Chanh Bistro Rooftop Saigon — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

There are nights when the gods align just right—when the sky doesn’t open up and drown you, when the streets below hum like a million little prayers, and when you find yourself 20 stories up with a wicked woman and a drink in hand wondering how the hell life got so good.

The Chanh Bistro is the kind of rooftop joint that makes you believe in architecture again. We arrived just in time for sunset—Ho Chi Minh glowing like a circuit board beneath a fading bruise of a sky. Lightning teased the horizon but held its fire, like the weather gods were giving us a hall pass for one perfect evening.

Cocktails came quick and strong, not the usual fruit-syruped toilet water you get from clueless expats. No, these were real drinks, the kind that kiss your brain and slap your liver all at once.

Then came the chicken skewers. Sweet Jesus. They weren’t just skewers—they were revelations. Smoky, tender, brushed with whatever sorcery the kitchen was cooking. I’ve eaten in joints from Casablanca to Cartagena and these things stood tall—meat so good it made my molars weep. We ordered more. And more. I nearly proposed to the damn plate.

Dinner carried the momentum—every bite a reminder that Vietnam knows flavor like Hendrix knew feedback. And the young waiter? Sharp, fast, spoke English better than I do on a good day (and I’ve been published, goddammit). Jokes flew, banter volleyed, and somewhere between dessert and the third round of gin, we’d crossed into that electric state of being where the night stops being a memory-in-the-making and starts becoming legend.

Sure, it wasn’t packed—the wet season had scared off the unworthy—but that only made it better. It felt like our own private kingdom in the clouds.

Chanh Bistro isn’t just a bar. It’s a launchpad for romance, debauchery, and chicken so good it deserves a national holiday. Get there early, bring someone wild, and order double. Let the city burn...

My husband and I are here as I am typing this. Very, very disappointed.

It’s our last night in Vietnam so I wanted to pick something nice. I double checked the reviews on this restaurant on Google and Trip Advisor and it was rated quite high so I was quite confident to tell my husband we should eat here.

The place in terms of design was nice.

The service was alright although one waiter who was trying to explain that happy hour was ending couldn’t so she ended up sticking her tongue out.

The food and drinks, is really the upsetting part.

Most of the reviews had said they had good wine and drink selection - Not true!

Wine came in a box, so we asked if they had other options and they said none. Tried to keep an open mind and tried the wine from the box.... not good at all.

Was going to ask for a Gin and Tonic, but they only carried one Gin. - London Dry Gin.

The food. For two people we ordered quite a bit. The foie gras, goat cheese salad, sea bass and steak. All FAIL! They all came at lighting speed which is fine, but quite surprising. Because even when I cook steak it’s never that fast.

goat cheese and beet root is my favorite salad. It’s simple and a hard miss, but they missed it. The apples weren’t a fit. They were powdery when you chew, the cheese was hard. Dressing was too light

The sea bass - pan fried sea bass, again simple but I don’t know why it was a miss. There was a lot for anchovies, muscles and sauce. My husband tried it and said it wasn’t fresh and not to finish it for fear of getting a bad tummy.

My husbands steak - also not cooked well. Too dry and hard.

All this in a 30...

Chanh Rooftop Bistro – 5 Glorious Stars

Well, I must say, my visit to Chanh Rooftop Bistro was an absolute delight! I settled down with a lovely cheese and cold cuts platter — and oh, the presentation was simply divine! The cheeses were perfectly matured, the meats sliced as thin as a young clerk’s tie, and everything tasted just right. A gastronomic triumph, I dare say!

But dears, the view! Oh, the view! Imagine the busy streets of Saigon below, all a-glimmer like a chaotic firework display. It was like watching a city in constant celebration – hypnotic, I tell you.

Now, here’s the bit that might’ve rattled lesser establishments. A little old dear – who, I must say, bore a striking resemblance to Dot Cotton – got herself into a bit of a pickle and smashed a glass of treacle juice! (I know, shocking.) But the staff, bless their hearts, barely batted an eyelash. They fluttered over with the grace of seasoned tailors, cleaning up the scene and restoring the ambiance as if nothing had happened. Not a stitch out of place!

What’s more, the staff were absolutely fabulous – and let me tell you, as friendly and welcoming to our dear LGBTQ community as a pride parade in Brighton! It was all winks and smiles, with everyone made to feel special. You could tell they understand people, if you know what I mean. Simply delightful service all around.

If you’re visiting Saigon, I’d say you must absolutely pop in to Chanh Rooftop Bistro. You’ll get great food, marvellous company, and service that makes you feel like royalty. Five stars and not a...