Gay Travel to Vietnam
HCM
Airliner's spa: known as 'air spa', this is the new hot spot next to the airport. Take Hong Ha Street just before the airport to the end, you will find a sport complex on your right. The sauna is just below the swimming pool at the far end. This place is opposite vietnam airline's crew dorm, so you might find some trolly dollies there. Two jaccuzis and a tiny steam room assure lots of underwater and steamy actions. Masseurs there are gorgeous. Entrance is D50000 for sauna, D70000 with massage. Of course you need to pay extra to the masseur.
Most of the cafes in Saigon have many gays in them all the time. The trouble is they sometimes go to the coffee shops with female friends so you don't realise they are gay. I was at table of 8 friends the other day. % of us were gay and the 3 girls came along to allow this to work. I have a friend here from the US at the moment and he gets a guy everynight he is at the cafe. Most of the time we go to a Windows Coffee Shop but there are hundreds in Saigon and most of them will have gay guys there any time of the day. The idea is to sit and watch and you can pick them out. My friend just asks them if they want to out and has no trouble.
u can come to Phuong Cac cafe every morning sunday, they are rather there every sunday morning., alsmost gay there. but maybe there just for window shopping, because a cute guy always being with someone. not free. enjoy ur weekend
H
Massage in HCMC is no longer as cheap as most of the listings here. Now it will cost you around VD200000 or more (USD13). The sauna/spa charges from VD70000 to VD100000. But that is for the spa. You need to pay the masseur. At the end of the session, you will be asked to put the number on a paper. The usual price for is VD100000. The masseur will ask for VD200000. Most ppl end up paying VD150000. So all together, prepare to pay USD12-15.
They can ask u 200,000 Vnd, being human, everyone like more money, but its depends on how they work, but i only tip 100,000 VND. although they ask more. Have a nice day and hope u enjoy ur trip in Saigon as in Vietnam
H
America Club: The whole scene has changed after its renovation. Now there's hardly any gay crowd in this club. Probably due to too many restrictions. If you wear sleeveless clothes, sandals, or shorts, you will not be allowed to the dance floor. Lots of bouncers and waiters around watching you all the time. You can't be relaxed. Except for the music, nothing else worths visiting this club.
Golden Smile Club is a small place, be ready for 40minutes ride from district 1 with always traffic. Massage is quite decent given the price of some US3. Dont let them do extras (dont cum) or they will hassle you with US30 tips. there are lots of guys there, no private rooms or private areas. it is fun, and a easy place to pick up guys for a night out. Lots of young guys. I recommend it but be careful with the massage guys. They are much smarter than they look like
Golden Smile is awesome ... great young guys and the staff are helpful ... been there a few times as i live here 6 months on and a few off ... i have been lucky with the massage guys... great place to just chill and awesome steam room ...
They are always demand like that, but u can give 100,000 Tip or how much u want ,its ok. tip is for ur please of the service they give. Its a nice place to come for sauna and make friend with guy for night out.
my name is phan, 30y/o, dist 3.
nice to meet you
if you like make friend, contact me
email jbnguyencau2yahoo.com
Visited Saigon during the Chinese New Year, and found it not to be a very gay friendly place. Paid a visit to Eden Bar, which is indeed a cozy place with a very friendly staff, few of the female staff were not very friendly to us once they knew we were gay. The food served is really good, and the price is excellent. Is a great place to eat, but it has nothing gay about it, maybe just the owner. As mentioned by other member Eden bar is filled with backpackers. Visited Apocalypse now, loved the music and the people around us, is a must visit while in Saigon. This time the gay crowd was by the entrance, it seemed to me that they tend to stay together even though they do not know each other. Met some very friendly gay guys and others a bit confuse about their sexuality. Missed Samsara and the Golden Smile club was close because of the holidays.
I was in saigon last week of december. Don't fall for the pimps going around downtown or Dong Khoi area. They will charge you sky-high prices, then give you guys that are nowhere near good-looking, then charge you more afterwards. Just go to the spas or bars where you can directly meet guys of your choice. Just some advice.
HI H
nice to meet u, im Huy,in Saigon.
could u send me email pls: rhinoonehorn@yahoo.com
have a nice day
HI cuties, WELCOME TO SAIGON VIETNAM - The hidden charms. Hope we can meet when u are in Saigon. pls send me email : rhinoonehorn@yahoo.com. nice to meet u, hope u have a nice trip in Saigon as in vietnam
H
Hi You,
I am Saigonese and working in Ho Chi Minh city. Your message is interested me to hand out and fun with you to be a good relationship. Hope you will enjoy good time in Ho Chi Minh.
Please message me to warrenhcm@yahoo.com
Hi guys. I was at AIRLINERS' SPA, 108a Hong Ha Street, Tan Binh District. The place is run down and in need of major cleaning. However, step in and you'll smell only testosterone! The massage is VND100,000 per session. I was the only foreigner there. No one speaks English but you'll find your way around in that small place as everyone else is looking for fun too.
Went to a great spa called Thien Phu, 118, Duong S6 8, P4 Q8. 088505846. 60,000 VND entry (pay on leaving). Choose a masseur from a photo albumn and pay him 3$ or more for the excellent service.
Went to Samsara again last night. Total ripoff with beer three times the price it is Eden bar, and on top of that, I now know that none of the staff can be gay because the manager will get rid of them if he finds out they are! My thanks to the brave waiter who discussed this matter with me.
there is a gay sauna massage at 260 or thereabouts Dao Duy Anh Street, Phu Nhuan District, HCMC. Although being raided couple of times, they are still operating.
hello, iam new here, just moved from HN to SG, wanna look for some friends for funs and friends, email me to : quang1020@yahoo.com.
