Brett Davis - AsiaLIFE Magazine

listings
sports &
leisure
Sport Street
Huyen Tran Cong Chua, D1 between
Nguyen Du and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai
Services include mending and restringing
broken tennis rackets. Products range
from badminton birdies and rackets to
basketball hoops, free weights, roller
blades, scooters, soccer jerseys and all
manner of balls.
Trophies & Custom Signage Street
Le Lai, D1 between Truong Dinh and
Nguyen Thai Hoc
Offers custom engraving on trophies and
plaques made of plastic, wood, metal
and glass.
CRICKET
Saigon Cricket Assocation
Social cricket league plays 25 overs
a side matches Sunday mornings at
RMIT’s District 7 pitch. Season runs November
through May, with friendly games
throughout the pre-season. Practice on
Saturdays and Sunday afternoons.
Australian Cricket Club
Terry Gordon
terrygordoninasia@yahoo.com.au
saigonaustraliancricketclub@yahoo.com
www.saigoncricket.com
English Cricket Club
Richard Carrington
Richard.carrington@pivotalvietnam.com
info@eccsaigon.com
www.eccsaigon.com
Indian Cricket Club
Manish Sogani, manish@ambrij.com
United Cricket Club
Mr. Asif Ali, asif@promo-tex.net
keshav.dayalani@rmit.edu.vn
DANCING
DanCenter
46/2 Nguyen Cuu Van, Binh Thanh
Tel: 3840 6974
www.dancentervn.com
Modern, centrally located studio with
foreign trained dance instructors. Classes
for kids age 5+ in jazz, ballet, hip hop
and tap dance. Classes for adults in
yoga, jazz, hip hop, salsa, belly, tap and
capoeira.
Salsa Dancing at La Fenetre Soleil
135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, D1
Tel: 0909 365 525
Every Thursday from 8 pm with Urko and
Fred, with a total beginners workshop
starting at 8.30pm (minimum 10 people
required; 50,000 VND with a cocktail).
Followed by social dancing until
midnight.
Salsa Dancing at La Habana
6 Cao Ba Quat, D1
www.salsaigon.com
salsaigon@gmail.com
Six-week salsa package at 350,000
VND for single persons and 550,000 for
a couple, run by Urko. Lessons every
Tuesday (beginners L.A. style at 7.30
pm; intermediate L.A style at 8.30 pm).
Registration required.
FITNESS & YOGA
AIS Sports Centre
36 Thao Dien, An Phu, D2
Tel: 3744 6960, ext 126
sportscentre@aisvietnam.com
www.aissportscentre.com
Features six-lane, 25-metre pool,
basketball and netball courts, astroturf
hockey/football area and outdoor gym
equipment. Available for party hire, with
BBQ included on request. Membership
packages available. Kids swim club and
adult masters programmes. Rainbow
Divers offers scuba diving courses for
children and adults. Free morning yoga.
California WOW Xperience
Parkson Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong, D5
28/30-32 Le Loi, D1 Tel: 6291 5999
The world’s biggest fitness centre chain
is one of Saigon’s most modern places
to get your sweat on. Located in Hung
Vuong Plaza, CWX offers a huge workout
area and all kinds of classes including
spinning, KickFit, yoga and more.
Caravelle Club Spa
19 Lam Son Square, D1
Tel: 3823 4999
Modern and stylish gym with lots of cardiovascular
machines and free weights.
The swimming pool is a great place for
a dip, and the massage parlour, sauna,
steam room and jacuzzi are there for
winding down.
Christophe Guillemin
Tel: 0909 365525
azia_shop@yahoo.fr
www.azia-shop.com
French fitness instructor offers his training
assistance both at home or in your
gym to help with everything from weight
loss to muscle building. Also does cardio
training sessions at An Phu swimming
pool on Saturday at 11 am.
Curves
15 Trinh Van Can, D1 Tel: 3821 0319
www.curvesvietnam.com
Curves is a women’s only fitness
franchise with over 10,000 locations and
four million members. The centre offers
a famous 30-minute total body workout
that they say will burn up to 500 calories.
Features training on ‘double positive’
resistance equipment.
Diamond Plaza
34 Le Duan, D1
The city’s largest department store has
a well-equipped gym with steam room,
jacuzzi, massage parlour and swimming
pool. The gym costs from USD $90 per
month.
