Ho Chi Minh City Activities

What to Do in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Vietnam

Many repeat visitors to Vietnam are astonished by the expanding choice of activities found in Ho Chi Minh City.

If you’re a golfer, you’ll be well catered for. If you are not, you can have a relaxing massage or perhaps take a trip to a water park - the kids will love you for it.

If the weather is not so good, you can always go ten-pin bowling or take a cookery course and discover how to make authentic Vietnamese dishes.

Most Popular Activities in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Vietnam

Bowling Alleys in Ho Chi Minh

Bowling Alleys in Ho Chi Minh City

Bowling is a universal game and can be a good solution for those days that are too sticky or too wet for outdoors fun. Ho Chi Minh City has a number of fully equipped and vibrant bowling alleys complete with equipment for rent and fast food for sale.

Diamond Plaza Bowling

Diamond Superbowl is the city’s newest bowling centre, with 32 lanes. It is on the fourth floor of the Diamond Plaza shopping centre.

• Location: 34 Le Duan, District 1.
• Tel: +848 3825 7778.

Saigon Superbowl

Saigon Superbowl, a modern bowling alley perfect for everyone from beginners to experienced bowlers.

• Location: A43 Truong Son.
• Tel: +848 3842 6405

Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City

Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnamese food was one of the first true ‘fusion’ cuisines in the world, thanks to the history of the area, with its Indian, Chinese, French, Russian, and American influences. It is also renowned as one of the healthiest foods in the world.

So, while visiting the country, why not learn how to cook your own authentic Vietnamese dishes? Many hotels in Ho Chi Minh City offer cooking classes or you can try the following:

Bi Saigon Cooking Classes

Bi Saigon Cooking Classes are held in the Bi Saigon Hotel & Restaurant. Here they teach visitors how to cook a wide variety of traditional Vietnamese recipes. There are no set times for classes. Instead, lessons are organised for individuals and small groups on request.

• Address: 185/26 - 185/16 Pham Ngu Lao St, District 1.
• Tel: +848 836 0678

Hoa Tuc Restaurant Cooking Class

Hands-on cooking classes are offered twice a day at this Vietnamese restaurant which used to be an opium refinery. Hoa Tuc is renowned for its authentic and fusion Vietnamese cuisine.

• Location: 74/7 Hai Ba Trung, Dist. 1.
• Tel: +848 3825 1676

Saigon Culinary Arts Centre

One of the latest additions to the burgeoning cooking schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Culinary Arts Centre is run by Vietnamese chef Mai, who take guests to the local markets, followed by a cooking demonstration at the well-equipped kitchen at Mai Home Restaurant.

• Location: 42/3 Nguyen Van Troi Street - Phu Nhuan District.
• Tel: +848 3997 9565

Vietnam Cookery Center

Vietnam Cookery Center offers a morning course from 09:30 to 13:00, including lunch, or an afternoon course from 15:30 to 19:30, including dinner. There are also special courses for professional cooks and for children.

• Address: 177 Dien Bien Phu, District 1.
• Tel: +848 823 5872

Golf Courses in Ho Chi Minh City

Golf Courses in Ho Chi Minh City

Golf in Vietnam goes back to 1922 and today there are more than 10 courses in the country with as many as 30 more under development. The first course in Ho Chi Minh City, the Go Vap Golf Course (which most people call the Saigon Golf Club) opened in the 1950s, and local people are beginning to appreciate the fun of swinging a club.

Others include the Vietnam Golf & Country Club which opened in 1994, and is the best established club in Ho Chi Minh City. With 36 holes, it is a private club, though guests are welcome. It is the closest course to central Saigon, some 20km (or 30 minutes) from downtown in the Long Thanh My Thu Due District.

Song Be Golf Resort has what is regarded as Vietnam’s first international-standard championship golf course. Also opened in 1994, it has 27 holes. The Song Be Golf Course is at 254B Nguyen Dinh Chieu St. Song Be Golf Resort has what is regarded as Vietnam’s first international-standard championship golf course. Also opened in 1994, it has 27 holes. The Song Be Golf Course is at 254B Nguyen Dinh Chieu St.

For driving ranges, try the Him Lam Driving Range on 234 Nguyen Huu Cahn in Binh Thanh District, on the Saigon River, the Saigon South Golf Driving Range on Nguyen Van Link, Tan Phu Ward, District 7, or the Rach Chiec Driving Range on Highway 1, District 9.

Sports, Fitness & Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City

Sports, Fitness & Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City

Saigon certainly has its share of activities that are not only fun but will also keep you fit and full of health. And yes, there's a chapter of Hash House Harrriers to have boozy fun and exercise with but there are also slightly more serious options such as yoga and fitness centres.