Eden has Halloween party on october Saturday 27 th at 7pm with fancy dress and dancing at 9 pm till late , so wish all you enjoy Halloween party and hook up someone there ( address 236 De Tham str ,dist 1 Ho Chi Minh City )
hi everyone!i am CHRIS 19 yo.i am looking for a long term,serious relationship! hope see anuy guys.i am cute,honest!!!contact by anata_8x@yahoo.com
Golden Smile Karaoke, 230 Le Hong Phong Street, District 10, run by the same owners of Golden Smile Club, specially for gays. Come and sing along
There is a club, SACCO CLUB along Hong Ha Street, Tan Binh District, HoChiMinh City near Airport area. Massage, Saunas and swimming pool. Cruisy and massage. Haven't tried yet. Just heard from a friend. Anyone free can check it out and update. Cheers
Just updating the Golden Smile Club. I have been to many other saunas that have popped up in Saigon but they come and go and still not the value of Golden Smile. The staff are still very friendly and most of the guys are cute. Still lots of fun.
I would like to recommend some places I got information from and went to already...
Sauna : Toan Thang Sauna located in 126 Thanh Thai P.12 Districk 10 Tel. 8 632 096 There are 3 floor with small sauna room but quite crowded and all men here looking for fun
Sauna : 219 Ly Thuong Kiet , P15- District 11 Tel. 8641688 quite ok but not crowded also have massage provided
Karaoke : Paris Dong Phuong 22 Ba Huyen Thank Quan P.6, District 3 Tel 9302796 crowded and a lot of cute gays over there.
Restaurant : Cafe Diem Tam sang 213 Bis Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Q.3, TP Tel 9327484
Thank you UTOPIA to let me have a great experience in Vietnam
Hi ! Iam Vietnamese , 21ys , 1m78 ( 5'10 ) 66 kg ( 145 lbs ) , nice .
contact me at : vn385@yahoo.com
thanks
Saigon (called Ho Chi Minh City when written, Saigon when spoken by the locals) is broad and breezy, tropical and easy-going, with just the right balance of urbanity and grittiness. The population of metropolitan Ho Chi Minh City is nearing 10 million (400,000 of whom are Utopians).
The European-flavored heart of the city stretches from the river to the Opera House along Dong Khoi St, lined with 5-star hotels, trendy coffee shops and fine dining. Many clubs that are popular with gays are also located in District 1, just a short hop, skip or taxi jump from one another other.
The downtown section of District 1 is easy to navigate using our Utopia map:
Warnings from Utopians:
"Taxis with phone numbers 811-1111 or 827-2727 are more reliable. Their meters start at D$12,000 (D$14,000 for van) and their drivers are less likely to go a long way. Private, small taxis tend to cheat tourists with some meters starting at D$17,000." -- billylondon, Mar 3, 2007
"I am living in HCMC. Foreign tourists are welcome. But here are some warnings and advice: 1) use Vinasun or Mai Linh taxis for transportation. They are honest businesses; 2) do not hire masseurs who cycle around (they are always threatening to call the police. Do not worry. The police will arrest him, not you. He knows clearly about this so he'll never call police); 3) if you are threatened with blackmail, do not worry because local Police are familiar with scams towards foreign tourists. Saigon is a friendly city no matter where are you from. Have a good stay in HCMC." -- dragon2001, Jul 25, 2006
Eden Guesthouse
236 De Tham St, District 1 (Pham Ngu Lao area), 836-8154, email. A gay and lesbian-friendly, clean guest house located upstairs from the Eden Bar (a discount is available on food and drinks for guests staying here). Utopia Member Discount
Hong Kong Hotel
22 Bui Vien Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, (84-8) 836-4904 FAX 836-8757. Recommended by travelers as gay friendly and no hassles with visitors.
Comments from Utopians:
"I also stayed at the Hong Kong Hotel for 10 days. The manager was a nice guy. My room was US$10 with a good breakfast included. Note that most hotels in Vietnam do not have lifts, so in some cases you may get plenty of exercise." -- Rayko, Nov 19, 2006
"The Hong Kong Hotel was friendly, helpful, clean, discreet, safe and cheap." -- KenW, May 29, 2006
Spring Hotel
44 Le Thanh Ton St, District 1 (the street which runs in front of the People's Central Committee headquarters), 829-7362, FAX 822-1383. Longtime favorite with gay travelers. Very friendly staff and no hassles. 45 rooms.
