Gay Ho bỏ ra Minh thành phố is a high-octane experience, an intoxicating collision of commerce, culture, food & vitality with a small but vibrant gay scene & plenty of Pride.
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While gay communities in Hanoi và Ho đưa ra Minh đô thị (aka Saigon) are not as visible as those in thái lan (Bangkok, Phuket, và Pattaya) or nearby Queen of Gay Asia, Taipei – everyone is quick to remind you that being gay, or same-sex marriage, has never been against the law here.
There is a laissez-faire attitude lớn the LGBT community, & gay travelers here are extremely unlikely to experience any issues or discrimination.
In fact, the current community buổi tiệc ngọt line conveyed in newspapers now is homosexuality is natural & that to lớn be ‘against’ gays are backward & superstitious – about time, we say! While there is still a long way to go, public opinion is quickly changing in this atheist / authoritarian state, và it’s fair khổng lồ say no one saw this move coming a decade ago.
Only a handful of establishments in Gay Ho đưa ra Minh city are really “gay places”, as in reality, gays here gather in “mixed” hang-outs with their personal friends.
That is not to lớn say there is nothing gay here for travelers, & Ho chi has a growing drag scene, monthly LGBT parties, one of the best gay saunas in Asia and plenty of male mát xa parlors.
If these aren’t for you, you can still rest assured knowing Gay Ho đưa ra Minh thành phố is exceptionally tolerant of LGBT visitors – and has plenty of fabulous luxury resorts, al fresco drip coffee shops, incredible food, craft cocktail bars và hidden corners lớn explore!
In this article we will cover...
Things To bởi vì in Gay Ho bỏ ra Minh City
Obviously, being gay does not define which attractions most of us will want lớn see in each city, and most queer travelers will simply want to check out thetop things lớn see in Ho chi Minh đô thị during the day!
There is so much to vị here – but we found our favorite memories were wandering lost on animated side streets, sipping deliciouscà phê đá in trendy cafes và stuffing ourselves with as much incredible street food as we could!
One of the best tips we can give you for exploring Gay Ho đưa ra Minh thành phố is lớn pre-order a travel SIM card for easy airport pickup và activation the moment you arrive, so you will not pay a fortune in international roaming charges.
Get restaurants recommendation và reservations on the fly, public transport instructions up to the minute, bar opening hours and, if it is your thing – access lớn gay hook-up apps lớn find out more about the local scene.
Mobile data is fast, cheap và available almost everywhere in Asia, so it is no wonder most travelers choose to lớn stay connected and get off the beaten track (without ever worrying about getting lost). So why wait? Pre-order the best local SIM card now khổng lồ have it waiting for you in Vietnam when you arrive.
In Southeast Asia, there is often a digital gap between local suppliers và world travelers và getting around can seem difficult. Luckily, we found Bookaway, which enables travelers to find, compare & book ground transportation tickets online with outstanding user experience and a 24/7 support team that works closely with local suppliers.
If you want to simplify the travel planning process và make travel ticket booking easier – check them out before you travel.
Still – it helps to have some idea of what is going on, so here are the most popular attractions in Ho đưa ra Minh đô thị according to us!
Gay Saigon
A social networking group for gays and their friends living/working or just traveling through vibrant Ho bỏ ra Minh City! Ask advice, find out the if there is a new club/‘gay-centric’ hangout, or just make some new friends!
Saigon Extravaganza Scooter Tours
A fabulously gay-friendly scooter tour team run by true Saigonese guys. They love khổng lồ give tourists the most authentic experience of their hometown. Nightlife, food, or just seeing the city, this excellent team can customize any experience khổng lồ suit your interests.
Thai Cong
Owned by German-Vietnamese interior designer, bầu Cong và his partner, who is a vi xử lý core part of the local LGBT community. Store by their designer interiors siêu thị (ranging from classical khổng lồ neo-classical and modern) & try their fabulous contemporary restaurant with a primarily Asian fusion menu và exceptional pho.
Viet
Pride
An annual Pride event is growing each year throughout Vietnam to show tư vấn and chiến dịch for equality for Vietnam’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Celebrated across Vietnam in different cities between July 29 và October 1, this liberating và exciting sự kiện is paving the way for full societal acceptance of LGBT citizens and helping many queer people to step out into the rainbow-adorned streets khổng lồ celebrate themselves & the community as a whole.
Intercontinental Club
A weekly casual English conversation group is held every Sunday night for local and foreign gay men. Get in touch with the đáng yêu organizer, Danny, if this sounds lượt thích it could be for you!
Mekong Delta
Go on a journey to the stunning countryside of the Mekong Delta, then board a peaceful boat ride along the river khổng lồ see the iconic fishing villages made up of stilt houses và endless rice paddies as far as the eye can see. A fabulous day trip & one of the most popular things to vì in Saigon, gay or straight!
Cu chi Tunnels
Get skinny bitches! Explore the hidden underground world of Vietnam’s byzantine network of tunnels while learning all about the convoluted & incredibly inventive lives of the tunnel dwellers.
Cooking Class
Impress all the boys back trang chủ when you master the art of Vietnamese cooking in Saigon. Acquire the knowledge of how lớn cook authentic Vietnamese dishes while touring around Saigon and shopping at the local market for the fleshiest produce – essential for creating any Vietnamese delicacies.
Water Puppet Show
Want a romantic evening? Why not try the traditional water puppet show complemented by a dinner cruise after? Watch the traditional art form of a water puppet come khổng lồ life before your eyes, with the wonderful sounds of traditional Vietnamese instruments. Later, relax on an evening dinner cruise on the Mekong river with a view of one of the world’s most animated cities.
