Whenever I travel to a new city, the first thing I want to do is find a good vantage point; somewhere high up, with commanding views, where I can get a visual grip on my new surroundings.

Here’s our Top 5 Favorite Rooftop Rooftop Bars in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon).

1. Chill Skybar

Without doubt the coolest bar in town, Chill Skybar is incredibly popular with Saigon’s bright young things. The steakhouse here is legendary and the decor is just exquisite. Open air, superbly lit and with fantastic views, it is hard to imagine a better bar. Early evenings the music system treats your ears to gentle chill out sounds, but later on live DJs play hip-hop, EDM and house music.

Address: 26th Floor Rooftop, AB Tower, 76A Le Lai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Hours: Sun – Thu: 5:30 PM - 2:00 AM / Fri - Sat: 5:30 PM - 4:00 AM

2. Air 360 Sky Bar

Facing its older sibling, AB Tower’s Chill Skybar, Air 360 Sky Bar is the newest addition to the Capella Entertainment family. The venue has a more adult vibe about it and a more laid back atmosphere, making it an ideal after hours hangout for white collar professionals. The view is outstanding and more panoramic than Chill’s, and the drinks are inventive and enjoyable. The multi-level setup ensures that you won’t easily get bored as you navigate from the sky deck to the bar area to the stylish lounge. A pool level is available for private parties.

Address: Rooftop 22nd – 23rd , Ben Thanh Tower, 136-138 Le Thi Hong Gam, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday: 5:30 PM - 2 AM

3. Liquid Sky Bar

Atop Riverside Renaissance Saigon Hotel is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most unique rooftop views. Liquid Sky Bar sports two levels that include a glass-encased bar and a large central pool. Excellent bartenders whip up some smooth cocktails and the tasty dinner options fit the drinks well. However, the prize element here is a panoramic view of the riverfront side of District 1, a stretch of Saigon River and a magnificent view of the quickly developing area of District 2. The newest bar on the list, this is also one of the best.

Address: 8-15 Ton Duc Thang District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Hours: 24/7

4. Breeze Sky Bar

Offering unparallelled views of the Saigon River, The rooftop bar of the fantastic colonial Hotel Majestic is a superb place to relax and watch Saigon’s river life. It was in this hotel that Graham Greene wrote “The Quiet American” and you can almost feel his presence as you sip an evening gin and tonic whilst watching the sun bid farewell to another Saigon day. This is old fashioned style and luxury and it really does take some beating.

Address: 5th Floor, Hotel Majestic, 1 Dong Khoi Street, Ben Nghe Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Hours: 24/7

5. Shri

Perched high above the Saigon traffic and chaos, Shri sits on top of the modern Centec Tower on one of the city's busiest thoroughfares. The location is just outside the very middle of the city, so therefore the views are spectacular. It is worth booking an outside table if the weather suits, you won’t be sorry. It sits slightly towards the higher end of price range as one would of course expect.

Address: 23rd Floor, Centec Tower, 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ho Chi Minh City

Opening Hours: 24/7

READ MORE: 4 DAYS IN HO CHI MINH CITY (SUGGESTED ITINERARY)