Comments from Utopians:
"I recently stayed at the Spring Hotel. The service was first class, the room was clean and the staff friendly. I had visitors on a couple of occasions and, except for having to register at the front desk, there were no issues with having guests in the room." -- CalGuySF, Jan 1, 2007
"I stayed at the Spring Hotel. Well kept with friendly staff. I had a room with good light and view of the city. Pretty pleased with it." -- Tan, May 4, 2006
Comments from Utopians:
"Duong De Tham is the backpacker area. You can find a hotel with a nice room from US$12-25/night. However, most hotels there have restrictions on guest visits, particularly at night. Spring House Hotel at 221 Pham Ngu Lao St, 837-8312, is a friendly place. They allow guests to visit till midnight. Ask your guest to leave an ID at the front desk. Duna Hotel, 167 Pham Ngu Lao St, is unfriendly. The staff are rude and lack flexibility. So try to avoid that one." -- billylondon, Mar 3, 2007
"Stayed at the Indochine. No deluxe rooms were available and we were given a very nice standard room with a new bathroom for US$25. Standard rooms have no windows, so you know that when reserving. I had no trouble taking a visitor to my room. Also stayed at the Rang Dong Hotel (which I was told is Government owned). My Vietnamese partner brought a masseur in to our room. After he left, the hotel front desk phoned to make sure everything as OK. They also hold ID cards of visitors while they are in the hotel." -- myklh, Jul 19, 2006
PHU QUOC ISLAND
Eden Guesthouse
Tran Hung Dao St, Duong Dong Town, 077-994-208, email. Second and bigger branch of Saigon's Eden bar, restaurant and guesthouse. Gay and lesbian-friendly. Utopia Member Discount
Comments from Utopians:
"Sao Bien Resort (Sea Star Resort) is a very pleasant gay resort in Phu Quoc on a nice beach. The sea view villa is US$35./night. Receiption and waiters in the restaurant are gay and friendly." -- boyvn, Jun 5, 2006
Sapa
Sapa Rooms Boutique Hotel
018 Pran Si Pang St, +84 20 872130, FAX +84 20 872131, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly hotel located in the heart of Sapa Town, a stone's throw from the daily markets and the main street. The hotel overlooks the pristine, terraced valleys of Sapa. Boutique interiors, attentive personalised customer service and great value for money. Their French colonial heritage building has been decorated in contemporary tones with touches of local tribal culture. Each of the 13 rooms are comfortable and practical. Their Sapa Kitchen offers home cooked international cuisine in a perfect setting for relaxing and socializing. Utopia Member Discount
Tam Hai / Tam Ky
Le Domaine de Tam Hai Resort
(84-510) 545-105, 545-103, email. Situated on a small island off the coast of Hoi An in central Vietnam, just 10 minutes speedboat ride from the mainland, you might be as well in another world. Le Domaine de Tam Hai, offers comfortable, luxurious resort facilities and a private beach dotted with coconut and palm trees. There are 12 traditional Vietnamese style cottages, spacious at 60sqm with living room and bedroom, plus outdoor patio bath. The resort is situated in a 400sqm tropical garden filled with exotic plants and discreetly fenced off for maximum privacy. Direct access to Tam Hai's nearly deserted, pristine soft white sand beaches. Gay-friendly. Utopia Member Discount
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
Dong Phuong Bar
22 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist 1. Filled with well-behaved gay couples and friends hoping to find a steady partner. It's dark, unpretentious, and very popular. Live shows (Vietnam's most famous transgender singer sometimes performs traditional folk songs here) as well as karaoke. Very friendly, though almost entirely sticky rice crowd.
Comments from Utopians:
"Dong Phuong bar is very small and run down." -- hoang25d, Jul 28, 2006
"Dong Phuong Bar was my favourite. Handsome men take to the stage singing their hearts out to Vietnamese ballads." -- Tan, May 4, 2006
Eden Bar (mixed)
236 De Tham St, Dist 1 (Pham Ngu Lao area), 836-8154, email. A safe and G&L-friendly bar with pool room and restaurant located in Saigon's backpacker area (similar to Bangkok's Khasan Rd). Downstairs bar is a mix of beer drinkers, families, and friendly staff. 2/F is a stylish restaurant with a bit more privacy for gay and lesbian friends to chat and dine. The international menu features Vietnamese specialties along with pizza and pasta, burgers, sandwiches and much more. There's a wide range of drinks including beer, wine and cocktails. The owner is young, professional, and protects the premises from prostitutes and moneyboys. His manager is educated and speaks excellent English. Although not a gay bar, it's a great place to inquire about the do's and don'ts of the local scene. They ask you to please let them know you are from Utopia so that they may welcome you personally. Utopia Member Discount
Comments from Utopians:
"Paid a visit to Eden Bar, which is indeed a cozy place with a very friendly staff, though some of the female staff were not very friendly to us once they knew we were gay. The food served is really good, and the price is excellent. It's a great place to eat, but it has nothing gay about it, just the owner. As mentioned by others Eden Bar is filled with backpackers." -- aventura, Feb 22, 2007
"Eden Bar is very gay friendly, with a great manager named Dung. The food is great and the music and atmosphere excellent. You could not be made to feel more welcome." -- beachbum303, Aug 6, 2007
"Packed with foreign backpacker revelers when I was there two Sat nights and one weekday night." -- Tan, May 4, 2006
Samsara
2/F 131 Dong Khoi St (see map, look for the neon sign "Sam" upstairs on a corner across from Gucci and the Sheraton Hotel), Dist 1, 823-2630. More trendy and hip than most of the gay places in town. Handsome waiters have been known to sport tall cowboy hats and shirtless vests. Good mix of locals, expats and visitors (some MBs may need to be weeded out). Crowded on Fri-Sat night from 10pm-1am.