A O Show
Enjoy a Vietnamese cultural evening at the Saigon Opera House with one of Ho bỏ ra Minh’s most well-known shows. Join in the playful narrative, telling the tale of the people of Vietnam. The show is a live performance featuring some of the best musicians, performing artists, và acrobats in the country.
Viet
Pride
Viet
Pride, the biggest và most colorful pride event in Vietnam, takes place annually in Ho đưa ra Minh City, and is an sự kiện that you simply cannot miss! It’s a great opportunity khổng lồ show your tư vấn for the LGBTQ+ community in Vietnam, as well as celebrate diversity and freedom of expression. The sự kiện started in 2012 và has since grown to lớn become one of the most important LGBTQ+ events in Southeast Asia, attracting more than 10,000 participants each year.
The parade takes place in early August và winds through the streets of Ho đưa ra Minh City, with a colorful và lively procession of floats, music, và people. Viet
Pride also includes a week of events và activities, including music performances, film screenings, and parties, making it a great opportunity khổng lồ meet like-minded people và make new friends. Not only is Viet
Pride a fun & enjoyable event, but it’s also an important moment to lớn raise awareness & promote equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community in Vietnam, and as a traveler, attending Viet
Pride is an excellent way to immerse yourself in local culture and support the LGBTQ+ community.
Gay-Friendly and Gay Hotels in Ho đưa ra Minh City
As Ho đưa ra Minh city is one of the most progressive và gay-friendly cities in Asia, most unique hotels in Ho đưa ra Minh thành phố can be considered gay-friendly, and none of our readers will likely experience issues – after all being gay-friendly is not all about upscale luxury, but about providing friendly service và welcoming everyone with mở cửa arms!
Having said that, everyone likes lớn be surrounded by people with common interests, and as such, there are a few well-known gay-friendly hotels in Ho đưa ra Minh đô thị that are hot spots for gay travelers to lớn stay – either because of their location or their design and inclusive vibes.
The following hotels in
Gay Ho bỏ ra Minh thành phố have all had glowing recommendations from gay travelers in the past, but of course, there arehundreds of other hotels in Ho chi Minh thành phố if these are not quite what you are looking for.
Whether you want a fun & social hostel, a cheap place to crash after a night of partying or a chic designer option to sip cocktails và surround yourself with fabulous people – Gay Ho chi Minh city has something for everyone!
Silverland Yen Hotel☆☆☆☆
Step into pure serenity in this modern hotel, a rare silent note in this often chaotic city found on a peaceful street filled with tamarind trees – yet so close khổng lồ all the gay places in Ho bỏ ra Minh city. Bamboo features và lush foliage adorn the facade of this hotel, a tantalizing taste of what awaits inside.
Inside, simplicity design is filled with natural items and materials designed with rest và relaxation in mind. Wood & stone dominate the décor, with gentle music, a central water feature và a lush garden backdrop completing the sense of serenity and calm.
On the khách sạn rooftop, you will find their famous outdoor Jacuzzi pool. Relax in the warm waters as you take in stunning vistas of downtown Saigon, sip a cocktail on a comfy lounger, or rejuvenate in our sauna or steam bath. What more could you want?
The Myst Dong Khoi☆☆☆☆☆
A timeless, upscale khách sạn frequented by many gay travelers who love the ylang-ylang-scented lobby, hushed modern spaces và singular thiết kế tinged with relics of Saigon’s storied past – stained-glass details, wrought iron roses, and storied local artifacts.
The staff is genuinely warm, the rooms impeccably furnished – without being over the top – và the rooftop infinity pool is just gag-worthy. An oasis of calm in an otherwise wild Gay Saigon, spend your days relaxing by the swimming pool, rejuvenate at the luxe KL Spa, or energize your body and mind at the fitness center.
Park Hyatt Saigon☆☆☆☆☆
Housed in an imposing French Colonial building across from the đô thị Opera House, this posh hotel offers an international kiến thiết that meets all exceptions. The Park Hyatt is unsurprising luxurious – trust us, the đô thị will have enough surprises in store for you that you don’t need them in your hotel. Refined rooms, 24-hour butler service, renowned Italian and French restaurants & a fab tea room, outdoor pool, a fitness center, & a spa.
The Reverie Saigon☆☆☆☆☆
The most spectacularly extravagant hotel in Vietnam takes pride in place on the topmost floors of the landmark Times Square Building in prestigious District 1. The Reverie transcends all exceptions with its world-class hospitality, impeccable service and unique celebration of Haute Italian design & inimitable luxury.
The fabulously elegant rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows, many with panoramic đô thị views và onsite, there is an outdoor pool, a plush spa, a 24-hour gym and five posh drinking and dining options. A hotel like no other, và at a price, you won’t find anything else like this in the Western World!
Fusion Suites Saigon☆☆☆☆
Located in the heart of District 1, just steps from one of Ho bỏ ra Minh City’s oldest parks, the Fusion Suites không đúng Gon is a down-to-earth, gay-friendly “all-suite hotel” designed khổng lồ bring peace and harmony to lớn the modern urban adventurer.
With a daily spa chăm sóc sức khỏe và làm đẹp treatment included in the room rate, Fusion’s chất lượng “breakfast anywhere, anytime” service, và minimalist contemporary design throughout, it’s no wonder gay travelers find this the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s most energetic city.
Chill Suites☆☆☆
An oh-so-chic khách sạn with an inspired Nordic thiết kế palette reminiscent of Bergen, Oslo or Helsinki. Situated in the central District 1, this is our favorite ‘basic’ hotel in town with a great location, wonderfully helpful staff, delicious breakfast, and a gorgeous view from the suites. Very gay-friendly, but really– gay travelers won’t have any trouble in practically any khách sạn here.
Huong Sen Annex Hotel☆☆☆
A gay-popular basic hotel with straightforward rooms, a không tính tiền breakfast, rooftop garden. Close to lớn all the main attractions of Gay Saigon, there is also a spa, an indoor pool, and a fitness room.
