What is the best pool in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam? It might seem like a simple question, but the reality is far from it. For one, residents and travellers in this great city are spoiled for choice. Thanks to the hot climate, pools are almost a necessity for staying cool in Saigon’s relentlessly tropical climate. As the weather heats up and wearing any sort of clothing feels crazy unbearable, swimming pools are the perfect places to relax in Ho Chi Minh City.

Whether you feel overwhelmed by the abundance of options, or don’t know where to even begin, we’re here to help! These are our top picks for some of Saigon’s best swimming pools.

Keep in mind: all the operating hours are listed for the general public. Many hotels and apartments with nice pools mentioned below are available after-hours for guests and residents.

Victory Hotel

14 Vo Van Tan, District 3 | 028 3930 4989 | victoryhotel.com.vn

Pool Hours: 6am to 10pm

Day Pass: VND 60,000 for pool access, additional VND 60,000 for gym access.

Be Warned: No sauna or steam room here.

What makes it special: Central and priced affordably.

This quaint 3-star hotel in District 3 has an adorable rooftop pool, with a decent view to match. This is a great place to chill under the sun and take a dip. Plus, a monthly pass to both the pool and gym costs a reasonable VND800,000.

Le Méridien Saigon

3C Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1 | 028 6263 6688 | lemeridiensaigon.com

Hours: 6am to 10pm

Day Pass: VND 490,000—includes access to pool, sauna, gym and steam room.
Kids’ Pass: VND 290,000 for children under 16

Be Warned: Although it’s quite long (26 metres), it’s also narrow. Great for swimming laps, bad for a game of Marco Polo.

What Makes it Special: Beautiful views of the Saigon River winding through the city centre.

This salt water pool is a true (salty) taste of the finer things in life. When you’re not swimming, you can relax on the futuristic, ultra-chic lounge chairs located both poolside and on a separate deck, high above the crowded streets below.

Intercontinental Asiana Saigon

Corner of Hai Ba Trung & Le Duan, District 1 | 028 3520 9999 | ihg.com

Hours: 10am to 6pm

Day Pass: VND 520,000—includes pool, gym, steam room, and sauna access.
Kids’ Pass: VND 320,000 for children under 16

Be Warned: The lounge chairs are sparse here, so if it happens to be a busy day, you might be out of luck.

What Makes it Special: An on-site pool bar and restaurant, and bottles of water offered free of charge.

Right in the middle of District 1, this pool is a welcome oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the streets at ground level. Surrounded by high walls and featuring a glass pane at one end, this pool feels both luxuriously modern and secluded.

Social Club Rooftop Bar, Hôtel Des Arts Saigon, MGallery Collection

23rd Floor, 76-78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3 | 028 3989 8888 | hoteldesartssaigon.com

Hotel guest hours: 9am – 1am

Public hours: 12pm – 8pm

Day Pass: VND 1,790,000—includes 90 min spa treatment, lunch at the Saigon Kitchen restaurant, and a cocktail.

Be warned: The pool is beautiful but compact- not one for extended exercise.

What Makes it Special: One of the best views you can get from a rooftop pool in Saigon. You may not regret purchasing the afternoon package once you reach the poolside and take in a stunning wide-angle view of the city. Barside stools set in the pool are a lovely added bonus for enjoying a drink and a dip.

Lotte Legend Hotel

2A-4A Ton Duc Thang, District 1 | 028 3823 3333 | lottehotel.com

Hours: 6am to 9pm

Day Pass: VND 462,000 for pool and sauna access; additional VND 116,000 for access to gym and steam room.
Kids’ Pass: VND 255,000

Be Warned: This pool is not ideal for exercise. This giant, circular pool is designed for lounging and casual swimming.

What Makes it Special: A kids’ pool sits adjacent to the larger pool, making it an ideal option for swimmers of all ages.

The Lotte Legend Hotel pool the largest pool in the city by area, but it’s not just the pool itself that makes this venue great. The landscaping around the water is evocative of a tropical paradise, including a vine-covered pool cabana.

Renaissance Riverside Hotel

8-15 Ton Duc Thang, District 1 | 028 3822 0033

Hours: 6am to 6pm

Day Pass: VND 350,000—includes access to pool, gym, sauna, and steam room.
Kids’ Pass: VND 175,000 for children under seven.

Be Warned: The pool is relatively small. The Renaissance also hosts frequent weekend barbecues and pool parties, so it tends to get crowded.

What Makes it Special: Renovated in 2015, the quality of this swimming pool is incredible.

Situated below a two-storey sky bar, and perched high above Saigon on the 22nd floor, this is a great lounging pool to take in a fantastic view, enjoy a good book, or sip on a cocktail at the pool bar.

New World Saigon

76 Le Lai, District 1 | 028 3822 8888 | saigon.newworldhotels.com/en/

Hours: 6am to 10pm

Day Pass: VND 450,000 pool access (includes VND 100,000 food voucher); VND 500,000 for pool, sauna and gym access (does not include food voucher).
Kids’ Pass: 350,000 for children under 12

Be Warned: The pool’s location is not immediately obvious – you have to take the elevator to level 2 to get there.