Comments from Utopians:
"A beer costs three times more here than at Eden bar, and on top of that, I now know that none of the staff can be gay because the manager will get rid of them if he finds out (according to a brave waiter who discussed the matter with me)." -- cossy, Dec 2, 2007
"Went to Samsara with my bf and ordered two beers. The waiter served the beers then after a few minutes came back with an obviously old and dirty bill for D$171,000. The bill listed cocktails. I pointed out that the bill was wrong. He insisted it was correct (even with the wrong drinks listed while we were holding 2 beers in our hand). Finally he came back with the clean, real bill. We left. My bf is friends with the manager so when we returned to my house he sent him a msg explaining what happened. He also described the waiter and the name that was on his lapel. The manager replied that the waiters don't wear nametags. I won't be returning to Samsara." -- HcmUsaDude, Jun 19, 2007
"Last month I visited Samsara. There were not many people, but it was during the week. The music was OK (a lot of hip hop) and the staff were very friendly. The drinks are very expensive (US$3.5 for a small beer). Be careful with the manager, because I ordered one beer and afterwards he came to talk with me and invited me to have another. That seemed very kind of him and half an hour later he came back and invited me again for one more beer. So, to be polite, I ordered a beer for him as well. When I asked for the bill I had to pay for all 5 beers. I said that two beers were from the manager. The staff said they knew nothing about it. So I called for the manager and when he came he was acting like he was so drunk and he didn't remember anything. I had to pay for all. I left angry and then 50m further on I had my camera was stolen by a pickpocket. So people, be careful." -- mustiiii, Mar 1, 2007
"This upstairs hideaway is shabby Cambodian decor chic. A lot of cuties here, and the fashionista crowd. Most of the locals that frequent here speak English. This is a hook up joint, so lots of luck and happy hunting! They do serve decent cocktails, just make sure you stand at the bar and watch them make it or your Long Island may become a short island." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
"Can be very quiet and boring on weekdays. Sat night is good. Manager and staff are friendly. Drinks are very expensive. Expect to pay D$70,000-80,000 for a drink." -- billylondon, Jan 7, 2007
"Visited Samsara late on a Fri night. The place was jam-packed and not a female in sight. This is a great gay bar with many cute and friendly young men." -- myklh, Jul 19, 2006
"Visited the reopened Samsara Bar (known as Sam) the other night. Very tame these days with, yes, some female waitresses. Mainly male patrons, but every inch gay. Should get better with time. DJ was good." -- Tam, May 3, 2006
Comments from Utopians:
"It might be good to photocopy your passport when you are out clubbing. At Appocolypse Now, foreigners don't need to pay entrance, but local people will be charged D$100,000. If they trouble you, show them your passport copy and they will let you in. One more thing, be sure not to wear a singlet (tank top) or sandals if you go clubbing, otherwise you will be rejected. They are very strict about this." -- billylondon, Feb 3, 2007
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. Open daily from 8pm until late.
Comments from Utopians:
"Loved the music and the people around us. A must visit while in Saigon. The gay crowd was by the entrance, it seemed to me that they tend to stay together even though they do not know each other. Met some very friendly gay guys and others a bit confused about their sexuality." -- aventura, Feb 22, 2007
"Age range is from 19-24+. Music is from the year of the flood, and they selectively charge cover whenever and on whomever they feel like. Also, beware of MBs here." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
"We went on a Sat and to our surprise and disappointment, the club allowed my boyfriend (caucasian) to get in free and I (Vietnamese American) had to pay D$100,000 even though I was with him. This practice is awfully backward and we would never go again." -- nightstar, Jan 9, 2007
"Straight club with many foreingers and gogo girls rubbing their bums. Very busy on the weekend. However, there's a gay corner for you to discover. I had a great time rubbing bodies with a guy. There are police on the side, though they just stand there watching most of the time." -- billylondon, Jan 7, 2007
"Apocalypse Now is fun place. Lots of gay hang around. Some hustlers working, but not everyone. You can meet some nice people here." -- hoang25d, Jul 28, 2006
Ben Thanh (also known as Orient Club)
3/F Orient Club, 6 Mac Dinh Chi (see map), Dist 1. After Sam Son Club closed, Ben Thanh became popular. Mon night from 8:30pm-11pm is the place for young local gays and lesbians to socialize (500+ people, with the majority being gay). Almost no one above 25. Great Vietnamese pop music. Things go wild when the lights shut down for the last two love songs and the dance floor is a flickering sea of mobile phone LCDs. Lucky draw shortly before closing (you get the lottery ticket together with the entrance ticket). Be prepared to fend off MBs galore.
Comments from Utopians:
"It's more like a youth center. A few gays on the side on the Sun night that I went. But I was told that Mon night is gay night." -- billylondon, Jan 7, 2007
Palace Club
2/F Palace Hotel (see map), Dist 1.
Comments from Utopians:
"The new Palace Club is chic, but also pricey. If you're not aware of the Vietnamese club scene, most of the nightclubs here are bottle service only. They have beer, but that's boring. If you're looking for cocktails they do serve them but it will take five people to measure it and five to pour it and you probably will get a Shirley Temple in the end instead of a Cosmopolitan. Not worth it. Just go with the bottle and a group of friends to share the tab. They also offer light snacks and food on their menu." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
Comments from Utopians:
"Looking for a 100% gay club in HCMC? Sorry, everything here is 'mixed nuts.' So, if you want to find a circuit party or a White Party, Vietnam is not the place. However, do check out the following venues: 1) Apocalypse Now, 2) America Club, 3) Palace Club, 4) Samsara." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
"Visited HCMC last month. The two happening gay clubs (well, not completely gay as they have a mixture of str8 people as well) were Apocalyse and Samsara, probably the best you can find in HCMC. The music is contemporary straight from the Top 40 charts. No dance or house music really. You will see security guards everywhere who make sure that no wild and crazy things go on. You don't see gay men dancing topless on the podium like any other typical gay discos and clubs. Overall, if you're looking for a fun clubbing time in HCMC you may be disappointed." -- Spicy69, Oct 22, 2006
"Just to tell you that Lost in Saigon is closed right now. Try the Lush (at the end of Ly Tu Trong, Dist 1." -- JaneHoi, Aug 3, 2006
OTHER AREAS
America Club (mixed)
4/F Windsor Plaza Hotel, Dist 5. Straight club with some gays on Sat night.
Comments from Utopians:
"The whole scene has changed after its renovation. Now there's hardly any gay crowd in this club, probably due to too many restrictions. If you wear sleeveless shirts, sandals, or shorts, you will not be allowed onto the dance floor. Lots of bouncers and waiters around watching you all the time. You can't be relaxed." -- billylondon, Apr 8, 2008
"Tell the taxi to take you to An Dong. It's the big shopping mall there. Best music in town, great dance floor. It runs until 2am." -- billylondon, Mar 3, 2007
"Fun fun fun!!! This is probably the best discoteque in Vietnam. A lot of gays and fashionistas. Age range from 18-29+. The music and the DJs here are really good." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
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.
