Thi Bar Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Thi Bar Saigon is a compact live-music and LGBTQIA+-friendly bar at 224 De Tham in Ho Chi Minh City’s backpacker district. Its current operator site still presents live music as the core attraction and explicitly describes the venue as LGBTQIA+ friendly. Recent 2026 visitor reports confirm that bands continue to perform and that the crowd mixes locals, tourists, queer guests and other nightlife visitors. It suits travelers who want cover bands, cocktails and a social crowd rather than a formal cocktail lounge. The main practical issue is the schedule: current official and directory sources disagree on very late closing times, and Tuesday is shown as closed by several current map-based listings.

The bar sits just off the Bui Vien nightlife strip, so it is easy to reach on foot from many backpacker-area hotels and hostels. The address, 224 De Tham, is consistent across the current official website, recent directories and specialist LGBTQ listings. This stability matters because nightlife venues in the area often relocate or rebrand.

Live music is the defining feature. Current 2026 visitor reports mention bands such as B.3.M and describe performances beginning around 22:00, with the room filling after the set starts. The repertoire is generally built around popular songs and crowd-friendly covers rather than a single specialist genre. Visitors often sing along, and some accounts mention requests. The exact band can change, so anyone coming specifically for a particular group should check the current social feed before visiting.

Thi Bar also functions as a gay and queer-friendly nightlife space, but it is not presented as exclusive. Current GayCities and Top-Rated listings describe a mixed crowd and LGBTQ identity, while the official site simply says “LGBTQIA+ friendly place.” That phrasing is useful: queer travelers can expect a welcoming environment, while allies and other visitors can attend as long as they respect the space and its regular community.

Drinks include beer and cocktails, with current listings also referencing wine, spirits and happy-hour promotions. Wanderlog summarizes recurring buy-two-get-one offers from early evening, and recent visitors describe cocktails as reasonably priced for the area. Because promotions change, travelers should verify the live deal rather than assume an old happy-hour rule applies every night.

The weekly opening schedule is the only materially inconsistent part of the current evidence. The official website currently displays a 19:00-04:00 daily-style message, but Restaurant Guru and current map data show Monday and Wednesday closing around 01:30, Thursday through Sunday around 02:00, and Tuesday closed. Restaurant Guru was updated in August 2026, so those granular hours are useful, but the conflict should remain visible. Late-night visitors should confirm the same-day closing time directly.

Recent 2026 reviews provide strong confirmation of present activity. Wanderlog surfaces June and May 2026 accounts praising the music, atmosphere and staff, and notes that the room may be relatively quiet before the band begins. This helps set expectations: arriving at 19:00 does not necessarily mean entering a packed music venue. Guests who want the strongest live-music atmosphere should arrive closer to the advertised performance time.

Food is limited. One recent visitor specifically noted that the bar did not have a real food menu beyond simple snacks, although current directory metadata sometimes lists food at the bar. Travelers who need dinner should eat before visiting rather than count on a substantial meal. That distinction makes Thi Bar a drinks-and-music destination, not a restaurant with entertainment.

Accessibility is better documented here than at many small bars. Restaurant Guru and Top-Rated currently list wheelchair-accessible features, although old buildings and seating layouts can still create practical differences. Guests with specific mobility requirements should contact the bar to confirm the exact entrance and restroom route.

The atmosphere is social and relatively informal. Entry is generally described as free, with spending centered on drinks rather than a cover charge, although special events can always alter the format. Solo travelers may find the bar easier to enter socially than a formal club because the live band provides a shared focus and recent reviews mention friendly interaction among guests.

A practical visit is around two to three hours if you want a full band set and drinks. The bar is close enough to Bui Vien that visitors can continue elsewhere afterward, but many people will find the live performance sufficient for the evening. If you prefer quiet conversation, arrive early; if you want the room at its liveliest, time the visit for the music.

Thi Bar is strongly supported as an active 2026 venue by its own live website, recent visitor reports and current business directories. Use 224 De Tham as the destination, check Tuesday status and late closing on the day of your visit, and do not rely on the bar for a full dinner. Its clearest strengths are live cover music, a welcoming LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere and a location that remains central to Saigon’s backpacker nightlife without being just another street-front beer stop.