Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City This Weekend, Oct 22 to 25

Most people in Saigon see the same few faces every weekend, because the default plan is a bar with friends they already know. This guide to things to do in Ho Chi Minh City this weekend covers Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25, 2026. It ranks 23 Saigon events this weekend on whether the format pushes strangers into conversation. It's for you if you're single or new to the city and want to meet people in Ho Chi Minh City without an app.

Five scored picks come first. After that, every event appears by day with its venue, district, time, price and link, so you can plan around traffic and where you live.

On this page:

TL;DR: Top Picks for Meeting People:

Best Events for Meeting People in Ho Chi Minh City This Weekend

These five score highest because the format does the approaching for you. Within minutes, each one gives you a reason to talk to a stranger: a rotating table, a language flag, a facilitator who seats you or a shared task. Scores run from 1 to 10 and weigh structure, group size, cost and how many people you meet.

Thử Vị Yêu: The Great Pirate (Halloween) by Clique83, Saturday, October 24 | Score: 10/10

JÌN 金 Eatery & Bar; you get the address after registration. 5 PM to 8:30 PM, with check-in at 5 PM. 1,999,000 VND (VAT not included). Applying is free, and you pay once Clique83 confirms your seat. The room holds 10 men and 10 women. The evening moves through open mingling, Mixer Tables of four that rotate every 15 minutes, seated games, then one-to-one speed dating with each person. You mark up to three picks on a red card, and mutual picks get a private introduction the next day. Your ticket covers drinks but not food. The event runs in Vietnamese with some English, and the dress code is smart. With four formats in one night, you see each person in a group and on their own before you choose. Event details

Why it scores well: You meet every person of the other gender, and the format changes at each stage. Private picks remove the cost of rejection.

Mundo Lingo Saigon - Thao Dien D.2, Thursday, October 22 | Score: 9/10

The Green Box (Soma Saigon), 6 Le Van Mien, Thảo Điền. 8 PM to 11:45 PM. Free, with drink specials. You wear flags that show the languages you speak, and the house rule is to stand and mingle with locals and foreigners of all ages. The flag works as a printed opener, since a stranger knows what you speak before you say a word. RSVP

Why it scores well: Flags supply the first line, and standing keeps people moving. Entry is free, and the event runs every week, so faces repeat.

Tiệc ngồi 1 Nam & 1 Nữ - Bay Hotel by Vietnam Premium, Saturday, October 24 | Score: 8/10

Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh, Premium Restaurant, 7 Ngô Văn Năm, District 1. 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. 690,000 VND covers two drinks and snacks. A seated singles party for 30+ guests: men aged 20 to 42 and women aged 20 to 38. Women stay seated while men rotate tables for one-on-one rounds, and a private matching card reveals mutual picks. Bring ID. The event runs in Vietnamese and English. At the time of writing, women's tickets had sold out and women could join the waitlist. Event details

Why it scores well: Every round is one-on-one, and the rotation means you meet each guest of the other gender. Private matching keeps a no from costing you anything.

Saturday and Sunday Language Exchange Saigon - Buddies Club, October 24 and 25 | Score: 8/10

Tay Son Coffee, 198 Võ Thị Sáu, District 3. 4 PM to 6 PM on both days (the description says 6:30 PM). 30,000 VND plus a drink. Locals, expats and travelers practise languages over ice-breaking board games such as Dixit and 20 Questions, and facilitators seat solo arrivals with a group. At this language exchange in Saigon, showing up alone costs you nothing, because someone else decides where you sit. Saturday RSVP | Sunday RSVP

Why it scores well: Facilitators place you at a table, and the games supply the questions. Two sessions let you go twice and build on the first visit.

Echoing Trip SG01: Play With Old Maps, Saturday, October 24 | Score: 8/10

A café meeting point in central Saigon (Phường Sài Gòn and Bến Thành area; you get the exact start on registration). 8 AM to 1:30 PM. 700,000 VND covers maps, materials, coffee, water, guided activities and lunch. A group of 8 to 15 people does a 75-minute old-maps workshop, walks about 3 km through central streets such as Lê Lợi, Nguyễn Huệ and Hai Bà Trưng, then eats lunch at a four-generation restaurant. You pay by bank transfer after the form, and the listing doesn't state the tour language. Five hours with the same small group gives you time to get past introductions. Registration form

Why it scores well: A small fixed group shares a task with maps. The workshop, the walk and the lunch give you three settings to talk.

