Generally speaking, you can find them in District 1, District 2 and 7 where a lot of foreigners dwell, as well as scattered all around. Nearly every district in Saigon offers at least one state-of- the-art gym, complete with sauna, steam room, fitness classes, personal trainers and sometimes a pool and tennis court. The newer the equipment and facility, and the more perks the gym offers, the more similar the fees will be to those you would pay in the west, especially since a lot of expats have relocated to Saigon. It is generally cheaper to join with a group of three or more, so ask your friends and colleagues to join you.

Want to keep your fees down and still achieve an Adonis/Aphrodite-like figure? Try any park you come across (read more at question 465) or the local fitness centres. Fees at the latter vary from VND200,000-300,000 per month. At that price, it is easy to guess that the facility will not surround you with high-tech luxury, but you also will not be expected to pay for personal training advice. Almost all of the local fitness centres have one or two personal trainers who are willing to give you advice on your routine and diet if you speak Vietnamese. Local fitness centre owners use this strategy to attract customers and compete with the luxury gyms. Give it a try, and if you don’t like it, you can always return to air-conditioned comfort.

For information on health in Vietnam go to Vietnamese People Among the Most Physically Inactive but Least Obese