Bui Vien Walking Street: A Vibrant Hub of Saigon's Nightlife.
Is Bui Vien walking street in Saigon, Asia’s most entertaining tourist spot?
If you're looking for a lively and vibrant area to explore in Saigon, then Bui Vien Walking Street is a must-visit destination.
This bustling street is the heart of the city's backpacker district, offering a wide range of food, drinks, and entertainment options for visitors to enjoy.
Whether you're looking for a night of elegance and curiosity, or a taste of the famous Vietnamese cuisine, Bui Vien Street has it in abundance. In my opinion, the famous backpacker street has the best nightlife in Vietnam.
This comprehensive guide has all the information you need to allow you to fully immerse in Vietnamese culture and feel the energy flowing through the Southern city, whether you are just spending 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City, or significantly longer, it will help to fill up your itinerary.
The entrance to Bui Vien Street in Saigon.
Where is Bui Vien walking street?
Bui Vien walking street is the heartbeat of Ho Chi Minh’s nightlife and attracts visitors from all over the world. It is located in District 1, and is often referred to as ‘Western Street’ or ‘Backpacker street’ due to the large number of western travellers arriving, usually looking to party.
The location of the Walking Street is on Pham Ngu Lao Street. It is approximately one mile long and is packed out with bars, restaurants and street food vendors. It can be quiet through the day but as soon as the sun sets, it is one of the liveliest streets in Asia for sure.
Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The ‘lively’ area which is classed as the walking area consists of the streets of:
Bui Vien.
De Tham.
Tran Hung Dao.
Pham Ngu Lao.
Do Quan Dau.
All these streets are easily accessible by public transport.
A recommended cheap and efficient way to get around Saigon is with the Grab app.
The official walking time of the street is between 7 pm and 2 am on weekends, which means there are no vehicles allowed to drive down the street.
Enjoy a cold beer or cocktail at a rooftop bar.
After a long day of exploring Ho Chi Minh, there is nothing better than relaxing with a cold drink in one of the many bars in Bui Vien Walking Street - It is paradise for people watching at street level.
Once you have finished enjoying observing all the different types of people walking past the bars, it’s time to head upstairs in one of the rooftop bars and enjoy some unbeatable panoramic views of the city. Some popular options include Chill Skybar, Saigon Rooftop Bar, and the View Rooftop Bar. Throughout Bui Vien Walking Street You will find rooftop bars with a wide selection of local cuisine and drinks. A highlight of any night in Ho Chi Minh is sitting in awe of the city skyline with a cold mojito in hand.
You will also find live DJ’s, live sport and pool tables to keep you entertained as your action packed night progresses long into the night.
Typical Vietnamese style bar in Bui Vien Street.
Sample the local Vietnamese street food.
A true highlight of any trip to South East Asia, and especially Vietnam, is the wonderful cuisine. Bui Vien Street, in the heart of Saigon, is a foodie lovers’ paradise that offers a taste of the vibrant Vietnamese culinary scene.
Some places to eat in Bui Vien are BBQ Saigon Night at Lang Nuong Nho Ba Sau, which offer an authentic Vietnamese BBQ experience.
If you're never tried Hue style cuisine, then Bui Vien Street is the place to try it. At Bun Bo Nam Giao you can try the delicious famous Bun Bo (a spicy beef noodle soup).
My personal favourite was a ‘banh mi’, a Vietnamese sandwich that is a fresh concoction of flavours packed into a baguette. You will find these popular Vietnamese buns on any street food stall in Bui Vien, for a very reasonable cost.
The approximate cost of eating out in Bui Vien Street can vary depending on where you choose to dine. However, you can expect meals to range from VND 20,000 (65p) to VND 150,000 (£5), so very affordable for budget travellers or the large number of backpackers.
Bui Vien Street Saigon lit up at night.
Enjoy a professional massage or spa treatment.
There is no doubt that Bui Vien Street is a real live wire of a destination, however, it also offers a serene experience if that is your thing through various massages. You will find local masseuses walking up down the famous street trying to lure visitors into back alley massage shops. There are also some highly reputable wellness and health facilities, so the street really does cater for every type of tourist.