Pink Tulip Hotel☆☆☆
A popular – yet basic – gay hotel in Saigon, or at least very, very gay-friendly. Located in the đô thị center close lớn the backpacker district, the owner Anne is a pure delight, & the Pink Tulip khách sạn has a well-established reputation as the go-to place for gay travelers after cheap rooms, fabulous service, & a delicious miễn phí breakfast. Close khổng lồ all the best bars in Gay Saigon.
Prei Nokor Hostel☆☆
A beautiful, designer hostel in HCMC is found in a historic mansion. This hostel will give you three things for sure: relaxed and cozy spaces, a location in the heart of the city, and miễn phí local coffee/tea every day. Gay-friendly, this hostel is perfect for solo travelers looking khổng lồ save some cash and meet other travelers in a very chic space.
Gay Nightlife in Ho đưa ra Minh City
For a đô thị of its size, Gay Ho bỏ ra Minh city has a relatively limited array of gay nightlife – though hopefully, the current boom in tourism will encourage more LGBT bars, clubs, & events lớn spring up in the future.
More known for late-night coffee chats và chic cocktail bars, nightlife here is often focused on tourists & ex-pats with a few younger, wealthy locals. There is only one true gay bar in Ho bỏ ra Minh City, but a few other LGBT-favourite hangouts và events lớn consider as well as some wicked monthly gay parties!
Republic Lounge
The only true gay bar và nightclub in Hi bỏ ra Minh đô thị – và the best place to lớn go to find a queer party. There are fabulous drag shows on the weekends, epic DJs, plenty of dancing & a very young, attractive crowd fuelled by locals and foreigners.
It is mostly EDM dance remixes khổng lồ top-40s, with things getting busy around 10 pm every night. Drinks are not cheap compared khổng lồ other places in Ho bỏ ra Minh, but that is to lớn be expected in this upscale, modern place.
Full Disclosure
You’re perfect; you’re beautiful; you look lượt thích Linda Evangelista. You’re a model. Everything about you is perfect! A monthly LGBT các buổi tiệc nhỏ is featuring outrageous drag shows, an epic DJ late into the night & all your queer family. Kiểm tra their Facebook page for the latest events và locations! This is sure khổng lồ be a busy night. The show generally starts at 10 pm, get there early khổng lồ get the best view of the action!
Les Come Out
Saigon’s first queer women & trans-inclusive event series, with drag kings, burlesque, performance art and glitter being staples of these fabulous events.
Gender
Funk
Saigon’s Biggest Disco Dance tiệc nhỏ provides a safe space khổng lồ explore your creativity, gender, & darkness. These events are not to lớn be missed, & you just know the team behind them is fluffing, brushing, glittering & gluing a feast of hair just for your own eyes! Drag performances, không lấy phí Glitter Bar & best-dressed prizes.
THI Bar
A gay-owned bar in Ho chi Minh thành phố attracts a mixed crowd who come for the regular happy hour specials, live music every night & friendly atmosphere. Small & extremely popular on weekends, this is one of the most LGBT-friendly venues in Ho chi Minh city – and the best place lớn sing, dance and let loose!
Whiskey và Wares
A new cocktail bar owned by two very handsome American guys with a mixed / LGBT popular crowd. Trendy yet intimate, this is one of our favorite hangouts in Vietnam, filled with conversation, unique cocktails, and industrial-style decor. You will feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door và want to lớn return time và time again.
PAPA Cafe
(Temporarily or permanently closed. If you know something, please suggest an edit.)
A small restaurant that has become the local LGBT neighborhood hangout with karaoke, drinks, dinner and plenty of fun. The gay crowd is mostly here earlier in the night before moving on elsewhere. Found just off the Cong Truong Quoc Te traffic roundabout.
Le Pub
A cool bar & nightclub with funky art, lighting và a chilled-out atmosphere. Close lớn the backpacker district, you get a mix of Western and local guys here, và some nights are gayer than others but are always LGBT-friendly. Very popular on weekends with karaoke và an upbeat vibe.
Chill Skybar
Gay or straight, you won’t want to lớn miss a chance to head out in style at this uber-chic 25th-floor rooftop bar. Breathtaking views, delicious – if somewhat expensive – drinks and a designer crowd. What’s not lớn love?
The Gin House
The name says it all, really, one of the best bars in Ho chi Minh đô thị with a chilled atmosphere, great live music, knowledgeable staff, & of course, the best gin & tonics in Vietnam.
The Alley Cocktail Bar và Kitchen
The perfect place to meet for jazzy pop, a quiet catch-up, & delectable drinks. One of the many hidden gems in Gay Saigon, the Alley Bar is both nostalgic and modern with a world-class bartender team, a wide range of wines và innovative cocktails. Our favorite is the Mekong Delta drink, but we will let the owner – Mr. Chảy – tell you more about that.
Gay Spas và Gay Saunasin Ho đưa ra Minh City
Had enough of gay cruising in Ho chi Minh thành phố – either in the bars or elsewhere?
For those who want a bit more guaranteed action, the gay saunas in Ho bỏ ra Minh city are mở cửa late and of surprisingly good quality in general – especially compared khổng lồ other places in Asia lượt thích Shanghai, Chiang Mai, Taichung, và Hanoi!
In such a foreign-friendly city, you will have no issues visiting the Ho bỏ ra Minh đô thị gay sauna as a foreigner – but expect plenty of shy Vietnamese guys who are afraid to break the cảm ứng barrier (like many guys in Asia.)
