The Expansion Era for Vietnam's Premium Gyms Is Ending
Vietnam's premium gyms once relied on large clubs, rapid expansion and long memberships, but operators are now reassessing every location.
[The Expansion Era for Vietnam's Premium Gyms Is Ending]
One CitiGym member in Ho Chi Minh City has a membership valid through September 2029, yet Vạn Hạnh Mall, his usual club, is about to suspend operations at its current site.
CitiGym says Vạn Hạnh Mall and Điện Biên Phủ will both stop operating at their current locations on October 1, 2026, with relocations planned.
The company will preserve the remaining membership term and upgrade single-club plans to multi-club access for free, but the nearest club is already overcrowded and his unused sessions depend on where his trainer goes.
A gym can move or stop operating while a long-term membership remains valid.
Over the past four years, most large gym brands in Vietnam have reduced their footprints, including California Fitness & Yoga, which has lost more than 10 locations in the past two years.
Available data do not show whether fitness demand itself has fallen.
Premium chains once grew through large clubs, rapid expansion and long memberships.
Every new club adds venue, staffing and equipment costs, while members mainly care whether a nearby location keeps providing the services they use.
If traffic and revenue at a new club cannot cover those added costs, faster expansion brings more pressure.
Operators are now reassessing each location on its own costs and service value.
