Opened in late February in the Old Quarter, Hanoi Taco Bar is aiming to mix the taste of Tex-Mex with the atmosphere of a contemporary, rustic-style bar.

Ho Chi Minh City now has 21 bars and restaurants located on the city’s rooftops. Owen Salisbury and Jon Aspin decided to check them all out to create a definitive list of what’s available in Saigon, up on high. Photos by Kyle Phanroy and Owen Salisbury

Set in an old theatre once dedicated to the traditional folk art, Tuong, 1900 Le Theatre is a bar and nightclub with nightly DJing events and promotions.

Lying on the Pasteur side of the Rex Hotel, Elixir is a restobar that takes its décor seriously. Designed with a contemporary Indochine flavour, dark polished woods, French drapes and cigar drawers complete the formula.

SPORTS BAR

45-47 Bui Vien, Q1, Tel: (08) 3920 4202

A recent addition to the sports-and-watering-hole drinking scene, Champion is located in the Backpackers’ area and shows all the major televised sports. Also has a pool table, darts, tasty Western and Vietnamese food, great cocktails and ice cold beer. Western managed, wonderful local staff. #BeAChampion.

DJ BAR / LATE NIGHT

284 Nghi Tam, Tay Ho, Tel: 0915 663993

facebook.com/lesoleilpaoloandchi

Open late, Le Soleil has become a place to be seen, especially if you’re the dancing-into-the-early hours kind of person. Sofas, bar stools, menus on blackboards and neon-coloured lighting, there’s a grunge-style feel to the place, but it’s an ambience that Le Soleil’s customers seem to love. Has a pizza joint, Paolo and Chi, upstairs.

SPORTS BAR

55, Thao Dien, Q2, Tel: (08) 3744 5453

What does the Thao Dien area of Saigon seriously lack? A sports bar. And this is the Al Fresco Group’s answer to a distinct shortage hole in the market. Sleek lines, modern décor, elegant and spacious, dartboards and of course, lots of large screens to watch the televised sports. Check out their daily food specials.

EXPAT BAR

24 Hai Ba Trung, Q1

One of this city’s longest running watering holes — and the original home of the darts league — has recently reopened in its new premises. Naturally, darts are still key here, with each of the bottom three floors having elements devoted to this most pub-friendly of sports.

Earlier this year we published an article about an inner-city bar crawl one of our staff members took in Melbourne, which is well known for its beautifully designed bars. We said then that Vietnam is well on its way to catching up, and with several new entries on this years shortlist, it does appear that the drinking scene here is going from strength to strength.

X Café are putting on a complimentary vat of chili con carne on Saturday Feb. 21 as part of their new Saturday afternoon garden party.