First Impressions of Saigon's First-Ever Muscle Bar: Muscle Bar Saigon Review

So Ho Chi Minh City has officially opened its first ever muscle bar, and you already know I had to check it out. As someone who appreciates the finer things in life — like a big, juicy CHEST — I was both excited and curious. And spoiler alert: it was just alright. A solid 5/10. Which, is not what I would consider a bad rating by the way. It was just mid. Not bad, but not enticing enough for me to return. However, I’m not writing this off completely. I definitely see the potential of this place, and I am hoping that the experience gets better in time.

The Bar Experience

Let me be super clear—I am the target audience. The staff were all really good looking and were definitely bringing the muscle. There was even a guy there who was 1000% my type: huge, juicy, friendly, and nerdy-looking? Literally, a dream. All the elements were there for this to become my new favorite hangout spot, but alas...

We arrived around 10 p.m. on a Friday. Not peak time, but late enough to expect some energy. The bar wasn’t super crowded, which isn’t a dealbreaker, but the vibe was definitely subdued. My friend and I ordered cocktails, which were between 250K and 290K VND. The cocktails were on the sweeter side, and were strong enough for me. I do have a low tolerance though, so the drinks might not be strong for you.

One big plus: the muscle guys actually came up and tried to talk to us. It may have been because I was with a friend, who was a VERY PRETTY straight girl, but still, three different muscle guys made tried to make conversation. I did appreciate the attempt at getting us to feel comfortable, even if the conversations were short.

Aside from my friend and me, the other guests mostly kept to their tables, so the social energy was a bit lacking. But one of the muscle guys did buy us some shots, which was sweet.

The Muscle Show

Sometime during the night, there was a shower show during the night. Which was cool. I also paid for an extra perk—a push-up show. It was kind of fun, but it also didn't really leave that much of a lasting impression. The guy smelled really nice though. Honestly, I found that the novelty of the muscle wore off quite quickly, and the place just started to feel like any other regular gay bar. With some slight perks, with the menu items that included some activities with the muscle guys. But, I don't know. Perhaps I was hoping for something a little bit more unique or different.

Final Thoughts

The novelty of muscles got me through the door, but for me to come back, it has to be about the experience. Right now, it’s missing that magic. As a bar with muscle? It checks a few boxes. But honestly, it was overall just kinda boring.

That said, I do plan on returning—maybe on a busier night to see if the energy shifts. I’m hopeful. There’s something here. It just needs to be finessed.

So that’s my honest first impression of Saigon’s very first muscle bar. It hurts to give a mid-rating to a place that’s full of juicy pecs, but hey, honesty first.