Hieu's cabinet

On the first floor of 45 Tran Hung Dao there is a dark room, full of glass cabinets and green light, run single-handedly by its owner — Vo Tri, District 1's cabinet of curiosities, and one of the centre's most loved bars among Saigon locals.

Vo Tri's bar room with its glass curio cabinets and the counter

Chapter 01

One owner, one room

Vo Tri is run by Hieu, its owner: he greets the guests, mans the counter and makes every drink. The bar is small, fixed at its Tran Hung Dao address, and loved by drinkers around the area like a neighbourhood bar.

A cocktail under a table lamp at Vo Tri's counter, bottle shelves behind

Chapter 02

The collection in the cabinets

The name 'Cabinet of Curiosities' comes from the glass cabinets along the room — the display style for curious objects that is centuries old. At Vo Tri, the collection is the backdrop to every cocktail.

Vo Tri's chess board with cocktails set beside it

Chapter 03

Nights measured in games

Chess, Jenga and table games set Vo Tri's own tempo: guests stay long, play slowly and talk — and 211 Google reviews at 4.9 stars show how much Saigon values that tempo.