Full Roundup: Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City This Weekend by Day

Thursday is light: a business coffee, a language exchange and board games. Friday adds comedy and karaoke, more board games, a creatives' social and a free dance weekend. Saturday carries the most, from a dawn run to two singles events and a soul night. Sunday brings a language exchange, a fragrance workshop, Just Dance and a fan festival.

Thursday in Ho Chi Minh City (Oct 22)

Thursday starts with a free business coffee at 4 PM in Phú Mỹ Hưng, then gives you two strong evening formats. Mundo Lingo in Thảo Điền turns a bar into a standing room of language flags, and the board game night in District 10 sits you at a table with strangers for three hours.

Mundo Lingo Saigon - Thao Dien D.2. The Green Box (Soma Saigon), 6 Le Van Mien, Thảo Điền. 8 PM to 11:45 PM. Free, with drink specials. A weekly language-exchange social where you wear flags for the languages you speak and mingle on your feet. See the full write-up above. RSVP

Boardgame Night - D10. Coffee Talk English - 367 CMT8, 367 Cách Mạng Tháng Tám, District 10. 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Price not listed; check the event page. A board game night run by Board Game Nights - Ho Chi Minh City. A game hands you rules, turns and a reason to talk to the person across the table. RSVP

Coffee for Business (business networking). Laam Cafe, 59 Đường Số 17, Phú Mỹ Hưng, Tân Mỹ Ward. 4 PM to 5 PM. Free. A one-hour business networking coffee. The listing gives no host or format details, so check before you go. Everyone at a networking hour came to introduce themselves, so you don't need an excuse to start. No ticket link published.

Friday in Ho Chi Minh City (Oct 23)

You get four ways in on Friday, and none of them costs more than a drink. Board games in Bình Thạnh, a creatives' social in District 1 and a free house and techno weekend in Hiệp Bình all start between 6 PM and 7 PM. After that, Jack O'Laughter in District 3 adds comedy, karaoke and a costume prize.

Boardgame Night - Bình Thạnh. Coffee Talk English Binh Thanh, 258 Đ. Nơ Trang Long, Bình Thạnh. 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Buy a drink. Games include Secret Hitler, Power Grid, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Machi Koro and Splendor. Social deduction games such as Secret Hitler make you read and question the people at your table. RSVP

Saigon Indie's Social #13. Room Mate, 125 Hai Bà Trưng, District 1. 7 PM to 9 PM. Free; buy at least one drink or snack. A relaxed social for digital creatives, developers and artists to swap stories. Shared work gives you an opening question: what are you building? RSVP

Jack O'Laughter (comedy and karaoke night). Alibi - Bar & Bites, 93C Võ Văn Tần, District 3. From 7:30 PM. Free. A Halloween comedy night hosted by Jack Nugget with punchlines, musical comedy and karaoke, a prize for the best costume and a spooky cocktail menu. Karaoke turns the audience into performers, and a costume gives you something to comment on. No ticket link published.

HRBR x PUPA: House and Techno Weekend. Schiller Saigon, 28 Đường số 10, Hiệp Bình Ward. Friday and Saturday from 6 PM; the listing gives no end time. Free. Friday is a PUPA Saigon techno night with Chris Wolter, Moth1 and Schwarzesseis; Saturday is an HRBR house night with B.A.X., Truong Tham and Phuc Long. A 6 PM start gives you time to talk at the bar before the dance floor fills. No ticket link published.

Saturday in Ho Chi Minh City (Oct 24)

Saturday holds 12 of this weekend's 23 events, so plan by time of day. Mornings suit small groups: a founders' run, an old-maps walk, a reading circle and an album club. Afternoons go to language exchanges and a philosophy meetup. Evenings bring two singles events, a culture exchange, pro wrestling and a free soul night.

