Entertainment

Most people seem to have an image of entertainment in Saigon, now known as Ho Chi Minh City, covering everything from memories of the wild bar scene of the 1970 war years to the austere, quiet times of the 1980s. The truth is somewhere between these extremes. Ho Chi Minh City, like all of Vietnam, is going through dramatic changes and certainly this is reflected in the entertainment scene. It is becoming a modern city with the full range of exciting opportunities for visitors.

Here you can sit, walk, bike, ride, float or swim to be entertained. As a large city there is a wide and varied list of activities, running the gamut from bowling to water puppet shows to nightlife. The entertainment is available during the day and into the night. Keep in mind that Ho Chi Minh City is not a 24-hour-a-day entertainment city; recent laws require all activity to stop at midnight, a rule that is generally well enforced and has curtailed late-night activity.

For the athletically inclined who have the energy, there is tennis (Lan Anh International Tennis Courts), bowling (Saigon Superbowl, Diamond Superbowl), martial arts (Aikido), snooker or pool at many bars (The Cave), many fully equipped gyms and even an informal touch rugby group (Saigon Rugby Football Club). Surrounding the city are several beautiful golf courses where memberships are not required. If you still have energy left, you can join in the weekly runs with the Hash House Harriers or buy a bicycle to join the many thousands of others on the roads (Ngoc Linh). But a word of caution, the traffic on Ho Chi Minh City streets is legendary for both the number of vehicles and the chaos, so before deciding to bicycle on your own you may want to observe carefully to determine if it is appropriate for you. If a swim to cool off in this hot, humid climate is more your style, then you can enjoy the Saigon Water Park or Lam Son Swimming Pool.

Those who want to be a little less active can beat the heat by sitting comfortably in the shade and watching horse races (Phu Tho Racecourse) or perhaps take in the traditional Vietnamese water puppet shows (History Museum, Water Puppet Theatre). There are also many movie theatres in the city, although finding screenings in English can be a challenge, however there is always at least one movie in English to be found at the theatre located in the very modern Diamond Department Store building in District 1 (the central downtown area of the city) situated near the Notre Dame Cathedral and the General Post Office building. Another location for movies with English soundtracks is the Film Club.

There is a very active club and bar scene at night, starting with the famous Apocalypse Now club and other popular nightclubs (Space Ship). There are numerous bars to suit everyone's tastes, including the Guns 'N' Roses Bar and the Hard Rock Cafe. Also very popular are the more traditional pub-style gathering points of the expatriate community, such as the Blue Gekko, Underground (The), and the Cavern (The). For entertainment closer to where many tourists are staying, you will find that most hotels have lounges with entertainment (Omni Saigon Hotel). For a more relaxed atmosphere with a wonderful view of the city, try the Saigon Saigon Bar atop the Caravelle Hotel.

In the evening, and especially on weekends, you will often notice that the large boulevards, a legacy from the French colonial era, are lined with Vietnamese people sitting on or by their motorbikes or gathering in small groups. This is one form of Vietnamese entertainment, where they socialize while watching all of the people pass by. In some of the suburban districts they are actually gathering to watch illegal and very dangerous motorcycle races that occur on almost all weekends. Of course, wherever people gather it is not long until street-vendor carts appear, selling a variety of traditional Vietnamese foods.

Of course, one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Ho Chi Minh City is enjoying some of the fine collection of international dining opportunities (Chao Thai, Camargue Restaurant, Shuji Egi). Or stroll along the riverfront promenade, where you can book an evening dinner cruise that will give you a unique view of the lights of the city and the busy seaport from your dining table.

For many people, their favorite form of entertainment is shopping, and there is no shortage of opportunities for that in Ho Chi Minh City, ranging from Vietnamese handicrafts (Nga, Bao Nghi ) to the Ben Thanh Market, a large traditional market located in the middle of District 1.