Not every massage in Vietnam is the same
In the tourist areas of Vietnam, some massage places are built around the tourist’s wallet, not around the massage. Short treatments, a therapist who started last week, a price that changes once you are inside, and pressure to buy something extra on your way out.
Huong Sen Home Spa is a family run spa in Ninh Binh, and we built it for travelers: easy to book, English speaking, five to ten minutes from Tam Coc and Trang An. The difference is in the massage itself. Traditional Vietnamese massage, done the way it is actually done here, by therapists who were trained properly and do this as a profession. That is the reason guests keep telling us it was the best massage of their trip.
What a tourist trap looks like, and what we do instead
| The tourist trap | Huong Sen Home Spa |
|---|---|
| The price on the sign is not the price you pay | Fixed prices, published online. The only thing on top is an optional tip for your therapist |
| 60 minutes booked, 45 minutes given | The full time you booked, on the table |
| Whoever is free that day | Trained therapists who do this professionally, year round |
| A curtain between beds | Private rooms, and private rooms for two |
| Pressure to add oil, scrub or a package | You get what you booked. If you want more, you ask |
| Pay first, hope for the best | Pay in cash on arrival, free cancellation until you walk in |
What a real Vietnamese massage actually is
Traditional Vietnamese massage is firmer and more technical than the oil massage most travelers expect. It works along muscle lines and pressure points, and it is meant to release tension rather than just feel pleasant. Our therapists combine it with hot stones, and on request with herbal steam and a herbal hot tub, which is how it has been done in northern Vietnam for generations.
If you have been hiking Mua Cave, cycling through Tam Coc or sitting on a bus from Hanoi, this is the treatment that actually helps. Tell your therapist where it hurts. Calves, lower back, neck and shoulders are what we work on most.
Our prices, in full
These are the prices. There is nothing underneath them.
| Treatment | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Vietnamese full body massage with hot stones | 60 minutes | 250,000 VND |
| Vietnamese full body massage with hot stones | 75 minutes | 300,000 VND |
| Vietnamese full body massage with hot stones | 90 minutes | 350,000 VND |
| Herbal steam sauna, herbal hot tub and massage | 75 minutes massage | 450,000 VND |
| Herbal steam sauna, herbal hot tub and massage | 90 minutes massage | 500,000 VND |
| Luxury Spa Package, per person, minimum two people | Around 3 hours | 1,100,000 VND |
| Hair care, wash, shampoo and conditioner | Add on | 50,000 VND |
| Pickup and return from your hotel | Add on | 550,000 VND |
Roughly 8 EUR for an hour, and around 34 EUR per person for the full Luxury Spa Package.
One more thing we are open about, because transparency is the whole point of this page: tipping. In Vietnam it is customary to tip your therapist when you are happy with your treatment. Most guests give between 100,000 and 300,000 VND per person, about 3 to 9 EUR. It is entirely your choice, it is never added to your bill, and it goes to your therapist. A tourist trap hides its costs. We would rather tell you exactly what to expect.
How to recognise a professional spa anywhere in Vietnam
This applies to us and to any other place you consider. Use it.
- The price list is public and specific. A real spa publishes treatments, durations and prices. Vague pricing means the price is decided when you are already lying down.
- Reviews mention the treatment, not the atmosphere. Look for guests describing pressure, technique and which muscles were worked on. That is what people write when they got a real massage.
- You are asked about pressure and problem areas beforehand. A trained therapist asks. Someone who was handed a uniform does not.
- The place is clean in the details. Fresh linen for every guest, clean floors, clean bathroom. The bathroom tells you everything.
- Nobody pushes you. No upselling on the table, no surprise additions at the counter.
- The spa is comfortable saying what it does not offer. A professional spa is clear about this without being awkward. We are a health and relaxation spa. We do not offer any service of a sexual nature, and we never will. Guests who are looking for that are in the wrong place, and we would rather say so on this page than have that conversation at the door.
Where we are
Huong Sen Home Spa is at số nhà 30, ngõ 96, đường Trịnh Tú, phường Ninh Khánh, Ninh Binh. That is five minutes from Ninh Binh city centre, seven minutes from Tam Coc and around ten minutes from Trang An by taxi or Grab. We can also pick you up from your hotel and bring you back.
We are open every day of the year, including holidays and rainy days, from 07:00 until 23:30.
Book, or just ask
Most guests book on the same day. You can reserve online in two steps, or send a WhatsApp message on +84 855 080 686 and we will normally reply within a few minutes. You pay in cash when you arrive, and you can cancel for free if your plans change.