Guides to enjoy Ho Chi Minh nightlife as locals

Guides to enjoy Ho Chi Minh nightlife as locals provide you top suggestions to stay awake with dynamic Saigon. Ho Chi Minh or Saigon is hub of economy and cutting-edge development of Vietnam. During the daytime, you can see a hustling and bustling Ho Chi Minh with various business activities, with rush people, with car horning, sometimes the selling call from street vendors. It is said that, traveling brings visitors closer to local’s lifestyle. Would you like to experience a different pace of life in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)?

There are different ways for you to enjoy nightlife in HCMC. When you decide to step out of your accommodation and immerse into local’s life, there is no need for you to hesitate to localize yourself and have a go. Check out our top 5 nightlife suggestions for being a local in one night.

Related post: Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Nguyen Hue Walking Street:

We start the Guides to enjoy Ho Chi Minh nightlife as locals at Nguyen Hue Street. Nguyen Hue Walking Street has been a popular destination for locals and foreigners when in HCMC. The street offers a comfortable and beautiful paved walk for people who enjoy walking and experience the city view. At night, Nguyen Hue Street seems to change its clothes with bright and gorgeous view of various colorful lights.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street

When in here, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, the street is full of kids and the elderly. Locals wish to gather at the street to have some chat, meet friends or simply they just want to find a place to be away from their home for a while and to spend time with family.

Family gathering at Nguyen Hue Street

I love sitting on a quiet place and watch people walking. I feel peaceful and love our Vietnamese more. I love the smiling face of kids, the joyful laugh of the elderly, the care of parents for their child, the slight laugh of young couples. All brings me a perfect picture with different “emotion” pieces.

If you go the street alone, try to have a quick chat with locals. You may know more about the city and the local’s life. Who knows you may make some local friends.

2. Ben Thanh Market:

Located at Le Loi Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, HCMC, Ben Thanh Market is home to various stalls and booths offering a wide range of choices for visitors. When the darkness starts cover the atmosphere, it is time for those stallholders to show off their products and start their working hours.

Ben Thanh Night Market

What makes Ben Thanh Market unique, alluring and irreplaceable is the colorful bright lights of those stalls and booths and the very unique fragrance of street foods. This is the reason why, Ben Thanh Market not only satisfies the need for shopping of visitors but also relieve the hunger of any visitors when wandering around the market.

Food at Ben Thanh Night Market

When exploring the market further, you may be amazed at a variety of items ranging from clothes, shoes, purses to local handicrafts, lacquer art, framed paintings, and souvenir. Added that, the good offering of dried food, dried meet, fresh coffee is truly worth your try and maybe you may quickly get into some kinds there.

3. Saigon Opera House:

If you are fan of opera, then Saigon Opera House is truly an ideal place. Saigon Opera House or known as the Municipal Theater is located at Cong Truong Lam Son Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC. The building stands out as one of the impressive sight in HCMC both day and night.

Saigon Opera House

Thanks to its ideal location just some walks away from Ben Thanh Market, the Opera House is a good stop before jumping into appealing street food stalls or colorful booths at Ben Thanh Market.

When in here, don’t miss out some of its best offerings:

A O Show at Saigon Opera House

“A O” show gives a true view into the charming beauty and cultural richness of Vietnamese life in the countryside, in comparison with the fast-pace urbanization of the nation. The show features with unique bamboo design, acrobatic acts, theatrical art and contemporary dance. Watching the show gives you some insights into Vietnamese society with the combination of development and preservation.

Teh Dar Show at Saigon Opera House

“Teh Dar” show which means “going in circle” in the highland tribe of K’ho’s tongue gives audience an exploration into world of Vietnamese highlanders with wild animal hunts, moonlit romance, jungle’s tales of death and reincarnation. All backed by perfect bamboo cirque, acrobatic acts, tribal instruments bring a memorable feeling for any audience.

The Mist Show at Saigon Opera House

“The Mist” show tells a story of Southern Vietnamese farming life. This reminds any Vietnamese of the hardship of famers when growing rice. Added that, the show includes the neo-classic and contemporary dance by skilled artists. All brings audience an hour of emotions.

4. Street food tour:

Street food is an inseparable part of Southeast Asian countries. Vietnamese people are told to be smart when they make use of any scraps after their harvests to create abundance of nosh that now becomes sound-like “street food” culture in Vietnam. Spending a night exploring street food is totally worth your time and money. Top places you should pay a visit include Ben Thanh Market, Bui Vien Street, Hanh Thong Tay Night Market (Quang Trung Street, Ward 11, Go Vap District), Tan Dinh Maket (48 Ma Lo, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1), Cay Go Market (Ward 6, District 6).

Street food tour

And what should be listed on your night menu? They are pho, bun (vermicelli), ka tieu (Hu Tieu), steamed rice cakes, Com Tam. Whatever you choose, the tasty flavor will leave a memorable feeling in your mouth and even keep you not saying goodbye to those street food paradises.

5. Dinner cruise down Sai Gon River:

We complete the Guides to enjoy Ho Chi Minh nightlife as locals with cruise experience. For those who wish to enjoy HCMC nightlife with more like romantic and different way, then a dinner cruise down Sai Gon River is surely a right choice. Dinner cruise gives you chances to both savor delectable cuisine and immerse in traditional and soft music on the authentic boats. When on the boat, all you need to do is just to relax and enjoy the night view of Sai Gon River. Maybe, you will come across some family boats on the river. And this is another piece of life in this dynamic city.

Street food tour

Now that, we have shared with you the guides to enjoy Ho Chi Minh nightlife as locals. Which one do you take on your pocket? And it is now time for you to head on Ho Chi Minh City and start your own nightlife journey there.