Travel Vietnam: Ultimate Guide To An Extended Wellness Stay

Welcome, my friends, to an in-depth exploration of the wellness scene in Vietnam.

Vietnam is home to unique modalities of Eastern medicine, healing foods and enchanting wellness resorts offering one-of-a-kind spa and dining experiences.

All of this makes Vietnam an idyllic wellness destination for transformative healing and deeply relaxing wellness retreats.

Where to Stay – Wellness Retreats & Luxury Resorts

Whether you’re seeking pure luxury, adventure, beachfront vibes or a rustic Vietnamese nature experience, here are 5 wellness resorts in Vietnam for you to choose from!

TIA Wellness Resort (Da Nang)

TIA is a BEAUTIFUL wellness property set beachfront with private pool villas. You can fly into Da Nang international airport and head straight to your Vietnamese oasis escape.

When you sign up for the TIA Wellness Exclusive, throughout your stay you get 2 wellness treatments per night, along with daily wellness practices like Vinyasa Yoga, Breathwork Masterclass, HIIT Power Workouts and more.

TIA offers signature wellness tours combing wellness activities with exploration of Vietnam creating a truly unforgettable experience.

You can also book a scheduled retreat with customized full-day programs, a plant-based meal plan, signature wellness tours, a personal wellness master, therapy, wellness treatments and more.

The spa menu at TIA has some really unique treatments including:

• Crystal Wand Foot Reflexology
• Rose Bud Beauty Scrub – a body scrub with rose petals, chia seeds and Himalayan salt
• Lotus Root Luxury Scrub – a body scrub with lotus root, raw oats and rice bran oil
• Facials with organic goji berry, macadamia oil, a prebiotic from sugar beets and Ayuverdic facial massages.

The resort has wonderful dining options and is very wellness-focused. The kitchen offers all-day breakfast, wine and wellness menus with a fully organic and biodynamic wine list. They rate all of their meals on an “Eat Light, Feel Bright” system ensuring that you are truly using food as fuel for healing and energy throughout your stay.

A fun thing to experience is participating in one of the resort’s healthy cooking classes using locally-sourced ingredients where you will learn to cook local Vietnamese cuisine.

Check out the dining options and all of the different culinary experiences here.

TIA also has a Kid’s Wellness Club! Where the little ones can take Vietnamese language classes, lantern-making classes and do Superhero Yoga, Animal Yoga and Tai Chi. This is a very unique feature that makes TIA an amazing place to stay when you’re taking the whole family on a special wellness getaway.

View the website here.

Anantara Mui Ne Resort (Mui Ne)

Anantara has a unique spa menu with daily activities with classes that teach you how to make fruit body wraps and body scrubs, learning how to do a scalp massage and more. The villas at Anantara are set in breathtaking settings and some of them have open air bathrooms and private pools.

As a guest at Anantara, you can book amazing activities like Vietnamese cooking classes, sea fishing, kitesurfing, and you can even fly in a hot air balloon at sunset over Mui Ne famous rolling sand dunes!

Just a further note about the cooking classes – something else that makes them so amazing is that you get to choose fresh ingredients from the local market!

This video showcases how rejuvenating a stay at Anantara Mui Ne Resort can really be. Click the video below or watch it here.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay (Ninh Hoa | Con Doa Island | Saigon River)

The Six Senses brand speaks for itself – luxury, sustainability and opulent spas. There are three Six Senses resorts in Vietnam with each one offering you an exquisite way to relax, transform and reconnect with your inner self.

These properties are 5-star luxury resorts offering exclusive wellness experiences, including traditional Vietnamese healing treatments, yoga, holistic spa therapies, and organic farm-to-table dining.

