TL;DR
The main types of massage in Hanoi
Vietnamese traditional (Tam Quat / Đấm Bóp)
The signature local treatment — palm and thumb pressure, kneading, vibration, tapping and assisted stretching, usually performed clothed on a mat or table with little or no oil. Firm and therapeutic; the default at budget and mid-range shops.
Foot massage & reflexology
A 45–60 minute session, often starting with a warm herbal foot soak, working pressure points in the feet and lower legs. The easiest, lowest-commitment option — perfect after a long day walking the Old Quarter.
Aromatherapy / oil massage
Essential oils with light-to-medium pressure, on a table with fresh linens and usually a shower. The most popular choice at mid-range and above.
Hot stone
Heated basalt stones glided over the body with oil — deeply relaxing and good for muscle tension.
Herbal & bamboo massage
Warm herbal-compress balls or bamboo rollers work the muscles with traditional remedies. La Belle Vie is well known for these.
Blind / visually-impaired massage
Therapeutic, acupressure-focused massage from blind and visually-impaired therapists at social-enterprise spas like Omamori, Midori and Just Massage — among the most skilled and best-value in the city, with no-tipping policies.
Thai massage
Stretching and compression with no oil and medium-to-strong pressure — more active than a Vietnamese massage.
Cupping (Giác hơi)
A traditional detox therapy using suction cups, often offered alongside a body massage at more traditional venues.
Sauna, hammam & Korean jjimjilbang
For a longer wellness session: Amadora's Turkish hammam, hotel-spa saunas, and the new Aquafield Ocean City — a large Korean jjimjilbang with themed sauna rooms and body scrubs, about 30 minutes east of the centre.
Where to try each style
View allWhat to expect — your first Hanoi spa visit
- Arrive about 15 minutes early for a short consultation on pressure and any health issues.
- You'll be given disposable underwear or loose pyjamas to change into; valuables go in a locker.
- You stay draped with a towel or sheet throughout — only the area being worked on is uncovered.
- Speak up any time: ask for 'lighter' (nhẹ) or 'stronger' (mạnh) — therapists expect it.
- Phones on silent; many spas serve tea before or after.
- Sessions typically run 60–90 minutes; hotel and premium spas may add steam or sauna time.
Etiquette & tipping
Tipping isn't mandatory but is appreciated — around 10–20%, or 50,000–100,000 VND, handed directly to your therapist. The blind-therapist social enterprises (Omamori, Just Massage) have explicit no-tipping policies and welcome a small donation instead; hotel spas often add a service charge, so check the bill.
Opening hours run roughly 9:00–10:00 AM to 10:00–11:30 PM daily. Walk-ins are common at budget and mid-range shops; book a day ahead for premium and hotel spas, and at weekends.
Hygiene, licensing & staying safe
A legitimate Hanoi spa is easy to spot: clean rooms and fresh linens, single-use or sanitised items, uniformed therapists, a visible price list and a business licence on display (Serene Spa, for example, notes its therapists are licensed by the Ministry of Health).
Spot the difference
A genuine therapeutic spa never advertises "B2B" (body-to-body), "VIP" with suggestive imagery, or "happy ending" — those blur into adult services and carry scam and theft risks. If a venue has no posted menu, pulls people in off the street, or pressures you on tips, walk away. When in doubt, book through your hotel or Klook.
Find your spa in Hanoi
Browse every Hanoi spa and massage venue by treatment, district and price tier — with real Google ratings and contact details.
Looking for more options? what a massage costs in Hanoi and the best spas in the Old Quarter.