Rex Rooftop Garden Bar

The Rooftop Garden Bar of the Rex Hotel is one of the most storied drinking spots in Ho Chi Minh City. The Rex stands at the corner of Le Loi and Nguyen Hue boulevards, and during the Vietnam War it hosted the daily press conferences of the American military command, which cynical journalists nicknamed the Five O'Clock Follies. The rooftop bar became a well-known gathering place for military officers and war correspondents, and in the late 1960s more than 450 international journalists regularly passed through the complex.

The hotel says the Rooftop Garden Bar was honoured by Newsweek in 1996 as one of the best bars in Southeast Asia, and it remains a popular place for a drink above the centre of the city. The setting is a rooftop garden above Nguyen Hue, in the heart of District 1.

The building itself has a long history. It opened in 1927 as the Bainier Auto Hall, a car showroom and garage, and was converted in 1959 into the Rex complex, with cinemas, a dance hall and a library. After 1975 it was renamed the Ben Thanh Hotel, taking back the Rex name in 1986, and it is now owned by the state tourism company Saigontourist.

It suits history enthusiasts, couples and visitors who want a relaxed drink with a sense of place rather than a party, and it is a natural first stop on an evening stroll along the walking street. Dress is smart casual, as in most hotel bars.

A few general points apply to the rooftop bars of District 1. Most open in the late afternoon and close between midnight and 02:00, and the national guide to the city's nightlife notes that prices are usually quoted before service charge and VAT, which are added to the bill. Sunset is the busiest and most atmospheric time, so arrive a little early if you want a seat at the edge. In the rainy season, from around May to November, afternoon and evening showers can close open-air areas for a while, so it is worth checking the sky before you set out.

The Rex is in the middle of District 1, with City Hall, the Opera House and Ben Thanh Market all within walking distance, and Opera House station on Metro Line 1 close by.