The staff is friendly, the guards are a bit strict but they just do their job. I had a funny experience when once I went to Apo alone (to wait for a friend coming soon), the guard asked me to buy the coupon 300,000 Vnd which I’d never heard before when I had been with friends. Gosh, 300,000 Vnd = 5 Tigers, after those beers I would be pissed. So I went outside to wait, few minutes later certainly some guys came and spoke to me, they kindly offered to take me inside for nothing. I found it funny, sooner or later a girl would be able to enter without that unreasonable coupon, didn’t know what they have to do that for. Althought more than one of their customers told me “If Apo didn’t allow girls to be in, nobody would go there”, I respect their rule and hope they will apply it in a right way.

I could easily recognise many familiar girls whom I saw them with their different partners every night, I would say most people go to Apo to fish and to be fished. That’s the fact. But for the rest of us, Apo is such an interesting place to relax and have fun with friends or colleagues. When you go there alone, of course you will be the spotlight for working girls, accepting them or not is totally your choice, and when a girl like me was there alone, I was usually welcome by “do you want to go to my hotel?”. However, I met some very interesting friends and had non-stop conversations. After all, it was just fun.

For now, I admit some nights I miss Apo’s friendly atmosphere, no one cares what you do even if they may ask, it’s worth releasing stress. For newbies, I think we shouldn’t hesitate, we couldn’t know whether we like it or not until we try it once at least. Besides, I collected some other interesting addresses where I will explore more such as:
- Night clubs: Lush, Lavish, Bounce, Fuse, Q bar, X club…
- Restaurant + bar: La Habana, Le Pub, Wildhorse…
- Bars: Saigon Saigon, Acoustic, Alibi, Pacharan, Number 5, Moon bar, Stormy…

They all have strong and weak points, it’s absolutely up to what you’re looking for, but what is life if we hesitate to experience? Maybe someday we’ll meet each other somewhere above, who knows?!? Good luck and enjoy Saigon!

I’m not looking to pick up prostitutes or anything like that, but I’d like a place that’s pretty friendly to foreigners. I’d like a place where i can flirt with some girls and have a good time but nothing serious.

I read a lot of people bashing Apocalypse but they’re not offering alternative.
Any suggestions?what’s an alternative to go?

thanks.

I’ll visit Saigon for few days. First I thought to visit Apo at first night to pick up a local girl. But now I see that there are also plenty of other spots in HCMC for this in bars along Hai Ba Trung street . And even cheaper but the same safe for a lone tourist. I heard that in Vietnam it is prohibited to come with a such local girl inside of the hotel where you live.
Is it correct?

If you are looking for girls to pickup, the bars along Hai Ba Trung street is better because the girls work there and have someone to manage them. You will be safer and not likely to get rip off, especially for those who are new with Saigon. The girls here are generally younger, and better looking and can speak some English. There are also karaoke bars in Hotel where you can also book the girls. Its more expensive, but you have more choices.

Generally, it can be risky to pick up girls at clubs / disco because these girls are freelancer hence there is a chance they may steal your money, spiked your drinks etc. Unless off course you are familiar with the area and its environment.