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

Comments from Utopians:

"Q Bar is the place to be for queers in HCMC on a Sat night. It's mainly guys who attend, but more and more lesbians are slowly coming out. Drinks are a little expensive. Great dance/hip hop music and a really great vibe. Dress to impress! Villa is also good. Not as glamourous as Q Bar and it seems a little more conservative. This one's more for men. Dance music without much dancing. If you like to dance, head to Q Bar." -- Nutella, Apr 16, 2010

"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.