 If you’re living in Hanoi, or at least hanging around for more than a few weeks, finding a place to get your sweat on is important. Whether you want to work off the bia hois and banh mis, find a like minded group of people, or simply crave a routine that includes fitness - there are plenty of gyms in Hanoi that will meet your needs. With the TayHo neighborhood housing a large number of expats, let’s take a look at the selection of Hanoi gyms in TayHo. Ranging from cheap to pricey, basic to elaborate - you’ve got a lot to choose from in this neighborhood. CROSSFIT TAY HO Home of the only CrossFit in Hanoi, this gym is a home away from home for its members. Not your typical traditional gym - no ellipticals or Zumba here - CrossFit is considered “The Sport of Fitness”. Movements are constantly varied, performed at high intensity and functional. It is meant for everyone - of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels - and improves your overall health, physical fitness and mindset. In simple words, CrossFit makes you fitter, better and stronger in a welcoming and fun environment. CrossFit Tay Ho has members from over 25 countries who have bonded over tough workouts, camaraderie and a love of the sport. But CFTH (as it is fondly called) is more than challenging workouts and great results, it is a place to belong. For many members, CrossFit Tay Ho is where they found their place in Hanoi. Members not only train together, but spend time outside of the gym, and travel together. If you’re looking for a community in Hanoi, this might be the place for you. Each class is run by a highly qualified coach who will help tailor each workout to you. Coaches are invested in your fitness journey and will follow up and check in with you on a regular basis. Group classes run at varying times throughout the day, from 5:00am to 8:00pm. On top of the group classes, CrossFit Tay Ho has an open gym area where members can do accessory and strength work on their own. CFTH recently moved to a new location at 34 Dang Thai Mai. The space is newly constructed with all brand new equipment. We will be offering new classes and new merchandise with the same core values we have been cultivating for the last five years. One former member reached out to share her thoughts on this Hanoi gym: “I joined CrossFit Tay Ho when I was newly postpartum, incredibly self conscious, unfit and intimidated. It took me three times to be enticed inside and then...I never looked back. I have never experienced a gym or environment like it, it changed the way I view fitness and what a gym could be. The results will speak for themselves (fastest most obvious results I’ve ever achieved) but the thing you’ll fall in love with is the community and the people. Whatever other option you entertain, highly recommend adding CrossFit Tay Ho to it too, you won’t regret it!” CrossFit can be intimidating to the uninformed. Take a look at this breakdown on what Crossfit is, and whether or not it is right for you!
THE FITNESS VILLAGE The Fitness Village is a tranquil fitness space tucked away down a quiet alley in Tay Ho. This Hanoi Gym offers a range of classes suiting everyone’s goals. To start, they have a large selection of group fitness classes including HIIT classes, Zumba, Yoga & Pilates, Pump classes, Spin, and even guided meditation. These classes run at varying times all day long, from 6:30am to 7:50pm on most days. All of the classes are run by qualified instructors bringing tons of fitness knowledge. Members enjoy the large range of different classes and the selection of instructors who bring their own style and variation to class! Aside from the group fitness class space The Fitness Village has a fully equipped, air conditioned & air purified gym with free weights and cardio machines, as well as a separate zone for calisthenics training. You can use this space on your own, or hire one of their three PTs to train you. The Personal Trainers at The Fitness Village are super knowledgeable and friendly. Each has their own unique style, but all believe in finding the right path to help their clients reach their goals. According to a current trainer, one of the strongest points is the environment they’ve created. Whether it’s in the classes or the gym, all instructors and members are really welcoming and it doesn’t feel intimidating at all. Another little perk on joining The Fitness Village is that from April to October, members can relax by the peaceful swimming pool. It’s not meant for lap swimming, but definitely a lovely refresher on a hot summer day.
