Bars, Bars and More Bars!
The Polo Bar
It's safe to say that Saigon has its fair share of bars. This is not a bad things as bars are where you go to meet friends, hang out, eat lunch, catch up on sport news, and just enjoy a few drinks.
Also, bars are where you go after work to unwind and relax.
And when I need to unwind after work and have a drink, the first port of call is nearly always the Polo Bar.
And ironically the Polo Bar was probably the first bar I ever visited when I came to Saigon, and it is still my favorite bar to this very day.
I still remember my first visit to the Polo Bar as well.
This is because, having a big neon sign offering massages next to the door, the Polo bar has a somewhat seedy looking entrance.
But despite the apprehension given the big neon sign offering massages, I trusted my friends and I walked up the steep flight 
of steps that looked like they led up to God knows what kind of carnal pleasure.
At the top of the stairs I walked through the door on the right, and entered into a bar that has become like a second home ever since.
This is because, with a good group of regulars and a group of bar girls who are friendly and chatty, the atmosphere at Polo is always vibrant, friendly, and inviting.
This close-nit nature that develops at Polo was best illustrated by the Christmas Party held last Christmas, where the bar put on free food for everyone, and all the bar girls were dressed up in rather fetching little school girl outfits.
By the end of the night, food and confectionary was being thrown around the room at anyone within range, and everyone had a good time and left with a smile.
It is this lively, friendly and cozy atmosphere that makes the Polo Bar so good.You know that when you visit you will be made welcome and that the company will be good.
128 - 133 Ham Nghi St, Dist 1
Tel: 8216895
Honorable Mentions
Café Latin
The number one sports bar in all Saigon is Café Latin. With a multitude of television screens, Café Latin is the first choice of call for dedicated sports fans looking to catch up on the local or international sporting scene.
Consequently, anytime there is a big rugby or football match on, this place is packed. And if you don't get there early when the big game is on you will more than likely be standing.
Not surprisingly then, Cafe Latin also tends to be the organizing spot for all the local expat sporting competitions. If you are looking to get involved in the local soccer leagues or sporting events, Cafe Latin is definitely the place to go. The bar serves as the organizing and meeting place for a number of teams before heading off to play their weekend games.
But I have to say though, the reason I like Cafe Latin so much is because of the food. This is because one of the things I miss most since arriving in Vietnam is mashed potatoes. I like Vietnamese food don't get me wrong, but sometimes I just want to eat something that reminds me of home, and creamy, buttery, heavenly mashed potatoes always makes me think of home.
For this reason I love visiting Cafe Latin, as they serve a good-old traditional meat pie and potato meal. The meat pie is big and stuffed with meat, and the creamy mashed potato is plentiful. As such, whether you are looking to catch up on the sport scene or get a great feed, Cafe Latin is one of the best for both.
19 - 21 Dong Du, Dist 1
Tel: 824 6668
Number 5
They say that when traveling you know a local restaurant will serve good food if the place is popular with the locals. The same can be said about bars. You know a bar is good if the locals visit that bar.
This is why Number 5 is so good. Hidden away on Mac Dinh Chi, Number 5 is a very popular bar with expats. And given the hidden away nature of the bar, its popularity within the expat community is largely down to word of mouth.
Like the Polo Bar, Number Five is a great place to go and relax after work. And it is not unusual to meet General Managers or Directors of big foreign companies relaxing at Number 5 with a glass of beer on their way home.
So what is the attraction of Number 5? Part of the attraction is the stylish and clean decor, another part of the attraction is that you are likely to run into other expats that you will know, and the remaining part of the attraction is that the bar girls at Number 5 all speak pretty good English. All this adds up to making Number 5 a great place to recover after a long day at the office, or as a great place to start on a Saturday night out.
Also if you are interested in finding out about the local golf scene, Number 5 would be a great place to visit. This is because the bar is owned by an avid golfer by the name of Heinz, and he is involved in much of what goes on in the local golf scene. Consequently if he can't help you out, or point you in the right direction, there would be few others in Saigon that could.
Finally, if you are wondering about the name of the bar given that its address is 43 Mac Dinh Chi, the bar is named Number 5 because the bar use to be located at 5 Ly Tu Trong.
43 Mac Dinh Chi, Dist 1
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