California Fitness shuts 7 more gyms in Vietnam, leaves members worried about prepaid memberships

On Saturday evening, the fitness chain notified members that its Cali 3/2 and Cali Thu Duc branches in Ho Chi Minh City would suspend operations from October 25 to 31 out of operational issues.

The notices were sent at around 8:00 pm, less than a day before the closures took effect, leaving many members scrambling to find alternative gyms.

Wave of closures sparks concern

The latest announcement came just a day after California notified members of five other temporary closures, including Landmark 81, Cali Tower, Gigamall, and Thao Dien Pearl in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Vincom Star City in Hanoi.

All five facilities were scheduled to close from October 24 through 31.

The seven additional closures follow a series of shutdowns across Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang City, and Dong Nai City since mid-October.

Affected locations include Hung Vuong Plaza, SC VivoCity, Pico Plaza, and Gold View in Ho Chi Minh City, Sky City in Hanoi, and facilities in Da Nang and Dong Nai's Bien Hoa.

Meanwhile, the chain's Centuryon Saigon Centre club in Ho Chi Minh City has announced a six-month suspension, from October 17, 2026 to April 17, 2027.

According to information on California's official website as of October, the chain listed just 16 operating locations nationwide, including eight in Ho Chi Minh City, seven in Hanoi, and one in Nha Trang.

That represents a decline of more than 54 percent from its network of 35 gyms in 2025.

The shrinking network has disrupted workout routines and undermined one of California's major selling points: allowing members to use multiple branches.

While members can switch to clubs that remain open, longer travel distances, inconvenient schedules, and limited facilities have made that option impractical for some.

Several members also complained about receiving closure notices at the last minute, with some messages arriving as late as 11:00 pm, just hours before operations were suspended.

Could VIP memberships become worthless plastic cards?

Linh, a California member, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that she only discovered her gym had closed when she checked her phone the following morning.

A regular 6:00 am gymgoer, she said she could easily have made a wasted trip had she missed the late-night notification.

She had renewed her long-standing membership in July, when operations at her usual club still appeared normal.

"California says the closure will last until the end of October, but who knows whether it will reopen or shut down permanently?" she said.

"I don't even know where to work out for the rest of the month."

Another member, Phan Cao Khoa, said he had paid more than VND50 million (US$1,900) for a five-year membership, primarily for the convenience of accessing multiple locations.

With many branches now closed, he fears losing the remaining value of his prepaid package.

Some members have also questioned whether their once-coveted lifetime Gold, Platinum, and Super VIP membership cards could end up as little more than worthless pieces of plastic.

Khoa said the situation reminded him of the closure of fitness chain Fit24, leaving him increasingly frustrated and helpless.

"What worries me isn't just losing my regular gym, but the possibility of losing all the remaining time on a membership I've already paid for," he said.

The financial burden is particularly concerning for members who purchased packages through bank installment plans, as they must continue making payments even when suitable workout facilities are unavailable.

The closures have also raised questions about consumer protection and oversight of long-term prepaid fitness contracts.

Although freezing memberships may preserve unused time, it does not resolve members' immediate need for exercise facilities.

If the closures extend beyond the announced deadlines, members want clarity on alternative locations, membership extensions, and possible refunds for undelivered services.

Staff payment delays add to troubles

Beyond the operational disruptions, California has faced complaints over months-long delays in paying salaries, commissions, and social insurance contributions for employees and personal trainers.

The fitness chain recently appeared on a list published by Ho Chi Minh City Social Security of employers that had fallen at least six months behind on social insurance contributions.

According to the list, California owed more than VND6.5 billion ($251,500) in contributions, affecting 550 workers.

The reported payment delays have added to concerns about the company's financial difficulties as its nationwide operations continue to contract.