The 3 locations are:

• Six Senses Ninh Van Bay (Ninh Hoa, near Nha Trang) – A stunning, luxury retreat on a private bay, accessible only by boat, known for its wellness and eco-friendly practices. Some of the experiences the property offers: rock climbing, jungle trekking, sunset cruise, starlight dining.
• Six Senses Con Dao (Con Dao Island) – A remote, serene island resort focused on sustainability, wellness, and nature. Some of the experiences the property offers: turtle nesting and conservation, Vietnamese cooking class, snorkeling and diving, outdoor cinema, private island picnics.
• Six Senses Saigon River (Ho Chi Minh City) – A more urban retreat located just outside the city, offering a peaceful oasis while being close to the vibrant energy of Ho Chi Minh City. Some of the experiences the property offers: river yoga and meditation, Vietnamese tea ceremonies, traditional Vietnamese wellness treatments.

Check out this video tour of the Ninh Van Bay property filmed by Quang Vinh.

Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion (Hue)

Alba Wellness Valley is a peaceful, secluded resort surrounded by nature where you can soak in mineral hot springs, unwind at the spa, do some yoga, and go mountain climbing + ziplining.

This wellness resort is located at source of the Alba Thanh Tan Hot Springs. This makes the experience here extremely unique with hot springs to soak in and an Onsen bath using hot mineral spring water sourced from a deep underground spring at the foot of Truong Son Mountain.

The spa menu is impeccable with treatments like Detox Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub, Face Yoga, Eucalyptus Body Treatments, Chakra Balancing and Warm Bamboo Treatments.

You also have a selection of daily wellness activities including tai chi, forest meditation, morning yoga, mountain climbing, yin yoga, kundalini yoga and callanetics practice.

Alba Wellness Valley offers a rustic retreat, perfect for connecting with the pastoral beauty of Vietnam while gently unwinding from stress and tension. Rather than extravagant luxury, you will find a more tranquil, nature-focused experience here.

A noteworthy wellness experience unique to this property is the water meditation.

Check out the video footage captured by Kaseleleah Films Inc.

Learn more about the hot springs, Onsen soaking, spa menu and daily wellness programs here.

Browse through the resort’s gallery here.

Read the Trip Advisor reviews here.

An Lam Retreats Saigon River (Ho Chi Minh City)

The accommodations at An Lam Retreats are BREATHTAKING. Suites with river views, pool villas with plunge pools, and terraces where you can watch spectacular sunsets provide you with gorgeous escapes to restore your energy and life vitality.

The property a Sleep Enhancement wellness program combining natural therapies, nutrition and body exercises giving you an excellent way to restore your energy and release feelings of fatigue & exhaustion.

The spa at An Lam Saigon River has wonderful treatments including:

• Banana Milk Body Wrap
• Hibiscus Body Scrub
• Herbal Compress Therapy
• Lulur Scrub
• Lymphatic Drainage Body Treatment
• Chakra Cleansing Body Treatment
• Indian Head Massage
• Himalayan Rock Salt Scrub

The property has multiple restaurants and dining spots with farm-to-table menus set in tranquil rainforest settings. They even have a treehouse dining experience with views of the Saigon River.

View the website here.

Unique Healing Experiences

Why travel to different destinations for healing and transformation? I first discovered on my very first trip to Tulum, Mexico that there were certain healing ceremonies and spa treatments there that I couldn’t find anywhere else or that we local to that region of the world.

As my research and experience has expanded, I have learnt that each country, each culture, each region of the world has experiences that are unique to said culture and region. This is something that I think makes the world of wellness travel so exciting.

Often these treatments and experiences stem from century-old healing traditions that we may never have even heard of. This is such a wonderful way to access and have the pleasure of learning and experiencing an alternative approach to healing and life transformation.

So, what are some healing experiences or spa treatments that are unique to Vietnam?

Bamboo Massage

Vietnamese Herbal Bathing Rituals

Vietnamese Traditional Medicine (YTTC)

Mien Trung Herbal Healing

If you need help finding vendors for these healing experiences and treatments, feel free to email me directly at [email protected].

Adventure Activities for Wellness Travelers

A lot of the time when we think of wellness retreats, we are thinking solely of yoga, meditation and breathwork, but I believe that an integral element of any wellness trip is to also incorporate outdoor adventure activities in your itinerary.

It adds an extra dimension of healing & transformation, it is so good for stress relief and gives a really good outlet to explore the local region.

Here are some outdoor adventure activities to do in Vietnam.

