Running in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) can be a challenge at the best of times. Thick air pollution, roads clogged with scooters and traffic , intense humidity and temperatures as well as a lack of large open spaces or parks all play their part in making this city one of the most running unfriendly places in the whole of Vietnam and makes running in the city all but impossible.
Traffic Everywhere!
However, All is not lost. Saigon’s recent middle class population expansion has resulted in an explosion of up-market fitness clubs and venues that aim to cater for both the busy professional and the bored housewife. The result is a variety of facilities close to the centre of Saigon, all with state of the art gym and fitness equipment that easily rivals any western equivalent. Most of these venues allow entry to visitors on a pay per use basis and work out incredibly cheap when you consider the range of facilities at your disposal and all provide a wide range of cardio equipment to satisfy the enthusiast that feels the need to partake some running whilst in town.
Gyms in Ho Chi Minh City:
Lan Anh Fitness and Tennis Club
The best pick by far; The Lan Anh Clubs gym caters for the runner with an impressive 20 treadmills along with an array of cross trainers, bikes and rowers. Not bad for a tennis club! Entry to the gym will cost you anything from 40,000 – 70,000VND depending on the time of day, school holidays and weekends, but it is cheapest before 1pm on a weekday. You can use the leisure pool for an extra 15,000 – 25,000VND but it is more of a splash pool with sun loungers then a swimming pool. The tennis courts are always busy so it is worth phoning ahead to check availability if you want to use the courts. Towels are provided on entry free of charge and the club also has an impressive but expensive restaurant with free wifi. The rates highly among ex pats in the city and is featured in the 2010 Vietnamese Lonely Planet guide.
Lan Anh Club: 6am-9pm, 291 Cach Mang Thang Tam, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Phone: +84 8 862 7144
Hotels with Gyms in Ho Chi Minh
All of the below hotels have fitness suite facilities but their prices can be extortionate if you are not staying at the hotel. If at all possible head to Lan Anh Club as both the facilities and the price mean much greater value for money.
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The Landmark Residential Accommodation
Fitness Centers Club (located on 15th and 16th floors)
5B Ton Ðuc Thang, Dist.10
Tel: 8270176
The Landmark fitness suite offers a wide range of sporting facilities including a gym, squash courts, sauna and swimming pool. You have to join the club to go in but introduction tours are available or members can bring guests. Call ahead to arrange.
Landmark Club
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Caravelle Hotel
19 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1
Tel: 8234999
The Carvelle Hotel gym wasn’t open to visitors when I tried to visit but it is supposed to be well equipped.
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Diamond Plaza Health Centre
The Diamond Plaza Health Centre is a huge shopping mall that also has an impressive fitness centre on the 13th and 14th floors. The centre has a well equipped cardio gym, small swimming pool, sauna and steam room. There is also a bowling ally and cinema (as well as a huge mall) if you want to make a day of it .
34 Le Duan, District. 1
Tel: 8223540
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Somerset Hotel
8A Nguyen Binh Khiem St District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Well equipped gym with a good view of the city below.
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New World Hotel
76 Le Lai, Dist.1
Tel: 822 8888 ext 12235
The New World Hotel has a good sized outdoor swimming pool, sauna and a steam room as well as a small well equipped gym
New World Gym
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Rex Hotel
141 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam: 829-2185
Offers a Gym and Saua
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Equatorial Hotel
242 Tran Binh Trong, Dist.10, Tel: 8397777
Equatorial Hotel
A monthly subscription gym that starts from 3million VND. If you don’t want to join for a month then daily spa packages are available but for the price of three of them you might as well join. Gusts of the hotel use the gym for free of course.
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Sofitel Plaza Hotel
17 Le Duan, Dist. 1
Tel: 8241555
Offers a sauna, swimming pool and massage.
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Parkland Appartments Sport Club
628A An Binh, An Phu, Dist.2
Tel: 898-9000
Offers tennis and squash courts as well as a good sized outdoor swimming pool and gym.
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Other ‘Running and Gym’s in Asia’ Posts:
Hanoi Gyms - Nah Trang Running - Beijing Running – Running in Xi’an, China - Thailand - South East Asia Running Tips
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Great blog. Hope you are enjoying your trip. We are in Thailand for three weeks on a trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary! We’ve just arrived in Pia after a 4hr bus ride from Chiang Mai.
I’ve been running every other day and it’s been okay! I go at 6am and take water with me. On one run last week I didn’t take water and suffered badly!
Enjoy the rest of your trip
Xin chao anh Ross. Cam on lam.
This is GOLD. I virtually live in Viet Nam on my R&R and really don’t mix with the hotel gyms which are never where I want them and ‘ordinary’ at best mostly. It’s priceless finding these little nuggets of info about VN. Part of the surprises and pleasures about this land is you need to dig a little deeper to find what you are looking for. But my word, is it worth it.
Anh thuong Viet Nam qua.
Giu gin suc khoe,
Russell.