of the ones we mentioned? As always, we’d love to hear from you!
Johnathan Post author
Excellent article, I’ve been looking for this info on HCMC rooftop bars for my trip to Vietnam next month!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Johnathan, Glad you found the information you were looking for and hope you enjoy the bars in Ho Chi Minh City, and have a great trip to Vietnam! Best, Jessica
Merlin John Post author
I was planning for a trip outside my country and your guide to bars in Saigon is very helpful. Thanks!
Aaron Post author
Hi, nice collections on rooftop bars. Which rooftop do you recommend for a nice view and a pleasant atmosphere, some where that has no loud music.
travelcats Post author
Hi Aaron, Glad you found our HCMC rooftop bar list helpful. It has been a few years since I was in Saigon, but I would suggest maybe the Caravelle, Sheraton, or the Bitexco Financial Tower Heli Bar. On this list I would specifically avoid Rex and Broma because they both tend to have louder music. Sometimes the others can be loud too if they are crowded or have special entertainment but all are likely going to be quieter if you avoid weekends and if you go earlier in the day/evening you may have the bar mainly to yourselves. Also most of these bars have both outdoor and indoor seating areas so you can usually find some quieter spots. Chill Sky Bar may also be a good option, and I would also recommend the bars at Hotel Majestic – they don’t have as good of views as some of the others but tend not to be packed and we enjoyed the vibe there. Good luck and note that several of these are within walking distance or quick cab distance so it is easy to go from one to the other if one is too loud. Best, Jessica
Keith Valentina Post author
Looking down Saigon from Bitexco is a should- try experience at night. From here, you can zoom out all below buildings, constructions: Thu Thiem tunnel, Dragon Wharf, Vincom, East West revenue, etc. (source from http://saigon-online.net/?p=2576)
travelcats Post author
Hi Keith, thanks for sharing that advice about the view from Bitexco Financial Tower!
Shikha (whywasteannualleave) Post author
I went to Vietnam for the first time last year but because of time restraints, didn’t make it to HCMC but I would love to return and see it and I love rooftop bars and beautiful views – the views from the Sheraton especially look amazing! Thanks for these tips!
travelcats Post author
HCMC was probably not our favorite place in Vietnam, but a visit to this city is a must as it is really the throbbing heart of this country in many ways. When you get there some day, check out some of the rooftop bars!
Kim Post author
Hi, we are going to Vietnam in May, can’t decide to have 3. Notes Hoi an and 3 notes Nha Trang then end it with 3 nites hcmc, it’s really the Hoi An and Nha Trang part any ideas and recommendations on accomm about 3 or 4 star. Kim thanks
travelcats Post author
Hi Kim, I think 3 nights in HCMC will give you a taste of the city. Three nights I think should also be good in Hoi An as long as you plan some outdoor stuff or day trips outside of the city as the town is not too big and quite crowded with tourists during the day (see our post for Hoi An day trip ideas). Nha Trang is probably only worth a 2 night stay and I would consider perhaps considering spending the extra day in the Mekong Delta area or Dalat. As far as hotels, we stayed at the Six Senses outside Nha Trang but it is very expensive and outside of the town, but you might consider the Evason Ana Mandara which is centrally located and run by the same management company. In Hoi An we stayed in the historic Ving Hung 1 Heritage Hotel which we liked but may be a bit noisy or hot for some. There are several 3 and 4 star hotels and resorts along the riverside which seemed nice when we were walking around. Good luck on your trip to Vietnam and let me know if you have any further questions! Jessica
Thanis Post author
I’ll be doing a Vietnam tour and will definitely check out some of the RoofTop Bars you mentioned in this article. Any good suggestions for good roof top bars for Hoi An and Hue? Not much information about these two for rooftop bars.
travelcats Post author
Hi Thanis, yes, I hope you enjoy some of the rooftop bars we explored in HCMC. I’m afraid I don’t really have any good recommendations for Hoi An or Hue as we didn’t visit any bars in either of these cities. Hoi An is a much smaller historical city and there are not many tall buildings here, but you should be able to still find some riverside terraces with nice views of the river but don’t expect great heights. You might also try a cruise and some serve alcohol. I am less sure about Hue as I was only there for a day or two but it is larger than Hoi An so you might have better luck with rooftop bars there. In Vietnam, you’ll find tall buildings with good rooftop views in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, as well as a few of the other larger cities like Da Nang and Nha Trang. Enjoy your tour of Vietnam and feel free to report back with your favorite bars! ~ Jessica
Wesley Travels Post author
I loved the Rex Hotel rooftop bar it was definitly one of my favorite bars in Ho Chi Minh
travelcats Post author
Rex certainly has a lot of history related to the Vietnam-American War. I found it to have a bit of Las Vegas kitsch to it but definitely a great bar!
Adelina // Pack Me To Post author
Rooftop bars are too cool! I can’t think of any here in Vancouver. These ones definitely have great views of the city.
travelcats Post author
Interesting that Vancouver doesn’t have many rooftop bars. I guess you’ll have to visit some when traveling!
Carla Post author
I’ve never even thought about visiting Vietnam but it looks gorgeous! The Bitexco Financial Tower has a really interesting shape to it.
travelcats Post author
Yes, it does. Supposed to be a budding lotus flower but I am not sure I see it:) But it definitely dominates the skyline in the city and is pretty lit up at night.
