Sai Gon Travel Guide
Entertainments
Cinemas & Theaters
Municipal Theatre – Saigon Opera House
Lam Son Square, District 5. Tel: (84-8) 825 1563
DIAMOND PLAZA CINEMA
34 Le Duan street, District 1, Tel: (84-8) 825 7751
SAIGON WATER PUPPET THEATRE
28 Vo Van Tan str., District 3, Tel: (84-8) 930 3496
A Saigon landmark dating from the French colonial era. This beautiful building is home to the Saigon Symphony Orchestra who often perform here, along with various other national and international orchestras, companies and troupes. Occasional films on English with Vietnamese subtitles. Comfortable seating, a modern and efficient operation.
Nightly performances of this traditional Vietnamese entertainment. Good fun and an interesting diversion for all.
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►►► Tours to Sai Gon
Recommended
Vietnam Golf & Country Club
With two championship-length, 18-hole courses, tennis courts and a luxury housing estate, the Vietnam Golf and Country Club (VGCC) has something for everyone. Just thirty minutes from downtown Sai Gon, the club was the second to open in the southern city’s environs, and has been the venue for many major golf tournaments since its inauguration in 1995.
The VGCC is home to two courses: East and West. The 6,946-yard, par 72 East Course was designed by Lee Trevino and opened in September 1997, while the very different West Course, par 72 and 7,106 yards, was designed by Taiwanese Master Golf Course Architect Cheng Kinh Shih and opened two years earlier.
The West Course features narrow fairways, flat greens and water hazards on 11 of its 18 holes. A unique hazard on this heavily-wooded course are trees which appear to be strategically placed on many of its par four and five holes, standing almost exactly on the desired target. Those flat greens provide a further challenge to players who must use all their skill and judgment to decide just where the fairways ends and the green begins. Although, once on the green, holing the ball is a far simpler affair than on the East Course.
In contrast to the West’s forested environment, the East Course presents an series of open vistas to players, with most of the original woodland removed from its fairways. Don’t be fooled by this expansive setting however: The course is challenging with water hazards coming into play on eight holes. The greens here are especially demanding featuring humps, bumps, slopes and plenty of sweeping breaks.
Located just 30 minutes’ drive along Highway One from Saigon, the Vietnam Golf and Country Club is deservedly popular, especially with Saigon’s expatriate population. Green fees are US$80 for 18 holes on weekdays, rising to $100 at weekends. Women can play nine holes for just US$40 on Thursdays. Other special deals are often available and it is worth checking with the club as to what’s available before setting out from the city. The VGCC is also home to plenty of tournaments, both large and small, every month, and the club has been selected as the golf venue for the 2003 South East Asia (SEA) Games.
The club is well managed and the courses very well maintained. Clubs, shoes, trolleys, buggies etc. all available for rental. Robert Bicknell, the club’s Director of Golf writes a golfing column for Vietnam News in its Sunday edition.
Vietnam Golf & Country Club
East Course Par 72 6,946 Yards
West Course Par 72 7,106 Yards
Cost 18 Holes Weekday $80 Weekends $100
Facilities include club house with bar and restaurant, Pro shop, club and shoe hire, tennis courts etc.
Address: Long Thanh My Ward, District 9. Tel: (84-8) 733 0129
Health Clubs & Fitness Centres
EQUINOX FITNESS CENTRE
@ Equatorial Hotel
242 Tran Binh Trong str., District 5. Tel: (84-8) 839 0000
CARAVELLE CLUB
Caravelle Hotel. 19 Lam Son Square. District 1. Tel: (84-8) 823 4999
CLARK HATCH FITNESS CENTRE
Sofitel Plaza Hotel, 17 Le Duan. District 1. Tel: (84-8) 824 1555
LANDMARK HEALTH CLUB & FITNESS CENTRE
Landmark Building, 5B Ton Duc Thang str. District 1. Tel: (84-8) 822 2098
LEGEND HOTEL FITNESS
2A-4A Ton Duc Thang str., District 1.Tel: (84-8) 823 3333
ZANADU HEALTH CLUB
Saigon Prince Hotel, 63 Nguyen Hue str., District 1.Tel: (84-8) 8222 999
Profesionally managed health & fitness club featuring fully equipped gym, sauna, massage and Jacuzzi, plus large swimming pool and beautiful sun deck. Open to members, hotel guests and paying non-members.
- Excellent spa, pool and fitness centre open to hotel guests, members and daily visitors. Daily fee $18.00
- Professional, well-equipped gym and fitness centre catering to hotel guests and outside members.
- Well managed health club & fitness centre featuring fully equipped gym and pleasant swimming pool overlooking the Saigon River.
- Well-equipped gym featuring a full complement of professional fitness equipment, free-form swimming pool, sauna, steam bath & massage.
- Good quality health, massage and fitness centre with sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room, various massage treatments.
CHAT SLOTS GAMING CENTRE
East Wing
New World Hotel Saigon
76 Le Lai, District 1. Tel: (84-8) 824 3760
Omni Hotel
251 Nguyen Van Troi. Phu Nhuan District. Tel: (84-8) 997 1080
O.V. CLUB
Equatorial Hotel, 242 Tran Binh Trong, District 5. Tel: (84-8) 830 5785
Part of the International Tourist Club in the Est Wing of the New World Hotel Saigon, Chats offers foreign passport holders the opportunity to try their luck on any of the club’s many slot and poker machines. The attached MTV Bar offers plenty of other distractions.
New slot machine gaming centre at the Omni Hotel.
Entertainment and slot machine gaming centre at the Equatorial Hotel.