Guys, if you are a Formula 1 fan stuck in Saigon on race weekend, you already know the struggle. The hotel TV only gets local channels, the streaming app keeps buffering, and the race starts at 3AM when every sensible bar on the street has pulled the shutters down. So where do you go?
If you are wondering where to watch the F1 in Ho Chi Minh City, we have good news. We at Kim’s Tavern Super Girl Bar show every live Formula 1 race, whatever time the lights go out. Below we have put together everything you need to know about watching F1 in Vietnam, from who holds the TV rights and what time the races actually start here, to where to go when the lights go out at 3AM.
Where Can I Watch the F1 in Ho Chi Minh City?
This is the question we get asked most by visitors, so here is the short version. You have three real options:
- Stream it in your room on the official Vietnamese broadcaster or F1’s own app, if your hotel wifi can handle it.
- Find a bar that shows the races live, which is easy for the evening races and a lot harder for the ones that start in the middle of the night.
- Come to Kim’s Tavern Super Girl Bar at 20 Huynh Thuc Khang Street in District 1, where every live race goes up on our screens, early morning and late night included.
Option three comes with company and a cold beer, so we may be a little biased. Keep reading and we will explain why.
Who Shows F1 on TV in Vietnam?
From the 2026 season, the exclusive F1 broadcast rights in Vietnam belong to TV360, the streaming platform run by Viettel Telecom. According to Dai Bieu Nhan Dan’s report on the TV360 deal, the agreement runs for three years and covers the full F1 weekend, from practice and qualifying to sprints and every Grand Prix. You can watch on phones, smart TVs, tablets and web browsers.
That is great news for locals, but it can be a headache for tourists. Signing up for a Vietnamese streaming service on holiday, getting the app working on a hotel TV and hoping the wifi holds for two hours is not most people’s idea of a relaxing race day. Many expats and travellers simply skip the setup and head to a bar that already has it sorted.
What Time Is the F1 in Vietnam?
This is where it gets tricky, kings. Vietnam runs on Indochina Time (UTC+7), which means race start times swing wildly depending on where in the world the Grand Prix is held.
- Asian and Middle Eastern races are the easy ones. They land in the afternoon or evening in Saigon, perfect for a race with dinner and drinks.
- European races usually start around 8PM or 9PM Vietnam time during the summer. Prime time for a proper night out.
- Races in the Americas are the painful ones. Austin, Mexico City and Brazil start somewhere between midnight and 3AM in Saigon, and Las Vegas flips the other way into Sunday lunchtime.
Those late night and early morning races are exactly why so many F1 fans in Ho Chi Minh City end up watching on a phone in bed. Most bars are closed or winding down by then. We are not.
Rough Guide to F1 Race Times in Saigon
Here is a quick cheat sheet for roughly when each part of the F1 calendar goes green in Ho Chi Minh City. Times move by an hour here and there as other countries switch their clocks, so treat these as a guide rather than gospel.
- Australia: late morning on Sunday
- Japan and China: around lunchtime or early afternoon on Sunday
- Singapore: around 7PM on Sunday, the closest night race to Saigon and a proper party night
- Middle East races (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi): Sunday evening, anywhere from 8PM to midnight
- European races: around 8PM in the European summer and 9PM in the European winter
- Canada, Miami, Austin, Mexico City and Brazil: between midnight and 3AM, Sunday night into Monday morning
- Las Vegas: late morning or lunchtime on Sunday
The exact calendar and session times change every season, so always check the official Formula 1 website a few days before the race and convert the start time to Vietnam time (UTC+7).
Why Watch F1 in a Bar Instead of Your Hotel Room?
Watching a Grand Prix alone on a laptop in your hotel room is fine. It is also a bit sad, handsome.
F1 is better with people around you. Someone to argue with about strategy calls, someone to celebrate with when your driver nails a last lap overtake, and someone to buy the next round when your team throws away a podium with a slow pit stop. A good bar gives you all of that, plus a far bigger screen than your phone and a drink that is cold the whole race.
It also solves the timing problem. When a race starts at 3AM, the hardest part is staying awake until lights out. That is a lot easier with good company, good music and a cold drink in your hand than it is lying in a dark hotel room waiting for the alarm.
Watch Every Live F1 Race at Kim’s Tavern Super Girl Bar
Here is how race day works at Kim’s Tavern.
We show every live race. Evening race, midnight race, 3AM race or Sunday lunchtime race, we are open and the race is on. You will never turn up to find the shutters down on a Grand Prix night.
Five screens on the ground floor. Every live race plays across five screens downstairs, and for some races we put it up on the big projector too. Wherever you sit, at the bar or sinking into the sofa lounge, you will not miss an overtake.
Watch it your way. We keep the commentary low or off and the music playing, so the race is there for watching while the bar still feels like a bar. It suits the guys who want to follow every lap, and it suits the guys who just want the race on in the background while they enjoy a drink and some fun conversation. Bring your F1 app if you want the radio messages in your ear.
Two full bars, so no missed laps. We have two full bars across our two floors, which means you are never stuck queuing for a drink while the safety car comes out. Better still, our girls will fetch your drinks tableside, so you do not even have to leave your seat.
The best pit crew in Saigon. Speaking of our girls, they are the most beautiful, fun and friendly team on Huynh Thuc Khang Street, and they will happily cheer for whichever driver you are backing and keep your glass from running dry until the chequered flag.
Fair warning though, handsome. One of our girls is a genuine F1 fanatic. She follows every session, knows her undercut from her overcut, and will happily go toe to toe with you on tyre strategy, team orders and who really deserved that penalty. Come in thinking you know more about Formula 1 than the bar girl and you might just leave having lost the argument, and the bet.
[Image: Kim’s Tavern bar girls cheering with customers in front of the F1 screens]
Somewhere to go after the flag. When the podium celebrations finish, head upstairs for pool tables, shuffleboard and our lounge area. Perfect for settling the “who had the better race prediction” argument with a game of pool.
We also run promotions at the bar from time to time, so check our Facebook page for what is on before you come.
Bringing the Whole Crew for a Race?
If you are coming with a group of mates, a work team or a full F1 fan club, we can reserve a section of the bar for you so everyone has a clear view of the screens. For bigger occasions like a title decider or the season finale, we can reserve a full floor or even the whole venue. Take a look at our private event venue in Ho Chi Minh City page to see what we can arrange, or message the team directly on Facebook.
Find Us on Race Day
Kim’s Tavern Super Girl Bar is at 20 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, District 1, right in the heart of Saigon and a short walk from Nguyen Hue Street. It is an easy Grab ride from any hotel in District 1, which matters a lot when you are heading out for a 3AM start. Our 4.8 star rating from more than 650 genuine Google reviews tells you the rest.
So next time you are searching for where to watch the F1 in Ho Chi Minh City, save yourself the buffering and the lonely hotel room. Check the race time, grab a Grab, and come and watch it with us. Five screens, cold drinks, great company and every single race live.
Lights out and away we go, kings. See you on race day.
Lots of love from all the girls at Kim’s Tavern Super Girl Bar xoxo
