From rooftop infinity pools high above Bangkok’s skyline to serene beachfront sanctuaries in Vietnam and Thailand, some of Asia’s most stunning hotel swimming pools redefine the art of leisure, elevating the stay into something truly unforgettable.
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 by panoramic vista. Nestled between bar and pool, a compelling contemporary interpretation of Bangkok’s Brahman structure ,The Giant Swing creates 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.
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.
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-metre 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.
Sipping Martinis Poolside in Hanoi
The swimming pool at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi sits 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.
Where Infinity Meets Indochine
Indochine era-inspired resorts The Anam Cam Ranh and The Anam Mui Ne elevate the coastal escape with 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.
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 dip, 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.