1. Zion Sky Lounge & Dining

Zion Sky Lounge And Dining // Photo @Zion

Sipping crafted cocktails during sunset at the best sky bar in the city - Zion, is a must-have experience for those visiting or living in Ho Chi Minh City. Zion is uniquely positioned in one of the best sunset spots in the whole city - no wonder many expats flock here during happy hours to wind down after work.

For travelers, Zion is located on Ham Nghi street - one of the most beautiful areas in District 1. Next to Saigon’s best landmarks like the iconic Bitexco Tower and hotels such as Au Lac Charner Hotel and The Reverie Saigon, Zion is irresistibly convenient and should be a part of any tour of Ho Chi Minh City. 

Boasting a live music schedule that would sell tens of thousands of seats in the UK, Zion hosts events with big names such as Blue, and often live streams these events on their Facebook page. Zion also presents many of the best Vietnamese artists and celebrities too - a great opportunity to discover Vietnamese music culture at its finest!

Our top tip: Bring a date! The sunset, the food, the drinks and the DJ’s are the perfect combination for a romantic night almost above the stars. 

• Address: 87A Hàm Nghi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Contact: 0939368286 / Facebook
• Price range: $$
• Available for walk-ins and reservations 

2. Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar 

Saigon Saigon Rooftop bar is a historical gem // Photo on Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar 

Famed for being a favourite venue amongst Vietnam war correspondents, Saigon Saigon Rooftop bar is a historical gem. The furnishings, which are decked out with a black and white marble floor, wooden touches and sepia photographs, evoke memories of times gone by.

With the right drink, views over Saigon's opera house, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the people's committee will transport you to an old Saigon - before it became the sprawling concrete metropolis of today. Spacious surroundings offer tables for bigger groups, and the ambient lighting and Latin music create a seductive atmosphere that will make you want to stay around for hours.

Half price happy hour runs from 6 to 8 pm, and all drinks come with bites. Don't just stick around for drinks, though - Saigon Saigon also offers some of the best burgers and steaks in the city!

• Address: 19-23 Lam Son Square, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
• Contact: 028 382 34999 / Facebook
• Price range: $$
• Available for walk-ins

3. Glow Skybar Saigon

Glow Skybar in District 1 has been a massive hit in Saigon // Photo on Glow Skybar 

Since its opening in 2015, Glow Skybar in District 1 has been a massive hit in Saigon. There is a beach-style atmosphere with a slick black and white furnishing and a spacious dancefloor for you to let loose on. Famed for its circular style bar, you'll find your usual classic cocktails, as well as signatures exclusive to Glow Skybar, such as Xin Chao Vietnam, which combines Belvedere vodka, lemongrass, Vietnamese basil and lime for a classic hit.

Get down there between 5 and 8 pm to enjoy happy hour featuring 50% off beverages. After seeing in the sunset and Ho Chi Minh City's expansive views on the deck with a few cocktails, you may even stay till the DJs ramp up the fiesta!

• Address: 93 Nguyễn Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
• Contact: 093 887 4569 / Facebook
• Price range: $$
• Available for walk-ins

4. Shri Restaurant & Lounge

The library room offers a quieter space to enjoy your drink  // Photo on Shri Restaurant & Lounge

Shri Restaurant & Lounge is located atop of the Centec tower and offers dining, bar and lounge facilities for guests. As a multi-concept venue that's open during daytime hours, you can come here for multiple occasions - be it dinner parties, cocktails, or simply kicking it back at the whisky bar.

Inside, natural settings give the bar area a stylish and fresh feel, whilst dim neon lighting in the restaurant area offers itself to a more intimate setting, perfect for a romantic dinner.

The library room offers a quieter space to enjoy your drink - or a daytime retreat from Ho Chi Minh City's hustle and bustle. Outside, the vast balcony offers a range of seats and tables for you to enjoy the spectacular panoramic views across the Saigon skyline - which are some of the city's best.

• Address: 72 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường 6, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
• Contact: 02838279631 / Facebook
• Price range: $$
• Available for walk-ins

5. The Lighthouse

Situated across two floors, you'll be able to get 360-degree panoramic views of District 1 // Photo on The Lighthouse

For a more budget-friendly option, head to The Lighthouse, which is in the heart of District 1. With its classy wooden interior and mellow energy, The Lighthouse is more low key than the likes of Skyxx or Chill Skybar, making it suitable for a quiet drink or date.