Trekking in Sapa – Sapa is an unforgettably beautiful region filled with rice fields, valleys and waterfalls. Trekking – essentially a longer, more arduous version of hiking – is a fabulous way to explore the Sapa region, connect with nature and meet local hill tribes.

• Trekking Tour Sapa offers guided treks with local guides through remote villages and rice terraces. They have excellent reviews and know the Sapa region extremely well.
• Sapa O’Chau provides eco-friendly trekking tours, ensuring you experience both the beauty and culture of the region.

Kayaking in Ha Long Bay – Kayaking is one of my absolute favorite things to do at different destinations around the world. Vietnam offers beautiful kayaking opportunities with a particular traveler’s favorite being Ha Long Bay, where you can kayak surrounded by emerald waters and towering cliffs.

You can paddle through the iconic karst limestone formations of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Halong Bay Kayak Tours offers guided kayaking tours through hidden caves and secluded lagoons.
• This tour of Sung Sot Cave & kayaking gives you a combo of kayaking and cave exploration.

Cycling in Hoi An – Cycling through the charming streets of Hoi An, is a beautiful way to explore the well-preserved ancient town and surrounding rural landscapes. This activity lets you enjoy the area’s rich history, rice fields, and traditional villages on two wheels.

• Heaven and Earth Bicycle Tours offers customized cycling tours through the countryside, with stops at local farms and fishing villages.
• Grasshopper Adventures offers a variety of eco-friendly biking tours throughout Vietnam, including the option to explore the scenic trails around Hoi An.

Sand Dune Adventures in Mui Ne – Mui Ne has vastly magnificent sand dunes, where you can amp up your thrill level with sandboarding or dune buggy rides.

• Hai Tuan Travel offers a wide range of tours including guided sand dune excursions, including sandboarding and 4×4 dune buggy rides.
• Asia Tours offers sunrise jeep tours and a variety of adventure tours in Mui Ne.

Check out Go For Launch’s video of doing a sand dune tour in Mui Ne! They did an AWESOME job of documenting this!

Beach Yoga at Phu Quoc – Practice yoga on the beaches of Phu Quoc island, surrounded by tropical beauty and peaceful waters. This is the perfect way to unwind, rejuvenate, and connect with your inner self in a tranquil setting.

• Ocean Bay Phu Quoc is a beautiful resort with beach access that gives a beautiful setting to practice yoga on the beach.

Local Healing Foods to Try

Lotus Root Soup & Lotus Root Salad

Known as ngó sen in Vietnamese, lotus root is a highly regarded food in Vietnamese cuisine for its nutritious and medicinal qualities.

Healing Benefits:

• In traditional medicine, lotus root is used as a mild sedative to calm the mind and reduce stress
• Detoxifying properties, helps to cleanse the blood and rid the body of toxins
• Excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamins (especially vitamin C), and minerals such as potassium, iron, and manganese
• Helps support the immune system, boosts energy, and promotes overall health

Where to find it:

• Cơm Chay (Saigon): A vegetarian restaurant that specializes in traditional Vietnamese Buddhist cuisine, including dishes with lotus root, like stir-fries and soups. It’s a great spot for health-conscious travelers looking for plant-based meals.
• Bún Chả Hương Liên (Hanoi): Known for its delicious Bún Chả, this restaurant also serves traditional Vietnamese dishes, including lotus root-based soups. Hanoi is known for its use of fresh herbs and vegetables, making it an ideal place to try lotus root dishes.

Canh Chua

Also known as Vietnamese sour soup, Canh Chua is a traditional dish celebrated for its health benefits, particularly its ability to balance the body’s internal energies and soothe digestive issues.

