Orient Spa is one of the leading skincare and laser centers in Vietnam, but few are aware that it also offers a full range of holistic spa and massage services.
At its District 1 branch on 244A Cong Quynh, the spa spans five floors. Originally opened as a private service for clients of its skincare and laser treatments, the Orient Spa is gaining popularity as Saigon’s hidden gem for relaxation and pampering.
The spa’s design is simple yet modern with white and earthy tones helping to create a tranquil and calm ambiance. Quarters are spacious and separated for specific services such as massages, herbal baths, scrubs and steam rooms. The staff are dressed in clean and smart white therapist uniforms and are very attentive.
Immediately they arrive, clients are offered a glass of iced blue chai. The sweet herbal drink is made by brewing butterfly pea flowers - an Asian plant with many health and beauty benefits for the skin, hair and immune system - with organic brown sugar and fresh lime juice.
Massages are by far the best service at Orient Spa, owing to a solid training program headed by their chief massage therapist Pham Thi Bich Phuong. Phuong is a veteran therapist with 10 years of professional experience and was trained by Japanese massage therapists while working at Saigon Spa in 2005.
Massage styles available at Orient include: Aroma massage (VND450,000/60 minutes), a powerful therapeutic technique that promotes emotional, mental and physical wellbeing; Hot Stone massage (VND550,000/60 minutes), a popular process that combines heat therapy and smooth basalt stones to detoxify the body and induce a positive energy flow; and Indian massage (VND280,000/30 minutes), a rare deep tissue massage technique that works miracles on muscle aches and pain. Orient also has its own signature massage style (VND550,000/60 minutes), which is a high- performing combination of classical Swedish massage and compression and trigger point technique.
While massages are a must-try at Orient, the spa’s other services such as body exfoliation, skin treatment, and steam baths are also worth an indulgence. Orient offers a rich selection of facial treatments for all skin concerns and types. On the 10th floor of the building, next to the body exfoliation section are two steam rooms, one wet and one dry. Body exfoliation and steam baths are offered as one package at VND550,000 per 60-minute session.
Though little known, Orient Spa has been around since the beginning of Orient Center itself. Its location and relatively low business traffic makes it incredibly convenient for clients of Orient, who can smoothly segue from an appointment with their dermatologist to the massage room. The Orient brand and its high quality service and reasonable prices make it a must-try Saigon spa destination.
*Images by Ngoc Tran