Founders Running Club :: Ho Chi Minh City. Every Half Coffee Roasters - Sala, Sala and Thủ Thiêm. 6 AM to 8 AM. No fee listed. A weekly easy run for founders, investors, tech and creative people, followed by coffee and networking; choose your own pace or follow a pacer. Running side by side takes away eye-contact pressure, and the coffee after gives you a table. RSVP

Echoing Trip SG01: Play With Old Maps. A café meeting point in central Saigon; you get the exact start on registration. 8 AM to 1:30 PM. 700,000 VND with maps, coffee, guided activities and lunch. A group of 8 to 15. See the full write-up above. Registration form

Read Room #18 (Curiosity Circle). Venue shared after registration. 9 AM to 12 PM. 80,000 VND, with one drink. One hour of quiet reading with your own book, then one hour of chatting. The book in your hands becomes your first topic. RSVP

Album Discussion: In Utero by Nirvana (The Side A Sessions). Phuc Long Premium Coffee & Tea, 87 Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền. 10 AM to 11 AM. No fee listed. The first session of a monthly album club, with discussion at tables of four to six. Spots are few, so sign up if you can commit. A shared album gives the table an agenda. RSVP

Vietnamese Language Exchange & Cultural Hangout (Buddies Club). Tay Son Coffee, 198 Võ Thị Sáu, District 3. 3 PM to 4:30 PM. 30,000 VND, paid at the venue, plus a drink. Vietnamese conversation practice with native speakers at small tables, with board games and prompt cards. Beginners welcome. Stay for the 4 PM session in the same café. RSVP

Saturday Language Exchange Saigon - Buddies Club. Tay Son Coffee, 198 Võ Thị Sáu, District 3. 4 PM to 6 PM (the description says 6:30 PM). 30,000 VND plus a drink. Facilitators seat solo arrivals with a group. See the full write-up above. RSVP

Practical Philosophy Meetup - Saigon. S'Gon Café, 26/16 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Tân Định (District 1). 4 PM to 6 PM; arrive between 4 PM and 4:15 PM. No fee listed. A weekly discussion of one topic in small groups of five or six, with no philosophy background needed. Organizers say attendance runs about 50/50 by gender and encourage you to come alone. A set topic gives a group of strangers something to disagree about. RSVP

Thử Vị Yêu: The Great Pirate (Halloween) by Clique83. JÌN 金 Eatery & Bar; address after registration. 5 PM to 8:30 PM. 1,999,000 VND (VAT not included), payable once Clique83 confirms your seat. Capped at 10 men and 10 women. See the full write-up above. Event details

Tiệc ngồi 1 Nam & 1 Nữ - Bay Hotel by Vietnam Premium. Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh, Premium Restaurant, 7 Ngô Văn Năm, District 1. 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM. 690,000 VND with two drinks and snacks. Men 20 to 42, women 20 to 38; women's tickets had sold out to a waitlist at the time of writing. See the full write-up above. Event details

Bình Thạnh - Culture and Language Exchange. Coffee Talk English - 258 NTL, 258 Nơ Trang Long, Bình Thạnh. 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. No fee stated. Themed conversation sessions between English speakers and Vietnamese learners about daily life in Vietnam. A theme gives both sides a script, which helps when your partner's English or your Vietnamese runs out. RSVP

Vietnam Pro Wrestling: Brawl Hallows' Eve 2026. VAIB Studio, 37 Bế Văn Cấm, District 7. Doors and meet-and-greet at 6 PM; first match at 7 PM. 450,000 to 900,000 VND. Live pro wrestling with a Halloween costume contest, food from Eddie's New York Deli, and drinks from Heart of Darkness Brewery and Teremana Tequila. Cheering with a crowd gives you something to talk about between matches. Tickets

Ho Chi Minh City Soul Club Vol. 3. Le Café des Stagiaires, 8-10 Đường số 54, Thảo Điền. 9 PM to 2 AM. Free. 60s soul, Motown and Northern Soul on vinyl all night with DJs DuyNgo, K-One and Tina Turnatrick, in a spooky-season edition. A free door lowers the cost of trying it, and a dance floor gives you something to do besides stand at the bar. No ticket link published.

