Where to drink near the river
The blocks between the Renaissance Riverside Hotel and Dong Khoi hold one of the densest clusters of bars in Ho Chi Minh City — everything from whisky dens hidden up narrow stairwells to craft beer taprooms with 40 taps. This guide sticks to a walkable loop through District 1: start easy, then go deeper into the alleys around Mac Thi Buoi and Dong Du as the night goes on.
How to use this guide
- Places are ordered roughly by how the night builds, not strict distance — start with an easy first drink, end somewhere worth staying put.
- Most of these bars sit within a 10–15 minute walk of each other, so this works as a bar crawl or a pick-one night out.
- Reservations are worth making on weekends, especially for the smaller speakeasy-style spots.
Good to know
Dress is smart-casual across the board — none of these enforce a strict dress code, but flip-flops and tank tops won’t fly at the whisky bars. Most kitchens close earlier than the bars, so eat first if food matters to you.
