Entertainment in Vietnam
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A
DMZ Bar & Cafe
Long the leading late-night spot, the beer flows into the night, the tunes match the mood and there is a popular pool table in the middle of things.
reviewed
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B
Bamboo 2 Bar
This is the kind of comfortable hole-in-the-wall joint where the walls are covered in customers’ drunken scribbles. There’s a busy pool table in the back and a Western food menu.
reviewed
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C
Eden
A popular bar-restaurant with red lanterns over the bar (no, not those sort of red lights), the friendly staff are dressed in traditional ao dai. Late drinks, plus a huge food menu.
reviewed
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D
Yoko
This is a place where you can appreciate some live music, the blend here could be anything from indie rock to country and western, and kicks off around 9pm nightly. Small stage, comfy chairs and revolving art-works keep it cool.
reviewed
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E
Christie’s Cool Spot
The bar downstairs is where US war veterans hold forth about ongoing American politics vis-à-vis the American War in Vietnam. These days they’re joined by Western expats in search of an ice-cold beer or the comfort food available in the restaurant upstairs.
reviewed
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F
Jazz Club Minh
This is the grown-up, late-night side of Hanoi you probably never thought existed. Cool, mustachioed Quyen Van Minh is Hanoi's sax maestro - a cool cat who blows a mean horn. He holds court in his smoky jazz club nightly, often playing host to guest performers from around the world.
reviewed
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G
Sleepy Gecko
To escape the tourist circus, there’s no better place than this beach bar–style place on Cam Nam Island, where you can admire the view of Hoi An over an ice-cold beer. The owner, Steve, is there night or day to provide good tunes and good jibes – ask about his very good ‘byke tours’.
reviewed
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H
Guava
A hip lounge bar, Guava is the place to come if you are seeking some style while you drink. Choose from sunken sofas inside or a leafy garden patio outside. Regular drink promotions include two-for-one surprises most days, such as Bloody Marys to accompany the Sunday ‘hangover breakfast’.
reviewed
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I
Crazy Kim Bar
Run by local personality Kimmy Le, this busy bar is home base for her commendable ‘Hands off the Kids!’ campaign, which works to prevent paedophilia. She’s now set up a permanent classroom for vulnerable street kids on the premises. Part of the proceeds from the food, booze and T-shirt sales go towards the cause. Sign up at the bar if you’re interested in volunteering to teach English. Crazy Kim’s has regular themed party nights, great music, devilish cocktail buckets and free wi-fi. Crazy (happy) hours run pretty much nonstop from noon to midnight.
reviewed
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J
Acoustic Bar
The leading live-music venue in town, Acoustic pays homage to Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and other rock ’n’ roll legends. Vietnam’s leading musicians flock here for cameo cover versions and, judging by the numbers that turn up nightly, the crowd just can’t get enough.
reviewed
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K
Alibi
A happening lounge-bar with Latin grooves, Alibi (ala-bee for French speakers) is reasonably priced for the style factor. Regular late-night events, plus a French bistro menu.
reviewed
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L
Carmen
One of HCMC's rarer breeds, Carmen has a stone wall exterior and a cosy wine cellar-like interior (duck your head when you enter) with live music nightly (from 19:00-21:00) - often Flamenco, hence the name.
reviewed
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M
Before & Now
An energetic bar that’s good for its pop-rock-funk playlist, Milan-trained chef and buzzing crowd. If you run out of conversation topics, contemplate the ramifications of Bono-as-Superman, as depicted on one of local artist Tran Trung Linh’s pop-art portraits on the walls (the eclectic mix includes Lenin, Mao, Che, Marilyn and Gandhi).
reviewed
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N
Bobby Brewers
This is a contemporary cafe set over three floors, and the range of coffees here is professional. There are also juices, sandwiches, pastas and salads, plus movies upstairs.
reviewed
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O
Treat’s Café
The backpacker bar of old Hoi An, this place is regularly full to bursting, particularly during its generous 4pm to 9pm happy hour.
reviewed
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P
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
You can't leave Hanoi without seeing a traditional water-puppet show. The shows, which appeal to all ages, are charming, picaresque entertainments accompanied by a traditional Vietnamese pit orchestra. Order your tickets early in the day for the best seats. Your hotel can probably help.
reviewed