A mixologist has come back to the "eye" architecture
The cocktail bar "Oculus" has opened at 54 Võ Văn Tần Street in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City. The glass-fronted lookout at the front mimics a curved cornea, and the automatic sliding door a contracting pupil. At the center of the interior, a circular bar counter is placed as a "lens," and when the curtain opens, the shelf of spirits gleams.
The star of the bar is mixologist Pham Hong Toan. After making his name at the downtown cocktail bar "Drinking & Healing," he had set out on a journey of self-discovery, and he makes his comeback at Oculus.
"Classics In Disguise"—disguised classic cocktails
The theme of the cocktail menu Toan creates is "Classics In Disguise." He reconstructs half-forgotten classic cocktails with new ingredients and techniques. The Dot Magazine describes Toan's cocktail-making as "precise movements like a performer's."
The food program is handled by chef Anh Khoa, formerly of "Project Arrow." Precise dishes premised on pairing with cocktails line up, such as daikon topped with caviar, sea-urchin toast, and waffle-butter. Ordering à la carte is also possible.
Background—Ho Chi Minh City's cocktail-bar maturing period
Ho Chi Minh City's cocktail-bar scene has been maturing rapidly since around 2023.The rush of café openingsIn parallel with this, bar-specialist talent is growing, and the trend of going independent is accelerating. Oculus's opening is a symbolic case of an accomplished mixologist like Toan shifting from "employed" to "his own shop."
Menu structure
| Category | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktails | The Classics In Disguise series | Devised by Pham Hong Toan |
| Food | Daikon caviar, sea-urchin toast, waffle-butter | Chef Anh Khoa (formerly of Project Arrow) |
| Pairing | Recommended cocktail-and-food combinations | À la carte options also available |
Reactions from media and the industry
- The Dot Magazine called it “an exceptional experience created by two young Vietnamese talents.”
- Reviews appeared on TripAdvisor early on, with high praise for the interior design and the quality of the cocktails.
- “Anyone who knows Toan’s work at Drinking & Healing will make the trip the moment they hear he’s back” (an expat bar enthusiast).
For Japanese travelers—getting there and how to enjoy it
Oculus sits along Vo Van Tan Street in District 3, a 10-minute walk from the Independence Palace.A dessert café crawlIt’s best to drop by in the evening, after that. Open Monday to Thursday 18:00–1:00, and Friday and Saturday 18:00–2:00. Expect to pay 200,000–300,000 VND (about 1,200–1,800 yen) for a cocktail.
A wave of new bars in Ho Chi Minh City
Around the same time as Oculus, distinctive new venues keep opening: “RAW + Atelier” (a wabi-sabi concept by Jimmy Nguyen) at 97B Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1, and in Thao Dien “Chi Mo” (a pho specialty shop by chef Huynh Chi Khang) and “Bon Asian Soul Kitchen” (Asian fusion).Fine diningOn both the dining and bar fronts, Ho Chi Minh City’s food scene is evolving with unprecedented density.
Venue information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shop name | Oculus |
| Address | 54 Võ Văn Tần, Quận 3, HCMC |
| Hours | Mon–Thu 18:00-1:00 / Fri–Sat 18:00-2:00 |
| Phone | +84 0928 993 993 |
| Reservation@oculusbarvn.com | |
| Bartenders | Pham Hong Toan (formerly of Drinking & Healing) |
| Chef | Anh Khoa (formerly of Project Arrow) |
| Concept | Classics In Disguise |
Summary
Mixologist Pham Hong Toan has opened his own bar. In a District 3 space built around the motif of the “eye,” forgotten classic cocktails are revived in new forms. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Independence Palace, open from 18:00 Monday to Thursday. Reservations are accepted at Reservation@oculusbarvn.com.
Source: The Dot Magazine / TripAdvisor