You will always need to make the first move if you are interested – or head lớn the dark rooms to get right down to lớn business. Gay Sauna và Gay spa chăm sóc sức khỏe và làm đẹp in Ho đưa ra Minh are hard lớn tell apart, & many offer both options, but we have tried lớn separate them out into those more focused on không tính tiền cruising fun – or happy male massages.
Nadam Spa
One of the biggest and most well-known gay saunas in HCMC, drawing in a range of locals, ex-pats, & tourists. Heavenly relaxation, where your senses are taken care of, Nadam is one of the best spas for men in Vietnam – with a fabulous reputation and stunning design, housed in a beautiful imperial palace with ancient brick and wood.
Better than some of our favorite saunas in the world, like Babylon in bangkok or Sun thành phố in Paris. There is a busy dry sauna, steam room, dark room and large jacuzzi – as well as massages, facials và other treatment options. Have fun!
De.soi9 Sauna
A fabulous new and somewhat beautiful Ho đưa ra Min gay sauna in a lush garden, modern design, & all the expected amenities. Locker, steam room, sauna, cinemas, jacuzzi và private cabins – but no mas sa services, nor a bar.
Mostly young đáng yêu guys with little English, but plenty of fun khổng lồ be had in a nice rooftop chill-out space. Not your typical sauna – which is probably why we liked De.soi9 Sauna so much!
The 69 Sauna Zone
A popular new Ho chi Min gay sauna with daily themes including bears, students and 6-pack nights with different discounts for younger members. Crowded with mostly young locals who are quite shy, but foreigners can expect lots of attention.
There are lockers, a sauna, a jacuzzi, a steam bath, a dark room, lockers, and a relaxation zone. 69 Sauna Zone has the same owners as De.Soi9 Sauna.
Ngoc Diep (ND) Spa
(Temporarily or permanently closed. If you know something, please suggest an edit.)
A very small Moroccan-themed sauna with a dark, dark room, sauna, steam room và lockers. Young, shy locals who want khổng lồ play, if someone shows them the way. Located in a little alley, (10°47’01.5″N 106°40’23.9” E) with the group và private rooms.
Nam Spa
Previous a reputable male mát xa parlor in Ho đưa ra Min with a side dry sauna, steam room & swimming pool – but things seem lớn have declined. Why was once a beautiful boutique male spa with a sauna, jacuzzi và steam room now seems lớn be almost entirely about the massages with showers broken và the jacuzzi empty on the last visit?
Hopefully, they return to their previously high standards – but currently are not worth visiting in this crowded market.
Male Massage and Gay Spain Ho bỏ ra Minh City
Don’t care about the sights or simply want lớn take advantage of affordable gay massages in Ho chi Minh City? Then why not get a sensual male mas sa in Ho bỏ ra Minh city – there are plenty of options!
Here are the đứng top recommended gay spas and male mas sa in Ho chi Minh thành phố options (there are other gay massage places, of course – we have just heard mixed review about the rest!). A range of treatments are available, and what happens in private is between the masseur và you.
To be blunt, most people that go for body-to-body massages are usually looking for sex, so make sure you get the right masseur to lớn match what you are after. Và don’t hold too tight on your money; you will get what you pay more.
Rainbow Spa
A central male mas sa in Ho chi Min with dễ thương boys và a helpful owner. Newly opened with skilled và friendly staff offering a variety of treatment options.
Hero Spa
A gay spa in Ho đưa ra Min with a range of massage treatments, a sauna, and a jacuzzi. The focus here is on male massages; you select your boy through an i
Pad & your preferred treatment option. Prices are expensive – even by Vietnam standards – and chất lượng is hit-or-miss.
Yang Spa
A centrally located spa làm đẹp for men in Ho chi Min with professional male masseurs who are very adept at relieving và relaxing treatments. A very basic fit-out, and not the cheapest, but you are unlikely to be disappointed with the range of treatments on offer here.
Guy spa House
Technically there is a sauna and outdoor pool here, but it is all about Vietnamese male massages. Quite far from the central areas, but cute masseurs (though you normally cannot choose). They all demand tips for whichever treatment you opt for – as is the way with these sorts of things. Hit-or-miss, with average khổng lồ sub-par cleanliness và overall not worth the trip out.
Gay map Of Ho chi Minh City
Finding it hard lớn envisage where everything is Gay Ho đưa ra Minh City? Hopefully, this queer-centric maps helps where we have marked all the bars, clubs, parties, hotels, saunas, massages và more will help you stay in the spot best suited to lớn you!
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Our comprehensive gay guide khổng lồ Saigon (Ho đưa ra Minh City) includes highlights of the city"s gay scene, gay friendly hotels to lớn stay in, the best things to lớn do, where lớn eat, và more.
“Guys, just follow my lead & slowly cross the road with me: the cars và motorbikes will just weave their way around you…”
…so said our friend quan who showed us how lớn navigate the crazy traffic of the streets of Saigon. Honestly, you"ve not been to lớn Saigon until you"ve tried to cross over one of the main roads or taken a scooter ride through the busy jungle of moving vehicles; it"s something you won"t forget in a hurry!
Saigon is a lot of fun. It"s busy, frenetic, has super feisty locals, manic traffic, and delicious street food. The gay scene is also pretty good, with a large LGBTQ community of both ex-pats & locals.
This is one place we quickly fell in love with và know you will too! It"s definitely a must for LGBTQ travelers visiting South East Asia and we"ve got you covered in our comprehensive gay travel guide right here.
Covered in this guide: show
1What"s the difference between Saigon & Ho đưa ra Minh City?
2How safe is Ho chi Minh city for gay travelers?
3The gay neighborhood of Ho đưa ra Minh City
4Gay hotels in Saigon
5Gay Bars in Ho chi Minh City
6Gay clubs in Ho bỏ ra Minh City
7Gay events in Saigon
8Gay saunas/spas in Saigon
9Gay restaurants in Ho đưa ra Minh City
10What to bởi in Ho đưa ra Minh City
11Planning your trip to Saigon
12Gay maps of Ho chi Minh City
What"s the difference between Saigon & Ho đưa ra Minh City?
