Ho Chi Minh City Opens 12 New Group Exercise Classes at Municipal Centers

Thao Dien’s two council-run sports halls threw open sign-ups this month for expanded group fitness classes, part of a citywide push by Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Culture and Sports to get residents moving, regardless of age or income.

This matters now, say organisers, because after a long rainy season and with screen time reaching record highs among teenagers, demand for structured in-person activity is surging. Private gyms still dominate the city’s fitness conversation, but the quiet rise of municipal classes is drawing record attendance in 2026, particularly among parents, retirees and young professionals priced out of boutique studios.

Citywide Programs and Local Hotspots

The city council has upgraded several major public sport venues since 2024, aiming to create healthier neighbourhoods. Key among them is the District 1 Sports Centre on Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Street, which now hosts sunrise tai chi circles, and evening aerobic dance for all ages. Tao Dan Park, long the city’s morning playground for seniors, has doubled its line-up with weekend group yoga, HIIT bootcamps and laughter therapy. Across the river, the Bình Thạnh Community Fitness Hall on Điện Biên Phủ runs low-cost, instructor-led Zumba Tuesday and Thursday nights; sessions fill quickly, with 70% of places reserved through the council’s FitSaigon app.

The FV Hospital Wellness Club-a unique council partnership in District 7-offers subsidized family aquafit classes on weekends. Though rooted in French-Vietnamese tradition, its focus is simple: clean pools, competent instructors and an open-door policy for all skill levels, with group lessons capped at 20 participants for safety.

Numbers Show the Shift

Participation is up more than 40% since last year, according to a mid-2026 report from Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. District 1 alone clocked over 18,000 class sign-ins each month this spring. Costs are designed to be accessible: at Tao Dan Park and most council centres, a drop-in yoga or aerobic class costs 30,000 to 40,000 VND-about the price of a cà phê sữa đá at a central cafe. Multi-class passes offer up to 20% savings. Registration is handled online via the beledulich TPHCM portal or in person at each venue’s front desk. All programs are open to non-residents, with translated timetables for expats at major sites.

Most classes require no equipment beyond a towel and bottle of water. Certified instructors are contracted from local colleges or the city’s wellness partners, ensuring groups are led safely and with cultural fluency for mixed-age participants.

Getting Involved

Interested residents can preview current offerings and reserve class spots via the FitSaigon app or by checking bulletin boards at their local community centre. Many neighbourhood facilities-like the Thao Dien Sports Hall and Phú Nhuận’s Nhà Thiếu Nhi on Phan Đăng Lưu-allow free trial classes each first Monday of the month. With affordable pricing and programs tailored for youth, seniors and families, group fitness at council-run sites is quickly becoming Saigon’s most inclusive path to better health. For ongoing schedules or questions about health needs, the city encourages consulting your regular primary care provider, and program managers are trained to help adapt sessions to most abilities. It’s never been easier-or cheaper-to join the movement, step by step, heart by heart, on streets from Nguyễn Huệ to Trần Quốc Toản.