Alternatively, the relatively cheap drinks and music might also entice you to stay till closing time (5 am, Thursday to Saturday). Local and international DJs play a range of non-commercial electronic music, from deep house and techno to funky disco beats. Situated across two floors, you'll be able to get your dose of underground and indie vibes whilst enjoying the 360-degree panoramic views of Ho Chi Minh City. And for the fairer sex, get down there on a Tuesday night for ladies night, where you'll enjoy free drinks all night to your heart's content.

• Address: 104 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Ho Chi Minh City
• Contact: 090 144 1955 / Facebook
• Price range: $
• Available for walk-ins

6. Cafe Des Stagiares

Boasting a rooftop dotted with colourful flights and stunning views of the Saigon River and Landmark 81 // Photo on Cafe Des Stagiares

Literally translated as “the cafe of trainees,” Le Café des Stagiaires works with the concept of hiring trainees who want to learn how to run a restaurant. Part of their job is to serve appetizing French and Belgian fare by Parisian Chef Milan Lam including Planchette, a cold cut platter with cheese, foie gras and liver paté, and mince as well as Steak Frites, Duck Confit Parmentier, French fries, burgers, croquetas and more.

Boasting a rooftop dotted with colourful flights and stunning views of the Saigon River and Landmark 81, Le Café des Stagiaires is also the first bar in Vietnam to serve Duvel Moortgat Brewery's portfolio, the iconic Belgian beer company. At night, the tables make way for a dance floor where you can groove to the live tunes by some of Vietnam's top local DJs.

• Address: 10 Street N.54, Thao Dien, District 2.
• Contact: 098 223 4793 / Facebook
• Price range: $$
• Available for walk-ins

7. Social Club Rooftop Bar

The social club rooftop bar features a fully open-air bar and infinity rooftop pool // Photo on Social Club Rooftop Bar

Perched on top of the Hotel Des Artes, the social club rooftop bar features a fully open-air bar and infinity rooftop pool - the highest in Ho Chi Minh City. Striking the right balance between chill and upbeat, the DJs tunes ensure this venue is great for winding down and revving up.

French-inspired craft cocktails offer you unique drinks inspired by French perfumes, such as Mon Paris (Absolut Raspberry, fresh lime, raspberries, and cinnamon syrup) and Black Opium (Glenlivet 12 yr, Martell VSOP, Chambord, and cold brew coffee).

With a relaxed dress code and unpretentious furnishing, the feel is more casual than other rooftop bars mentioned in this list.

• Address: MGallery Saigon, Floor 24, 76-78 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
• Contact: 028 3989 8888 / Facebook
• Price range: $$
• Available for walk-ins

8. Brick and Barrel

A crowd favourite amongst expats and locals in Saigon // Photo on Brick and Barrel

A crowd favourite amongst expats and locals in Saigon - and for good reason. This spacious, casual and laidback rooftop bar located in the heart of District 1 is the perfect go-to for anyone looking to unwind with a beer after work, celebrate a momentous occasion with friends or a corporate team get together.

Serving up craft beer towers, mouthwatering burgers, lip-smacking bar snacks such as jalapeno poppers, cheesy fries and chunky onion rings as well as wood-fired pizza, there's something for everyone at Brick and Barrel. The space is perfectly designed for large groups and features huge timber tables, a stage with a microphone and large TVs interspersed throughout the space for sports fans looking to catch the game!

• Address: 114-152 Calmette, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City
• Contact: 081 545 1496 / Facebook
• Price range: $
• Available for walk-ins

9. The Majestic - Breeze Sky Bar

The Hotel Majestic Saigon takes you back to the colonial days of French Indochina // Photo on The Majestic - Breeze Sky Bar

One of the most iconic bars in Ho Chi Minh City, Breeze Sky Bar is located on the 5th floor of the Hotel Majestic Saigon, an old French colonial building, which will take you back to the days of Indochina. It was, after all, a favourite watering hole of Thomas Fowler, the cynical main character in The Quiet American, Graham Greene's acclaimed novel set in 1950s Old Saigon.

Its drinks evoke romantic notions of the past, with the 'Happy Saigon', one of its signature cocktails, dating back to the 1920s. Live Flamenco and Latin music pervades the nighttime air and is the perfect accompaniment to gaze out at the passing tankers and sunset glowing over the Saigon River. Unlike many rooftop bars, Breeze Sky Bar is open from morning to evening, making it a great location for brunch and daytime alfresco dining.

After your visit, stroll along nearby Nguyen Hue Walking Street, where you'll be flung back into the midst of modern Ho Chi Minh City, wondering if it was all a dream.

• Address: Hotel Majestic, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Quận 1, Đồng Khởi, 3 - 5 (Khach san
• Contact: 028 382 95514 / Facebook
• Price range: $
• Available for walk-ins

Nguồn: vietnamisawesome.com