A Backpacker’s Guide to Bui Vien Street
If you are lucky enough to include Bui Vien Street in your itinerary then you can spend as much time in this area without worrying about breaking the bank. From finding a comfortable but affordable accommodation to choosing a nice bar to get the most of Bui Vien Street nightlife, there are so many ways to maximise your adventure.
You will be able to stretch your dollar far at Bui Vien Street bars, indulge yourself in diverse activities and get an insight to the ingredients and spices locals use in their food. So much to see and do, and you’d really need a backpacker’s guide to Bui Vien Street to plan your backpacking tours fearlessly.
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Bui Vien Walking Street: The Backpacker street in Saigon
Quite peaceful during the day but when night comes, the street turns itself to a totally different hot pot of joy and energy. Right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, it’s hardly surprising, then Bui Vien Street teems with numerous backpackers going to the city, perhaps only after Nguyen Hue Walking Street.
Though Bui Vien Street is commonly called “Pho Tay” (Western Street), it is a popular tourist attraction not favored only by European visitors but all foreigners and locals, making it a fantastic blend of multinational and multicultural place.
Head to Bui Vien Street if you want a sleepless night filled with hard parties and unforgettable experiences.
How to have fun at Backpacker Street in Saigon
Bui Vien, the epicenter of nightlife has lots of fun-filled activities. Get excited because Bui Vien Walking Street is definitely a place for you to drink your heart out at night and save a ton at the same time!
Find a stop at Bui Vien hotels
Staying right in the heart of the city center does not cost you an arm and a leg as accommodation in this area is one of the most budget-friendly you might have. Cheap yet worth staying, these hotels cater to backpackers in many ways. Let’s see!
Beautiful Saigon Boutique
Beautiful Saigon Boutique is the one and only hotel having a crystal clear pool in the cramped area teeming with hotels and food stalls. In addition to 45 spacious rooms equipped with modern amenities, the hotel provides spa services for you to refresh after a day of sightseeing hard around the city. What you’re to get, of course, more than just a bed!
» Location: 40/13-17-19-21 Bui Vien Street
Meraki Hotel
This is the best option for travelers seeking budget hotels near the city center and an easy option to reach nearby entertainment facilities. You can find small size rooms but they’re all clean and tidy. What impressive most is the Meraki Hotel & Sky Café is on the rooftop that brings you a stunning view of the city.
» Location: 178 Bui Vien Street
Lily Hostel
Located in a blind alley of the infamous Bui Vien Street, Lily Hostel is quiet, peaceful, and perfect for your adventures in Saigon. The nice thing is that the rooms are simple but they’re more than good enough, and the price fits every budget travellers. Great choice overall.
» Location: 35/6 Bui Vien Street
Bui Vien 84 Hotel
You can’t go wrong staying here for sure. Bui Vien 84 Hotel would make the party pretty well outside your front door. The rooms are clean, the staff are friendly, and the location next to some excellent cafes and restaurants makes it perfect for you to get recharged in the morning after a big night out. What’s more, you will feel like home and cosy with super friendly staff.
» Location: 84/12B Bui Vien Street
The Hideout Hostel Saigon
The Hideout Hostel Saigon is perfect for travelers looking to make friends thanks to the trendy adjoining bar that makes you in the heart of the action. It’s located right on Pham Ngu Lao Street, just a couple of minutes’ walk from Bui Vien Street. If it’s your first time to travel as a backpacker, Long Hostel would cause you to do it all over again.
» Location: 175/11 Pham Ngu Lao Street
The area around Pham Ngu Lao Street is dotted with many spots for currency exchange. You can visit them easily to get some VND at a good exchange rate.
Enjoy stories through street foods
Going to Bui Vien Street, you shouldn’t skip the Saigon street foods that make this tourist site stand out and don’t worry as it is safe enough for your fragile stomach to consume. Take a look at these mouth-watering dishes to satisfy your hunger.
BBQ
Wanna know the first thing to eat when landing at Bui Vien? You should look for BBQ immediately. Different from whatever you have in mind, BBQ is not served in restaurants but the street vendors. Simple recipes but some stuff in skewers never fail to build great impressions on Vietnamese cuisine.
At most BBQ stalls, chicken and pork skewers are the most common offers but there are many more to try! Pork, chicken, beef – wrapped in the betel leaf – pork rind, shrimp, octopus, squid, vegetables. Take a seat on a plastic stool at a metallic table and tuck into the various street treats on offer – Eating is one thing that you’d love to do now!
» Recommended:
- Quan Nuong Co Le, 198 Bui Vien
- Lang Nuong Nho Ba Sau, 218 Bui Vien
- BBQ Saigon Night, 147 Bui Vien
Smoothies
If you head to Ho Chi Minh City on sunny days, refresh yourself with different kinds of fruits and smoothies. The textures and flavours will wake up all your taste buds. Drinking smoothies does not rescue you from the heat solely, it is one-of-the-best opportunity to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle.
