American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

By Hoang Phong   October 15, 2022 | 10:12 pm PT
Two bars in Hanoi and four others in Ho Chi Minh City have been selected as the best in Vietnam by readers of U.S. magazine Conde Nast Traveler.
American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

Kuusi by Tung on Quang Trung Street in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District opened its doors last May, becoming one of the capital's most popular night hangouts.

With only 12 seats, the bar is available from 7:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. except Mondays.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

At Kuusi, guests are invited to a two-hour cocktail experience of five drinks paired with a series of gastronomic snacks created by Chef Tung and his team.

The first floor has six seats with highchairs close together while the mezzanine area offers a sofa for four people.

Prices range from VND1.29 million ($53.49) with drinks only or VND1.77 million for both drinks and food.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

The Haflington in the attic of an old house on Hang Ma Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter is designed as a private museum with typical European architecture.

There are rows of glass vitrines, a whiskey tasting counter with adjoining Gentleman's club-style smoking lounge.

The bar has two floors. The main floor where the bar is located offers a comfortable space for guests to sit and hang out with highchairs while a sub-floor is designated for those seeking privacy.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

There's a conspicuous three-meter-long dinosaur skeleton suspended above the bar too.

The bar opens from 3 p.m. until 1 a.m. with prices ranging from VND250,000-300,000 per person.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

Trieu Institute on Mac Thi Buoi Street in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 is where history meets intoxication.

The bar takes inspiration from its eponymous heroine Ba Trieu, a third-century warrior that repelled the Chinese Eastern Wu Dynasty.

The bar has two floors and its balcony allows guests to watch the bustling nightlife of Vietnam's southern metropolis.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

The Trieu Institute was designed with modern elegance while retaining some bold traditional elements.

In addition to serving cocktails, the bar also offers Vietnamese cuisine like botanicals–grilled octopus and Black Angus steak.

It is open from 4 p.m. until midnight.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

Phantom of The Opera at 74 Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1, in what used to be the city's largest opium producing factory, stands behind Saigon Opera House and not far from Nguyen Hue walking street.

The interior is decorated with rows of dressing room lights and shimmering glass cupboards of alcohol and elixirs.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

One of the biggest highlights here is the bar's retro outfitted bartenders with their fedora hats, rakish neck scarves, pinstriped suits and waistcoats.

According to some guests, the door is impossible to make out as it is painted the same faded yellow.

The bar is available from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

Hybrid Saigon on an alley on Le Thi Rieng Street in District 1 served cocktails like Death's Choke Sazerac made with local cacao, and umami-rich Mushroom Maestro.

Hybrid founder and head mixologist Lam Duong opened the first Hybrid bar in his hometown Nha Trang that was named one of Asia's 50 best in 2021.

This inspired him to bring the concept to the southern hub.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

Hybrid Saigon is also Vietnam's first bar with two separate cocktail bars, with two bartenders standing face-to-face.

There are music performances every Friday and Saturday night.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

Mua Craft Sake on Le Ngo Cat Street in District 3 is known as Vietnam's first craft sake brewery where made-in-Vietnam sake is produced from the award-winning ST25 rice.

There are tanks of sake, and an open kitchen, and scores of revelers discovering the team’s take on Japan’s fermented rice beverage.

American tourists vote for Vietnam’s best new bars

Guests are served unique Japanese-influenced dishes created with fresh Vietnamese ingredients.

The bar takes inspiration from Mua restaurant in Hoi An, helmed by Chef Tru Lang who describes his menu as an "exploration of the commonalities between Vietnamese nhau (bindge drinking) culture and Japanese izakaya cuisine."

Photos courtesy of the bars

 
 
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