So we hear you asking, what"s the actual difference between Saigon và Ho bỏ ra Minh City? Is it the same place?
Short answer – yes! The đô thị has actually gone by many different names in its long & complicated history, reflecting different groups that have controlled it through the years. It was named “Gia Din” until the French conquest of the 1860s, when it was named Sài Gòn – and westernized lớn be “Saigon”. After the ‘Fall of Saigon‘ at the over of the Vietnam war, the đô thị was renamed Ho chi Minh thành phố in honor of the late North Vietnamese president, Mr. Ho chi Minh.
Nowadays the name Saigon is still used khổng lồ refer to lớn the đô thị center around District 1, while Ho bỏ ra Minh thành phố generally means the entire modern thành phố with all its districts. But don"t be surprised to still find places (especially hotels) named after Saigon as people often use the names interchangeably.
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How safe is Ho chi Minh city for gay travelers?
We found Vietnam as a whole lớn be quite welcoming towards us as a gay couple. In relation khổng lồ LGBTQ rights, Vietnam has never had any anti-gay laws and although gay marriage is not yet recognized, the outright ban on it was lifted in 2015.
One thing we would mention is just to take caution with public displays of affection & perhaps avoid them being on the safe side. As gay friendly as Vietnam is towards foreigners, attitudes nonetheless are quite conservative và there are still no anti-discrimination laws in place khổng lồ protect you should anything happen.
While Hanoi hosts the main gay events, Ho đưa ra Minh is where you will find the best gay bars and clubs in all of Vietnam. It"s also home to a large & thriving LGBTQ community comprised of both ex-pats and locals. The gay scene of Saigon is constantly changing & evolving; bars/clubs open and close all the time, which we"ve kept up lớn date in this guide.
Find out more in our interview with local boy quan liêu from Saigon about gay life in Vietnam.
The gay neighborhood of Ho bỏ ra Minh City
There isn"t an official gay neighborhood in Ho chi Minh City, but most of the queer hangouts can be found in and around District 1, which is also the most touristic area. District 1 is home to the city"s major museums, fine dining, and exciting nightlife, as well as most of the international 5-star hotels.
If you"re traveling on a budget, you"ll want to kiểm tra out the area on the fringes of District 1, which has become known as “the backpacker district”. There are plenty of affordable gay friendly accommodation options around Bui Vien and Pham đần độn Lao streets, while still being close khổng lồ all the major sights.
Gay hotels in Saigon
All the places we stayed in Saigon had no issue with hosting a gay couple. As a rule of thumb, international chain hotels are accustomed lớn dealing with LGBQ travelers anyway, & there are also a handful of hotels that also cater specifically khổng lồ queer travelers, which we"ve mix out here:
01
The Reverie Saigon
District 1
There"s a beautiful outdoor swimming pool on the 6th floor, which looks out over Saigon và features plenty of comfy spots khổng lồ lounge. The large fitness center also gives you the chance khổng lồ work up a sweat while looking out over the pool or the đô thị through panoramic windows. For some relaxation và pampering the spa làm đẹp has a huge các mục of treatments khổng lồ enjoy, from massages to toàn thân wraps, facials, toàn thân scrubs, và massages. They also offer a thắm thiết couple"s packages.
There are no less than FIVE different places lớn dine in the Reverie. Romeo & Juliet Restaurant (or R&J as it"s often called) serves authentic Italian dishes in a stunning space with Italian mosaics, elaborate candelabras, & a collection of differently styled dining chairs. There"s also the Royal Pavilion for exquisite Chinese cuisine (and decor) while Cafe Cardinal has the best French desserts và pastries. If you can manage khổng lồ roll yourself outside, the rest of the city will be waiting for you!
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As you can see, the outdoor pool is a haven of relaxation và sophistication. The provided pool service means you can have a drink or snack while lounging in the sun, or perhaps a thắm thiết sunset cocktail. There"s also a large fitness center with lots of amenities to keep yourself looking good. The Xuan spa chăm sóc sức khỏe và làm đẹp uses traditional Vietnamese rituals and ingredients, with treatments based on resources from the Mekong Delta – the perfect way khổng lồ relax after sightseeing.
While you"ll be able to lớn easily explore the restaurants and cafes surrounding the hotel, there are also plenty of fine dining options within the building. Opera is the main restaurant, comprising the main dining room, bar, and verandah where you can enjoy Italian cuisine. Square One on the mezzanine floor combines French và Vietnamese dishes for quality flavors as well as a cellar door for wine tasting. & that"s not even mentioning the two bars, pastry boutique, và lounge where you can have afternoon tea!
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03
Beautiful Saigon Boutique Hotel
District 1
The bedrooms are very clean & cozy. To save money you could book a room without a window, although it"s still very affordable to lớn stay in one with a balcony and/or a pool view. Even though the khách sạn is located in a busy part of town, known for its noisy nightlife, the khách sạn itself is very quiet. The staff is exceedingly friendly, helpful, và able to lớn assist you in organizing excursions or activities to vị in the city.
Guests can enjoy a big (free!) búp phê breakfast next to the pool each morning, with many western và Vietnamese dishes lớn sample, from traditional Vietnamese pho, to good old bacon và eggs. Beautiful Saigon also has its own in-house spa, where you can relax with different types of massages, or treatments such as waxing, pedicures, body toàn thân scrubs, and body toàn thân wraps.
