The best massages and spas in Ho Chi Minh City
The places below are a hand-picked selection of highly rated, foreigner-friendly spots in and around District 1. This is not an exhaustive list, since there are hundreds of good options across the city, and the “best” one is partly down to personal taste and which therapist you happen to get. What these have in common is a strong, consistent reputation, so any of them is a safe choice. One honest note: staff and management change over time, so it is always worth a quick look at the latest reviews before you book.
1. AN’s spa
A small, cosy spot that punches well above its size. AN’s spa is known for its head massage, which is the treatment to get here, and for the little touches: a welcome tea, fresh pomelo before and after, hot stones, and a warm herbal bag worked into the massage. It is clean and calm without being so polished that you feel you are paying for the decor, the English is good, and there are usually a couple of resident cats wandering about. There are two central branches, so check which is nearer your hotel.
2. CiCi International Spa
Just a couple of hundred meters from Ben Thanh Market, CiCi is an owner-run spa with a wide menu, from Vietnamese and Swedish to Thai, deep tissue, and four-hand massages, plus hair washes and facials. Staff speak good English and are happy to adjust pressure to what you actually want. One honest tip: the cheapest option can mean a mat on the floor in a shared room, which some find noisy, so it is worth paying a little extra (around 100,000 VND) for a private or couple room, where the experience is much nicer.
3. Sunyata Retreat Hill Spa
If you want calm in the middle of the chaos, Sunyata is it. It sits up a flight of stairs in an alley just off Bui Vien, the city’s rowdiest party street, and the contrast is the whole point: step inside and it is quiet and serene. The entrance is genuinely easy to miss, so look carefully. It is known for its hot stone and herbal-bag packages, has a refreshing no-tip policy, and stays open late, until around 1am, which makes it handy after a night out. They finish you off with a black-bean dessert drink.
4. Zen Spa
Over on De Tham in the heart of the backpacker area, Zen Spa is the budget-friendly pick that still does the job well. It is cosy and unpretentious, uses natural herbal products, and its standout is the herbal head massage. Prices are lower than the more central spots, which makes it a good choice if you are staying around Pham Ngu Lao or just want a solid, affordable massage without the frills.
5. Miu Miu Spa
Miu Miu is the reliable, do-it-properly choice, an established chain of more than a decade with several branches around District 1 and the Japan Town area near Le Thanh Ton. Expect a professional, consistent experience: a welcome tea, fresh clothes to change into, a locker for your things, and at some branches a free shower and sauna. A nice touch is that the tip is already included in the price, so there is no awkward maths at the end. Book ahead, as the good branches fill up, and make sure you go to a real Miu Miu, since there are copycats trading on the name.
6. Temple Leaf Spa & Sauna
If you want to turn a massage into a proper spa day, Temple Leaf on Hai Ba Trung is the splurge. Alongside the massages it has a full sauna complex, with infrared, Himalayan salt, and snow rooms, and treatments like the cucumber facial and hot stone are done to a standard that rivals Western hotel spas. You fill in a questionnaire at the start so the therapist can tailor the pressure, and the tip is included. Two honest notes: it is pricier than the others, and some locations are cash only, so bring enough.
Types of massage and spa treatments
Most spas offer a similar menu, so it helps to know what you are choosing before you walk in. Here are the treatments you will see most often, and what each one actually involves. For a wider look at the different styles across the country, see our guide to massage in Vietnam.
Vietnamese traditional massage
The default full-body massage, done on a table or mat with firm pressure and long strokes, usually with a little oil. It works the whole body and is a good all-rounder if you are not sure what to pick.
Foot massage and reflexology
The cheapest and most popular option, and perfect after a long day of walking. Despite the name, a good foot massage usually works the lower legs, and often the shoulders, neck, and head too, so you get more than you expect.
Hot stone massage
Warm, smooth stones are placed on the body and used during the massage to relax the muscles with heat. It is gentle, deeply relaxing, and one of the most requested treatments, offered almost everywhere.
Aromatherapy and oil massage
A softer, more soothing massage using scented essential or herbal oils. Good if you want to unwind rather than have knots worked out, though you will need a shower afterwards, which many spas provide.
Thai massage
More active than the others, involving stretching, pulling, and pressure along the body rather than kneading. You stay clothed and it can feel intense, so it is best if you like a firmer, more physical treatment.
Four-hand massage
Two therapists work on you at the same time, mirroring each other. It is more of a splurge and can feel a little overwhelming at first, but many people love how thorough and immersive it is.
