Here is Mr. Nguyen’s list of the San Jose Vietnamese Bars (quan nhau). Viet bars are a great compliment to the Viet cafes especially considering the café scene is not as good at night as it is during the day. Viet bars provide great night time entertainment. The San Jose scene is probably the best in the country when it comes to Viet bars.
There are a variety of bars that cater to old school Viet people who like to drink, smoke, converse with Vietnamese waitresses, and karaoke. There are also some Viet bars that cater to the newer generation with hip hop, EDM, gorgeous exotic dancers, and a more ethnically diverse staff. Every Viet bar serves food at a heavily marked up price, and for some odd reason, it is usually better tasting than regular Viet restaurants. Beers include Heinekein and Corona, and you can order bottles of hard liquor if you prefer.
I’ve separated the Viet bars into two categories: Exotic and Traditional. Rankings are based on overall experience, but of course, they are subjective.