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04
Prei Nokor Hostel
District 1
The staff is super friendly, helpful, and chatty with everyone. They will tell you all about the history of Saigon as well as give recommendations for things lớn do, see, and where lớn eat nearby. The hostel is also right next to lớn the huge Ben Thanh market, which has a food section as well as lots of options for buying souvenirs or gifts khổng lồ take trang chủ with you.
We love how the interior of the hostel looks like an ultra-modern thủ đô new york loft, with balconies looking down over the courtyard & potted plants everywhere. Even the dorm rooms are beautifully designed with privacy curtains, plenty of storage space, lamps inside your bunk, và gorgeous shared bathrooms. Walking inside Prei Nokor is like stepping into another world!
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Gay Bars in Ho đưa ra Minh City
We loved the gay scene in Saigon. There is a large & active LGBTQ community here along with a handful of gay bars to check out. Most of them can be found on the lively De Tham Street, in the heart of the backpacker area. Cảnh báo that the following gay bars of Saigon have permanently closed: “The Tipsy Unicorn”, and “Whiskey & Wares” (rebranded into Pride cà phê restaurant).
Chin
Chin Bar (and Republic Lounge)
We love the gay scene of Saigon mainly because of Chin
Chin Bar. It"s a super fun night out where almost every gay in the đô thị eventually ends up at! We suggest heading here around 11 pm or midnight when it starts to lớn get going. On Wednesdays they have “Boys Nights” on Friday evenings they have hilarious drag shows that you have lớn see at least once! Oh – and did we forget the cocktails? They"re pretty damn tasty và super chất lượng – Co
Co Cum anyone? That"s gin, contreau, strawberry puree, & bubblegum!
Chin
Chin is located at 75 hồ Tùng Mậu d1 & is open only from Wednesday khổng lồ Sunday till late.
Note that Chin
Chin took over the old Republic Lounge và sometimes may refer to lớn the new bar as ‘Chin Chin Republic". Bởi vì not confuse it with ‘called ‘Republic Club", which is a completely different (straight) club in Saigon!
Thi Bar
Located in the Bui Vien backpacker"s area, Thi Bar is owned and run by a French-Vietnamese gay couple. It attracts a mixed crowd who come khổng lồ enjoy the live music. Friday & Saturday are the main gay nights where the local gay lads alternate between The Tipsy Unicorn and here before heading over to Chin
Chin later on. Located at 224 De Tham Street, Thi Bar is open every day (except Tuesdays) until late.
Frolic Bar
Frolic is the hot new gay bar in Ho bỏ ra Minh, with a vibe similar lớn the old Tipsy Uniform that has since closed down. It attracts a mixed LGBTQ crowd as well as backpackers, giving it a very open and accepting vibe. Their Disco Nights on Saturdays are the most popular. Other themed nights include “Girls Night” on Wednesdays and “Frolic Friday” (oh Matron!)… Frolic is located at 63 De Tham, Q1, và is xuất hiện daily until around 2am (6am on weekends).
Papa Cafe
Papa Cafe is more of a restobar that turns into one of the hottest gay hangouts later in the evening, particularly at weekends. We love their karaoke nights – let"s just say that Vietnamese gay guys are very passionate about belting out their live Diva tunes! Upstairs is the more uber-cool chill-out lounge area lớn hang out with friends. Papa cà phê is xuất hiện every day from 7 am-midnight and is located at Cong Truong Quoc Te, right next khổng lồ the Turtle Lake traffic roundabout.
Poc Poc Beer Garden
Poc Poc is a local pub famous for its beers. It"s the best place to come and connect with locals, but the best time lớn come is on weekends when they host their own themed drag shows. Due to lớn the drag shows, Poc Poc attracts a very mixed LGBTQ crowd on weekends, particularly locals. Poc Poc Beer Garden is located at 79A Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Phường Võ Thị Sáu and is xuất hiện daily until around 2am.
Vietnamese Gay Drag Bingo Shows
For a very local LGBTQ experience, we recommend heading to one of the drag gay bingo shows. They"re located a bit far out from the center, but well worth the trek. One of the most famous is called Lô sơn Hương nam, which has a show every day at 6:30 pm – the location is Đầm Sen Nightmarket, kênh Tân Hoá st, ward 3, District 11. Another awesome Vietnamese drag bingo show to kiểm tra out is không nên Gòn Tân thời, which has a show every week, usually, on a Friday – location is Outdoor stage 141 Bắc hải, 14 Ward, D10.
Gay clubs in Ho đưa ra Minh City
The main gay club in Saigon is Chin
Chin. There are also a few gay events that take place every few weeks or months at different locations throughout the city. We"ve mix the main ones out below:
Full Disclosure Entertainment
Full Disclosure Entertainment organizes super fun gay parties in Saigon every month. Our favorite is ‘Yaaaas" – let"s just say that as pop music geeks, we can never get enough of Britney, Beyonce, và Lady Gaga on the dancefloor! Make sure you kiểm tra their Facebook page to see what"s coming up while you"re in the city.
Les Come Out
Another excellent organization that organizes lesbian & trans-inclusive parties. It was created by the ‘Amazing Race 5" contestants Nic & Lisa Truong-Marchetto. They aim to lớn provide safe spaces for the local LGBTQ community & we totally high-five them for this! Be sure to kiểm tra out their Facebook page for details of the latest upcoming events.
Gender
Funk
Another favorite of ours. Gender
Fuck hosts the best gender-inclusive parties in Saigon with hilarious drag performances. This is a safe space where anyone, regardless of gender or orientation, can express themselves & experience the fun of drag. Check out their Facebook page khổng lồ find out details of the next party.
Gay events in Saigon
In terms of official gay events in Ho bỏ ra Minh City, there"s really only Viet
Pride in August. We"ve also included some other fun events that are definitely worth checking out if you"re there at the right time of year.
