Drinking is fun. Drinking is really fun. I’m pretty sure most of us enjoy a drink or 2… or 12. After all, drinking is arguably the quickest, most direct way to time travel. You start on Friday, and then you wake up on Sunday. That’s how it works. It’s just physics. But seriously, there’s more to life than drinking, and in a city like Saigon where things are getting more and more cosmopolitan, there’s definitely a lot of activities – many of which you probably haven’t even thought about. With that in mind, here a helpful list of Fun Things to Do in Saigon – Other than Getting Drunk.

(That said, if you do want to drink, you can pretty much do all of these activities, while having a few cold ones. Win win!)

Activity 1: Smash Some Balls

Golf balls, that is. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, Him Lam Golf Driving Range is a great option. Unlike in other countries where anything golf related can get quite expensive, in Vietnam, you can still hit a few balls without breaking the bank. The location is convenient (Binh Thanh), and it’s a great way to sit and chat while doing something different. Plus, it’s always fun to take out your frustrations on inanimate objects! There are of course a few other driving ranges in town – check out the on in D7 as well.

Location

234 Đường Ngô Tất Tố, Phường 22, Bình Thạnh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Cost

250K for a bucket of balls, plus club rental. The beers are also reasonably priced.

Activity 2: Throw Some Axes

“Axe throwing is a lot like playing darts, but only with a big blade.” I didn’t say that, the guys at Big Daddy did. It may sound like fun, but in reality, it’s f***ing amazing! Tasked with throwing an actual axe at a board, you’ll learn skills that might actually be useful in the future (if not just for pure entertainment value). For example, learning how to actually throw something is pretty sweet. That’s about all the usefulness I can think of. They also have beers (regular and craft), air hockey, and shuffle board!

Location

15 Đ. Số 12, Khu phố 5, Thủ Đức, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

Cost

300K VND per lane, per hour (as many people as can fit)

Activity 3: Blue Bikes

If you’ve walked around District 1 in the last few weeks, you would have noticed those Blue Bikes scattered around. While bike sharing is not new in other parts of the world, it’s still a work in progress here in Saigon. There’s not a lot of stations, but the ones that are available are pretty central. D1 and D3 are quite ideal for biking around, and if you’re brave enough, maybe you can even head down to Cho Lon D5. It’s a more relaxed way to see the city rather than on a motorbike, but still more comfortable than on foot. And, I’m pretty sure those baskets were designed for a small icebox… just saying.

Location

Multiple. You’ll need to download the TNGO App

Cost

VND5,000 (22 cents) for 30 minutes

Activity 4: Archery. Tag.

Those two words by themselves already sound fun… but together? Just pretend it’s the Hunger Games. District 5 vs District 1. Which one is the “real” old town? District 2 (or should I say Thu Duc) vs District 7. Battle of the Expat Bubbles! The Archery Tag place is located deep in Binh Thanh, but it’s not too difficult to get to. The good news is nobody has to die during the games, and you can all just have a few drinks after. Good for families, team building activities, or even just a random Saturday.

Location

1017 Bình Quới, Phường 28, Bình Thạnh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 72300, Vietnam

Cost

About 150K per person, per hour

Conclusion

Fun. Cheap. Accessible. Not necessarily the most touristy of activities – which is what residents here in Saigon will probably be looking for. I’m not endorsing any of these places particularly over the others; they’re just my personal favorites based on atmosphere and price point. If there’s anything else noteworthy that you’d like me to include here for this post, please let me know in the comments section below!