Compelling Swimming Pools at Hotels across Asia

‘Teen Jok’ Owns the Pool

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. 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 33^rd 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.

An Artistic Dip in Bali

Towering Ganesh sculptures feed Tanah Gajah’s main pool, which is flanked by lush tropical greenery and Balinese stone carvings. More than just a place to cool off and relax, the picturesque spot is often the backdrop for floating breakfasts, poolside cocktails, and afternoon tea. The pool also abuts the property’s sprawling lotus ponds and you might just spot one of the resident swans from your watery perch.

A Cascade of 12 Pools

The lush 74-acre Alma Resort on Vietnam’s Cam Ranh peninsula is anchored by 12 swimming pools that spectacularly cascade down to Long Beach. A highlight of the series of pools is a 75-metre pool that features the resort’s Beach Bar with underwater seats. In addition to the 12 swimming pools, Alma is also home to private pavilion pools and a 6000sqm Splash Waterpark with a wave pool, kids pool, lazy river and waterslides.

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.

A 45m Saltwater Lap Pool

At Trisara, one of Phuket’s most exclusive hideaways, every one of its pool rooms, suites and villas has a private pool, offering guests unparalleled luxury and relaxation. However, the resort’s most alluring feature is its magnificent main 45m saltwater lap pool, stretching gracefully along the resort’s beachfront. Surrounded by inviting day-beds and sun loungers, it provides the perfect setting for guests to unwind and soak in the breathtaking views of the serene surroundings.

A 300m Watery Meander

As part of the expansive Laguna Lang Co integrated property in Central Vietnam, Angsana Lang Co has long been well-regarded for its family-friendly qualities. At the heart of the action at the resort is its mega free-form pool — one of the country’s most extensive resort pools — that winds more than 300 meters around the entire property, offering guests a sprawling aquatic oasis to enjoy during their stay. Surrounded by lush tropical greenery and with stunning views of the landscape, it provides a picturesque backdrop for guests to relax and unwind.

Heritage Swimming in Cambodia

The elegant courtyard swimming pool at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh was honoured as the very best in all of Cambodia in last year’s Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific. Inspired by those in the Royal Palace, the pool is framed by lush tropical gardens and the 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 metres 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 with Ghost of Graham Greene

The swimming pool at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is set within the iconic 123-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.