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City Guide - Ho Chi Minh City - Sport | ||
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Sport Participation sports are a relatively new interest for Ho Chi Minh City residents and have mainly been introduced because of the large numbers of ex-pats. However, now that the population has a little more disposable income, the demand is increasing. Football is very popular and the Thong Nhat Stadium, 138 Dao Duy Tu, in District 10, has been upgraded and hosts local games as well as national and international matches. The only other spectator sport in the city is horseracing. Entry tickets for both football and horseracing are bought on the day at the venue. Bowling: Bowling is available close to the airport at the Saigon Superbowl, A43 Truong Son (tel: (08) 848 6404) with 32 lanes, food outlets and a shopping arcade. A smaller venue is the Bowling Centre (tel: (08) 864 3784), in the International Club at 285B Cach Mang Thang Tam, District 10, which has 12 lanes. Golf: There are only a handful of golf courses in the whole of Vietnam but two are within easy reach of Ho Chi Minh City, as well as a few driving ranges. Song Be Golf Resort (tel: (065) 855 802) is a 35-minute drive along Highway 13 from the city centre. Vietnam Golf and Country Club (tel: (08) 733 0124) is in Long Thanh My Village, Thu Duc District, around 30 minutes' north of the city centre. Visitors pay green fees for 18 holes of US$78 (weekday) and US$98 (weekend) at Song Be and US$80 (weekday) and US$100 (weekend) at Vietnam Golf and Country Club, including caddy fees. There are two driving ranges on the outskirts of the city. The Rach Chiec Driving Range (tel: (08) 896 0756) is in An Phu Village and Saigon South Driving Range (tel: (08) 873 1377) is at Saigon South Parkway. Horseracing: Races are held on Saturday and Sunday 1230-1600 at Phu Tho Sports Club, 2 Le Dai Hanh, District 11 (tel: (08) 865 4626), with a maximum bet of VND50,000. The horses are all quite small, but the jockeys even smaller as they are always children. Leisure centres: Many of the centres throughout the city are attached to hotels and are for hotel residents and members only. The International Club, 285B Cach Mang Thang Tam, District 10 (tel: (08) 865 1709), has an exercise gym open to the public. Running: The Hash House Harriers meet every Sunday at 1430 outside the Caravelle Hotel and visitors are welcome. Swimming: Lam Son Swimming Pool, 320 Tran Binh Trong, District 5 (tel: (08) 835 8028), is for more serious swimmers. Fun-lovers will enjoy the water parks, with a variety of slides and water rides: Saigon Water Park is in Thu Duc (tel: (08) 897 0456), north of the city and the Saigon Wonderland is at Saigon South Parkway (tel: (08) 873 1370, ext 108). Tennis: There are few tennis courts in the city and many of these are attached to the international hotels for the use of residents only. Courts open to the public are available at Lan Anh International Tennis Court, 291 Cach Mang Thang Tam (tel: (08) 862 7144), in District 10, and Green Bamboo Club, 50/3 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Binh Thanh District (tel: (08) 898 8756). |