International limelight: six Vietnamese bars sizzle as places to tipple

Scattered across Vietnam’s biggest metropolises and popular beach paradises, six cocktail bars are basking in the limelight of patronage and praise from international tourists and industry experts.

Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar

On the 10th floor of Caravelle Saigon Hotel in HCMC’s District 1, the Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar has been voted as the best bar in Vietnam’s southern metropolis by readers of world’s largest travel site Tripadvisor.

Located near the renowned Opera House, the bar that opened its doors in 1959 has now become a top hangout for foreign tourists thanks to its outdoor space and panoramic view of the bustling Dong Khoi-Nguyen Hue-Le Loi boulevard, which is home to high-end shopping centers, high-end fashion stores and entertainment complexes.

Its design is quite simple and the ambience cozy with large wooden chairs and tables on the main terrace.

Open from 4 p.m. until 1 a.m., the bar has a menu that includes its own Caravelle Terrace Draft beer and crafted signature cocktails. Some special dishes like Wagyu Beef Burger and Vietnamese spring rolls are also served.

Sky 21 Bar & Bistro

On the 21st floor of the Belle Maison Parosand Danang Hotel, the Sky 21 Bar & Bistro has been named the best bar in the central beach city of Danang by Tripadvisor.

Its spacious open-air terrace allows visitors to enjoy amazing views of the Danang skyline and My Khe, one of Asia’s most beautiful beaches as voted by U.S. magazine Forbes.

This rooftop bar, which, as its name indicates, also doubles as a restaurant, allows guests to imbibe signature and classic cocktails with delectable international fusion dishes like Salmon Tempura and Grilled Ribeye.

Its luxurious yet comfy atmosphere and setting, along with a daily entertainment program, makes the Sky 21 Bar & Bistro a top food and beverage venue from 5 p.m. until midnight.

Sailing Club

On the southern island of Phu Quoc, Sailing Club has gained fame as one of 10 most luxurious bars in Southeast Asia, the designation being conferred last month by travel experts in a report by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The luxury and enjoyment of lounging by the pool or on the beach with a refreshing cocktail, not to mention tucking into a skilfully prepared lunch or dinner, has made Sailing Club a popular hangout among both foreign and domestic tourists.

The club, which boasts an outdoor swimming pool and a lounge bar along the beach, serves Asian dishes from midday to 10 p.m.

"Enjoy your sunsets from the Sailing Club, an all-day beach club with its own stretch of white sand. As the night settles in, this high-end hotspot gets popular for its pool parties and happy hours," the SCMP report said.

Covering an area of 567 square kilometers and home to 180,000 people, Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam and the nation's first island city. Famous for its long, sandy beaches with turquoise waters and dense forests, the island hosts high-end resorts and casino complexes.

The island catapulted to global fame in 2014 after the government allowed foreign visitors a 30-day visa free entry.

Shore Club

Nestled on a private stretch of sand at the heart of An Bang Beach, around three kilometers from the ancient town of Hoi An, the Shore Club has also been included in SCMP’s list of 10 most luxurious bars in Southeast Asia.

Its white and blue color theme and design takes inspiration from Mediterranean-style architecture.

Thanks to its ideal location on a beach named several times as one of Asia’s 25 most beautiful by Tripadvisor readers, the bar is widely loved by foreigners.

It hosts family-friendly events with DJs coming in at night; while partygoers can try parasailing, jet skiing or banana boat rides just outside the club.

From the bar, visitors can easily book taxi service to visit Hoi An, famous for ancient houses with yellow houses and red titles as well as Chinese-influenced temples.

Stir

Located on the first floor of an apartment building at 136 Le Thanh Ton street opposite the Ben Thanh market in downtown HCMC, Stir has been ranked 82nd in the list of 100 best bars in Asia compiled by William Reed Business Media, a media company headquartered in the U.K.

"This somewhat hidden first-floor bar is reminiscent of Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s, and is a comfortable, intimate space – all the better for exploring its range of cocktails inspired by the traditional, street drinks of Vietnam," the company reported.

The bar, with a patio overlooking Ben Thanh market, the oldest market in HCMC and a tourism symbol carrying French architecture, can only accommodate 40 guests at a time.

Guests can order a variety of exotic cocktails including Jackfruit sticky rice, Jasmine Negroni and Truffle Martini, as also enjoy Vietnam's most traditional dishes like banh mi and pho, not to mention a very special mangosteen salad with shredded chicken.

This quaint bar remains open from 5:30 p.m. until 2 a.m.

The Haflington

Hidden in the attic of an old house at 94 Hang Ma street in Hanoi's Old Quarter, The Haflington has won a spot on the global cocktail bar scene by being voted the best in Vietnam by readers of U.S. magazine Conde Nast Traveler.

Its design takes inspiration from a private museum carrying typical European architecture. There are rows of glass vitrines and a whiskey-tasting counter with an adjoining Gentleman's club-style smoking lounge.

The highlight of this bar, open from 3 p.m. till 1 a.m., is a conspicuous 3m-long dinosaur skeleton suspended from the ceiling, as well its classic, vintage-themed decor featuring dark timber and brown leather bar stools.