Lauren Post author
I want to go to all of them! The views are fantastic and I love the pictures of the drinks.! I want them right now! 🙂
travelcats Post author
You should plan a week in Ho Chi Minh City and try all 10, haha!
Ming Post author
I like how the rooftop bar scene in Southeast Asia seems to have caught on in a big way in recent years. I haven’t even started checking out the ones here in Malaysia (where I live) and now I hear about all these fantastic ones in Vietnam–the Heli Bar one looks especially enticing!
travelcats Post author
Hi Ming, actually rooftop bars have been popular here for a long time, especially with international guests! The ones at the Caravelle and Rex for instance date from the 1950s and 1960s. These historic hotels used to be the highest until all the new hotels and business towers were built later.
Carmen @ CarmensTravelTips Post author
Wow, what a great collection of hotels. Some of these have amazing views from the rooftops. I haven’t been to Vietnam yet but it’s on my bucket list.
travelcats Post author
Yes, if looking for rootop bars or restaurants, hotels and tall business towers are often the places to look! This was especially the case here in Ho Chi Minh City.
Agness Post author
Your drinks look very nice! 🙂 Omomomomom! This view… changes everything. You are so lucky to stay there!
travelcats Post author
Yeah, great drinks and views:) We actually didn’t stay at any of the hotels on the list just visited a few of them for drinks but would love to go back and stay as well!
Christa Thompson Post author
Okay so now I need a cocktail! Thanks for reminding me lol. Great idea for a post. I think this would certainly prove valuable for anyone heading there. I had to tweet it 😉
travelcats Post author
Thanks for the tweet Christa!
Amy Lynne Hayes Post author
I absolutely adore a good rooftop bar!! Especially on a warm summer night, with a cool breeze. Have yet to go to Vietnam, but when that day comes, I will be referring back to this list!
travelcats Post author
Thanks Amy, we agree and hope you get to Vietnam some day! Lots of good rooftop bars to entice you to visit:)
Seana Turner Post author
I love a rooftop restaurant or bar – there is something very empowering about having a long, sprawling view. I don’t have that at home as we are surrounded by tall trees, so it always makes me want to take a deep breath. That photo of the Bitexco tower is amazing. Wow!
travelcats Post author
Whether a rooftop view or not, we also just love eating at places with scenery, even if it is just a picnic bench with a good view! Makes for an enjoyable dining experience when you have great atmosphere.
Jenn @ Two Weeks in Costa Rica Post author
There’s no better city view than from a roof top bar! All these places look great but I’m most intrigued by the Caravelle- so much history there with Vietnam. Glad to find you through Sunday Traveler!
travelcats Post author
We really enjoyed the Caravelle, the bar is very nice and we also had afternoon tea on the ground floor which has a nice view of the Saigon Opera House and the Continental Hotel.
Johlet Post author
Wow all these places look amazing!!!
Love this line-up!
travelcats Post author
Amazing that there are so many great places in Saigon!
Mandie @ RamblingMandie Post author
After living in Las Vegas for awhile I am a HUGE fan of rooftop bars. Drinks are always better with a view. Vietnam is the next trip I’m planning (while in the middle of this one haha) so I’ll definitely bookmark this. 🙂
travelcats Post author
Let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip to Vietnam. We just spent about 2 weeks there.
Corinne Post author
Jessica, I love a sundowner or drink with a view as well. So relaxing. I haven’t been to any of these places, because we really backpacked Vietnam….maybe next time!
travelcats Post author
Drinks with a view are so great. Yeah, drinks can be pricey but you can still find good deals in Vietnam even at the nice hotels. We also did fruit juices and sodas at some and our Vietnamese friend ordered tea. So you can really pay very little to spend time enjoying these views.
Katie Post author
I’m a HUGE fan of a rooftop anything – I love views! Your night views from the Sheraton were fantastic, and I really liked the river views from Hotel Majestic. Vietnam is at the top of my list, when I make it there I will definitely check these out!
travelcats Post author
We enjoyed both of those bars. I would recommend visiting the Majestic bars during the day and the Sheraton for sunset and evening.
Sabina Post author
Normally you’d visit a destination first and then look for rooftop bars, but you’re totally making me wanna visit Ho Chi Minh City based on its rooftop bars alone! I’m a huge rooftop bar enthusiast but in London that’s a very expensive hobby! Loved this post & Chill Sky bar is so on my to-do list now! 🙂
travelcats Post author
Who says you can’t choose a destination based on its rooftop bars? haha. The great think about Vietnam is that drinks are still reasonably prices (compared to U.S. and Western Europe) and some of the places offer happy hours.
Emma Post author
Love Vietnam, and this post bought back some happy memories, not least because I got engaged in the roof top bar of the Caravelle! 😀
travelcats Post author
Oh wow, Emma! We enjoyed the Caravelle but it must really have a lot of meaning to you!
Caitlyn Post author
What a nice collection! I spent some time in HCMC last year and went to a different rooftop bar pretty much every night, it was a nice little tradition by the end. The Sheraton was my favourite 🙂
travelcats Post author
We enjoyed the Sheraton bar a lot as well. It was particularly great in the evening to see the skyline and all the buildings lit up.