Travel Tips

The most useful tip that precedes all others is to keep an open mind and a vigilant eye during your travels. After all, you paid very good money to experience something different so you're best off letting go of what you're accustomed to. Before browsing any posts, be sure to read Before You Go. The posts below are a collection of things I have experienced myself or address encounters by other tourists I have heard about. You can be safe and still fully enjoy what this truly unique country and its people have to offer.

Nightlife

Vietnam's nightlife is a growing phenomenon unlike any other. What was once a clandestine collection of hotspots mostly geared to serving foreign patrons, the scene after dark is now an entire world anchored in popular culture. A mix of local and foreign (mostly American, European and East Asian) cultures provides an edgy and extremely varied blend.

Restaurants

Food is very central to the culture of Vietnam, and as such you can find just about any style out there. Vietnamese food can be generally categorized into the main three regions they come from: North, Central, and South. You can also find incredible variation in price and value as a meal could run you anywhere from $1 USD to $100 USD per person - where quality does not necessarily correlating with price. Hidden gems and heralded institutions exist everywhere; you just have to look.

Attractions

Vietnam's popular attractions are spread across the country, with surprisingly few in urban areas. Guaranteed to please any photo takers and adventure seekers, the country's natural and historical reserves dot the coast lines, mountains, and islands. Depending on your length of stay, you may not be able to do everything that seems interesting. I hope my accounts can help you plan your itinerary.

Culture

Vietnam's history runs back thousands of years and yet is now changing faster than it has ever before. There are few phenomenons as interesting as seeing the social fabric change so drastically in such a short amount of time. Furthermore, countless customs and habits evolve and perpetuate in this blending modernity. Culture shocks are sure to abound for many visitors.

Events

Some events recur yearly and some are singular incidents, but all are memorable.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Chill Sky Bar is a must: 4.5/5


The best view of Ho Chi Minh City at the time of this post belongs to Chill Sky Bar, and it delivers it breathtakingly. Newly built since fall of 2011, the bar was designed by Thai group, DWP, the same ones that conceived the magnificent Sirocco in Bangkok. Sitting atop the AB tower next to the New World Hotel, viewers take in the expansive sight before them as Ho Chi Minh City is still nearly flat due to the almost utter lack of skyscrapers. The show played out before you are a mix of fixed city lights and those of the frantic traffic below. Even if you don't like to drink or party, the view alone is worth the trip up - there's no cover. On busy nights (ie. Fridays and Saturdays) do try to get there before the crowds and lineups which usually gather by around 10 or 11 pm. You can also call ahead to make reservations.

An equally impressive team runs the establishment behind the scenes. The kitchen is led by Aussie head chef Andy O'Brien and over at the bar is mixologist (or head bartender) Bernardo Bernard. I have yet to try the food or too many of the drinks, but I can say they are well presented. If you are familiar with any of the Vietnamese celebreties, you might see a familiar face or two among the patrons especially on weekends. As you can imagine, the bar caters to a higher end patrons and the prices reflect that, although still not too expensive by international standards. Beers are roughly 7 USD and mixed 12 USD... give or take.




The vibe of Chill Sky Bar is that of a lounge. You won't find too much dancing, but rather a lot of people just hanging and socializing. There's always a renowned DJ in charge of the music, so if you want to get your groove on you're certainly most welcome.

My only misgiving is the staff still have room to improve on in terms of courtesy, but it's not glaring. I can certainly appreciate their level of stress and work when the bar gets crowded. Also, the prices are higher than almost any establishment in the city, but that's also expected.

I bring all my visiting friends to this place. Don't miss out.

Address:
26 & 27th Floor Rooftop, AB Tower
76A Le Lai, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
+84 83 827 2372

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