Head, neck, and shoulder therapy
A targeted treatment for the tension most travelers carry from screens, backpacks, and long flights. Short, effective, and a good add-on if you do not have time for a full session.
Facials, scrubs, saunas, and nails
Beyond massage, most spas offer a wider menu: facials, body scrubs, hair washes, saunas, and nail services. Combining a massage with a scrub or a sauna is an easy way to turn a quick visit into a proper spa afternoon.
Average cost of a massage and spa in Ho Chi Minh City
Massages here are cheap by Western standards, but prices have risen over the last couple of years, and District 1 costs more than the residential neighborhoods. The figures below are rough estimates for a one-hour treatment, to give you a sense of what is fair. Actual prices depend on the spa, the length, and any extras.
| Treatment (approx. 1 hour) | Local / mid-range spa | Luxury / hotel spa |
|---|---|---|
| Foot massage | 300,000 – 450,000 VND | 600,000 – 900,000 VND |
| Full-body traditional | 450,000 – 700,000 VND | 900,000 – 1,500,000 VND |
| Aromatherapy / oil massage | 500,000 – 800,000 VND | 1,000,000 – 1,800,000 VND |
| Hot stone massage | 600,000 – 850,000 VND | 1,200,000 – 2,000,000 VND |
| Full package (massage, scrub, sauna, 2–3 hrs) | 800,000 – 1,500,000 VND | 2,500,000 – 8,000,000 VND |
Most of the spots in this guide sit in the mid-range column, which is the sweet spot for quality and value: professional, clean, and comfortable without hotel-spa prices. A high-end hotel spa will cost several times more for a similar massage, with the difference being the setting and the extras rather than the massage itself.
Use these numbers as a sanity check. If a place in a tourist area quotes you double the mid-range figure, ask what is included or simply walk on, since something cheaper and just as good is usually nearby. Be a little wary of the opposite too: suspiciously cheap massage signs, well below these ranges, can point to the kind of place we cover in the tips below.
How a massage visit works
If you have never had a massage in Vietnam before, the process is simple, but knowing the steps makes it more relaxing. Here is how a typical visit goes.
Booking or walking in
You can often just walk in, especially for a foot massage, but the popular spots in this guide fill up, particularly in the evening. A quick booking by phone, WhatsApp, or online saves you being turned away. If you want a specific time or a couple’s room, reserve a day ahead.
Choosing your treatment and pressure
You pick your treatment and its length from a menu, usually 60 or 90 minutes. This is also the moment to say how firm you want it, soft, medium, or strong, since Vietnamese massage can be firmer than you expect. Do not be shy about it; therapists are used to the question and would rather get it right.
Before the massage
You will usually be given loose clothing or shorts to change into, sometimes offered a foot wash, and served a cup of tea. Nicer spas have lockers for your belongings. Then you are shown to a room, which may be private or shared depending on what you booked.
During the massage
Relax, but speak up if anything is uncomfortable. You can ask for more or less pressure at any point, or to skip an area, and a good therapist will adjust straight away. If the pressure is hurting rather than helping, say so, this is normal and expected, not rude.
Paying and tipping
Cash is the safest bet, though the smarter spas take cards. Tipping is common and appreciated, usually around 50,000 to 100,000 VND for a good massage, though some places, like Sunyata and Miu Miu, either refuse tips or include them in the price already. For how tipping works more widely in Vietnam, see our guide to tipping in Vietnam.
Tips for a good massage in Ho Chi Minh City
A few last things to make sure you end up somewhere good and get what you paid for.
Stick to well-reviewed places
The simplest rule: choose somewhere with a strong, recent track record, like the spots in this guide, and you will almost certainly have a good experience. A quick scan of reviews filters out the poor and the dodgy in a minute.
Knowing the other kind of place
Worth a calm heads-up: a small number of cheap “massage” shops quietly offer illegal adult services, and they are usually easy to spot, think suspiciously low prices, late-night hours, dim lighting, and staff calling you in from the street. The reputable, well-reviewed spas are not these, so as long as you choose deliberately rather than following a tout, you will not stumble into one by accident. For more on staying street-smart in the city, see our guide on whether Ho Chi Minh City is safe and its common scams.
Bring cash and confirm the price
Carry enough cash, as smaller places do not take cards, and agree the price and length before you start. Confirm that “one hour” means a full 60 minutes and check whether a tip is expected or already included, so there are no surprises at the end.
Go in the morning to avoid the rush
Spas are quietest in the mornings and busiest in the evenings, when everyone wants to unwind after sightseeing. If you would rather not book, or want the pick of therapists and rooms, an earlier visit is the easy way to beat the crowd.
