Active Pursuits

Golf

There are two excellent 18-hole golf courses at the Vietnam Golf and Country Club. Fees are $90 during the week for nonmembers, and $120 on Saturday and Sunday. The clubhouse is at Long Thanh My Ward, District 9 (tel. 08/3280-0124; fax 08/3280-0127; www.vietnamgolfcc.com).

Along with its two internationally accredited 18-hole courses, the Vietnam Golf and Country Club offers extensive pro services, a driving range, locker facilities, a pro shop, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. The first course was built in 1994, and the second in 1997 was designed by Lee Trevino. Just 20km (12 miles) from Saigon, the club is open to nonmembers. Reservations are required.

Spa & Massage

Most of the major hotels listed have extensive spa and massage facilities, and Saigon now plays host to lots of little storefront spas. Busy Dong Khoi Street is lined with affordable foot-massage shops and manicurists; young ladies in traditional ao dai dress stand out front and pass out flyers. Back-alley places in the same area might offer more services than you want, but the foot-massage spots are okay and a bargain. Prices start from $10 for a bone-crunching massage. L'Apothiquaire (63 Le Thanh Ton St.; tel. 08/3822-1218) is just north of the Dong Khoi area, adjacent to City Hall, and offers a long roster of affordable pampering, from facials and scrubs to massage and manicures. Open daily 9:30am to 8pm. Call for an appointment.

Anam QT Spa (26-28 Dong Du St., District 1, near Dong Khoi; tel. 08/3823-0242) is sponsored by Clinique and does it all -- you can get facials, manicures, waxing, body treatments, and massages ($30 for a 1-hr. oil massage). Open daily 10am to 10:30pm.

Jasmine (20 Thi Sach, District 1; tel. 08/3827-2737) is more like a deluxe salon than a spa, and it's especially popular with expatriate ladies. Open daily 9am to 8pm.