Comments from Utopians:
"The karaoke room is very small. Not recommended." -- hoang25d, Jul 28, 2006
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.
DISTRICT 3
Comments from Utopians:
"Paris Dong Phuong 22 Ba Huyen Thank Quan P6, Dist 3, 930-2796 is crowded and a lot of cute gays sing here." -- Dinoiloveu, Sep 16, 2007
DISTRICT 10
Golden Smile Karaoke
230 Le Hong Phong St, Dist 10. Run by the owners of Golden Smile Club, especially for gays. Come and sing along.
Nha Van Hoa Lao Dong (Workers' Club)
55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St (see map), Dist 1. The Workers Club is a huge site that has indoor and outdoor sport facilities including tennis, volleyball, table tennis, gym, basketball and a dance school for show dance. Thousands of people use the facilities. At the back of the premises is the swimming pool. Gym, pool, saunas can be very cruisy.
"Foreigner tickets" can be purchased for 50 minutes use of facilities, but it seems that no one checks how long you really stay. Bring your own towel and swim wear or buy it at the shop on the right side of the entrance. Once you have the ticket, wait for the next admission time (every 30 minutes). First you'll find yourself in the shower rooms. At the end of the hall is the storage area. Plastic bags are sold to wrap your clothes and belongings in. Open daily.
Cinemas
Vuon Lai
Corner of Tran Nhan Ton St and Vinh Vien St, Dist 10. Very cruisy and busy on weekends.
Comments from Utopians:
"Sun afternoon is very busy from 2-7pm. Entry is D$25,000. Nobody is watching the movie. People walking up and down the aisle in the dark looking for fun. Be careful of pickpockets. Better not bring anything valuable here." -- billylondon, Mar 3, 2007
Comments from Utopians:
"A new cruising area is Phu Tho Sports Club, at 211 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Dist 10, next to the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium." -- pratt, Nov 23, 2006
Comments from Utopians:
"Most of the cafés in Saigon have gays in them all the time. The trouble is they sometimes go to the coffee shops with female friends so you don't realise they are gay. I was at table of eight friends the other day. I have a friend here from the US at the moment and he meets a guy every night he is at the café. Most of the time we go to a Windows Coffee Shop but there are hundreds in Saigon and most of them will have gay guys there any time of the day. The idea is to sit and watch and you can pick them out." -- tamquat, Apr 15, 2008
DISTRICT 1
343 Café (coffee and snacks)
343 Nguyen Trai, Dist 1, 920-0988, 920-0998. Outdoor area with a fountain, air-conditioned inside on two levels. TVs and video screens everywhere show music videos, movies, or sports. Menu in Vietnamese and English. Popular with gays, but the crowd is mostly young and straight. Open daily from 8am-11pm.
Bunta (urban Vietnamese)
136 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St (opp the Reunification Palace), Dist 1, 822-9913, 822-9914. Their slogan is "Everying is Bun." That may be true, certainly everything was delicious. Contemporary urban Vietnamese menu and lots of exotic fruit drinks in a large, clean, and air-con dining room with modern ambience.
Café Terrace
1/F Saigon Center, Le Loi St at the intersection with Pasteur St (see map), Dist 1. This coffee shop is popular with gays, especially those out to spot foreigners getting off work in the neighborhood (or maybe they just feel right at home in the OTT decor scheme). Indoor and terrace seating. Coffee, drinks, snacks and desserts. We spotted a gay Vietnamese celebrity singer on our tea time visit.
Kim Café (Vietnamese, American and European food)
268 De Tham St, Dist 1 (between Pham Ngu Lau and Bui Vien St), 836-8122. Friendly place that is popular with gays who come hhere to eat or have a coffee. Excellent food, good prices. Free delivery.
Nam Giao (Vietnamese)
136/15 Le Than Ton, Dist 1, 825-0261. This popular, shady, fan-cooled restaurant is behind and a block away from Ben Thanh Market, tucked down a covered alleyway. The simple photo menu offers a limited selection of excellent local specialties. The "Special Clam with Rice" turned out to have incredible, alien mouth feel -- fresh and clean, not really seafoody, with the texture of organic packing material comprised of banana flower, peanuts, shreaded rice cake, mint leaves, pork cracklings and baby clams. They'll also place a towering plate of banana-leaf-packaged mystery items in various geometric shapes which you may sample if you wish. The rectagular ones are Vietnamese wedding cakes made from coconut and rice gelatin. Avoid the others -- raw meat sausages -- unless you have a strong stomach. On our visit, half the customers (and some of the staff) tripped our gaydar.
DISTRICT 3
Phuong Cac Café (coffee shop)
Bis Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 213, Dist 3, mobile: 9-327-484. This garden café has beautiful flowers and very nice decor. Music videos play on the TV. Prices are very reasonable. There is no other place in HCMC where you will meet more friendly local men and women (a few hundred) than on Sun morning between 9am and 12 noon when they gather here for breakfast. Foreigners are welcome, but the staff speaks no English and the menu is in Vietnamese only. Other days of the week, and also after noon on Sun, the café has few guests. Free motorbike parking at the entrance -- only room for 600 bikes though!
Comments from Utopians:
"Come to Phuong Cac Café every Sun morning. Almost all gay. But maybe they're there just for window shopping, because the cute guys always come with someone." -- alittlepig, Apr 24, 2008
Comments from Utopians:
"A lot of gay guys go to the Window 1 and Window 3 cafés so there are plenty of cute guys to see at those places." -- Bao, Feb 4, 2005
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
Dong Phuong Bar
22 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St, Dist 1. Filled with well-behaved gay couples and friends hoping to find a steady partner. It's dark, unpretentious, and very popular. Live shows (Vietnam's most famous transgender singer sometimes performs traditional folk songs here) as well as karaoke. Very friendly, though almost entirely sticky rice crowd.