Different available services across the many shops.
Full body massage.
Manicures.
Thai massage.
Foot massage.
Couple massage.
Special Vietnam Traditional Massage.
Coconut Oil Body Massage.
Essential Oil Body Massage.
Herbal bath and therapy.
The exclusivity and level of service ranges from very basic 20,000VNĐ (70p) services off street workers up to
750,000VNĐ (£30) in reputable facilities.
The street has been known for scams, so it is very important to be careful and aware of your surroundings when taking part in these activities.
Impressive décor inside of a bar in Bui Vien Street.
Feel the beat in one of the impressive nightclubs.
You will find many of the different nightclubs in Bui Vien Walking Street have unique themes with impressive decor, which offers plenty of great choices if you want to get your groove on.
One thing they all have in common is fantastic sound systems - you can feel the bass and beat as you walk down the street from the various multi-floored nightclubs, which are dotted next to pubs, cafes and hotels. You will find the majority of the DJ’s are local males and females, as are the dancers which add to the atmosphere of the street for sure.
Due to the competitive nature of Bui Vien Street, you will constantly have club promoters hand you flyers or try to drag you into the clubs.
You can take advantage of this by grabbing some cheap deals on cocktails and other refreshing drinks!
Enjoying cocktails in Bui Vien Street.
Book your tour to visit historical landmarks.
Throughout Bui Vien Street, you will find the opportunity to book some private tours to some of Vietnam’s most famous tourist spots. Most hotels and hostels offer the service to book your tour and arrange everything including a hotel pick up. You will also find tour offices dotted around the area.
There is no doubt that Vietnam has its own story to tell and the Cu Chi Tunnels are the perfect place to go and learn about the dark history which is associated with the South East Asian nation. My visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels was the most enjoyable day of my trip to Ho Chi Minh City.
Another activity that must not be missed when visiting the Southern Vietnamese City is the Mekong Delta tour.
Authentic Vietnam at the Mekong Delta.
Get lost amongst the souvenir shops and nearby Bazaars.
Shopping amongst the locals in indoor Bazaars in new destinations is a great way to experience the culture. Saigon offers many Bazaars, but a very good option not too far away from Bui Vien Street is Ben Thanh Market.
Ho Chi Minh City's second-largest indoor wet market and Bui Vien Street are both centrally located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, making them relatively close to each other. The distance between the two popular spots is approximately 0.6 miles (or about 1 kilometer).
Ben Thanh Market, located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, is an iconic symbol of Saigon's bustling commerce. With over 1,500 booths, this central market offers an extensive range of wholesale and retail items, from food and branded clothing (or copies) to souvenirs. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and has become a renowned destination for both locals and tourists alike.
The market operates all year round, opening at around 6 am every day until the official closing time at 6 pm. After 6 pm, the day market transitions into a night market, which runs until 10 pm.
So go and grab your local souvenirs!
Girls wearing traditional straw hats enjoying their night.
Best hotels near Bui Vien Street in Saigon.
The backpacker district of Bui Vien has an array of hotels/hostels to suit all needs.
Here are a few options:
Backpacker/budget.
Luxury.
Female DJ inside a club in Bui Vien Street.
Final thoughts on Bui Vien Street in Saigon.
Saigon ticks every box for what a backpacker/traveller would want!
Bui Vien Street is the nightlife heartbeat in a city which is beaming with pride and tradition. There is no doubt that the street has had some cosmopolitan influence on it over the last few decades through the vast and growing number of visitors, which offers a truly unique vibe.
However, As you wander down Saigon’s liveliest street, you will still find Vietnamese culture throughout, from the bar/restaurants themed decor, to the local street vendors. Of course, there are other parts of Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of Vietnam that offer a more authentic Vietnamese experience, but you just have to experience the thrill of Bui Vien Street.
You won’t get sick of people watching in this street, that is guaranteed!
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