My Favorite Outdoor Swimming Pool In Hanoi
Army Hotel Hanoi Swimming Pool
The summer weather in Hanoi can be brutally hot and it is not uncommon for it to reach into the 90’s or surpass 100F (30C-40C). When I first arrived to Hanoi in May, 2015 I was searching for an outdoor pool and a pool that I could lap swim.
I called various hotels and recreational facilities but they were either too far away, expensive or offered limited opening hours.
Fortunately, I read about Army Hotel Hanoi on an online forum and decided to check out the facilities to see if it would be suitable. After checking it out, I have returned many times to enjoy a nice swim. I would highly recommend it for anyone that is looking for a suitable outdoor swimming pool in Hanoi.
It is important to note that it can get really busy on the weekends starting around 3-6pm because a lot of locals come to the pool with their family. While there is nothing wrong with this, it makes swimming laps more challenging as you have to avoid splashing kids.
The weekdays are generally really quiet and it is not uncommon to have the pool to yourself. Locals usually avoid the pool during mid-day because they don’t like to be in direct sunlight. It is also a great place to go if you just want to lounge in the sun and soak up the sun.
Opening Hours
The pool is open from 6am-9:00pm, 7 days per week. This was the schedule as of May 2016 and may change without notice.
Cost
June 7th Update:
Cost: 90,000 VND per person
When you first enter the hotel property, there is a ticket booth on your left, with an attendant. You will need to pay for a ticket there, once you enter the pool area, you will need to hand the ticket to another attendant working at the pool.
I think that the cost is a reasonable price compared to what other pool facilities in Hanoi charge. If you are looking for a pool with a view, then check out the Apricot hotel which charges 400,000 VND or $20 USD for a day pass. But, it has much nicer facilities and has a pool with a view of Hoan Kiem lake and the surrounding area.
Parking
If you drive a motorbike, there is plenty of parking right next to the pool, on the hotel premise. There is no additional charge for parking and it is safe and secure. I do not own a car, therefore I am not knowledgable about the availability of car parking.
Facilities
The Army Hotel Swimming Pool features several accompanying facilities which include bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, lockers and lounge chairs. There are no additional costs for any of the accompanying facilities as the entrance fee is all inclusive.
Lockers
There are plenty of lockers available for use but many of the lockers have a missing key so those lockers are not as ideal for keeping your belongs “secure.” But, there are still plenty of lockers that have a key.
Each key has a wrist band so you can swim with it attached to your arm in case you are worried that someone may try and take-it. The locker space is not huge but sufficient to store your personal belongs for the day.
Showers
There are showers available for use but some of them have a missing handle used to adjust water pressure and temperature which does not make them as ideal. There is at least one shower that is fully functional and has great water pressure. There is also no shower curtain if you are concerned about your privacy while showering.
Location
It is in the tourist area of Hoan Kiem Lake and is a 10-15 min walk or short taxi ride if you are staying in the old quarter. It is located in the Hoan Kiem district and is west of the south end of the lake. The exact address is:
33C Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phan Chu Trinh, Hanoi, Vietnam
Good information man. I am moving there next month and am glad to see stuff like this exists.
Awesome! Vietnam is a great place!
Hey!
Is it a straight pool with lanes?
If so, how long is it?
Cheers
Hey,
It is a straight pool but there are no lanes. I think it is 25 meters in length. If you are looking for lap swimming, I suggest weekday afternoons between 1pm-3pm. Cheers
I’m a bit confused , was the pool in 2018 still saltwater ?,I just read a 2016 comment by someone on another site saying it was heavily chlorinated ???a clarification would be much appreciated! Thanks
Geb,
Good question, I believe the pool is chlorinated but I have not found it to be heavily chlorinated. I do not believe there are any salt water pools in Hanoi. Thanks
The swimming pool in this article is at The Army Guest House, not the Army Hotel. The Army Hotel is at 1A – Nguyen Tri Phuong and has a larger, more expensive swimming pool. The two are often confused.
Thank you for the clarification.
I went there last year, tbh its not good for lane swims, too many folk but if empty ok but small.
I’ve been searching endlessly since they knocked down Sai Mai pool in west lake for another outdoor 50m pool in or around hanoi – I’m more than happy to travel outside the city. If any fellow can kindly point me in the right direction – that – would be Epic. Fingers crossed xx
Yes, you are right. It is not ideal for lap swimming when it is full and it is unfortunate that Sai Mai was torn down. I do not know of other pools in Hanoi that are open to the public for lap swimming.
Hello! Firstly, I know this post is old but it’s still relevant and helpful to locals and tourists alike, plus your writing style is entertaining to read, so thank you so much! Although I’ve lived near Paris for almost four years now, the stringent rules and language barrier have so far put me off going swimming (I’ve never found the time anyway) but I’m really missing swimming recently, and could use the exercise, so am thinking I might finally try it out!
Do they provide a towl?
I do not recall. It has been a while since I have been to the pool but I think they are provided but do not quote me.
The price changed. Now it costs 200 000 vnd ~ 9$
Hey Angy, Thanks for this update. I will be sure to update this blog post to reflect the new price. Thank you
Dear Nathan, first of all many thanks for the valuable information. We went at Army guesthouse swimming pool yesteday and we really enjoyed it. Currently Hanoï temp. is about 36°C ! it’s very pleasant and we stay until 8:30 pm. Just one update, the entrance fee is only 90K per person, very affordable. i assume the 200K was for the army Hotel. In the street at the guesthouse entrance there is a shield with Army Hotel, but inside everything is signed with guesthouse.
Regards
Pascal
Thanks Pascal for the feedback. I will update the blog post again. Glad you were able to cool off at the pool.
I am just here at the moment. The complete hotel and swimming pool broke down. Its only a big construction now.
Hey. The Army Guest house is not there anonymore. I can send you a picture, there is a building yard.