Club Velvet - Saigon’s Hip-Hop Club
If you happen to be one of the few individuals in Vietnam looking for some hip-hop music? You’re in luck… as you may or may not know, Vietnam is very into it’s house and techno music. Many clubs there can complete to the clubs in Vegas or New York City in terms of sound and flashing lights and such. Luckily, I knew of one place to take my friends to. Club Velvet - a very small yet popular club in District 1. The place is quaint… if you get lucky or plan ahead, get a booth. The club is one big circle with the bar in the middle of the room. Like most clubs in Vietnam, there is no dance floor… you make your own dance floor wherever you stand with your friends! :)
I will have to say this is a hit and miss crap shoot place. There are times I’ve been here and it is packed to the tee, and other times, it’s somewhat dead in comparison. But then again, if you crave the hip-hop (like a few of my friends in the group), then you really have no choice. The service is great. The drinks are usually a good deal here. Ask for the specials!! At the time, it was buy two bottles of Belvedere and get one free. I think the Johnnie Walker was the same. So its a great deal if you plan on coming back.
Probably one of the BEST things about clubbing in Vietnam? Is you don’t have to finish the alcohol!!! All the bottles come with a label on the side, your name and date you purchased it. Once you are ready to jump to another club, they’ll put your bottles away and give you a “coat check” on the bottles for next time. Why can’t the clubs in the States or Hong Kong do this?? The bottles run roughly $50 USD to maybe $70 USD depending on the clubs. Compare that with $300-$400 USD in Hong Kong or the US? It’s no rocket science why we stocked up here :)
The bouncers / security guards here are all very friendly. It’s customary to arm wrestle them and pretend you are stronger. (Just kidding.. don’t do that… you’ll just look stupid!) :) But it IS customary to have drinks with your host/hostesses and the security that surrounds you. They do a good job at keeping an eye on you and making sure other groups don’t invade your space. Tipping them is great, having them drink with you is better!! All in all, everyone has a good time!
Club Velvet also has Hookah Pipes which is a nice change in pace. I don’t think I’ve seen this at any other clubs in Saigon. So we decided to grab one of them at some ridiculously cheap price. (If memory serves me right, we had Sour Apple that night) Yes it was sanitary, everyone had their own disposable mouthpiece. Now I should mention that we were able to take pictures here. Why is that of such significance? Well most of the up-scale clubs frown big time on photos. Just taking a camera out at such places will have security running up to you to stop you before it even turns on. Club Velvet, however, is one of the few exceptions so it’s great to capture those memories of an epic night with your good friends! 
This was a pretty upscale hip-hop club for Vietnam and a place I’ll definitely come back to. (Especially since I still have two bottles of Johnnie Walker Gold sitting there) The catch is? I have 60 days before they throw the bottles away! GASP! Better make another weekend trip to Saigon soon.
Club Velvet
26 Ho Huan Nghiep : District 1 : Ho Chi Minh
+84 8 3822 2262