Viet
Pride aka Saigon Pride (August)
While Viet
Pride began in Hanoi, it now takes place in cities across the country, including Saigon. A big parade marches down Nguyen Street with thousands of participants waving rainbow flags. There are also lots of gay parties, film screenings, and other activities surrounding the Pride celebrations, so keep an eye on the Facebook page if you want khổng lồ know all the details for the next one.
Tet – Vietnamese New Year (February)
Tet is the name for the Vietnamese New Year, which takes place based on the lunar calendar và is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture. Celebrating the arrival of spring, Tet usually falls in January or February. During Tet, Vietnamese families make traditional foods và also decorate their homes with beautiful flower displays.
Songkran (April)
Songkran is the Buddhist New Year, which is most known for being celebrated in xứ sở của những nụ cười thân thiện but is also celebrated by many Buddhists in Vietnam. In Saigon, the entire gay community gets involved to take part in the “Thai water festival Songkran” which is like a huge street-wide water fight organized by Saigon Outcast.
National Day (September)
National Day or Independence Day is a national holiday in Vietnam that celebrates the declaration of independence of Vietnam after WWII as well as commemorates the passing away of Ho chi Minh. Taking place on the 2nd of September every year, you"ll be able khổng lồ see lots of lit-up signs, flags, flower displays, a parade, và even fireworks at night.
Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October)
The mid-autumn festival, also known as Trung Thu, celebrates the kết thúc of the harvest season và is the second most important festival in Vietnam after the Lunar New Year. The best way khổng lồ celebrate Trung Thu in Saigon is in the Phu Bin lantern-making village, one of the few villages in the thành phố that still make glass paper lanterns for the festival. It"s beautiful lớn see all the lanterns glowing, & don"t forget lớn try some delicious traditional moon cakes.
Gay saunas/spas in Saigon
There are many male-only spas & saunas in Saigon, where you can go for some discrete cruising action. Vietnamese guys are usually pretty shy so you might need to lớn make the first move, but these saunas are also a good way khổng lồ just relax and make some new friends.
Na
Dam Spa
Na
Dam Spa is one of the biggest & most well-known gay saunas in the city, with truly stunning Vietnamese architecture. There are wooden walkways above a pond filled with koi và numerous leafy plants everywhere. Facilities include a steam room, dry sauna, a wet area with rain showers, and two bathing pools, one with Jacuzzi jets và massage fountains. This is a gorgeous spot to relax & maybe have some fun! Located at QL13, Hiep Binh Chanh Ward, Na
Dam Spa is open every day from midday until 10 pm.
The Sixty
Nine Zone
Run by the same people behind De.Soi9 Sauna, The Sixty
Nine Zone is a popular gay sauna that holds regular themed days for bears, students, etc. Spread out over two floors there"s a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, & even a private play space called “The Tiger Cage Area” – phwoar!!! The Sixty
Nine Zone is located at 39/3 Pham Ngoc Thach Street và is mở cửa every day from 11 am-11 pm.
De.soi9 Sauna
De.soi9 is not your typical sauna, but definitely a lot of fun! Down a quiet alley in the heart of Saigon, there"s a lush garden that makes the place feel more lượt thích a beer garden than a sauna. There"s a steam room, sauna, cinema, Jacuzzi, và private cabins, as well as a nice rooftop where you can laze in the sun. De.soi9 Sauna is located at 24 Dinh Tien Hoang Street & is open daily from 1 pm-10 pm.
3 Some Spa
Located right by the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Garden, this is a newish gay spa làm đẹp that specializes in traditional Vietnamese massages. There"s also a sauna, Jacuzzi, and titanium salt bath to lớn enjoy. We like the little included extras like không tính phí water, herbal tea, coffee, và fruit. 3 Some spa chăm sóc sức khỏe và làm đẹp is xuất hiện every day from 11.30 am-11.30 pm và is located at 29/6 Nguyen Binh Khiem St.
Gay restaurants in Ho bỏ ra Minh City
Ho chi Minh thành phố has an abundance of excellent restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, particularly French, Chinese and Vietnamese. These are our favorite gay-owned or gay-friendly restaurants và cafes where you can have some delicious food.
This place really lives up lớn its name, since it"s hidden down an alley and at the top of a four-story building. Secret Garden serves home-cooked Vietnamese meals in a lovely breezy rooftop patio setting, decorated with pretty lanterns, wooden furniture, và lots of plants. It"s welcoming to foreigners but also very popular with locals, due to lớn the delicious và authentic Vietnamese cuisine. The Goi Du Du Tom Thit (yeah, we know, try not to laugh when ordering ‘du du"!) was our favorite – it"s a delicious papaya salad with dried shrimp & dried pork that really pops with flavor.
Don"t despair vegan và vegetarian readers, there are some excellent options in Saigon, especially the epic Filthy Vegan restaurant! Not only is everything on the thực đơn vegan, but they also try very hard to lớn be zero waste, with biodegradable utensils and packaging for takeaway. Filthy Vegan serves some delicious vegan versions of western home-comfort và junk foods lượt thích cottage pie, hot dogs, cheesecake, or doughnuts. The owner Keiron is very friendly và a fountain of knowledge about what to bởi around the city. Don"t miss the cozy bean bag lounge area upstairs.
What to bởi in Ho bỏ ra Minh City
Ho bỏ ra Minh city has a rich history that begs to lớn be explored, as well as lots of exciting modern sights and activities. These are the best things to bởi vì in and around Ho chi Minh thành phố which we really enjoyed:
Cu chi Tunnels Daytrip
One of the most famous attractions in Ho đưa ra Minh City, and deservedly so, are the Cu đưa ra Tunnels. During the Vietnam War, this immense network of underground tunnels was used extensively by Viet Cong troops. Nowadays the tunnels have been converted into a war memorial park where you can find out what conditions were like, and even squeeze yourself into some of the tunnels. Our tour khổng lồ the Cu bỏ ra Tunnels was absolutely fascinating, as well as an interesting way khổng lồ learn more about some of the harsh realities of the Vietnam War.
