The Observatory — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

January 2024: Beware of Inconsistent Payment Policies at The Observatory:

In revisiting my past feedback, I find myself compelled to update my experience with The Observatory, which regrettably continues to disappoint.

And...Modifying and this time adding to my previous years' response, AGAIN…

This past Saturday evening we arrived at The Observatory for a bday. At the entrance, the security asked for a 200k cover fee (nothing included in that fee) to enter the establishment, which was fine. However, I forgot my wallet and I asked if I could pay by transfer as I do have a Vietcombank account. The bouncer downstairs says yes, you can pay by transfer as in most establishments in HCMC, you can do that (Even the street vendors accept transfers).

We entered the establishment and got upstairs. The ambiance was ok. However, with the new modifications in their venue (no-dancefloor outside); likewise, the ambiance was a little dull.

Anyway, I asked for a few drinks and at the time of having to pay, the bartender said that they do not accept transfers and proceeded to take my order away. I asked him, so... "Now how can we fix this, how can I pay?; you guys accepted a transfer downstairs"; imagining that the manager or the owner would provide a local bank account for the transfer in order to fix the issue. However, for my surprise, that wasn't the case. The bartender, in a rude manner, said "You figure that out, and find someone that can pay for you tonight or leave".

Seriously!?, all in all, if a place doesn't take bank transfers inside of their establishment, they should be upfront about it. It's not cool to accept a transfer for the entrance fee and then turn around and say 'nope' at the bar. Had a rough time trying to figure out how to pay because they wouldn't budge or help me out.

Just a heads up, this isn't the first time I've had a bad experience here. The staff, especially the bar crew and the bouncers, don't seem to care about the customers.

Save your time and skip this place. You can definitely find somewhere better that values you as a customer.

JULY 2023: Modifying my response from a few years ago… Tonight we were lied to pay 200k to enter to a supposed international DJ night and It is a resident dJ night with less than 20% of the capacity of the premises. It is just deplorable and deceiving. Don’t waste your...

I went here on December 31st to celebrate the New Year with my friends. I paid the drink on my credit card and received a text message from the bank. But the staff at the bar gave me the wrong credit card. So I told the staff that this card was not mine several times, but no one at the bar helped. I asked another staff at the entrance of the club to call the manager and he has come. I told the manager that my card had disappeared. Then the manager did not apologize and said, "Now the club is very busy, I will check and tell you after watching the CCTV camera when the event is over." I protested, "My card is gone because of the carelessness of the staff, why does not anyone apologize?" Then the manager said sorry and smoked in front of me. Fortunately, my friend saw one man in the club holding my card and figured out that the bar staff gave him my card. Anyway, I found the card, but definitely, there was a problem with the attitude of The...

Not as I expected but a pretty decent rooftop bar/club. Crowd is unique and music is nice they have a live dj which has nice mix. We were sort of dancing to the beat; there’s a tiny dancefloor outside and pretty dark dance place inside that we never try because the fear that someone might grab us randomly is just bothering.

There’s a 150.000vnd entrance without a complimentary drink so that sucks a little bit. We had a glass (plastic glass) of beer for about 60.000vnd so it is pretty pricey.

People are doing this balloon filled with a laughing gas (keep the fun I think) we didn’t try it though but I guess if you’d like it will be a fun experience.

Staffs can speak good amount of English.

Probably not coming back but it was a good visit we stayed...