Sunday in Ho Chi Minh City (Oct 25)

Sunday is quieter, apart from Aki Matsuri, an all-day fan festival with cosplay. Go back to Tay Son Coffee for the second Buddies Club session if Saturday went well, since familiar faces make a second visit easier. The fragrance workshop and the Just Dance hangout both give you something to do with your hands.

Sunday Language Exchange Saigon - Buddies Club. Tay Son Coffee, 198 Võ Thị Sáu, District 3. 4 PM to 6 PM (the description says 6:30 PM). 30,000 VND plus a drink. Language practice, board games and facilitators who seat newcomers. See the full write-up above. RSVP

Preserve memories with Chiaro x Myths (fragrance workshop). Myths cafe & resto, 4/7 Hoàng Dư Khương, District 10. 2 PM to 5 PM. Price not stated; check the event page. A beginner workshop where you smell essential oils and accords, learn notes and blend your own scent. It runs every Saturday and Sunday. Comparing scents with the person beside you makes a low-stakes opener. RSVP

Just Dance: Decades of Hits videogame hangout (JustDanceVN). The Family Bean Coffee, 17/4B Điện Biên Phủ, Bình Thạnh. 3 PM to 7 PM; play starts at 3:30 PM. 50,000 VND per person plus a drink. Fans play Just Dance: Decades of Hits maps and Adventure Mode on Nintendo Switch together; register through a Google Form. Everyone looks silly at a dance game, and that shared embarrassment gets the whole room talking. RSVP

Aki Matsuri 2026. SKY EXPO, Đường số 1, Quang Trung Software Park, Trung Mỹ Tây. 8 AM to 7 PM. 179,000 VND. An all-day Japanese-style fan festival with cosplay, stages, vendor stalls, food and games. The listing doesn't give a detailed programme. Cosplay hands you an opener, so ask who someone came dressed as. No ticket link published.

FAQ: Ho Chi Minh City This Weekend

These answers cover four practical questions about Saigon social events this weekend: the singles events, meeting people when you arrive alone, the free options and when to register. Each answer names the event, the day, the time and the venue, so you can make your call in one read and get on with booking.

Are there Ho Chi Minh City singles events this weekend?

Yes, two on Saturday, October 24. Thử Vị Yêu: The Great Pirate by Clique83 runs from 5 PM to 8:30 PM at JÌN 金 Eatery & Bar for 1,999,000 VND. Vietnam Premium's seated 1 Nam & 1 Nữ party runs from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Bay Hotel Ho Chi Minh for 690,000 VND.

Can you meet people in Saigon if you arrive alone?

Yes. At Tay Son Coffee, Buddies Club facilitators seat solo arrivals with a group on Saturday and Sunday at 4 PM. Practical Philosophy Meetup at S'Gon Café on Saturday at 4 PM encourages you to come alone and splits people into groups of five or six. At Mundo Lingo on Thursday, everyone stands and mingles.

Are there free Saigon events this weekend?

Yes. Mundo Lingo on Thursday from 8 PM is free, with drink specials. Jack O'Laughter at Alibi - Bar & Bites costs nothing on Friday from 7:30 PM, and Ho Chi Minh City Soul Club Vol. 3 at Le Café des Stagiaires is free on Saturday from 9 PM. Saigon Indie's Social #13 asks you to buy one drink.

Do you need to register for these events ahead?

For the structured ones, yes. Clique83 confirms your seat before you pay and shares the address after registration. Read Room #18 and Echoing Trip SG01 reveal their meeting points after sign-up, and Just Dance asks you to register through a Google Form. The language exchanges and board game nights take RSVPs on their event pages.

Where to Start This Weekend

If you want one plan from all the things to do in Ho Chi Minh City this weekend, make it Saturday. Apply for Clique83's The Great Pirate at 5 PM if you want a room of singles. If you'd rather warm up first, join the Buddies Club Language Exchange at Tay Son Coffee at 4 PM and return Sunday.

For a head start, go to Mundo Lingo on Thursday at 8 PM. It's free and runs every week, and the flags do the opening for you.

For more speed dating and singles nights, browse upcoming Ho Chi Minh City events on loveltr.

Pick one event, go on your own, and stay until it ends.