Comments from Utopians:
"Dong Phuong bar is very small and run down." -- hoang25d, Jul 28, 2006
"Dong Phuong Bar was my favourite. Handsome men take to the stage singing their hearts out to Vietnamese ballads." -- Tan, May 4, 2006
Eden Bar (mixed)
236 De Tham St, Dist 1 (Pham Ngu Lao area), 836-8154, email. A safe and G&L-friendly bar with pool room and restaurant located in Saigon's backpacker area (similar to Bangkok's Khasan Rd). Downstairs bar is a mix of beer drinkers, families, and friendly staff. 2/F is a stylish restaurant with a bit more privacy for gay and lesbian friends to chat and dine. The international menu features Vietnamese specialties along with pizza and pasta, burgers, sandwiches and much more. There's a wide range of drinks including beer, wine and cocktails. The owner is young, professional, and protects the premises from prostitutes and moneyboys. His manager is educated and speaks excellent English. Although not a gay bar, it's a great place to inquire about the do's and don'ts of the local scene. They ask you to please let them know you are from Utopia so that they may welcome you personally. Utopia Member Discount
Comments from Utopians:
"Paid a visit to Eden Bar, which is indeed a cozy place with a very friendly staff, though some of the female staff were not very friendly to us once they knew we were gay. The food served is really good, and the price is excellent. It's a great place to eat, but it has nothing gay about it, just the owner. As mentioned by others Eden Bar is filled with backpackers." -- aventura, Feb 22, 2007
"Eden Bar is very gay friendly, with a great manager named Dung. The food is great and the music and atmosphere excellent. You could not be made to feel more welcome." -- beachbum303, Aug 6, 2007
"Packed with foreign backpacker revelers when I was there two Sat nights and one weekday night." -- Tan, May 4, 2006
Samsara
2/F 131 Dong Khoi St (see map, look for the neon sign "Sam" upstairs on a corner across from Gucci and the Sheraton Hotel), Dist 1, 823-2630. More trendy and hip than most of the gay places in town. Handsome waiters have been known to sport tall cowboy hats and shirtless vests. Good mix of locals, expats and visitors (some MBs may need to be weeded out). Crowded on Fri-Sat night from 10pm-1am.
Comments from Utopians:
"A beer costs three times more here than at Eden bar, and on top of that, I now know that none of the staff can be gay because the manager will get rid of them if he finds out (according to a brave waiter who discussed the matter with me)." -- cossy, Dec 2, 2007
"Went to Samsara with my bf and ordered two beers. The waiter served the beers then after a few minutes came back with an obviously old and dirty bill for D$171,000. The bill listed cocktails. I pointed out that the bill was wrong. He insisted it was correct (even with the wrong drinks listed while we were holding 2 beers in our hand). Finally he came back with the clean, real bill. We left. My bf is friends with the manager so when we returned to my house he sent him a msg explaining what happened. He also described the waiter and the name that was on his lapel. The manager replied that the waiters don't wear nametags. I won't be returning to Samsara." -- HcmUsaDude, Jun 19, 2007
"Last month I visited Samsara. There were not many people, but it was during the week. The music was OK (a lot of hip hop) and the staff were very friendly. The drinks are very expensive (US$3.5 for a small beer). Be careful with the manager, because I ordered one beer and afterwards he came to talk with me and invited me to have another. That seemed very kind of him and half an hour later he came back and invited me again for one more beer. So, to be polite, I ordered a beer for him as well. When I asked for the bill I had to pay for all 5 beers. I said that two beers were from the manager. The staff said they knew nothing about it. So I called for the manager and when he came he was acting like he was so drunk and he didn't remember anything. I had to pay for all. I left angry and then 50m further on I had my camera was stolen by a pickpocket. So people, be careful." -- mustiiii, Mar 1, 2007
"This upstairs hideaway is shabby Cambodian decor chic. A lot of cuties here, and the fashionista crowd. Most of the locals that frequent here speak English. This is a hook up joint, so lots of luck and happy hunting! They do serve decent cocktails, just make sure you stand at the bar and watch them make it or your Long Island may become a short island." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
"Can be very quiet and boring on weekdays. Sat night is good. Manager and staff are friendly. Drinks are very expensive. Expect to pay D$70,000-80,000 for a drink." -- billylondon, Jan 7, 2007
"Visited Samsara late on a Fri night. The place was jam-packed and not a female in sight. This is a great gay bar with many cute and friendly young men." -- myklh, Jul 19, 2006
"Visited the reopened Samsara Bar (known as Sam) the other night. Very tame these days with, yes, some female waitresses. Mainly male patrons, but every inch gay. Should get better with time. DJ was good." -- Tam, May 3, 2006
Comments from Utopians:
"It might be good to photocopy your passport when you are out clubbing. At Appocolypse Now, foreigners don't need to pay entrance, but local people will be charged D$100,000. If they trouble you, show them your passport copy and they will let you in. One more thing, be sure not to wear a singlet (tank top) or sandals if you go clubbing, otherwise you will be rejected. They are very strict about this." -- billylondon, Feb 3, 2007
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. Open daily from 8pm until late.