Diamond Way Buddhism Meditation
Group
Tel: 093 804 3753
Email: SaigonGompa@gmail.com
www.diamondway-teachings.org
Meditation group using methods of
Tibetan Buddhism. Diamond Way or
Vajrayana Buddhism guides practitioners
to experience the nature of their own
mind to reach Enlightenment.
Equinox Fitness & Leisure Centre
Equatorial Hotel, 242 Tran Binh Trong,
D5 Tel: 3839 7777
Decent-sized 3rd-floor gym with modern
cardio and weights machines, sauna,
steambath, jacuzzi, and large 4th floor
pool great for swimming laps.
Hollywood Fitness World
H3 Building, 384 Hoang Dieu, D4
Tel: 3826 4639
One of the latest & best workout environments
in the city, suitable for all ages and
fitness levels. Personal training is offered.
Erick Tony Varin, Fitness and
Swimming Instructor
Tel: 0939 026 540
Erickforcearca@hotmail.com
French instructor offers individual
adapted programmes at home or at
your gym, including weight loss, muscle
gain, athletic training and post-traumatic
treatment. Swimming and aqua aerobics
classes for groups or individuals are also
offered.
John Huy Tran, Fitness Instructor
Tel: 0983 789 318
jht_fitness@hotmail.com
Canadian fitness professional certified
trainer with over 10 years’ experience in
the fitness industry, dance and sports.
Can provide training tailored to individual
needs.
K1 Fitness and Fight Factory
346 Ben Van Don, D4
Tel: 0918 337 111
www.teamminetti.com
Fitness centre teaching English and
Thai boxing, karate, Vietnamese martial
arts, judo, fencing, grappling, and mixed
martial arts with classes for both adults
and children. All training conducted by a
professional foreign instructor.
L’Apothiquaire Fitness Centre
64A Truong Dinh, D3 Tel: 3932 5181
www.lapothiquaire.com
Internationally-certified teachers offer
daily classes in Sivananda, Iyengar,
Power, Yoga, Abdo-Pilates, Taebo and
Aqua-Aerobics. Peaceful swimming pool,
sauna and steam room.
La Cochinchine
Rex Hotel, 146 Pastuer, D1
Tel: 3825 1812 (ext 7477)
New and affordable fitness centre
located in the heart of the city. This gym
has a wide range of weight machines, as
well as many cardio machines, including
treadmills, cross-trainers and bikes. A
good variety of classes are available,
including yoga and aerobic dance.
Legend Hotel Fitness Centre
2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, D1
One of the best hotel fitness centres.
Very well-equipped gym with cardiovascular
and weight machines, along with
a circular swimming pool and massage
parlour. A three-month membership
costs USD $400++.
Michelle Lloyd Yoga
Tel: 0909 64 8193
michelleglloyd@gmail.com
www.michellelloyd.com
E-RYT200 certified yoga instructor
offering Vinyasa yoga classes at various
locations around the city. Private and
corporate yoga programs available. Contact
Michelle for more information on her
current schedule and special events.
Nutrifort
2B1 Chu Manh Trinh, D1
Tel: 3825 8560
news@nutrifort.com/www.nutrifort.com
Comprehensive health and fitness centre
offering customized exercise, nutritional
counseling to members. Specializing
in weight loss programs, core/body alignment
training with Pilates equipment.
Healthy snacks available.
NTFQ2
34 Nguyen Dang Giai, D2
Tel: 3744 6672
ntfq2@nutrifort.com/www.nutrifort.com
First boutique, purpose-built fitness
and wellness centre in Vietnam. Offers
personal training, small group classes,
specialized treatment and healthy dining
at on-site restaurant Good Eats.
Park Hyatt Fitness Centre
2 Lam Son Square, D1 Tel: 3824 1234
Luxury health centre with the full range of
facilities including swimming pool, steam
room, jacuzzi and fitness centre. Threemonth
peak membership costs USD
$810++ and off-peak is $450++.
Patricia Romero, ERYT200
Phu My Hung, An Phu
Tel: 090 387 2832
saigonease@yahoo.com
Alignment-based yoga classes that
infuse elements from the Ashtanga and
Iyengar traditions. Group and private
classes. Also specialising in therapeutics
and restorative yoga. Patricia has been
teaching yoga in Saigon since 2002.
Renaissance Hotel Health Club
8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 3822 0033
Stylish health club with gym, swimming
pool, steam room, massage parlour,
pool-side bar and an outstanding view
of the city. Costs USD $140 a month, or
$10 a day.
