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ELLE Editors Recommend: The Hottest Spots In Ho Chi Minh City

From hipster bars to the best street food and riverside restaurants, here are the best spots to check out in Ho Chi Minh City.

| Team ELLE Vietnam
Vietnam
Photograph: (Photo by Chris Slupski on Unsplash )

This vibrant 24-hour city blends French colonial style with futuristic skyscrapers. Head to District 1 for historical sites, hipster bars and the best street food (Ben Thanh Market), and District 2 (Thao Dien) for riverside restaurants. 

Trendy Eatery 

Esta Saigon 

Our favourite spot for contemporary fusion Vietnamese food, Esta has been drawing discerning foodies since 2019. Chef Cuong celebrates the traditional art of fire cooking with a seasonal menu (Hay-smoked squid with green curry, Ca mau crab with jamon custard), that is globally inspired (Korea, Japan, China), and locally sourced.

27 Tran Quy Khoach, estasaigon.com

Local Food Hotspot

Quan Bui Original 

Vietnam
For the best home-cooking, this is the mothership of several branches around the city. Inspired by the style of 1990s Saigon, founder Danh Tran evokes the ambience of a family dinner, with cosy interiors and delicious Vietnamese comfort food such as caramelised pork belly, grilled beef, lemongrass and rice noodles.

19 Ngo Van Nam, quan-bui.com

Charming Hotel 

Amanaki Thao Dien

a store front of a building with a sign that readsarmaarma at Amanaki Thao Dien in Ho Chi Minh City
This boutique hotel combines a modern, sustainable design with a unique collection of antique furniture and Vietnamese art. Most of this is on show in the public areas. The 29 rooms have exquisite carved wooden headboards and traditional furniture. The hotel’s Nuc Concept Kitchen serves up a seasonal, responsibly sourced, experimental menu.

10 Nguyen Dang Giai, amanaki.vn

Buzzing Bar 

Social Club Rooftop Bar 

Vietnam
Happy Hour from 3-7 pm attracts afternoon drinkers to this stylish rooftop bar, but it comes into its own after dark. Expect live DJs, exquisite cocktails (try the Dragon Slayer with gin, dragon fruit, lime juice, peach and lychee), and views of glittering skyscrapers.

Hotel des Arts Saigon, 76 - 78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, hoteldesartssaigon.com

Hottest Night Out 

Yunka

The best electro, Afro House and electronic tunes from live DJs, top-notch Nikkei dishes such as ceviche and crispy rice with tuna, and cool cocktails (matcha and yuzu sours), make this restaurant/bar/club one of the hottest night spots in town for a stylish crowd. And with avant-garde design from Studio Duo Architects, the interiors are as spectacular as the menu.

80 Dong Khoi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, yunkasaigon.com

Pamper Places 

By Yoo Nail Salon

This friendly salon is our go-to for intricate nail art, jewelled finishes, classic and luxury manicures and pedicures, and perfectly applied shellac. Current bespoke designs include snakes and snakeskin patterns, and cat eye.

26 Truong Quoc Dung, Phuong 8, Phu Nhuan

La Tra Medical Spa

For traditional medicine treatments in a modern setting, La Tra can ease stress, insomnia, aches and pains and all manner of everyday complaints with its acupuncture and acupressure massages and sauna.

Branch 1: 778/A6 Nguyen Kiem, Ward 4, Phu Nhuan District, latraspa.com

Q Spa And Salon

Set in an atmospheric French-style villa, with dark wood furniture, ornate lanterns and antiques, this upscale spa is worth the taxi ride from the city centre for on -trend hairstyling, massages, manicures and pedicures.

31 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe, District 1, qspandsalon.com

It Fashion Designer 

Thao Vu

Fashion icon and eco-entrepreneur Thao Vu’s Kilomet109 is a celebration of sustainable, Vietnamese fashion. Each unique piece is handcrafted and fashion-forward. She collaborates with artisans around the country, using old methods to create something new, working with 100% natural fabrics and dyes.

Kilomet109, 64 Quang An, Tay Ho, Hanoi, kilomet109.com

Style Hub 

Rue Miche 

The latest shopping hotspot, Rue Miche, is a retail hub of 700 square metres over four floors showcasing a range of fashion, lifestyle products and accessories. Friendly staff will help you find what you want among Vietnamese designers such as Latui, Jellyfish, Maison Meng, Lartique and Lalune.

9B Phung Khac Khoan, Phuong Dakao, District 1, ruemiche.com

Secret Escape 

An Lam Retreats Saigon River 

Vietnam
Just a 25-minute boat ride from the city centre, this boutique hideaway has 35 luxury villas in tropical gardens, an outdoor pool and a jungle spa. Stay for the weekend or just escape for a day of Himalayan salt scrubs, green tea body wraps, or deep tissue shiatsu.

21/4 Trung Street, Vinh Phu Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, anlam.com

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