CALIFORNIA CENTURYON WEST POINT Located inside the Somerset in a prime location in Tay Ho is a California Fitness. This chain of gyms in Vietnam caters to Vietnamese and foreigners in a clean and modern setting, and the Tay Ho branch is no different. The gym has a large selection of cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, upright/recumbent bikes), and lots of weight machines. There is a smaller section of free weights and dumbbells, and multiple rooms for group fitness classes. Group classes include yoga, dance, spinning and Les Mills Body classes. The jury is out for this gym in Hanoi. People seem to be split down the middle and quite vocal about whether they love it or hate it. For Team ‘We Love California Centuryon’, members appreciate the range of classes, swimming pool, sauna, cold plunge pool, and cleanliness and upkeep of equipment. On Team ‘Not a Fan of California Centuryon’, people often comment on the crowded environment, loud pulsing music, confusion on membership costs, and lack of awareness of staff and trainers. This seems to be a place to come and check out for yourself before deciding to join. Chances are you won’t be meeting your new BFFs while here, but if you want a good workout - whether solo or in a group - they can definitely meet your needs. When it comes to membership, it seems like no two people have paid the same price! There are constant promotions and deals, and you can figure out a way to talk the price down if you have good haggling skills. Obviously, the longer you sign up for the cheaper the price will be. There are also typically people selling their memberships on many of the Hanoi Facebook Groups where you might be able to get a better deal. Sidebar → I joined this gym for one reason. I needed a specific kind of treadmill called an Air Runner, and this is the only place around that had one! I ended up paying 13,000,000VND for 18 months (roughly 700,000VND a month). In hindsight, it seems like a lot for one machine, but what can you do! My experience with this gym is that I can get in, run, and get out. I put my headphones in so I don’t have to hear the music or chatter. No one has ever bothered me, and most of the interactions I’ve had with staff have been pleasant.
TOP GYM Another often sought after gym in Tay Ho is Top Gym on Au Co. You might have heard the bumping music as you walk by, or been impressed through the big windows filled with equipment. Three floors to be exact. This Hanoi gym has everything you need to get your workout on. They have all benches, machines, equipment, treadmills, and dumbbells, all new and well maintained. They also have two power racks with Olympic standard barbells. There is a kickboxing training space and lots of group classes, like zumba and yoga. Most people are respectful and re-rack the weight. The staff speaks English, though sometimes they are not so attentive. The extra facilities are also a big selling point of this gym. It is air conditioned, has a steam room and sauna. This is another gym with constant promotions and varying memberships. At certain times of the year they have specials. Some people have reported they spent 6,000,000 for the entire year while another person paid 4,800,000 for six months.
OLYMPIA GYM If you’re in the market for a no-frills fitness center in Hanoi, then Olympia Gym may be what you are looking for. At the end of To Ngoc Van, you’ll find this large gym with a lot of light. It has most of the things that you need to get a workout in - free weights, bench presses, ellipticals, bikes, machines, etc. In the summer they open their semi-outdoor pool (though it is not included in your membership and you’ll need to pay an additional 80k). It is simply a solo adventure as there are no trainers or group fitness classes. If you join Olympia Gym, you need to manage your expectations because you are not getting a state of the art, well kept gym. The space is crowded with unused, old, or broken machines. The equipment is not maintained and it is not the cleanest of fitness centers. What sets Olympia apart from other Tay Ho Gyms is the price. It is very affordable. There are varying membership options, but for the most part they seem to average at around 400,000k for unlimited access to the fitness center (some people buy memberships at 570,000k for 30 visits). It is also rarely crowded which is always a bonus. This gym is not pretentious and does not attract pretentious people. Lots of local Vietnamese use this gym. You are also able to hire your own trainer and bring them to the gym to train you. If you want fancy, this gym is likely not for you.
FIT 24 Fit24 has been a bit harder to find information on. It seems like the majority of people who go to this gym use it sparingly through the Wefit App. According to their website they have state of the art equipment with well planned structure that brings a positive experience to their clients. They have a variety of fitness classes like yoga and dance. A few members from Hanoi Beautiful have commented on their experience at FIT24. People like their good mix of cardio and weight machines and wide range of classes. The gym itself is rarely crowded. A bonus is that they have really nice showers, a small sauna and comfortable chairs to chill out in after a workout. There are six locations throughout Hanoi, and it seems as if your membership gets you access to all of the locations. This gym is another one with varying price structures. One person paid 16,000,000 for a year membership, while another paid 9,000,000. Similar to California Fitness, the price seems to go up or down based on your haggling skills.
Now you’ve got all the information needed about choosing a gym in Tay Ho, Hanoi. Take all these points into consideration, chat with your friends, and get your sweat on!
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