Ba Vi retreats blend traditional medicine, natural beauty, modern wellness
Wellness tourism is gaining traction in Hanoi’s outskirts as travelers seek balance of body and mind.
THE HANOI TIMES — The mountainous commune of Ba Vi is fast emerging as a hub for wellness tourism, with Ao Vua Tourist Area offering herbal baths, acupressure massages, and steam therapies in a setting that harmonizes with nature.
Packages for 2025 range from one-day escapes to three-day stays, combining the lush scenery of Ba Vi with Vietnam’s centuries-old healing traditions.
At 9:15 AM, guests are welcomed with a fragrant tea brewed from local medicinal leaves. The cool morning air carries the refreshing aroma of eucalyptus and cinnamon drifting down from the surrounding hills.
The day begins with a traditional acupressure massage, a technique practiced for generations in northern villages. Therapists apply steady pressure on key points to ease muscle tension, improve circulation, and restore energy flow.
By 11 AM, the herbal jacuzzi pools open. Warm water infused with wormwood, ginger, and lemongrass releases a soothing fragrance that lingers gently on the skin.
Lunch is a celebration of healthy comfort food, featuring seasonal vegetables, brown rice, and lotus seed soup. Unlike heavier city meals, the dishes are light yet full of flavor, leaving guests refreshed rather than weighed down.
In the afternoon, groups set out on guided walks through the Ba Vi foothills. Along winding trails, villagers explain how herbs such as mugwort and celastrus are gathered for remedies.
The chorus of cicadas blends with the sound of mountain streams, creating a natural symphony. Visitors are even encouraged to pick leaves and learn their medicinal uses firsthand.
Travel blogger Dang Diary has described Ao Vua as one of the oldest and most reputable wellness retreats near Hanoi, trusted by visitors for decades.
Office worker Khanh Phuong agrees, calling accessibility the biggest advantage: “It is so convenient to travel from Hanoi, easy to arrange transport and schedules.”
Students also find the experience appealing. Binh Kieu, a university student, shared: “Going with friends was enjoyable thanks to flexible room options and a wide range of activities. It felt lively, with plenty of things to do together.”
The retreat has become a frequent recommendation on travel blogs and advisory platforms, especially those targeting international visitors seeking authentic experiences close to the capital.
As evening approaches, the herbal sauna opens at 7:30 PM Guests step into a wooden cabin where smoke from burning mugwort bundles fills the air. The sharp, earthy aroma is said to cleanse the lungs, leaving many with a floating sensation of lightness.
Ao Vua offers flexible options: one-day programs priced at VND1.2 million (US$48) and two-to-three-day retreats starting from VND2.8 million ($112), including eco-lodge accommodation nestled among pine trees. Each lodge has an open balcony where guests can meditate at sunrise, immersed in birdsong and fresh mountain air.
Seasonal programs reflect Vietnam’s traditional health philosophy of harmony with nature. Spring retreats focus on detox with bamboo shoots, summer therapies use peppermint to cool the body, autumn emphasizes immunity with ginger-based meals and winter features warming herbal compresses.
As night falls, silence settles over the retreat. The sky glitters with stars, and the faint scent of lemongrass oil lingers in the breeze.
A young woman poses by the waterfall bridge, enjoying the fresh air at Ao Vua Tourist Area.
Ao Vua’s mission extends beyond tourism as the center has become an active player in medical and wellness development, often partnering with professional associations and healthcare organizations to connect traditional therapies with modern practices.
According to Nguyen Manh Than, Chairman of Ao Vua Corporation and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Public Health Education Association, the site positions itself as a bridge between tourism and healthcare with many activities this year, especially hosting a scientific conference on “Application of Traditional Medicine, Modern Medicine and Nutrition in Stroke Preventionmore" in March.
Than said more than 200 delegates, including professors, doctors, and practitioners from leading medical associations, exchanged knowledge on integrating traditional techniques, clinical care and nutrition to reduce stroke risks and support recovery.
"With support from the experts, we have sucessfully built comprehensive wellness model where leisure and medical expertise stand side by side," said Than.
For visitors, the result is more than a retreat: it is an immersive journey into Vietnam’s healing heritage, set against the timeless beauty of Ba Vi’s mountains and forests.
