Let's take a trip in the Wayback machine to the year 2019. Clubs were jam-packed with people drinking and dancing without a care in the world. As we get closer and closer to this reality again, I like to go back and share some of my experiences from the Pre-Covid era of human civilization.
The Pre-Covid Series is a series of posts about my trips and adventures pre-pandemic. You'll get to hear about some of the amazing places that I was able to visit before travel was extremely limited. Hopefully soon, I'll be able to return to a life of traveling soon.
Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City, District 1
I spent about 6 months living in Ho Chi Minh's District 1 in 2019. District 1 is home to the main tourist area in the city. Bui Vien Street is the world-famous backpacker and nightlife area in town. Today we'll be skipping that area and concentrating more on the higher class nightclubs and bars I found during my stay.
If you want to hear about my times on Bui Vien Street you can check out the link here to a previous article.
Since this info is from my last trip in 2019, I'm sure many of the places I visited have since been closed due to the pandemic. Hopefully, some of these amazing spots struggled through the crisis and survived. I also don't remember the names of most of the places so I apologize in advance for not naming every venue.
Let's Get This Party Started
Enough of the intro, it's time to party. After spending months in Koh Phangan and drinking Change beer, I needed a break from cheap beer. Luckily, Ho Chi Minh was filled with amazing bars that offer diverse craft beer selections.
I spent most of my time in about 2-3 bars that were within walking distance of my home. They all were great places to meet locals and other tourists spending time in Saigon.
After a few pints, it was usually time for a stiffer drink. There were plenty of high-end bars that offer craft cocktails at good prices all around District 1 as well.
Time for a DJ Set in Saigon
I never pass up the chance to DJ while traveling and was lucky enough to land gigs at Tempo and Wam, two of Saigon's coolest underground hot spots.
Time to Go See Some Headliners
Since Saigon is such a large city and has a great underground scene, many international DJs make the city a must-stop. While I was there I was lucky enough to catch one of my all-time favorite acts, Breakbot at Bam Bam.
Time for After-hours
There's always time for after-hours in Saigon as well. You can walk down any road and find cool and interesting underground hot spots in Saigon.
Closing out the Night and the Early Morning
Man do I miss all-nighters like this. Living in Siem Rea, there really aren't many chances to spend all night out like this wandering around and going on adventures while listening to amazing techno with friends. Don't get me wrong I love it here as well, it's just more of a small-town vibe.
I hope everyone is enjoying these posts. I'm sure everyone is anxious to get back out on the road and enjoy life the way we could before the pandemic.
I encourage everyone to do what they can to stay safe and stop the spread of Covid. This doesn't mean living in fear. Do what's right and do what you can to stay healthy! Let's beat this thing and get back to traveling!
Currently based in Siem Reap, Cambodia, I'm a solo-traveling digital nomad. Due to the pandemic, I've been living in Siem Reap for almost 2 years now. While I'm hoping to get back on the road soon, I'm not in a rush.
I'd love to connect with other travelers, digital nomads, gamers, or residents of Cambodia. Don't hesitate to say hi or send me an upvote!
You can learn more about me and my company at OneZen.me.