Comments from Utopians:
"Loved the music and the people around us. A must visit while in Saigon. The gay crowd was by the entrance, it seemed to me that they tend to stay together even though they do not know each other. Met some very friendly gay guys and others a bit confused about their sexuality." -- aventura, Feb 22, 2007
"Age range is from 19-24+. Music is from the year of the flood, and they selectively charge cover whenever and on whomever they feel like. Also, beware of MBs here." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
"We went on a Sat and to our surprise and disappointment, the club allowed my boyfriend (caucasian) to get in free and I (Vietnamese American) had to pay D$100,000 even though I was with him. This practice is awfully backward and we would never go again." -- nightstar, Jan 9, 2007
"Straight club with many foreingers and gogo girls rubbing their bums. Very busy on the weekend. However, there's a gay corner for you to discover. I had a great time rubbing bodies with a guy. There are police on the side, though they just stand there watching most of the time." -- billylondon, Jan 7, 2007
"Apocalypse Now is fun place. Lots of gay hang around. Some hustlers working, but not everyone. You can meet some nice people here." -- hoang25d, Jul 28, 2006
Ben Thanh (also known as Orient Club)
3/F Orient Club, 6 Mac Dinh Chi (see map), Dist 1. After Sam Son Club closed, Ben Thanh became popular. Mon night from 8:30pm-11pm is the place for young local gays and lesbians to socialize (500+ people, with the majority being gay). Almost no one above 25. Great Vietnamese pop music. Things go wild when the lights shut down for the last two love songs and the dance floor is a flickering sea of mobile phone LCDs. Lucky draw shortly before closing (you get the lottery ticket together with the entrance ticket). Be prepared to fend off MBs galore.
Comments from Utopians:
"It's more like a youth center. A few gays on the side on the Sun night that I went. But I was told that Mon night is gay night." -- billylondon, Jan 7, 2007
Palace Club
2/F Palace Hotel (see map), Dist 1.
Comments from Utopians:
"The new Palace Club is chic, but also pricey. If you're not aware of the Vietnamese club scene, most of the nightclubs here are bottle service only. They have beer, but that's boring. If you're looking for cocktails they do serve them but it will take five people to measure it and five to pour it and you probably will get a Shirley Temple in the end instead of a Cosmopolitan. Not worth it. Just go with the bottle and a group of friends to share the tab. They also offer light snacks and food on their menu." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
Comments from Utopians:
"Looking for a 100% gay club in HCMC? Sorry, everything here is 'mixed nuts.' So, if you want to find a circuit party or a White Party, Vietnam is not the place. However, do check out the following venues: 1) Apocalypse Now, 2) America Club, 3) Palace Club, 4) Samsara." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
"Visited HCMC last month. The two happening gay clubs (well, not completely gay as they have a mixture of str8 people as well) were Apocalyse and Samsara, probably the best you can find in HCMC. The music is contemporary straight from the Top 40 charts. No dance or house music really. You will see security guards everywhere who make sure that no wild and crazy things go on. You don't see gay men dancing topless on the podium like any other typical gay discos and clubs. Overall, if you're looking for a fun clubbing time in HCMC you may be disappointed." -- Spicy69, Oct 22, 2006
"Just to tell you that Lost in Saigon is closed right now. Try the Lush (at the end of Ly Tu Trong, Dist 1." -- JaneHoi, Aug 3, 2006
OTHER AREAS
America Club (mixed)
4/F Windsor Plaza Hotel, Dist 5. Straight club with some gays on Sat night.
Comments from Utopians:
"The whole scene has changed after its renovation. Now there's hardly any gay crowd in this club, probably due to too many restrictions. If you wear sleeveless shirts, sandals, or shorts, you will not be allowed onto the dance floor. Lots of bouncers and waiters around watching you all the time. You can't be relaxed." -- billylondon, Apr 8, 2008
"Tell the taxi to take you to An Dong. It's the big shopping mall there. Best music in town, great dance floor. It runs until 2am." -- billylondon, Mar 3, 2007
"Fun fun fun!!! This is probably the best discoteque in Vietnam. A lot of gays and fashionistas. Age range from 18-29+. The music and the DJs here are really good." -- phumyhunggay, Feb 15, 2007
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.
Comments from Utopians:
"The karaoke room is very small. Not recommended." -- hoang25d, Jul 28, 2006
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.
DISTRICT 3
Comments from Utopians:
"Paris Dong Phuong 22 Ba Huyen Thank Quan P6, Dist 3, 930-2796 is crowded and a lot of cute gays sing here." -- Dinoiloveu, Sep 16, 2007
DISTRICT 10
Golden Smile Karaoke
230 Le Hong Phong St, Dist 10. Run by the owners of Golden Smile Club, especially for gays. Come and sing along.
Comments from Utopians:
"Massage in HCMC will cost you around D$200,000 (US$13) or more. The sauna/spa charges range from D$70,000 to D$100,000, but that is for the spa. You also need to pay the masseur. At the end of the session, you will be asked to put the number on a paper. The usual price is D$100,000. The masseur will ask for D$200,000. Most people end up paying D$150,000. So all together, prepare to pay US$12-15." -- billylondon, Apr 13, 2008
DISTRICT 1
Ho Chi Minh Blind Association
185 Cong Quynh St Dist 1 (also see listing under Saunas). A sign tacked to a tree in the courtyard points the way to 'Massage' at the top of the stairs where a woman takes your money and gives you a yellow card for a massage and/or a blue card for the sauna. Inexpensive (cost is less than half of Golden Smile). The massage area has six cubicles divided by head-height frosted glass partitions and curtains across the front. A sign on the door reads 'Massage for Gentlemen'. Each cubicle contains a massage table and locker. The quality of the massage varies according to the masseur. They also have an active sauna (see listing under Saunas).