Healing Benefits:

• Made with catfish or tilapia giving you an infusion of Omega-3’s
• Anti-inflammatory properties from the ingredients like turmeric and ginger
• Immunity boosting herbs like lemongrass and cilantro
• The soup’s sourness stems from either pineapple or tamarind (depending on which region of Vietnam you are visiting) and these ingredients help the digestive system, easing bloating and indigestion

Where to find it:

• Cơm Niêu Sài Gòn (Ho Chi Minh City): This well-loved restaurant serves a fantastic Canh Chua. Their version of the soup is known for its tangy and slightly sweet flavor, with a generous serving of fresh herbs and vegetables. Their reviews coin them as “one of the best eating experiences in Saigon River”.
• Ngọc Lan (Can Tho): Located in the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is the heart of southern Vietnamese cuisine, and Ngọc Lan serves an excellent version of Canh Chua using local fish and fresh, regional ingredients.
• The Hanoi Social Club (Hanoi): This trendy restaurant offers a fusion menu that includes Canh Chua with a twist. They serve it as a lighter, vegetarian variation, making it accessible for health-conscious travelers.

Pho

Pho, Vietnam’s iconic noodle soup, is known for its comforting and restorative qualities, often considered a healing food due to its combination of fresh herbs, bone broth, and spices like ginger and star anise.

Healing Benefits:

• Made with bone broth that’s rich in collagen and minerals and helps with gut health
• The fresh ginger is anti-inflammatory and helps soothe digestive issues, relieves nausea, and boosts circulation
• Star anise is a unique spice with antimicrobial properties, traditionally used to help respiratory infections, and promotes healthy digestion
• Rice noodles are easy to digest, provides quick energy and are gluten-free, suitable for sensitive stomachs
• Basil helps reduce stress and inflammation and boosts digestion, good source of Vitamin K

Where to find it:

• Pho 10 (Hanoi): A well-known spot for authentic pho, made with fresh ingredients that promote digestion and wellness.
• Pho Hoa (Ho Chi Minh City): Offers a popular pho with an emphasis on traditional, healing ingredients like bone broth and fresh herbs.

Xí Mà

Xí Mà is commonly enjoyed after meals, especially in the hot, humid weather of Vietnam, due to its cooling effect on the body.

Healing Benefits:

• The local people of Vietnam often share that this pudding is excellent for heart health
• The black sesame seeds give a high fiber content which helps with digestion, alleviates constipation, and supports gut health, promotes healthy skin and hair
• Herbs like dong quai may be included (depending on local recipes) which is known for balancing hormones and supporting blood circulation

Where to find it:

• Chè Xí Mà (Ho Chi Minh City): A popular local shop specializing in Xí Mà, where you can enjoy the dessert in its most authentic form. The shop offers a variety of versions, including traditional lotus seed and longan-based Xí Mà that is light and refreshing.
• Tâm Tâm Chè (Hue): For a traditional version of Xí Mà, Tâm Tâm Chè is a must-visit in Hue. The dessert is made fresh with local ingredients, including lotus seeds and longan, and is served in a beautiful, calm setting, perfect for relaxing and recharging.

This article shares some more famous places to try the Xí Mà pudding.

Here’s a super interesting read about a 107 yr old Vietnamese pudding master.

Herbal Teas

Vietnam is renowned for its herbal teas, which often incorporate ingredients like lotus tea, lemongrass, ginger, jasmine and ginseng. These teas are highly regarded for their medicinal properties, aiding digestion, boosting immunity, and promoting relaxation and detoxification.

Healing Benefits:

• Lemongrass – Aids digestion, relieves bloating, helps detoxify the body, and has calming effects on the nervous system
• Ginger – Anti-inflammatory properties, helps alleviate nausea, improves digestion, and boosts circulation
• Jasmine – Reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and contains antioxidants that support heart health and improve skin
• Lotus – Calms the mind, reduces anxiety, promotes better sleep, and has anti-inflammatory properties
• Ginseng – Boosts energy, improves mental clarity, supports immune function, and enhances overall vitality

Where to find it:

• Kosala Tea House (Hồ Chí Minh) –
• Hatvala (Ho Chi Minh City): Hatvala has a physical location in Ho Chi Minh City and online store. The tea from Hatvala is sourced ONLY from Vietnam and some of their blends are grown in forests in North Vietnam. The location in Ho Chi Minh City is a physical store and tea studio making it the perfect choice for tasting Vietnamese teas and taking a sample of Vietnam back home with you.

