Saigon spent the last couple of years playing catch-up to Hanoi and Da Nang. That's over. In August 2026, Ho Chi Minh City hosted the PPA Asia 500 — MB Ho Chi Minh City Open, drawing more than 500 international players to a brand-new sports complex at The Global City. The south's biggest city now has the country's biggest pickleball scene to match. Here's where to actually play, as a visitor.
The short version
Where: six real clubs worth knowing, spread from Thao Dien and Thu Duc to District 2, 7 and the hotel courts of District 1.
Cost: roughly 100,000–200,000 VND ($4–8) per session, similar to Hanoi and Da Nang.
When: the city just proved it belongs on the map, hosting a PPA Asia 500 tournament in August 2026 — book a morning session and you're playing on the same circuit.
Why Saigon's pickleball scene exploded in 2026
Saigon always had the numbers — more people, more money, more expats than either Hanoi or Da Nang — it just took longer for the courts to catch up. That changed fast this year. New clubs opened across the city's districts, existing ones added courts to keep up with demand, and in August the city landed real proof of how far things have come: the PPA Asia 500 MB Ho Chi Minh City Open, held at the New Sports Club inside The Global City, a purpose-built sports complex the developers call Southeast Asia's most ambitious. For a visitor, the takeaway is simple — Saigon isn't the city you settle for after Hanoi or Da Nang anymore. It's arguably the deepest scene in the country.
Where to play in Saigon
Courts are spread across the city rather than clustered in one area, so it helps to know a few by name and neighborhood:
PickoLand (Thao Dien) — five courts, floodlit for evening play, and a reputation as one of the more serious training environments in the city. A good pick if you want a real game, not just a knock-around.
RUDAL Pickleball Center (Thu Duc) — six courts, spacious grounds, and consistently the best-reviewed club in the city. Drop-in friendly, with paddles available to rent.
002 Pickleball Club (Thao Dien) — four indoor courts in a purpose-built space, with beginner-friendly sessions and weekend mixers where visitors are genuinely welcome, not just tolerated. It also happens to run a coffee counter right beside the courts — more on that below.
Bang Bang Pickleball (District 2) — eight courts under a container-style clubhouse, smooth surfaces, rental gear, and near-daily drop-in games. One of the biggest single setups in the city.
The Dinker Club (District 7) — the most serious venue on this list, host to the Saigon stage of the Vietnam Pickleball Open Cup. If you're travelling with any competitive edge, this is where the standard is highest.
Court One Club, at the New World Saigon Hotel (District 1) — three courts on the hotel's rooftop, next to the pool, with the city skyline behind you. The most convenient option if you're staying central and don't want to cross town for a game.
What it costs, and how to book
Court fees in Saigon sit in the same range as the rest of the country — roughly 100,000–200,000 VND ($4–8) per session, usually split between four players. You don't need to bring a paddle: every club on this list rents them at the front desk, and on our trips paddles are sorted for you regardless. Booking is almost entirely informal — a message on Facebook or WhatsApp to the club, not an app or a phone call, is how most sessions get arranged. Search "Pickleball Ho Chi Minh" or "Pickleball Saigon" on Facebook and you'll find active groups posting open sessions daily.
Pairing a game with the city
Thao Dien is the natural base if you're building a morning around pickleball — it's home to two of the six clubs above, plus the kind of cafes and brunch spots that make the hour after a game as good as the hour on court. That's not an exaggeration: 002 Pickleball Club runs its own coffee counter right beside the sidelines, so "play, then coffee" here isn't a slogan — it's the actual sequence of the morning.
When to play
The south runs on two seasons rather than four. December to April is dry and warm — the easiest stretch to plan a trip around, on court or off. May to November brings the rain, though it's usually a heavy but short afternoon downpour rather than an all-day washout, so a morning session is rarely affected. Whatever the month, the same rule applies here as everywhere in Vietnam: play early. Courts fill from 6 to 9am, then the heat takes over until the evening sessions start again.
Play Saigon without the guesswork
Our Top to Bottom trip runs the length of the country and ends in Ho Chi Minh City — courts booked, paddles sorted, games arranged. You just show up and play.
See the Top to Bottom tourThe bottom line
Saigon has quietly become the deepest pickleball city in Vietnam — six real clubs worth seeking out, rental paddles everywhere, and, as of August 2026, a spot on the professional PPA Asia calendar. Book a morning session, then let the rest of the city's food and coffee take care of the afternoon.