Neil Aronson If you are looking to enjoy one of the best pools while on vacation, then we have some epic choices for you in Asia. Some people need to be at the pool, or beach, mountains, or in the city. These amazing pools blend right in to where you want to be.
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The New Pool on the Block
Flanked by seven private cabanas with curtains, blue candy-cane striped sunbeds, and cascading greenery, Meliá Pattaya Hotel’s piece de resistance is its remarkable outdoor pool area. The pool’s dreamy tiling pattern, buoyed by cyan and aqua hues, references the nearby waves of Pattaya Beach on the eastern Gulf of Thailand.
Intimate lighting around the pool, adjacent function lawn and semi open Lula Pool Bar add to the ambiance, with pool bar staff serving pool-goers snacks and imaginative cocktails. The new hotel debuted on February 14, 2025, on Second Road. Known as Pattaya Sai Song, near an array of attractions, and quickly became one of the best pools in the area.
Melia Chiang Mai
The tiles of Meliá Chiang Mai’s swimming pool are fashioned in a striking textile pattern to reference the local Chiang Mai culture. The tiling is a contemporary interpretation of textile patterns the locals call “teen jok”. Similar patterns are also evident on the exterior facade of the hotel visible from the swimming pool, which is adjacent to a shallow pool area for kids.
The watery playground is home to two water slides, a rain curtain, water fountains and a giant tipping bucket. One of the best pools in Chiang Mai for kids?
The large outdoor swimming pool on the hotel’s second floor anchors Tien Pool Bar, which also has a design that pays tribute to Chiang Mai. The pool bar’s distinctive red brickwork references Chiang Mai’s venerable landmark Tha Phae Gate.
Ibiza in Bangkok
A sky-high transparent infinity swimming pool commands the new INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit’s top floor, the 34th floor. The infinity pool anchors The Giant Swing Pool Bar and an expansive rooftop terrace, dotted with outdoor lounges and sunbeds, that evokes an Ibiza mood accompanied with panoramic vista.
Nestled between bar and pool, a compelling contemporary interpretation of Bangkok’s Brahman structure The Giant Swing is a dramatic photo backdrop. By night, the pool bar becomes an upper-floor extension of the hotel’s 33rd floor LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar and, in a spectacle unlike any other in Bangkok, tapas bar guests peer into the bottom of the infinity pool.
Water Meets Stillness on Koh Samui
At world renowned wellness retreat Kamalaya on Koh Samui the leisure pool is designed for slowing down. Set beside Amrita Café and steps from the beach, it winds through lotus ponds where koi and turtles drift past marble steps carved with Buddhist motifs and playful elephant sculptures. Sun loungers, shaded corners and the quiet presence of water encourage long, unhurried pauses between treatments or meals.
For something more purposeful, a 25-meter lap pool beside the Shakti Fitness Centre delivers open views towards nearby islands, along with a post-swim ritual of fresh water and fruit, plus steam, cold plunge and gym facilities close at hand.
How to Swim in Indochine
Indochine era-inspired resorts The Anam Cam Ranh and The Anam Mui Ne both boast infinity pools that, from certain angles, appear to seamlessly blend into the nearby ocean and horizon.
The waters of The Anam Cam Ranh’s infinity pool, one of the resort’s three unusually compelling swimming pools, are as brilliantly blue as the sea and sky due to gray slate tiling sourced from Vietnam’s north that works wonders reflecting the spectacular natural surrounds.
Like its Cam Ranh counterpart, The Anam Mui Ne’s 266sqm saltwater infinity pool looks out over the East Sea and is adjacent to the resort’s Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar.
Travel Backpacks
A must have for your laptop, camera gear, valuables, extra clothes
Heritage Swimming in Cambodia
The courtyard swimming pool at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh has won honors as the very best in all of Cambodia in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific. The pool is framed by lush tropical gardens and the elegant exterior of the 90-year-old luxury heritage hotel.
The swimming pool at its sister property, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, is equally remarkable, stretching 35 meters end-to-end, making it one of the longest in Cambodia. That pool’s design is modelled after the Royal Baths at Angkor.
Sipping Martinis Poolside in Hanoi
The swimming pool at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is set within the iconic 125-year-old luxury hotel’s garden courtyard, evoking timeless elegance and sophistication, with comfortable sun loungers and stylish parasols.
The poolside Bamboo Bar, with its thatched roof and wooden floor, adds a further touch of the tropical to the upscale surroundings. Many guests like to sip on the hotel’s signature Graham Greene Martini from the poolside perch.
A Rooftop Oasis in Saigon
The swimming pool at Fusion Original Saigon Centre – a hotel with an unmistakable identity situated in the heart of the Vietnamese cultural hub of Ho Chi Minh City – is located on the sixth floor, overlooking the city’s ever-changing skyline and the bustling streets below. The pool offers a haven of calm in the vibrant metropolis, and it’s the perfect spot to relax and recharge, get some rays, or enjoy a refreshing dip in the sun-speckled waters.
Endless Blue in Da Nang
Since private pools complement every villa at TIA Wellness Resort, guests don’t need to paddle far for a dip. The more dramatic plunger, however, is in the resort’s infinity pool, which reaches for the ocean and comes with a soundtrack of waves. Visit early in the day for smooth waters and sunrise views.
This wellness retreat blends authentic wellbeing with understated luxury nearby Hoi An Ancient Town and the Marble Mountains. Savor authentic Vietnamese cuisine at the resort’s five gourmet eateries, rejuvenate with holistic treatments at the onsite spa, or embark on a serene kayak journey along the Thu Bon River before retreating to your private pool villa.
Award-Winning View from Infinity Pool in Southern Vietnam
Azerai Ke Ga Bay’s picturesque beachfront pool helped elevate the Adrian Zecha property to the runner-up spot in last year’s “Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World” contest sponsored by the U.S.-based magazine Luxury Travel Advisor.
The award-winning image shows a sunken lounge beside the resort’s infinity pool overlooking a white sand beach during a multi-hued dusk. The seaside pool is one of three pool areas at the resort, which also includes one pool set among the tropical gardens and two pools nestled in a mirrored courtyard.
Choose free on-site activities, such as include fitness center, swimming pool, sauna, kids’ club, football and volleyball. Guests can enjoy other paid activities on and around the properties, including golfing at the nearby Sea Link gold course in Mui Ne.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a temple tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Air Asia is the top regional discount airlines for Thailand and all Southeast Asia. Book from Chiang Mai to just about everywhere.
This page contains links to affiliate partner websites, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure Page.