Saigon is home to many beautiful & historic buildings which you definitely need to explore during your time in the city. We discovered that the most fun way to experience all the beautiful spots was via a bicycle tour of the city. We loved seeing the French-colonial buildings throughout Saigon, lượt thích the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral, the General Post Office, & the Opera House. Exploring by xe đạp also gives the tour a more authentic feel, since you"re right in the heart of the action, plus our local guide took us to lớn all the best street food markets for a delicious lunch.
Vietnam is full of so much delicious food, and Saigon was a veritable smorgasbord for these two greedy boys! We joined a street food tour to lớn find out all the best places khổng lồ eat delicious local treats lượt thích bo cuon mo chai (barbecued beef meatballs) and bo bia (Saigonese spring roll). You also get to lớn find out all about how Chinese cuisine has been integrated into Vietnamese life, while you munch on Cantonese barbecued pork and Chinese dim-sum. Make sure you also visit the amazing Ben Thanh Market, which sells lots of Vietnamese souvenirs, as well as having an incredible street food section.
With a kiến thiết based on Vietnam"s national flower, the lotus, the tập đoàn bitexco Financial Tower is the second tallest building in Saigon. You can visit the tower"s Skydeck for breathtaking views over the city, especially thắm thiết if you time your trip for sunset. There are information panels about the different parts of the city, as well as the Ao dẻo Museum where you can see traditional Vietnamese costumes. There"s also a bar, cafe, và restaurant on different floors of the tower if you want a meal with panoramic views. Beer aficionados will particularly love the very fun Heineken experience too!
To the west of Saigon is the beautiful Mekong Delta area, a region where the Mekong River empties into the sea through small tributary channels. We found this area khổng lồ be the perfect destination for a day trip out of the city, where you can see a more rural way of life as well as keeping an eye out for the 1000s of animal species native to lớn the region. You can visit the Mekong Delta on a ‘non-touristy" day trip which includes exploring an orchid farm, cycling next to lớn rice fields, cruising down the river, and stopping off at a local temple. A traditional Vietnamese lunch is included, plus there are charming country markets lớn explore.
The Saigon Opera House is a beautiful building in Ho bỏ ra Minh City, built in the French Colonial style in 1897. Sure, you can just visit and look at it from the outside, but what we really recommend is seeing a breathtaking acrobatics show inside! You"ll get to lớn see stone-carved statues at the entrance, as well as the crystal chandeliers, và shiny hoa cương floor in the lobby area – all built with materials imported from France. Lune Productions is currently showing two Vietnamese performances at the Opera House that effortlessly mix acrobatics, traditional music, và stunning visuals. Get your tickets online lớn enjoy a fantastic night out.
To learn more about the Vietnam War & its effects on the people of Vietnam, we highly recommend a visit khổng lồ the War Remnants Museum. It"s very eye-opening khổng lồ see how the war is viewed & talked about in Vietnam as opposed to lớn how it"s often portrayed in Western media. The moving exhibits và information can be confronting but it"s always important khổng lồ understand the horrors of war so we can try not lớn repeat past mistakes. You can combine a visit lớn the War Remnants Museum with a tour khổng lồ the Cu đưa ra Tunnels, or just head there by yourself.
We love a good cup of coffee and we especially luuurve the Vietnamese style! You might be surprised to lớn discover that coffee was only brought to lớn Vietnam in the late 19th-century by the French colonists since there are coffee shops everywhere now. There are many coffee plantations in the central highlands of Vietnam, và the country is one of the biggest coffee exporters in the world. We joined a coffee-making class in Saigon to lớn find out more about the history of Vietnamese coffee, also known as Ca Phe Sua Da, & why it"s so delicious. Hint: it"s not just about the sweetened condensed milk…
Water puppetry is a Vietnamese tradition that dates back lớn the 11th-century & is a pretty amazing thing to lớn see. The puppets are made of lacquered wood and controlled by puppeteers from behind a screen. The puppets are on a piece of wood và the shows are performed over a pool of water, so it looks lượt thích the puppets are actually floating. You can see a water puppet show in Saigon while listening to traditional Vietnamese orchestral music & then go on a dinner cruise afterward, We loved this colorful experience, especially seeing a fire-breathing long puppet!
If you want the chance khổng lồ see some wild animals lượt thích monkeys & crocodiles, then we really enjoyed taking a day trip khổng lồ the Vam Sat Mangrove Forest near Saigon. This biosphere reserve is teeming with wildlife among the mangrove trees, and it was just enchanting to lớn cruise along the tranquil waters. We saw gibbons, monkeys, birds, bats, and crocodiles on our trip, even getting the chance to lớn feed the crocs via a fishing rod! Sometimes Saigon can be very chaotic & loud, so being able khổng lồ get out into nature is a wonderful, relaxing way lớn recharge.
Planning your trip to Saigon
We"ve put together some handy hints và tips to help you plan your own trip khổng lồ Ho bỏ ra Minh City/Saigon. Read on lớn find out everything the gay traveler should know before they go.
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How lớn get there: You can get khổng lồ Ho bỏ ra Minh đô thị via air, train, bus, và ferry. If you are flying into Ho chi Minh then you"ll be arriving at the rã Son Nhat International Airport. The airport is very close to lớn the city, but traffic congestion means it can take between 20-30 minutes khổng lồ get into District 1 of the city. There are buses & taxis to lớn get from the airport khổng lồ the city center, although we prefer khổng lồ use a private airport transfer so we don"t have to worry about navigating public transport in a new đô thị with piles of luggage.