Saigon Fitness Club
New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1
Tel: 3822 8888
The modern Nautilus-equipped gym is
staffed by highly-qualified instructors to
cater for your fitness needs. Features a
swimming pool, floodlit tennis court, golf
driving range, jogging track, sauna, and
massage rooms.
Saigon Yoga
Somerset Apartments
8A Nguyen Binh Khiem, D1
Tel: 090 835 2265
www.saigonyoga.com
info@saigonyoga.com
Yoga and pre-natal yoga classes held
downtown and in D3. Taught by experienced,
certified instructrs from the U.S.
Class size limited to 12 students. Reservation
is requested to ensure a space.
Private group and pre-natal classes of up
to 8 by appointment.
Sheraton Fitness
Level 5, Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers,
88 Dong Khoi, D1 Tel: 3827 2828
sheraton.saigon@sheraton.com
www.sheraton.com/saigon
Sheraton Fitness features a team of
trained professionals and new Technogym
equipment. Members have full use
of leisure facilities and receive discounts
at hotel bars and restaurants and Aqua
Day Spa.
Star Fitness Gym
Manor Apartments, 91 Nguyen Huu
Canh, Binh Thanh Tel: 3514 0255
This 1,600sqm gym is apparently the
biggest in Vietnam. Has a good range
of machines for any type of workout.
Membership involves one time entry fee
plus monthly subscriptions and gives free
access to regular fitness classes.
Sofitel Saigon Plaza Fitness Centre
17 Le Duan, D1 Tel: 3824 1555
Small but well-equipped gym with helpful
staff and quality equipment. Membership
costs USD $700++ for six months and
$1,300++ for a year. Also runs a number
of fitness classes including yoga.
Yoga & Meditation Centre
335 Dien Bien Phu, D3
Tel: 3929 1706
www.ymc.org
Professional team of Western and local
teachers show you how to practice a
combination of yoga and meditation with
a range of classes such as Hatha, Yin,
Vikram, Ashtanga yoga and Pilates.
Yoga Living
95 Pasteur, D1
Tel: 098 880 4598
info@yogaliving.com.vn
www.yogaliving.com.vn
Yoga studio offering hatha, vinyasa,
power and ashtanga yoga. Schedule can
be self-made by members.
FOOTBALL & RUGBY
Australian Rules Football
Tel: 093 768 3230
www.vietnamswans.com
vietnamswans@gmail.com
The Vietnam Swans play regular international
footy matches around Asia. Training
sessions are held weekly in HCM City
(2.30 pm Saturday, RMIT D7) and Hanoi
(midday, Saturday, UN International
School, Ciputra). All skill levels and codes
welcome.
Les Gaulois de Saigon
www.gauloisdesaigon.com
info@gauloisdesaigon.com
A new team of French footballers, the
side invites players and their families to
come and join in their friendly training
sessions, where everyone can get together
and enjoy the sport while making
new friends. Contact Sebastien on 0919
691785 or Romain on 0908 060139.
RMIT Vietnam
sports.recreation@rmit.edu.vn
A new player on the SIFL scene with
a team made up of students from the
University. They have their own football
ground on-site consisting of two brand
new pitches. Contact Landon Carnie.
Saigon Raiders
jon.hoff@saigonraiders.com
Sociable football side who are always on
the lookout for new talent for their weekly
matches and training sessions. The team
participates in the Saigon International
Football League and also has regular
fixtures against local teams in the outlying
provinces and also participates in international
tournaments.
Saigon Rugby Club
Tel: 0903 735 799
www.saigonrfc.org
saigonrugbyfootballclub@yahoo.com
Social, mixed touch rugby played every
Saturday afternoon for adults at RMIT
from 4 pm until 6 pm. Regularly welcomes
visiting teams and tours the region
for men’s contact and women’s touch
rugby tournaments. Beginners welcome.
Saigon Saints
chris@saigonsaints.com
www.saigonsaints.com
Expat football club of all ages, which has
been running since 1995 and plays in the
SIFL. Regularly venture on international
tours especially to Bangkok and Manila
and play in other local and international
tournaments. The players train weekly,
and new players are encouraged to join.
GOLF
Dalat Palace Golf Club
Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Dalat
Tel: 063 3821 101
dpgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com
The most beautiful course in Vietnam,
combining the crisp mountain air with
an environment of stately pine trees.