What Makes it Special: While this pool may not offer the best views, it’s not without merit. Centrally-located, it’s an escape from the usual chaos on the streets outside. It features a pleasant poolside bar with a TV and music, and the shower areas and locker rooms are top-notch. You can also rent out one of their five poolside cabanas if you really want to make a day of it.

Van Thanh Pool

48/10 Dien Bien Phu, Binh Thanh District | 028 3512 3026 | Van Thanh

Pool Hours: 6am to 8pm

Day Pass: VND 70,000 Monday–Friday; VND 80,000 Saturday and Sunday.
Kids’ Pass: VND 40,000 Monday–Friday; VND 50,000 Saturday and Sunday.

Be Warned: The deck chairs fill up quickly, and the floor mats aren’t the most hygenic option.

What Makes it Special: Expats and locals of all ages frequent this pool thanks to its accessibility and inclusion of a kids’ pool.

Van Thanh pool is one of the most popular pools in Saigon thanks to its low prices and relative level of ease and comfort. While there’s no gym, sauna or steam room to compliment your pool routine, you can enjoy the other amenities the Van Thanh compound has to offer, such as tennis courts and lakeside restaurants.

Equatorial

242 Tran Binh Trong, District 5 | 028 3839 7777 | hochiminhcity.equatorial.com

Hours: 6am to 10pm

Day Pass: VND 500,000 for access to pool, gym, steam room and sauna.
Kids’ Pass: VND 300,000 for children under 16

Be Warned: Some of the poolside lounge chairs are worn and outdated.

What Makes it Special: The water gets the highest possible safety rating by the city’s health department.

This massive 24-metre pool is perfect for casual and serious swimmers alike, including a sunken poolside bar. The water is kept pure by special salt imported from Thailand, which they claim may offer additional skin health benefits.

Sheraton Saigon

88 Dong Khoi, D1 | 028 3827 2828 | sheratonsaigon.com

Hours: 5:30am to 10:30pm

Day Pass: VND 370,000 for access to pool and sauna, additional VND 260,000 for gym access.
Kids’ Pass: VND 185,000 for children under 12 (pool access only)

Be Warned: It doesn’t offer a scenic view as it’s located on the hotel’s fifth floor and completely enclosed.

What Makes it Special: The menu here is expansive. Enjoy a wide variety of poolside bites, from sushi platters to hamburgers.

It’s not the most grandiose or spectacular choice in Saigon, but it’s a solid pick for a dip and a leisurely nap on a shaded deck chair. The depth is a consistent 1.22 metres (4 feet), and it’s definitely long enough to do some quality laps. While pool parties aren’t allowed, it’s well-suited for solo visitors or a small group of friends.

Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel

17 Ton Duc Thang, D1 | 028 3827 1717 | odysseahotels.com/riverside-hotel

Hours: 6:30am to 9:30pm

Day Pass: VND 330,000

Be Warned: The pool is rather small, but the view makes up for it!

What Makes it Special: Some of the deck chairs are directly in the pool, on raised platforms, for a more immersive feeling.

With a reasonable day pass price, a stunning view from the 25th floor rooftop and a “vertical sky bar” to quench your thirst, this is one of our personal favourites. The staff are known for being friendly and accommodating, and welcome group events here. Keep this venue in mind if you want a birthday party with a view.

Riverside Serviced Apartments

53 Vo Truong Toan, D2 | 028 3744 4111 | riverside-apartments.com

Hours: 8am to 7pm

Day Pass: VND 500,000 per adult; VND 850,000 per family (two adults, two children); VND 120,000 per additional child.

Be Warned: The Riverside Serviced Apartments’ residents make this pool extremely busy on the weekends.

What Makes it Special: There’s not just a poolside bar here–there’s a poolside restaurant as well.

One of the best choices in District 2, it’s an especially good deal for families. Located right next to the Saigon River, this refreshing L-shaped oasis is surrounded by palm trees and a beachy resort vibe.

The Myst Dong Khoi

6-8 Ho Huan Nghiep, D1 | 028 3520 3040 | themystdongkhoihotel.com

Hours: 6am to 8pm

Day Pass: VND 470,000 for access to pool, sauna, steam bath and one complimentary mineral water.
Kids’ Pass: VND 235,000 for children aged 6-12, free for children under 6.

Be Warned: The fitness centre is very small and equipment is limited.

Why Makes it Special: The general layout is hip, trendy and largely different from other pools in the city. This is a place that makes all visitors feel just a little bit cooler.

The entire layout of The Myst Dong Khoi is unique, and their pool is no exception. Flanked by gardenia trees and other tropical plants and ultra-modern teardrop-shaped deck chairs, the aesthetic here is decidedly modern and a standout among the many rooftop pools Saigon has to offer. Complete with a full bar, this pool is primarily for relaxing and lounging.

We’re always looking to improve our recommendations. Have we missed any of your favorite poolside spots in Saigon? Sound off in the comments below and share your favorites with us!