VietNamNet Bridge – Not as fancy and fabulous as some trendy music genres like pop, hiphop or dance, rock still has its unique seduction to many Saigonese. There are just few stages for rock, so bands and fans usually gather at some popular venues in the city’s downtown to maintain their aspiration for this genre of music.

Expat band The Lost Art performs at Yoko Bar in HCMC’s District 3.

Originated from some ill-fated rock cafes in the 90s which were mostly run by rockers or music lovers, Saigon now has more professional locations like RFC, Acoustic, Yoko, Woodstock and Hard Rock Café for rock fans. These bars and clubs in cozy and unique styles in districts 1 and 3 offer live band performances with themed nights for a whole week. Also, thanks to the development of social networks, these music locations can connect with fans and rockers through their Facebook pages with updated performance schedules and rock music videos.

1. RFC (25C Tu Xuong Street, District 1, HCMC)

RFC is considered the most popular rock hub in HCMC with the participation of some well-known bands like Microwave, WhiteNoize, Destiny and Coconuts, among others.

The house with high ceiling covered in dark color has a central stage next to a bar on the ground floor and a wooden mezzanine. The club house is sound-proof, so guests are guaranteed a good space to enjoy music. There are two to three different bands playing each night at RFC. For more information, visit its Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/RockFanClub.

2. Acoustic Bar (6E1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, District 3, HCMC)

Tucked at the end of a small path featuring lots of cafés off Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, Acoustic gives guests a simple look of wooden interior and stage. The location is a popular place for students and white-collar workers. Recently, Acoustic has been filmed on some TV reality shows as a practice place for contestants and their coaches. Local singers also choose this venue to debut their albums or hold mini liveshows. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/acoustic.bar.

3. Yoko (22A Nguyen Thi Dieu Street, District 3, HCMC)

Located on the quiet street of Nguyen Thi Dieu, Yoko has a humble appearance with only a small white sign board that people may not see when passing by. There is a small simple stage next to the entrance made from glass and a small bar at a corner. Guests to the bar can choose their seats at sofas or some high tables arranged randomly. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/YokoBar.

4. Woodstock Bar (39 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street, District 3, HCMC)

Woodstock, formerly Metallic, has an elegant look from the outside under the shades of Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street. The spacious area inside is divided into three spaces of a bar, high tables and sofas where guests can enjoy performances by Woodstock band featuring Japanese and Vietnamese artists and other guest bands like Microwave and Hemelians, and solo artists from TV singing contests. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Woodstock-Bar-HCM.

5. Hard Rock Café HCMC (39 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1, HCMC)

Hard Rock Café HCMC under the Hard Rock International is among 157 venues in 53 countries, including 127 cafes and 12 Hotel/Casinos. Located in the Kumho Plaza, the cafe doesn’t have anything unruly or wild in decoration or theme colors as a normal rock café. In contrast, it is cozy, spacious and friendly like a museum of music with many memorabilia like guitars, records of many stars hung on the walls leading from the gate to a long corridor. The modern designed house includes seating for 205 or standing for 400. It has a big stage where a resident band from Indonesia, Jogadanz, and other invited bands perform five days a week.

SGT/VNN