4 Best Nightlife in Vietnam

Lively tunes, a pool table, and a 5–9 pm happy hour pull in crowds late into the night at this lively bar in Old Town. Cheerfully grungy street art plasters the walls surrounding the bar, where service can be slow and conversation almost impossible. Quieter surroundings can be found upstairs in the sofa-strewn lounge bar.

Great cocktails and live music are the reason people come here, yet the excellent Italian menu and shady rear courtyard make for some of the calmest lunchtime dining in the center. Slightly more upscale than the brimming-with-backpackers Before & Now, the Dive Bar is a favorite hangout for expats and travelers looking for a relaxed vibe. The bar is also where diver-wannabes or enthusiasts can book for courses and escapades on Cham Island.

This restaurant-lounge-bar makes an array of refreshing cocktails with—you guessed it—mangoes. This place is often chock-a-block with expats and tourists, and happy hour starts at 8 am and ends at 7 pm. A full menu with starters, salads, mains and desserts is served, complemented by an innovative cocktail selection. Bypass the front busy dining room for a low table in the back beside the river. It's best at sunset.

One of the few nightlife spots in the heart of Old Town, this corner wine bar has cocktails, beer, spirits, and quality wines by the glass. The cheese platter and various tapas pair well with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc on a hot day. Grab a table on the top floor for views of the Thu Bon River.