Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is home to Agit and Goldfinger, two lesbian bars we’ve spotlighted as some of the best around the world. Both sit in Shinjuku, the heart of queer Tokyo, which is sure to have a corner fit for just about everyone—go to a classic gay bar, steam at a sauna, shop at one of many expansive department stores and broom-closet boutiques, and grab a quick bite at a yakitori.
“Shinjuku is a city within the city,” Andres Zuleta, founder of Boutique Japan, tells us. “Greater Shinjuku is one of Tokyo’s largest and most hyperactive neighborhoods, filled with shops, bars, restaurants, municipal buildings, hotels, and (famously) an extraordinarily busy railway station.”
Boutique Japan operations specialist Gwynnie Vernon, who is queer and has spent years living in Tokyo, recommends Eagle Tokyo Blue for its signature ocean blue cocktails and karaoke nights and Campy! Bar for its unbeatable drag scene where patrons might be graced by owner and legendary drag mother Bourbonne. In Shinjuku, you pop in and out of pocket communities, and with the highest concentration of queer bars out of any neighborhood in the world, there are lifetimes of unforgettable nights in this condensed neighborhood.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
“For queer travelers, Vietnam is very open-minded and hospitable,” says Condé Nast Traveler contributor and culture writer Dan Q. Dao. “There’s a Pride parade, several gay and lesbian bars, and several drag-based attractions that have become cultural staples—check out the Lo To Saigon show!”
And in Ho Chi Minh City, you can rest assured that after a long day of exploring all you can eat, drink, and explore, you have your pick of where to stay and rest. Park Hyatt Saigon in District 1 brings the full luxe experience as a mainstay of our Readers’ Choice Awards, and is a queer-friendly hotel, as approved by Misterb&b, a homesharing platform aimed towards queer people; Dao considers the Park Hyatt, “undeniably the city’s most refined stay.”
But if you’re looking for more budget friendly options, consider a stay at the nearby Myst Dong Khoi, a trendy spot with a rooftop pool, or Villa Sông Saigon in District 2, a gay-welcoming boutique hotel along the river with a French colonial façade. And for a quick dip, Dao advises heading to the old colonial villas and tree-lined streets of District 3 and stopping by popular LGBTQ+ pool bar-lounge Azure. In Ho Chi Minh, you’ll get a full-value queer experience whether you’re going out or staying in.