Overlooking Xuan Huong lake, the 7,009-
yard course is an enjoyable challenge for
golfers of all levels.
Dong Nai Golf Resort
Trang Bom Town, Trang Bom
Tel: 061 3866 288 / 3677 590
www.dongnaigolf.com.vn
Large golf resort with 27 holes, plus a villa
complex, bar, sauna. jacuzzi and billiards.
The resort sits on 160 hectares of land in
Dong Nai Province, about 50 kilometres
from the city. Membership starts at USD
$2,000 a year.
Ocean Dunes Golf Club
1 Ton Duc Thang, Phan Thiet
Tel: 062 3821 995
odgc@vietnamgolfresorts.com
Designed by Nick Faldo, the 6,746-yard
par-72 course winds through seaside
dunes, with the variable coastal breezes
changing its character each day. An
enjoyable and eminently playable course
and has become a favourite venue for
expatriate tournaments.
Saigon South Golf
Nguyen Van Linh, Tan Phu, D7
Tel: 5411 2001
sgs.golf@yahoo.com.vn
Nine-hole mini golf course and driving
range set amongst attractive gardens just
behind FV Hospital. Membership starts
from USD $700 for 6 months. Visitors’
greens fees for a round of golf are around
USD $16 before 5 pm and $19 after.
Club, shoe and umbrella hire is also
available.
Song Be Golf Resort
77 Binh Duong Blvd, Thuan An
Tel: 0650 3756 660
info@songbegolf.com
www.songbegolf.com
Located 22 kilometres from the city
centre, the premier golf course in the area
features an 18-hole, 6,384-metre course.
Also has tennis courts, a swimming pool,
and a gymnasium.
Vietnam Golf and Country Club
Long Thanh My Village, D9
www.vietnamgolfcc.com
This facility consists of two courses of 18
holes each, one of which is designed in a
more traditional Asian style, and the other
in international style. Has other attractions
such as boating, tennis and a restaurant
area.
LEISURE
Phun Runners
www.phun-run.com
info@phun-run.com
Running group that meets Sundays at 7
am for a scenic run around Saigon before
breakfast. Great way to explore the city,
meet fellow runners and get fit for future
events. Check website for rendezvous
points.
Saigon International Dart League
www.thesidl.com
A highly popular group in town, the darts
club runs a competitive year-long league
for 16 pub-based teams. There are some
excellent players in this sociable and
international group. See website for details
of how to join and latest 180 scores.
Saigon International Softball League
sisl@saigonsoftball.info
www.saigonsoftball.info
The league plays slo-pitch softball every
Sunday (usually at the Taiwanese School
in Phu My Hung) and always welcomes
newcomers.
Saigon Pony Club
Lane 42, Le Van Thinh, D2
Tel: 0913 733 360
A standout facility offering pony rides,
riding lessons, horse clinics and pony
rentals. Also hosts events and birthdays.
Senior Expat ChitChat
Weekly “Coffee Talk” meetings among
seniors at the Palace Hotel Café (56 – 66
Nguyen Hue, D1) each Tuesday from 10
to 11.30 am. The informal group is for
local expatriates and English-speaking
foreign travellers who meet to share experiences
and make new friends. Call club
organizer Sheldon Pruss at 0932 031 837.
Squash
The Landmark, 5B Ton Duc Thang, D1
Tel: 3822 2098 ext 176
www.thelandmarkvietnam.com
One of three squash courts in town.
Membership is open to non-Landmark
residents and drop-in players. Lessons
and racquets are available for additional
fees. Balls are provided. Book in advance
or phone for further information.
Ultimate Frisbee
RMIT, 702 Nguyen Van Linh, D7
www.saigon-ultimate.com
Join in this exciting popular sport every
Sunday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm in
Saigon South. Pan-Asian competitions
also organised for the more experienced.
Contact David Jensen at 0909458890
X-Rock Climbing
Phan Dinh Phung Sport Centre
75 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D3
Tel: 6278 5794
503A Nguyen Duy Trinh, D2
Tel: 2210 9192
www.xrockclimbing.com
Offering safe and professional climbing for
anyone aged 4 and up. Featuring mountain
climbing routes rated from beginner
to advanced, climbing and belay-safety
courses and training, birthday parties, corporate
team building. Excellent facilities for
children and annual membership for kids.
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