Bars , clubs restaurants frequent by locals

Just type " top class nightlife in Saigon" you will get a list of the overpriced hangouts in Saigon.

andy1npl wrote:

Where do the upperclass to higherclass people like to go out to at nights ? CertaIn bars, lounge , restaurant and general areas? I’m talking like a night out they would be spending $40-100+ each person .  Also for middle class professionals .

I don't know about middle class professionals, but bars are not where Vietnamese upper-class frequent.  Searching for tables in a crowded bar is not how the very rich (not yet super rich) of this country spend their evening out.  They prefer places with high entrance fees, reserved comfortable tables and chairs, and limited number of patrons.  Vietnamese love to dance (and they love, love, love ballroom dancing) so night clubs with live performers and large enough dance floor is a must.  They also drop a whole lot more than $40 - $100 pp at night clubs.  Think five or 10 times as much. 

I was invited to several night clubs in Saigon 14 years ago when the rich locals were not yet as rich as they are today.  The music in each nightclub was mini concert type, my second drink (the first was included in entrance fee) was a finger of Lagavulin for $27 (again, this was 14 years ago).  While standing in line waiting for the ladies lounge (yes, it was called a lounge, not a bathroom), I observed the people around me and was absolutely certain that every woman sported at least $3000 on her body just on clothing, shoes, and handbag.  (I wasn't good on jewelries but I could tell the price tag on fashion to within a few hundred dollars). 

When you use the word 'upper-class' in this country, think American millionaires and multi-millionaires (liquid assets, not counting properties.)  It's a rather big group in Saigon and a bigger, richer group in Hanoi.  The gap between the rich and the poor here is the size of Grand Canyon.

Of course I can google but this is a forum , so I’m asking if anybody knows or have first hand experience at certain places they been to or heard of .

Ciambella just told you.

andy1npl wrote:

Where do the upperclass to higherclass people like to go out to at nights ? CertaIn bars, lounge , restaurant and general areas? I’m talking like a night out they would be spending $40-100+ each person .  Also for middle class professionals . Thanks 🙏

It seems that you are asking about Saigon, and I think that there are not many members on this board that live there. In general, the VN forum here doesn't get much traffic for some reason. 

I haven't lived in HCMC myself since 2010 and when I am there for a few days, I tend to stick to familiar places that aren't exactly upmarket, have a nice meal and a couple of drinks, then call it night relatively early.

Anyway, my impression is that majority of nicer places are centrally located in Districts 1, 3 and Bình Thạnh. You might also search in Districts 2, 4 and 7 across the river.

Several somewhat upmarket places you might start with:

Sax 'n' Art Jazz Club at 28 Le Loi, Q. 1

Pizza 4Ps at 8/15 Le Thanh Ton, Q. 1

Bistro 48 at 48 Le Thi Rieng, Q. 1 


This site may help you find more. Look under "XPLR" in the menu at the top of the page to see listings of events, eat and drink, and entertainment categories:

https://saigoneer.com

Keep in mind though that HCMC's  nightlife is still in no way comparable to Los Angeles or other major world-class cities.

$40-$100 per person upper class? try adding a zero to those. Even a hundred a night just qualifies as middle class with some finger food.......i mean hors d'oeuvres

After making a call to my great nephew who is a bartender-for-hire, here's the info I've collected for you:

The party hot spot of the moment for the super rich is Lagoon 630 yacht (by invitation only).  The hot restaurants for the very rich are Opus Saigon and Mandarine (by reservation only).  The night club for the so-so rich is Madame Sau (by invitation only).  The yuppies and foreigners who want to be with them go to Windsor Plaza, Vigor, The Reverie Saigon, Chill SkyBar (not to be confused with the lesser graded Above Sky Bar), all of them require reservation.

There you go.  Dress to impress and bring money.

stevescoots wrote:

$40-$100 per person upper class? try adding a zero to those. Even a hundred a night just qualifies as middle class with some finger food.......i mean hors d'oeuvres

Precisely what I said above. 

While 20M is a very good monthly salary for young professionals, the young upper class do not have any problem spend five times as much for a night out.  Before Covid, many workers in protected karaoke bars routinely earned $1000 on tips each night in addition to their cut on alcohol sale and their fees on private activities.  If that's the tips, imagine the amount certain groups of people are willing to spend in the name of entertainment.

