Hi Everyone
Some questions about Squash, the game, not the food.

a) Are the squash courts at the Hanoi Club the only ones in town?

b) If they are can you pay a day rate and play, as $3000 a year is too steep for my pockets?

c) If there are others, where are they and can you pay daily or do you to have to join?

d) If any one is a member of the Hanoi Club and would like to play - please get in touch! Average ability.

e) I am also a qualified teacher and coach, so if you would like some tuition also get in touch we can work out payment details later.

Many Thanks
Mike McDonald

If you have some friends living in Sedona, they have a squash court there...

yes from what i heard, Sedona and Hanoi Club are the only ones in Hanoi.

Please let me know if you find any alternative, i came with my racquet, balls and shoes 5 years ago and i haven't been playing since then. I'm so sad about this.

And my wife is tired of me me hitting the ball on the wall for fun in the empty room of the house!

I even thought about getting some founding from the Federation as i'm sure it's a sport that would fit Vietnamese physic. And does not require huge amount of money.

what do you think mmcdonald? do you want to start the Vietnamese Squash Federation?

It really is a shame that there are no courts in Hanoi other than the Hanoi Club and Sedona suites. I thought that you can pay as you go for the courts at the hanoi club, but knowing them it'd would be 20 bucks a pop, way too much. All you really need is a big room with concrete walls, squash is such a great sport, and the Vietnamese would be good at it, many play tennis and badminton which squash seems to be like. oh well.....perhaps someone will build courts in Hanoi.

Hi Guys
Thanks for your replies. I got a personal e mail in reply to my intial post from a guy who lives at Sedona and we are going to play later on this month. I will let you know how it goes and how easy/hard it is to use the courts with or without a resident.

I am hoping that the court is a) not used very much and that b) the security guys will not check too thoroughly, and it may be that we can use the court on a fairly regular basis without the resident guy signing us in or paying a huge fee.

I hope I am not being overly optimistic and that perhaps we can set up regular games.

Not quite the Vietnam Squash Federation bobthebob01 but it may be a start!!!

Mike McDonald

Any update on the squash situation in Hanoi? I'm flying in at the end of July, and I'm wondering if it will be worth it to bring my racquet.

http://www.fnetravel.com/english/hanoihotels/pegasus/hilton-hanoi-opera.html
According to this link the Hilton hotel has a squash court, its not the official hilton webpage so can be %100 certain but worth looking into.

Im reviving this thread!

Any updates on the squash situation?
Have all the gear, need a opponent!

Hi Onemore
Sorry, nothing new I am afraid, at least not from me. The guy that I was playing, who lived at Sedona Suites moved out, so I haven't been able to get a game for months. My only hope is that one of the many new schools being built will have the good sense to put up a couple of courts.
Good Luck
Mike McDonald

hi guys,

just moved here - though bringing my racquets was a great idea... bummer...

there is no way to rent the courts at sedona or hanoi club ?? if we get small group together maybe we can pursuade them to do so for 2 hours every week ? considering its the only courts here then doubt anyone ever use them ?

still hoping to play soon.....

kim

Hi Kimlim
You are right about the lack of use at Sedona, when I was playing there with one of the residents we had to move the table tennis table from the court or take down the tennis practice net. And the courts are not in great shape. I don't know anything about the courts at the Hanoi Club but if you have any luck let me know.


Mike McDonald

hi mike,

are you still around ? and up for a game ? I will move to Hanoi club in their new apartments from mid June so should be a good chance to get a game...

Let me know

brgds
kim

Im still up for a game!
Send me a PM.

FYI: There is one more squash court in Hanoi but it hasn't been used for years (except as a storage place). It is located at the International Water Supply village (So 3 Ngo 6 Doan Ke Thien - Cau Giay district).
If you are really passionated about squash then you can try to convince ($$$) the manager of the compound to renovate it and make it available to you.
Good luck.

Well it's been another 11 months since the last thread update. Is there any more news on this? I can't afford Hanoi club, and I don't live in Sedona. (although I do teach quite a few students on site there... has anyone had any luck through that avenue?)
Have any new places opened up? This doesn't make much sense. Squash seems like the type of game that Vietnamese would love.
I'm sure when someone realizes that all they need is a few walls and a couple of red lines of paint this will take off in Hanoi :)

That is clearly easier said than done. Actually, squash is quite a space and - more importantly - capital intensive sport to establish, both of which are lacking here. You can't do squash on the cheap, nor set a rough squash court up in a park or by the side of the road. It's pretty easy to see why squash isn't a big hit here.

In fact, the popularity of squash is declining even in the west, with squash courts closing down everywhere. Considering what your average punter is willing to pay, the land that most squash centres occupy is more productively used in other ways.

It's a rich man's sport here, and that's what it's turning into back home, too. Pity, because it's a great game that I'd love to play more.

Well put. Hadn't thought of it like that. I guess a squash court only becomes viable as part of a larger multi-story centre where the land area is being used for multiple purposes..

gentlemen!

please wellcome one more passionate, strongly regreting and trully upset squash fan. as I just moved to hanoi from saigon I'm still on newbee's rush and intuasiasm for searching and fighting for accessable courts. let us join our forces! :)

speaking seroisly; if any updates/info/chances, please let me know. thank you in advance.

Erik

Good afternoon chaps,

Searched for squash and found this thread, so disappointed at teh lack of facilities! I'm only a novice player but keen to regain some level of fitness. I'd definately be prepared to join forces. Maybe this could be the start of the Hanoi Squash Club? Surely something could be negotiated with the managements of the Hilton and/or Sedona?

Anyway count me in if any of you have the contacts

let us estimate the number of squash players and regularity of play, and many things can be achieved by the financially driven decisions and from the brand wareness perspective :) tho valid for sedona only.

If u are a member of Hanoi club, u can bring a guest to the squash courts for free twice a month. Not ideal, but better than nothing.
I broke the string on my racquet last weekend. Does anybody know where I can get it re-strung? Price?
I'm going to try the tennis shops on Nguyen Thai Hoc. Squash racquet string appears to be the same gauge as Tennis racquet string.. right?

I am about to arrive in Hanoi next week and want to play squash any affordable courts and any potential partners?

i have read this tread with horror! I have so much looking forward to arrive in Hanoi and go out looking for a squash court. is just a so good way to meet new people and a awesome sport.

so I will ask the same question as seaninhanoi, is there any way you can play some squash beside the to hotels! any players living there who would be interested to play 1-2 a week?
I am leaving in 3 weeks and if the situation don't change I will leave my racquet at home :(

Hi everyone, see no one's been on here for a while but I'm going to be staying at the Hanoi Club for 4 weeks in November. I'm fairly new to the game, but if anyone wants to play let me know!