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Uncover 'Drinking & Healing,' a hidden bar gem in Ho Chi Minh City. Experience local vibes, live music, and unique cocktails in a stylish, off-the-beaten-path spot. Perfect for authentic adventures!
Drinking & Healing
It's been a while since I stumbled upon a truly great bar, and this one in Ho Chi Minh City is an absolute hidden gem. I literally discovered it while walking by and tried to look it up on Google Maps for a peek inside or some reviews. But no matter how hard I searched, it wouldn't show up! The lack of a visible sign meant I couldn't even search by name, so my curiosity got the better of me. I just had to go in and see for myself!
Pushing open what felt like an impossibly heavy, secret door...
...you're immediately transported into an incredible, stylish atmosphere. Honestly, I was on my way somewhere else and just intended to peek inside, but the vibe was so good, I couldn't resist. I ended up settling in for a drink! This place is seriously cool and hip, beautifully designed.
My Ho Chi Minh City trip was more of a spontaneous stopover than a planned multi-day tourist blitz, so I was just following my intuition wherever it led. It seems they primarily serve cocktails here, with no extensive food menu.
They also feature live music, though at first, it wasn't quite my preferred style. The band mainly played Vietnamese songs, not pop. While I enjoy V-pop and listen to it often, this particular genre wasn't hitting the spot for me. (Good news: they did play some pop later in the evening!)
The bar counter is U-shaped. If you want to face the live performance, you'll need to grab a seat on either end. The middle seats mean you'll have your back to the stage, but the friendly bartenders are great at keeping you entertained!
If only the music had been more consistently to my taste, this would easily become a regular hangout spot for me. That's my only slight regret. I'm planning to revisit on a weekday when it's less crowded – perhaps a Monday or Tuesday, hoping it will be quieter. It seems to be a popular spot for couples on dates or for snapping those perfect Instagram-worthy photos.
Cocktails are priced at 290,000 VND, which is approximately ~$12.
I opted for 'Hanoi Street,' which seemed like a safe and classic choice.
It was 9:30 PM, and every table was full. I visited during Tet, Vietnam's Lunar New Year holiday, and had actually been worried that most places would be closed. But to my surprise, many establishments were open! Even though a significant number of people return to their hometowns during Tet, there are always those who stay, and it wouldn't make sense for the city to completely shut down. While popular tourist destinations like Ben Thanh Market might have limited hours, for experiencing Ho Chi Minh City like a local, visiting during Tet wasn't bad at all. Of course, some places well-known to foreign tourists might be closed, so it's good to keep that in mind when planning your trip.
The live songs must have been popular, as everyone was singing along! I thought I'd explored a good bit of Ho Chi Minh City, but it continually surprises me with new discoveries. That endless unveiling of hidden gems is truly the city's charm. I would have loved to get some better shots, but it was just too packed to find the right angles. I'll definitely have to come back right at opening time next time to capture those perfect photos.
📍 Drinking & Healing
25 Đ. Hồ Tùng Mậu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000 Vietnam
Here's the location. They're open from 6:30 PM to 2:00 AM. It turns out this area was one I hadn't explored much before!
The crowd was 100% local. Everyone but me was Vietnamese! It seems this spot hasn't been widely discovered by Westerners or Koreans yet (though it could also be due to the Tet holiday).
Later in the evening, they did start playing some pop songs, which was a nice change. One important thing to note – and this is just a friendly heads-up if you care about such things – this is a pretty trendy spot in Saigon, and people tend to dress up. I just happened to wander in while dressed for a casual stroll around the neighborhood, and I definitely stood out! Haha.
Overall, 'Drinking & Healing' was a fantastic and unexpected find during my spontaneous Ho Chi Minh City adventure. It's definitely worth a visit!
According to the article, this bar was difficult to find by searching its name because there was no visible sign, and it was also hard to locate on Google Maps. It was discovered by simply walking in. Its location is 25 Đ. Hồ Tùng Mậu.
Cocktails at this bar cost 290,000 VND. The menu only offers cocktails, and no separate food items or snacks are provided.
This bar is a Saigon hotspot frequented entirely by locals, and visitors tend to dress up. It's advisable to keep in mind that overly casual attire might not align with the surrounding atmosphere.
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