Ciambella wrote:

stevescoots wrote:

$40-$100 per person upper class? try adding a zero to those. Even a hundred a night just qualifies as middle class with some finger food.......i mean hors d'oeuvres

Precisely what I said above. 

While 20M is a very good monthly salary for young professionals, the young upper class do not have any problem spend five times as much for a night out.  Before Covid, many workers in protected karaoke bars routinely earned $1000 on tips each night in addition to their cut on alcohol sale and their fees on private activities.  If that's the tips, imagine the amount certain groups of people are willing to spend in the name of entertainment.

Oh, I am confused, can you elaborate on the "private activities" please? do you mean they also might have other jobs on the side, like cleaners or something? 

goodolboy wrote:

Oh, I am confused, can you elaborate on the "private activities" please? do you mean they also might have other jobs on the side, like cleaners or something? 

I was eavesdropping on their conversation so my guess may not be correct, but I think they're some sort of social workers who looked after the happiness of people in need.  I heard the term 'happy ending' mentioned a few times so perhaps they read fairy tales or tell good stories to comfort their clients?  I'll ask for details next time when opportunities present themselves.

Ciambella wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

Oh, I am confused, can you elaborate on the "private activities" please? do you mean they also might have other jobs on the side, like cleaners or something? 

I was eavesdropping on their conversation so my guess may not be correct, but I think they're some sort of social workers who looked after the happiness of people in need.  I heard the term 'happy ending' mentioned a few times so perhaps they read fairy tales or tell good stories to comfort their clients?  I'll ask for details next time when opportunities present themselves.

very very good

Ciambella wrote:

After making a call to my great nephew who is a bartender-for-hire, here's the info I've collected for you:

The party hot spot of the moment for the super rich is Lagoon 630 yacht (by invitation only).  The hot restaurants for the very rich are Opus Saigon and Mandarine (by reservation only).  The night club for the so-so rich is Madame Sau (by invitation only).  The yuppies and foreigners who want to be with them go to Windsor Plaza, Vigor, The Reverie Saigon, Chill SkyBar (not to be confused with the lesser graded Above Sky Bar), all of them require reservation.

There you go.  Dress to impress and bring money.

So Apocalypse Now Club is not on the list of clubs the super rich hang out these days?

stevescoots wrote:

$40-$100 per person upper class? try adding a zero to those. Even a hundred a night just qualifies as middle class with some finger food.......i mean hors d'oeuvres

Obviously $40-100$ is not that much to the super rich Vn in Saigon .  However spending $400-$1k is a bit much for even a bit to drop causally on a night out for middle /upperclass.  Like korea gangnam or Thailand ekkamai / thonglor . Upper class would spend about $50-200 a person . Of course I been to kasho or commas in Saigon which is about $600-1k a table which is fine with a group of people. Been to the buffet at Nikko hotel.  4ps pizza . Those are similar places I’m looking to visit .

goodolboy wrote:

So Apocalypse Now Club is not on the list of clubs the super rich hang out these days?

Apocalypse Now is a meat market.  It's a gathering place for high class social workers and foreigners with thick wallets and thin common sense.

andy1npl wrote:

However spending $400-$1k is a bit much for even a bit to drop causally on a night out for middle /upperclass.

You haven't known many upper class Vietnamese, haven't you?

Ciambella wrote:

andy1npl wrote:

However spending $400-$1k is a bit much for even a bit to drop causally on a night out for middle /upperclass.

You haven't known many upper class Vietnamese, haven't you?

I’ve known all types of people in Vn from sweet ladies who serve a food on the side of the street . To  people who study at university abroad  .so yes I do know upperclasss middle class people. I’m not saying I know any of the top 1-2 % people in Saigon .

andy1npl wrote:

I’ve known all types of people in Vn from sweet ladies who serve a food on the side of the street . To  people who study at university abroad  .so yes I do know upperclasss middle class people. I’m not saying I know any of the top 1-2 % people in Saigon .

