Despite exorbitant drink costs, many local and foreign party goers find the rooftop bars and cafes which have sprouted up in Ho Chi Minh City over the past few years worth a try for their stunning panoramas of the city by night and the deluxe experiences such places offer.

Two Tuoi Tre (Youth) reporters recently visited several such bars in Ho Chi Minh City to mingle with other party animals.

At around 8:00 pm on one recent night, the reporters arrived at the Bitexco Financial Tower, the city’s current tallest skyscraper, located in the downtown area.

There they were welcomed by a nice-looking female attendant who guided them into an elevator.

About a minute later, the pair found themselves on the 50th floor of the building, on which a lavish spectacle and welcoming ambience unfolded.

Situated on floors 50, 51 and 52 of the Bitexco Financial Tower, EON51, which means “eyes from above,” offers a wide range of drinking and dining experiences for clients to choose from, according to Vuong Khanh Nhung, head of its marketing division.

The 50th floor operates as a café, while a restaurant and the Heli Bar are found on the 51st and 52nd floors.

Services fetch “sky-high” prices which range from VND500,000 (US$22) for a coffee to VND1 million ($44) or more when lounging at the bar or dining at the restaurant.

The 50th floor was packed with customers who were capturing the gorgeous aerial views through a layer of glazed with their cameras and smartphones.

The floor also boasts a section for couples who crave some privacy and a romantic setting.

Pham Minh Tan often takes his family and friends to the café and finds the experience there a rewarding alternative to treating them to meals at conventional eateries, which generally fetch similar prices. At the restaurant on the 51st floor, diners can also watch the chefs prepare dishes in an open space.

Party goers are also drawn to a “cellar” of brandy and wine nearby. A foreign wine specialist is always at hand to answer customers’ queries and serve them.  

Heli Bar, on the 52nd floor, is invariably packed, even though it is quite pricey.

The lavish bar boasts a music hall which resounds with pop, jazz and trance tunes spun by sensual female DJs.

A seat in a “stylish smoking” room treats visitors to spectacular panoramas of the helicopter pad atop the building.

“The service here is quite expensive, but good for the money, as the views are beyond comparison, and even outshine those offered by a number of skyscrapers in New York,” Lan, a Vietnamese-American client, commented.

Nhung, head of the marketing division at EON51, said they invested over VND100 billion ($4.39 million) into the complex and imported most of the furnishings and equipment.

Meanwhile, Chill Skybar, located on the terrace of the 26-storey AB Tower on Le Lai Street in District 1, is open from evening until around 2:00 am.

The Tuoi Tre reporters showed up at the bar around 11:00 pm and were impressed with the airy open space.

They were also drawn to the glittery bar, with an illuminated table at its heart which reminds visitors of the Skybar at the Lebua Hotel in Bangkok.

A singer showed performed while the bartenders and several hundred people swayed or rocked to the stirring music, sipping on beer or wine, chatting over cocktails, or simply beholding the night view of the southern economic hub.

Duong Hoai Vu, marketing director of Chill Skybar, said international celebrities including world-famous footballers David Beckham and Rudd van Nistelrooy, the Brunei royal family and movie stars have visited the bar, which often stages mesmerizing performances by female DJs from different countries.

Nguyen Quynh Anh, a 25-year-old Vietnamese American, shared she frequents rooftop bars during her trips back to Ho Chi Minh City.

“I prefer terraced bars to smoke-filled bar clubs. I came here with a group of U.S. friends last week. They adore this place for its gorgeous views which stunned them during their first trip to Vietnam,” Anh added.

Tuan, the staff overseer at Chill Bar, divulged that the staff’s friendliness and helpfulness are of utmost priority. Clients also behave well, with no rows or brawls recorded, he added.

Vu added that each square meter of the bar is worth over $1,000. The Thailand-imported bar counter was lifted to the terrace with a crane.

Trinh Lai, founder of Chill Skybar, said he decided to open the bar five years ago, as he could not find a proper rooftop bar in Vietnam.

At 8:00 pm on another day, the Tuoi Tre reporters accompanied a group of youngsters to Pandora Sky Lounge, located on the terrace of the HDTC Building on Bui Thi Xuan Street in District 1.

One of the bar managers took pride in the fact that even though the bar was established only around two years ago, the facility has grown into a household name when it comes to nighttime recreation spots among local youths and expats alike.

Another nocturnal attraction is the rotating restaurant which stands on the terrace of the Hoang Gia Hotel on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in District 1.

It is believed to be the country’s only rotating restaurant.

The restaurant is circular-shaped and has glass panels on all sides. It can spin around 360 degrees in 90 minutes, which prevents guests from getting dizzy or nauseous.

According to experts, rooftop bars have never thrived and proliferated as they have now, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City.

Similar projects are slated for opening or are seeking partners.

To prepare for the launch of a skybar,   investors compete hard for auspicious land plots, heavily investment in equipment and recruit foreign chefs and skilled bartenders.

They also invite famed singers and DJs from home and abroad on a regular basis to best cater to the opulent segment’s demand for recreation and diverse tastes.

Apart from the downtown areas, such rooftop leisure spots have also mushroomed in the districts of 2, 12, Go Vap and Tan Phu.

The most popular model is terrace cafes.

Moonlight Café, perched on the terrace of CT Plaza in Tan Binh District, is a favorite among visitors who love sipping drinks and admiring Tan Son Nhat International Airport and the flight activity.

Customers, who typically come here in groups of friends, families and couples, take great delight in seeing planes taxiing, landing and taking off while chatting over coffee and other drinks.

Like similar “aircraft coffee shops,” Moonlight Café, which offers drinks at affordable prices, fascinates its patrons, particularly kids, with the authentic noise and sight of the nearby aircraft.