‘Nhậu’ culture and where to experience it in Saigon
Named as the culinary paradise of Vietnam, all regional specialties can be easily found in Saigon, from street vendors to casual restaurants and even luxury restaurants. However, the kind of place that is most visited and which brings people together is ‘quán nhậu’ due to not only its food, but also its lively atmosphere. And ‘nhậu’ is poetically described as ‘the art of eating and drinking, for no particular purpose’ and it is also known as a national pastime in Vietnam.
‘Quán nhậu’ is a place where everybody comes to meet their friends, to drink beer and to simply enjoy life. It doesn’t have to be someone’s birthday. It doesn’t have to be a national holiday. It could be a random night in the week and somebody just wants to eat, drink and have fun. Therefore, most every ‘quán nhậu’ is busy 365 days a year.
People usually head to ‘quán nhậu’ to enjoy the feeling of freedom, a place where they can stay as long as they want, drink as much as they want, sing, and laugh, and shout as loud as they want. There will be no judgement about them when they are in a ‘quán nhậu’ to enjoy their night with friends or colleagues.
‘Nhậu’ is also considered a favorite form of communication for the Vietnamese, especially in Saigon, where everybody is gathered from many regions of Vietnam as well as from other countries in the world. Lots of ‘quán nhậu’ exist as a hub to connect people. And now here are some suggestions for you to experience ‘nhậu’ culture in Saigon.
1. 5ku Station
5. Ruong Pub & Hub — Nguyen Trung Truc, D1
Although ‘nhậu’ culture is itself a good thing, there have been many bad consequences from ‘nhậu’, especially those caused by people who are out of control when driving then are involved in unfortunate accidents. So, to keep ‘nhậu’ culture from getting worse, once drinking alcohol, don’t drive!
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