Are we talking about the upper class, as per your initial post  ("Where do the upperclass to higherclass people like to go out to at nights ?"), or a new class of your own definition, "upperclass middle class"?

The wealth of the upper class here is comparable to higher multi-millionaires in the States except they're richer because most of their income is tax free, most of their assets are undisclosed, and their children don't have any problem spending their unlimited income on a regular basis. 

I don't know any of the places you mentioned in post #14.  I don't know Thailand and Korea, but I do know Vietnam intimately even if I don't go to nightclubs. Your example of buffet at Nikko and 4ps pizza (what's that?) are not where the upper class Vietnamese spend their time, whether they belong to the top 1-2% or 10-20% of the population.  I had to ask my great nephew about Commas (where he had worked) and Kasho (where he hasn't).  His answer:  "Commas is what Americans would've called high income trash, and Kasho's glitter is not gold."  (He's a quick English learner.)

being British, maybe my definition of class differs lol. We dont look at class in just a monetary sense like much of the rest of the world. You can be broke and still be upper class or super rich and still be classed as middle class.  here is my take on the places listed (from a British perspective) , just for fun!

Lagoon 630 yacht I don’t know this or find it so must be super exclusive then lol 

Below I have been to at some point or another

Opus Saigon Upper class
Mandarine upper middle (but I think closed down now)   
Madame Sau upper middle (you don’t need invitations) 
Windsor Plaza lower middle class
Vigor, middle class
The Reverie Saigon, lower middle class
Chill Sky Bar Middle class

stevescoots wrote:

here is my take on the places listed (from a British perspective) , just for fun!

Much better ranking than my second hand knowledge.

stevescoots wrote:

being British, maybe my definition of class differs lol. We dont look at class in just a monetary sense like much of the rest of the world. You can be broke and still be upper class or super rich and still be classed as middle class.  here is my take on the places listed (from a British perspective) , just for fun!

Lagoon 630 yacht I don’t know this or find it so must be super exclusive then lol 

Below I have been to at some point or another

Opus Saigon Upper class
Mandarine upper middle (but I think closed down now)   
Madame Sau upper middle (you don’t need invitations) 
Windsor Plaza lower middle class
Vigor, middle class
The Reverie Saigon, lower middle class
Chill Sky Bar Middle class

Thanks for contributing to the thread instead ! Unlike others who are just looking for an argument ! Been to few places on there . I’m mostly into places with a nice wine selection or good bottle of whisky .

stevescoots wrote:

being British, maybe my definition of class differs lol. We dont look at class in just a monetary sense like much of the rest of the world. You can be broke and still be upper class or super rich and still be classed as middle class.

You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear comes to mind. me I see myself as a bit of rough!!

  been to the Caravel Roof Garden once "Salsa Night" I think it was & girls there looked a cut above. Then saw them all at Apocalypse after. Is the Caravel upper, middle or lower class, I remember it cost a fortune for a beer there.
What about "The Black Pearl" in Vung Tau, is that upper class Ciambella ?? costs a fortune for a drink there too.

Congratulations to all those who made meaningful contributions to this thread, unlike someone who's simply looking to find a hugely overpriced Manhattan... 😉
.

goodolboy wrote:

What about "The Black Pearl" in Vung Tau, is that upper class Ciambella ?? costs a fortune for a drink there too.

The Black Pearl is hit and miss, expensive but not upper class.  I don't think there's an upper class hangout in VT but there are quite a few places to spend your family's fortune, hence the $1000 tips to the social workers.

andy1npl wrote:

Thanks for contributing to the thread instead ! Unlike others who are just looking for an argument ! Been to few places on there . I’m mostly into places with a nice wine selection or good bottle of whisky .

You came to the forum asking for advices on "where do the upperclass to higherclass people like to go out to at nights" . Colin replied that Google is a good source.  You said you would rather hear from people who "have first hand experience at certain places they been to or heard of". 

I replied that the amount of money you have in mind is not what the upper class or higher class spend.  Stevescoots gave you the same answer. 

Then I went one step further and consulted someone who really knows the ins and outs of nightclubs in Saigon.  I passed along the info for which you asked (names of restaurants, bars, and lounges for different clientele groups.)  You rejected the information and changed the goalpost.   