Wellness Activities to Do in Vietnam

Yoga & Meditation Retreats

• The Yogarden (Hoi An)
• Zen Retreat (Phu Quoc)
• Ananda Wellness Retreat (Nha Trang)

Tai Chi & Qi Gong

• Bai Xep Wellness Resort (Phu Yen)
• Sapa Wellness Center (Sapa)
• Hanoi Tai Chi (Hanoi)

Detox & Cleanse Programs

• Fusion Maia Resort (Da Nang)
• Alba Wellness Valley (Hue)
• Six Senses Con Dao (Con Dao Island)

Spa Treatments with Local Ingredients

• The Spa at InterContinental (Da Nang)
• Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Spa (Hanoi)
• Lá Sen Spa (Ho Chi Minh City)

Mindfulness Walks & Forest Bathing

• Sapa Eco Trekking (Sapa)
• Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh)
• Ba Na Hills (Da Nang)

Cooking Classes

• Red Bridge Cooking School (Hoi An)
• Vietcooking Class (Hanoi)
• Hoa Sua Cooking Class (Hanoi)

A lot of the wellness resorts offer Vietnamese cooking classes with locally sourced fresh ingredients which is such a fun way to learn new recipes while on vacation.

Unique Aspects of Vietnam for Wellness Travelers

Spiritual Healing Traditions

• Vedic Healing & Feng Shui: Some wellness centers in Vietnam offer personalized energy balancing treatments rooted in ancient philosophies like Feng Shui, which aim to harmonize the body and spirit with the environment.
• Traditional Vietnamese Herbal Healing: Local healers often use herbal remedies and medicinal plants to restore balance and treat ailments, a practice that can be explored during wellness retreats or with local practitioners.

Where to Experience:

• Chùa Ba Na (Ba Na Hills): A serene Buddhist temple offering healing experiences tied to spiritual practices.
• Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center (Ho Chi Minh City): A place where travelers can experience both yoga and spiritual practices.
• Viet Vuong Pagoda (Ninh Binh): Known for its healing practices based on Buddhist principles.

Natural Hot Springs

• Hot Springs Therapy: Natural mineral water therapy is often used in combination with spa treatments for detoxing, easing joint pain, and promoting deep relaxation.
• Mud Baths: Some of Vietnam’s natural hot spring resorts also offer mud baths, which have detoxifying and skin-rejuvenating benefits.

Where to Experience:

• Khoang Xanh Suoi Tiên Resort (Hanoi): A popular hot spring resort offering therapeutic mineral baths.
• Hot Springs at Alba Wellness Valley (Hue): Known for its rejuvenating mineral-rich thermal waters.
• I Resort (Nha Trang): Features mud baths and hot spring treatments for healing and relaxation.

Buddhist Practices

• Buddhist Meditation Retreats: Engage in deep meditation practices led by experienced monks in tranquil temple settings, often coupled with mindfulness teachings and teachings on inner peace.
• Mindfulness in Nature: Many Buddhist retreats also incorporate mindfulness walks or forest bathing, allowing guests to deeply connect with the natural surroundings while focusing on their breath and thoughts.

Where to Experience:

• Tịnh xá Ngọc Minh (Ho Chi Minh City): A Buddhist temple offering meditation retreats.
• Chùa Giác Lâm (Ho Chi Minh City): An ancient Buddhist pagoda with mindfulness practices and healing ceremonies.
• Zen Monastery (Hue): A center for practicing mindfulness and meditation in a peaceful setting.

After reading this entire summary of wellness travel in Vietnam, I’m sure you will agree that Vietnam is truly a dream destination when you are seeking a transformative wellness trip.

Whether you’re looking to detox in a luxury resort, immerse yourself in local healing foods, or explore the country’s stunning landscapes through mindful adventures, Vietnam has something for every type of transformation sought after by wellness travelers.

If you need help planning and/or booking your wellness trip to Vietnam, email me directly at [email protected].

Or, if you want to chat on zoom and learn which resorts and healing experiences will be best for your health and wellness goals, click here to book a consult.

Always remember – YOU ARE LIMITLESS.

Until next time,

Nikki xoxox