Ho Chi Minh City may be compact but that's no reason not to go for the optimum in fitness while there.

Saigon Hash House Harriers

The world-wide runners club Hash House Harriers has a "down-down" in Ho Chi Minh City, too. There are organised runs every Sunday and members meet at Caravelle Hotel at around 13:30 where they are taken by bus for a run outside the city. Return around 19:00 hrs.

• Tel: +848 92 386 2453

Saigon River Club

Saigon River Club features modern fitness facilities that include sauna, steam rooms, and pools with outdoor Jacuzzi.

• Location: 92 Nguyen Huu Cahn, District 1.
• Tel: +848 3514 9009

Sivananda Yoga Center

Offers yoga classes and Ayurvedic massages and vegetarian meals at its center in district 1, and occasionally organises longer retreats near Cu Chi, 1.5 hours drive from the city.

• Location: 17 Tran Quy Khoach, District 1.
• Tel: +848 6291 2663

Soham Yoga Studio and Boutique

Located in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Soham Yoga Studio offers regular classes in Vinyasa Flow, Sivananda, Power yoga.

• Location: 84T/4 Tran Dinh Xu, District 1.
• Tel: +848 3920 5813

Spas & Massage in Ho Chi Minh City

Spas & Massage in Ho Chi Minh City

Increasing numbers of high-end luxury spas are opening up in Ho Chi Minh City.

The therapists have good knowledge of massage and other treatments, mixing eastern philosophy, knowledge and techniques with some western practices.

YKC Spa

Exceptional service and customer satisfaction for over a decade has firmly established YKC as a premier pampering destination for Saigon’s expats and visitors. Complimentary beverages are offered in addition to a complete range of professional spa and hair services. Family owned from the very start, YKC operates with the utmost integrity and respect in regards to serving its clients.

• Address: 219 Dien Bien Phu, District 3, Saigon.
• Tel: +848 3829 2791 / 3827 5194

Glow Spa

This is a day spa where you receive massage therapy, facial care, hair spa, hand and foot care services while enjoying views of the lush, tropical garden. It is situated right in the city centre.

• Location: 129A Nguyen Hue, District 1.
• Tel: +848 3823 8368

L'Apothiquaire Spa & Retreat

L'Apothiquaire is in a colonial mansion with beautiful surroundings dating back to 1959. Services include facials, body treatment and fitness programs such as yoga and T’ai chi. There are a few branches spread out over the city.

• Address:
» 63 Le Thanh Ton St, District 1, Tel: +848 3822 1218.
» 64A Truong Dinh, District 3, Tel: +848 3932 5181

Jasmine Spa

A long-time favourite among Japanese and European expatriates, Jasmine is famous for its cellulite treament package using seaweed and its cavier facial treatment.

• Location: 45 Ton That Thiep, District 1.
• Tel: +848 3827 2737

QI Saigon Spa

QI Saigon Spa is a luxury day spa and salon using Qi beauty products, a brand of the Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido.

• Address: 151 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan District.
• Tel: +848 844 0611

SEN Spa

SEN Spa offers body massage, facial care, Jacuzzi and herbal steam room. It is on the 10th floor of Miss Aodai Building in District 1, just minutes from the Saigon River.

• Location: 10th floor of Miss Aodai Building in District 1.
• Tel: +848 3910 2174

Spa Authentic

Situated on the Saigon River in District 2, Spa Authentic offers massage and facial packages in a luxurious pool surroundings.

• Location: 195 Nguyen Van Huong, District 2.
• Tel: +848 3744 6452

Thann Sanctuary Spa

A branch of a successful Thai company, Thann reaches out to HCMC with its range of therapies that include healing stone body and foot scrubs and massages using their aromatic products based on Southeast Asian flora.

• Location:
» Nguyen Du Park Villas, 111 Nguen Du, District 1.
» Saigon Center Level 2, 65 Le Loi Street.
» Tel: +848 3822 0788 and +84 983 624 497

Traditional Massage Institute

This is not a luxurious treatment but you will be contributing to this deserving community of blind people of Ho Chi Minh City.

• Location: 185 D Cong Quynh.
• Tel: +848 3839 6697./.

Tours in Ho Chi Minh City

• Saigon Shopping & Relaxing - Full day
• Saigon Cooking Class (half-day)
• Full Day City Tour
• Half Day City Tour
• Ho Chi Minh City Tour - 3 Days/ 2 Nights
• Relaxing Tour - 4 Days/ 3 Nights
• The cuisine and culture at the South - 4 Days/ 3 Nights
• Exciting of South Vietnam - 5 Days/ 4 Nights