How has the atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh City's Bui Vien Walking Street changed after 4 years?

Four years ago, only 3-4 places had a club-like atmosphere, but now the entire street has completely transformed into a club-like environment. You can even see people dancing on stage in some shops.

Around 8 PM, what kind of places did Westerners primarily choose on Ho Chi Minh City's Bui Vien Walking Street?

Around 8 PM, instead of the main road's club atmosphere, Westerners chose old-fashioned street-side beer pubs located near the entrance and exit of Bui Vien Walking Street. These spots were quieter and had less music noise than the main road.

What are the operating hours of the pub located at 207 Bùi Viện, as mentioned in the article?

According to the article, the pub at 207 Bùi Viện operates from 4:30 PM to 12:00 AM. When the author visited, there weren't many customers yet.

What is the purpose of the contact number (+84 795 899 888) displayed throughout Ho Chi Minh City's Bui Vien Walking Street?

According to the article, this number was confirmed to be connected to an 'internet gaming place.' This information was obtained by the travel blogger by calling and asking a staff member at their accommodation's cafe.

Bui Vien Walking Street Ho Chi Minh 2026: Is It Still the…

Returning to Ho Chi Minh City's Bui Vien Walking Street after four years, I was genuinely surprised. It's no longer the place I remembered from my last visit in 2022.

The pubs have completely transformed into clubs.

From what I recall, only about three or four places had a club vibe, with the rest being more traditional pubs. Now, it seems *everywhere* has adopted this pulsating, club-like atmosphere.

In a few spots, I even saw people dancing on small stages (or maybe elevated tables?). It makes you wonder if one place started it and others followed suit, or if a single owner runs multiple venues with the same concept. (At this early hour, it was only a couple of places, but I bet it catches on everywhere as the night progresses!)

Around 8:00 PM, as I made my way through the street to my accommodation, I noticed something interesting. Perhaps it was the early hour or the rain, but many Western travelers seemed to avoid the main, boisterous stretch of Bui Vien.

Instead, they gravitated towards the quieter entrance and exit areas of Ho Chi Minh's Bui Vien Walking Street, opting for the old-school charm of street-side beer stalls. These spots offer a calmer ambiance with less noise pollution from the booming music. Honestly, trying to have a conversation on the main street of Bui Vien is a challenge – you'd probably lose your voice!

Or maybe the prime party crowd for that main strip hadn't quite emerged yet. (Just to add, this was my thought *before* the night really kicked off. Later on, I saw the main areas packed to the brim!)

These two photos were taken simultaneously: one with a gimbal and the other with just my phone. In video, the difference is surprisingly stark (enough to make you understand why gimbals are essential!). But in these animated GIFs, the difference isn't as clear, unfortunately.

Still, the difference is quite significant. I'll definitely be bringing this along for future walking shots.

There's one minor issue, though. Maybe it's just me getting used to it, but the automatic face-tracking feature means if my face moves elsewhere, the camera follows. I just want to shoot straight ahead, but it keeps tracking me!

The entrance to Bui Vien Walking Street already feels more glamorous than before.

It's still early, so many seats are empty. Yet, the music is already booming from all directions.

As you walk, you'll find brief stretches where it quiets down, offering a more traditional street-side bar atmosphere.

Walk a little further, and the music and lights kick in again. Once you pass this point, it feels like you've reached the end of the main strip.

I blurred out someone I made eye contact with haha

There's even a fire show happening in the middle of the street!

Since it was still relatively early and not many people were out yet, I decided to grab a drink alone at a cozy pub next to my hotel first.

This is the spot. (I'm sharing this in case anyone's curious, not necessarily as a strong recommendation! Haha.)

📍 207 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 베트남
207 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 베트남

Open Hours: 4:30 PM ~ 12:00 AM

Contact: +84 96 265 45 54

Location: 207 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 베트남

This place was pretty empty too, haha.

It had a similar setup to a beer place I visited in Da Nang: counter on the first floor, a second floor, and outdoor seating.

After I settled in for a bit, one group arrived.

I ordered a cream ale, but honestly, it was just okay. So, I just had one and left.

While I haven't visited every similar spot like Hanoi's Ta Hien Beer Street or Bangkok's Khao San Road, I'd venture to say that Bui Vien seems to be evolving at the fastest pace. It makes you wonder if there's a thrill in leading trends here, or if businesses feel a constant pressure to keep up.

For those who want to get a better feel for the atmosphere of Ho Chi Minh's Bui Vien Walking Street, I've included more video footage below – the gimbal version, of course!

📍 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, 베트남
Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, 베트남

Open Hours: 24 hours

Contact: +84 795 899 888

Location: Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, 베트남

Hold on a second!

There's something odd here. Why would a phone number be listed for a 'walking street,' which isn't a specific shop or company?

Solving such mysteries is part of being a travel blogger, right? Haha, so I decided to call the number!

...First attempt, failure. Language barrier.

Luckily, I was ordering coffee at my hotel's cafe, and it was a quiet time. I asked the staff if they could call the number for me and find out what it was. They happily agreed.

After a conversation in Vietnamese... what was it?

They said it was a place for 'internet games.'

Internet games? What exactly does that mean? I asked if it was something like a Las Vegas-style casino, but they said no, just 'internet games.'

An internet cafe? A place for actual gaming? Yes, they confirmed.

Still a bit curious, I wanted to cross-check with someone else, but I couldn't find anyone suitable. So, for now, I'll leave it at that! If you're ever in Vietnam and curious, feel free to give that number a call!

And that wraps up my exploration of Ho Chi Minh's Bui Vien Walking Street – a must-visit spot in Vietnam that's anything but boring.