Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Ho Chi Minh City: pies, parmas and a Michelin star

Phatty's Sports Bar & Grill

Area: Ton That Thiep Street, Ben Nghe (old District 1)

Phatty's has long been described as an outpost of Australian sport and hospitality in central Saigon [4]. Recent reviews say the screens are mostly given over to Australian sport (AFL, NRL, rugby union and State of Origin), with cricket, NFL and soccer in the mix [5].

Why Australians go: it's central, it's been around for years, and it's the bar people name first when you ask where the footy's on.

What to order: reviewers mention cottage pie, steak nights, seafood baskets and burgers [5]. Pub food, done properly.

The Jackaroo Bar & Grill

Area: Nguyen An Ninh Street, near Ben Thanh Market

The Jackaroo sits beside Ben Thanh Market. Its listing describes it as owned and managed by an Australian and Vietnamese husband and wife [6]. Reviewers in 2026 mention AFL, NRL and State of Origin on multiple screens [6].

Why Australians go: an Aussie owner behind the bar, the footy on and food that tastes like home.

What to order: recent reviews mention a chicken parma, smoked brisket, an Aussie burger, and roast lamb rolls with gravy [6]. The Jackaroo didn't have a working website when we checked; find it on Facebook or ask in our group.

Aussie Bar Saigon

Area: Ho Tung Mau Street (old District 1)

One of the newer names, Aussie Bar Saigon is run by a couple reviewers know as Kev and his wife. The listing promises live sport every day on 10 big screens [10]. Reviews from 2026 mention the AFL, NRL, rugby and even Australian horse racing [10].

Why Australians go: it's the most unapologetically Aussie bar in town, with the name to prove it.

What to order: reviewers mention a steak and ale pie and a Sunday lamb roast [10]. There was no website or Instagram we could verify, so look it up on Facebook or Google Maps.

The Melbourne Cafe

Area: District 3 (Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street) and An Phu, Thu Duc (Lumiere Riverside)

The Melbourne Cafe has a listing in District 3 [7], and a 2026 Thao Dien brunch guide places it at Lumiere Riverside in An Phu, just outside Thao Dien [8]. We couldn't confirm who owns it, so treat it as Melbourne-style rather than Australian-owned.

Why Australians go: a proper brunch menu, and one of the few places in town where Vegemite on toast is a normal thing to order [7].

What to order: reviewers mention eggs Benedict, avocado toast and pancakes, and the menu has a "Melbourne Breakfast" [7][8].

Want more than one café? Saigon has a huge specialty coffee scene of its own. Vietnamese coffee isn't a flat white, but give it a fortnight.

Akuna

Area: Le Méridien Saigon, Ton Duc Thang Street (old District 1)

Akuna is the restaurant of Sam Aisbett, a Melbourne native who trained at Tetsuya's and was head chef at Quay in Sydney before winning a Michelin star in Singapore with Whitegrass [2]. Akuna opened in 2023 on the ninth floor of Le Méridien [2], and it held its one Michelin star in the 2026 Vietnam guide [1]. The name means "water flowing" in the Diyari language of South Australia [2].

Why Australians go: an Australian chef cooking at the top of his game with Vietnamese produce, and the odd wink at home.

What to order: it's a set menu that changes, so you don't choose. At launch it included a meat pie on a platypus plate, Vegemite with damper and a reworked Cherry Ripe [2]. Save it for a big occasion.

AFL

The time difference is kind: a 2:30pm Melbourne bounce is 11:30am in Saigon. For the 2026 Grand Final, the AFL listed the Sofitel Saigon Plaza as Ho Chi Minh City's watch party venue, starting at 11:30am [9]. For regular rounds, try Phatty's, The Jackaroo or Aussie Bar Saigon [5][6][10].

NRL and State of Origin

All three pubs above have 2026 reviews mentioning rugby league and Origin [5][6][10]. Origin nights fill up, so arrive early.

Cricket

Phatty's reviewers mention cricket on the screens [5]; for a big Test, ring ahead. If you'd rather play, the Saigon Australian Cricket Club is covered in our Aussie life guide.