BITCH is a monthly gay party with a different theme every month and possibly different locations. Check their website for upcoming events, times and place.

Thi Sach St. 2B-2C, Dist 1, 825-6124, FAX 910-0476. The majority of the audience are straight, rich young Vietnamese. Some female prostitutes. About 10% of the crowd is gay (beware of hustlers) and they tend to stay in just one corner area indoors or sometimes the outdoor patio area. Two dance floors, plus an open-air garden café. Entrance fee is arbitrarily applied, but usually free for foreigners. Packed with a young crowd (very frat house), under 25 and, often, loud and drunk. Open daily from 8pm until late.

 2/F 131 Dong Khoi St (see map, on a corner across from Gucci and the Sheraton Hotel, above Gloria Jeans). Gay disco. Small and very, very loud gay disco, with a tiny dance floor and good music.

22 Ba Huyen Thank Quan P6, Dist 3, 930-2796. Crowded with cute gays who come to sing.

Phan Xich Long St, Tan Binh Dist. Gay karaoke and café. Popular for singing and dancing from 9pm-midnight.

185 Cong Quynh St Dist 1. A sign tacked to a tree in the courtyard points the way to 'Massage' at the top of the stairs where a woman takes your money and gives you a blue card for the sauna (massage is also available and for that you purchase a yellow card). The staff speak no English so you might want to go with a local friend. The sauna area has a locker room, indoor and outdoor seating, three shower stalls with lockable doors and a sauna which the patrons turn into a steam room by applying large quantities of water. A good place for fun if you don't mind dirty towels, broken facilities and non-functional shower taps. Age group is a bit older and they are very friendly. Some customers speak English and are keen to talk. Some straight female clients.

70 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, District 3. A small lane leads into the club. Mainly a pick up place. Use as a meeting point and then have fun elsewhere (there are masseuses here, not masseurs). Pool and steam room.

573/12 Su Van Hanh St, Ward 13, Dist 10, Utopia Map, 3868-0999.

Turn down the little dirt road about 2m after the barriers on the bridge finish. The road goes to the right slightly, then you take the first right and then the first left. Very nicely decorated spa. Sauna, steam room, infrared room, massage services. Nice place to relax.

126 Thanh Thai, P12, Dist 10, 863-2096. On five levels. Entry is up a flight of stairs at the back of a long room used for motorbike parking. 1/F has reception and small lockers for storage of valuables (not clothing). 2/F is women's massage. 3/F is men's massage room containing seven massage tables separated by flimsy curtains. Also, a spacious bathroom and a semi-dark room. 4/F has a TV lounge with two dozen plastic chairs facing a small wall-mounted TV and at the rear, a rack for hanging clothing on hangers, another bathroom and small sauna. 5/F, up a spiral staircase, is a roof-top drying area for towels. Clean and fairly well maintained by Vietnamese standards. The mostly younger crowd is friendly and you can find a few English speakers.

Lots of gorgeous and muscular guys on weekends. There are no private rooms, but people usually flirt in the sauna and steam rooms.

Eden Guesthouse

236 De Tham St, District 1 (Pham Ngu Lao area), 836-8154, email. A gay and lesbian-friendly, clean guest house located upstairs from the Eden Bar (a discount is available on food and drinks for guests staying here). Utopia Member Discount

 22 Bui Vien Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, (84-8) 836-4904 FAX 836-8757. Recommended by travelers as gay-friendly and no hassles with visitors