Now you want to visit places that are similar to "buffet at Nikko hotel.  4ps pizza" (whatever the latter means).

Stevescoots gave a ranking of the places I mentioned.  My great-nephew saw those places from the eyes of someone who mixes drinks while stevescoots saw it from the eyes of someone who paid for the drinks.  Putting the two views together and you would've had a better and more accurate review.  But no, you wouldn't, because you said you've "been to few places on there"  (meaning you know how much they charge, a contradiction to what you said earlier that "$400-$1k is a bit much for even a bit to drop causally on a night out".) 

Now you just want "places with a nice wine selection or good bottle of whisky." 

Makeup your mind.

In re: your statement that "unlike others who are just looking for an argument !"  As I'm the only other active participant in this conversation, I'm sure you mean me.  That statement shows you know as much about me as you know about the spending habit of "upper class and higher class" Vietnamese.  Not one member of these forums will agree with your statement because my job here is peacemaking, not arguing.  I may use more logic in my posts than you're accustomed to, but logic is used to clarify, not to fight.

I've given you my help as I always do for anyone who needs it.  Evidently everything I said is not what you wanted to hear so I'm ending my part here.

Goodbye, and good luck.

Ciambella wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

What about "The Black Pearl" in Vung Tau, is that upper class Ciambella ?? costs a fortune for a drink there too.

The Black Pearl is hit and miss, expensive but not upper class.  I don't think there's an upper class hangout in VT but there are quite a few places to spend your family's fortune, hence the $1000 tips to the social workers.

I have a Korean friend who is in his mid 20's and his dad does business here so he goes and joins in the "business dinners" he told me one trip at Black Pearl they bought 8 bottles of expensive whiskey plus drinks for the 6 VN "Hosts" plus food no idea how much but big money.

I was VT 3 times within last 2 months i'm sure it's all been ripped apart? any info from locals living there?

Ciambella wrote:

andy1npl wrote:

Thanks for contributing to the thread instead ! Unlike others who are just looking for an argument ! Been to few places on there . I’m mostly into places with a nice wine selection or good bottle of whisky .

Goodbye, and good luck.

Just let him be. An English teaching salary will put him slightly above the growing middle class in HCMC. He's asking for a friend!

Keep doing you Ciambella!

We went to a wedding yesterday D12, among the poor (like me & Ms My on my moped) there was the rich in their Lexus, Land Rover, Merc etc & there was one of the Saigon super rich. Bet this one cost a bob or two



[link under review]


[img][link under review][/img]

TRY AGAIN

We went to a wedding yesterday D12, among the poor (like me & Ms My on my moped) there was the rich in their Lexus, Land Rover, Merc etc & there was one of the Saigon super rich. Bet this one cost a bob or two

thick wallets and thick heads?

or ... big wallets and big heads?

(actually i disagree with the whole subject of post in the first place)

myvietnam wrote:

or ... big wallets and big heads?

(actually i disagree with the whole subject of post in the first place)

You "disagree with the whole subject of" Bars , clubs restaurants frequent by locals??

Perhaps you mean there's something in the OP that you don't like?

.... i mean the OP i guess? although i only vaguely remember what 'OP' means - forgive my memory. :-) i don't hang out in Forums enough.

the whole concept/discussion of "upper class" bars/restaurants/clubs with all greed and vanity and superficiality and shallowness and conspicuous ostentatiousness and just blatant vulgarness makes my skin crawl

(and BTW we can take a good guess about where the money comes from for most of these rich VN ... and wasn't by hard work ... and i bet in many cases is from their parents anyway)

Ciambella wrote:

goodolboy wrote:

Oh, I am confused, can you elaborate on the "private activities" please? do you mean they also might have other jobs on the side, like cleaners or something? 

I was eavesdropping on their conversation so my guess may not be correct, but I think they're some sort of social workers who looked after the happiness of people in need.  I heard the term 'happy ending' mentioned a few times so perhaps they read fairy tales or tell good stories to comfort their clients?  I'll ask for details next time when opportunities present themselves.

Are the fairy tales in English or Vietnamese?  If I were to spend this kind of money I’d like to at least understand the stories! 😏