Just choose one item from the menu, wait for the owner to select the most delicious fruits and mix with some ice, you will have the freshness right in your mouth.
» Recommended: Five Boys Number One, 84/7 Bui Vien Street
Snails
Many locals simply go crazy with plates of snails and other seafood as eating snails has become a national pastime in Vietnam. Why? It’s not all about eating but they are a common food to share among family and friends. That’s how eating snails and drinking beer have become an essential part of cultural life, especially in Ho Chi Minh City.
Get ready to feel a little bit dizzy when you look at the menu of hundred types of seafood, and after you think hard to pick one out, continue choosing your favorite style of cooking: steamed, sautéed, coated in chilli and salt, or grilled. The best of snails will be mixed with lemongrass, coconut, chilli sauce and crushed peanuts.
» Recommended: Oc dem Bui Vien, 205 Bui Vien
Tofu Pudding
If you don’t want to feel either touristy or overpriced, opt for a small bowl of tofu. It’s definitely cheap and tasty! You can wait for a woman hanging on two baskets of tofu pudding on either side of the carrying poles.
Ginger syrup, glutinous rice balls, coconut milk are added to support the truly heart-warming dish. Gourmets would know not to order ice with this dish as it will make the sweetness bland and the creaminess loosen. The best dish may come from the vendors who put love into it by carefully filtering the soy milk to ensure its smoothness and whiteness.
» Recommended: Any street vendor
Colorful Pho
It’s Vietnamese noodle soup again but this time, you can name a colorful Pho Vietnam made from vegetables. The color formula is created with the gac, mustard green, beetroot, black sesame, red cabbage, brown rice, etc. , all-natural ingredients make Pho nice-looking yet maintain the original taste and nutritional value.
There are many other variants to choose from the traditional noodle with soup, such as stirred fried Pho (Phở xào), deep-fried Pho (Phở chiên phồng), but the signature colorful Pho is the rolling Pho (Phở cuốn). The rolling Pho is dipped into a very light sauce with fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic and chilli, it is served as an appetizer or even main dish.
» Recommended: Pho Hai Thien, 84 Bui Vien
See more on Ho Chi Minh Food Walking Tour
Party hard at Bui Vien Street bars
Right on the street, there are endless thrilling activities and street festivals for you to get lost in. But for the true Bui Vien experience, don’t forget to visit one of these bars.
Cloud 9 Bar
Cloud 9 boasts in elegant architecture that surely makes you feel on cloud nine, just as its name. Whether you come here for a whiskey selection or to admire the city from above, you will be given the best treats ever. The menu offers a creative mix of signature drinks featuring Mekong Delta, The View Sky, Bubble Gum Babe, Saigon Boulevard, Good Morning Vietnam, etc.
- Location: 95 Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
- Price range: VND 300,000 – VND 1,000,000
The View Rooftop Bar
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This bar is filled with Hoi An Ancient Town style that features charming lanterns, making you fall in love with the decorations at first sight. You can choose to feel the cool breeze outside, freely looking at lanterns dotted with hearts modelled after the Love Bridge in Da Nang, or opt for a seat inside the wooden hut for more personal experiences. The View Rooftop Bar is idyllic for fans of vintage bar culture.
- Location: 195-197 Bui Vien Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
- Price range: VND 35,000 – VND 300,000
» Read more on [Nightlife Experiences] 10 Best Bars in Ho Chi Minh City
Boheme
Boheme has such a small area, so you may find it hard to get an empty seat at this bar, especially after 10.00 PM. However, this bar’s worth your effort as you can go wild with the best stimulating music played by talented DJs. One thing’s for sure, you’re to have a fantastic sleepless night!
- Location: 28/2A Bui Vien Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
- Price range: VND 50,000 – VND 165,000
Hair Of The Dog
It’s not exaggerated to say that Hair of The Dog is a true industry clubhouse. Every drink is prepared by extremely knowledgeable bartenders, and updated regularly so that you can have the opportunity to be served an ever-changing menu. But it’s not all about the drink, the dark and moody with a vintage speakeasy vibe may heat you up.
- Location: 194 Bui Vien, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
- Price range: VND 50,000 – VND 200,000
Universal Bar Saigon
The Universal Bar Saigon is separated into 2 areas: the inside with dynamic bar atmosphere and the outside with street views. Once you’ve had enough your fill of bumpin’ music, bring your drink outside and take a seat to watch locals around you. Chat with some of them to know more about Bui Vien history.
- Location: 90 Bui Vien Street, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1
- Price range: VND 50,000 – VND 200,000
» Read more on Top 10 Awesome Things To Do In District 1 Ho Chi Minh City
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