Comments from Utopians:
"I have had fine experiences here. The place is rather run down, but friendly, and it is a great spot to chill out for a few hours on a rainy afternoon. Ordinary fellows gather here, and it is a good place to say hello." -- thomas94610, Jul 18, 2007
"Blind Association is a place for anyone to visit. Don't waste time and money for massage as its massage service is not skillful, at least from my 10 years of experiences in different massage places. Some female clients may see you in a towel in the changing room area." -- Fatbird, Jan 7, 2007
"The Blind Association must be the city’s best kept gay secret. The institutional appearance belies what goes on inside. The staff speak no English so you might want to go with a local friend. I had three massages by young masseurs. One massage was poor. The other two were OK. You may need to leave your tip with the card on the top of the locker as on two occasions the masseurs left immediately after the massage and I had to try to find them later. Ask for a masseur as there are also masseuses." -- myklh, Jul 19, 2006
Ngoc Anh (mixed)
31/1 Nguyen Binh Khiem St Dist 1 (across from the Somerset Hotel). Steam and dry sauna, private showers, large whirlpool.
Comments from Utopians:
"Ngoc Anh's foot massage is fairly good. The massage room is about the size of a large hotel room and they pack in about 12 chairs. One customer was snoring heartily while I was there. If you don't mind the stuffiness, the massage quality is okay, better than Golden Smile." -- asianbod, Apr 15, 2007
"Busy sometimes, mostly straight crowd. I had a massage here, but it wasn't anything spectacular." -- allanjr, Jun 10, 2006
"I had a good massage from a cute masseur in a partitioned room." -- Tan, May 4, 2006
Comments from Utopians:
"I have tried both Ngoc Anh and Ho Phan - Chi Hanh Tai massage clinics in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh. I would go for Ho Phan. Though Ngoc Anh has a bit more class in looks and is a lot cleaner relatively compared to Ho Phan, the massage and service of Ho Phan is a lot better. No need for you to stress on anything like in Ngoc Anh." -- meynard, Jan 26, 2006
DISTRICT 8
Comments from Utopians:
"Went to a great spa called Thien Phu at 118 Duong S6 8, P4 Q8, 850-5846. D$60,000 entry (pay on leaving). Choose a masseur from a photo album and pay him US$3 or more for the excellent service." -- cossy, Dec 2, 2007
DISTRICT 10
Golden Smile Club
656 Su Van Hanh, District 10 (also see listing under Saunas), 862-6119, email.
Comments from Utopians:
"Massage is quite decent given the price of some US$3. I recommend it, but be careful with the massage guys - they are much smarter than they look. Dont let them do extras or they will hassle you for US$30 tips." -- jucavi, Mar 9, 2008
"Golden Smile is clean and fairly spacious by Vietnamese standards. For D$100,000 (US$7) you get to use the sauna plus a 50 minute massage. The masseurs' pictures are posted on the wall and you can choose. My experience with their massage was below average. My masseur was not very cute, and he talked a lot, perhaps to entice me to give a large tip, instead of being attentive to the work. He asked for more money at the end even though there was nothing special about his massage." -- asianbod, Apr 15, 2007
"Massage service and skill are good, but the masseurs' looks are just normal." -- Fatbird, Jan 7, 2007
"There are many massage places and spas for men in HCMC. Golden Smile is very good. Many cute guys there." -- dragon2001, Jul 25, 2006
"Golden Smile Club is a real treat! I just got back from HCM City yesterday, and I'm still dreaming about my masseur. What a sweetheart. I went there three times in a week and requested the same guy each time. Great massage, good technique, very cute." -- Cathain, May 9, 2006 "My favourite. Professional massage in nice surroundings. You pick your masseur from photographs. D$100,000 for an hour massage. Private room. Didn't use the sauna but the place looks pretty classy." -- Tan, May 4, 2006
"Golden Smile is clean and modern and there are a lot of cute guys. Price is D$150,000 and D$100,000-150,000 for the masseur." -- 4711, May 1, 2006
"If you don't speak English, you better have the patience to understand the staff. It is supposed to be a mixed place but I did not see any women there except for the cleaners. Anyway, I was told that women facilities are separated from the guys. Entry includes access to the steam room, jacuzzi, sauna and a 50 minute massage. There's a TV lounge and a couple of PCs for you to access Net. Guys who go there are mainly locals. The massage was great, in a private room with closed door but a see-through window at the door." -- Jacker, Apr 24, 2006
"Tried Golden Smile Club today. The oil massage was decent, but a bit rushed due to the masseur trying to end fast. All in all not bad. They also offer wet body scrubs or back rubs...sounds interesting. Lotsa young gays. They have pictures of the masseurs in the locker area." -- pratt, Apr 17, 2006
Ngoc Anh
285/92-93 CMT8 W. 12, Dist.10, 290-5483 (also see listing under Saunas).
Comments from Utopians:
"You can select a masseur from photos on a board on 2/F. I enjoyed excellent massages by friendly masseurs who aimed to please. Massage is now D$45,000 and the sauna D$25,000. tip of about D$80,000 is appropriate, or more if you are well satisfied. The staff, some of whom are rather playful, do not circulate frequently as they do in Golden Smile." -- Michael, Feb 14, 2008
Toan Thang Sauna
126 Thanh Thai, P12, Dist 10, 863-2096 (also see listing under Saunas). Blind masseurs on hand provide competent, strictly professional massage.
Comments from Utopians:
"Toan Thang is a good bet for massage. Nice facilities, fun and also cheaper than the other places." -- Michael, Feb 14, 2008
OTHER AREAS
Airliner's Spa
108a Hong Ha St, Tan Binh District. Take Hong Ha St just before the airport to the end and you will find a sport complex on your right. Just below the swimming pool at the far end (see also listing under Saunas).
Comments from Utopians:
"Airliner's Spa (known as Air Spa). Masseurs there are gorgeous. Entrance is D$50,000 for the sauna and D$70,000 with massage. Of course, you need to tip extra to the masseur." -- billylondon, Apr 21, 2008
