VietNamNet Bridge - Hai Phong nightlife might not be as active as Hanoi – only a few hours away by car. But if you explore a bit, especially around the Minh Khai District, you’ll find all sorts of choices. 

Bars, nightclubs, discos and karaoke joints are to be found while the live music scene here has become more and more common and quite active lately. 

La Villa Blanche 

La Villa Blanche is, as the name suggests, a vintage French-style mansion featuring a garden area with some small outlets selling a variety of food and drinks including the national obsession, bia hoi beer. 

Don’t expect any fancy setup as it’s a casual operation with plastic chairs and ordinary tables but the place is very popular among locals and can get pretty busy from lunchtime onward. It stays open until late and food and drinks are not at all expensive here. 

Opening Hours: All year round 

Location: Tran Hung Dao Street 

Maxim's Café

The popular Maxim’s Café is a well-liked, all-day dining establishment. Visitors should also drop by at night for a good variety of live music – it can get very busy. It’s a chance to mingle with the friendly local crowd too. 

Opening Hours: 07:00 till late 

Location: 51 Dien Bien Phu Street

New Maxim's  

The nightclub New Maxim’s Bar first opened its doors in mid 2010. It is the replacement of the original Friendly Club on Dien Bien Phu Street and is a part of a two-star hotel going by the same name. Look out for their big yellow-and-red sign with a huge green Carlsberg logo on top, you can’t miss it. 

Opening Hours: All year round 

Location: 31 Dien Bien Phu Street 

Saigon Café

It seems that every town in Vietnam has to have a Saigon Café and Hai Phong is no exception. Here, the Saigon Café is located at the corner of Dien Bien Phu and Dinh Tien Hoang streets, considered the heart of Hai Phong's commercial centre and a popular hangout for the city’s yuppies. 

The café offers a variety of food and drinks in a trendy atmosphere along with occasional live music. 

Opening Hours: All year round 

Location: The corner of Dien Bien Phu Street and Dinh Tien Hoang Street

Texas BBQ and Bar

Texas BBQ and Bar is a straightforward international venue serving popular western dishes that range from pizza to BBQ and rib-eye steak as well as lamb. 

Also, if you feel like having some Mexican food, this is the place to head to. Texas’s desserts also have a good reputation and the banana fritters, banana crepes and apple crumble all come recommended. The bar section is never short of interesting drinks and cocktails including caipirinhas and margaritas as well as imported whiskey and wine. 

Opening Hours: All year round 

Location: 22H Minh Khai 

The Lounge Bar at Harbour View Hotel 

The elegant colonial-style Harbour View Hotel is a great location to check out not only for a relaxing fine-dining experience. The Lounge Bar offers live piano music with comfortable seating and a lovely ambiance. It is the spot where many local expats meet for beers and cocktails. 

Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 – 24:00 

Location: 4 Tran Phu Street

Other venues to visit in Hai Phong include Cafe Bar DJ Music at 127 To Hieu Street, Cafe Ngọc at No. 44 – Alley 229 - Ngo Gia Tu Street, Cafe music Cam Giac, 146 Quan Nam and Philey's Lounge Bar at 115 Dinh Tien Hoang Street. 

Compiled by T. Van (vntravel/vnonline)