In your view, how has the Vietnamese wellness industry matured over the past decade?
Top-tier spas only appeared in Vietnam in early 1990s. At that time, the Vietnamese were still struggling against all kinds of difficulties, so the spa concept was something too strange and luxurious for them to consider.
From a time when spa visits were considered a luxury for the very wealthy, today many Vietnamese in the city consider skin care, energy restoration and relaxation after a stressful week as essential needs of every person.
Today, more and more premium spas are on the scene, and there’s a real wide variety in terms of services on offer and the quality of those services. The Vietnamese spa industry today is very competitive. Our challenges are first, to meet the differing beauty and wellness demands of local and foreign customers; and second, to catch up and keep pace with international spa trends
Vietnam’s major cities are full of spas of every caliber and price point, yet the country is not top-of-mind for most people considering wellness destinations. Why do you think this is? Do you see this perception changing of late?
In reality, domestic "spa techniques" are largely inherited from the one of several major international cosmetic companies. It’s quite hard to define the spas in the current Vietnamese market. At the moment, there are not many places recognized as authentic spas, except for those in the top hotels and resorts, and a very few independent day spas. The rest, many customers would say, are beauty salons acting as spas.
The demand of high-end customers varies greatly, and it’s not simply a matter of quality or price, but also a diversity in services requested. Because of the competition and the growing number of spas in the country, the ability for a spa to create and customize its own services and style is increasingly important for those seeking a niche in the market.
Vietnamese have some wellness techniques that are not very well known outside the country, yet are a regular part of local life. Could you describe one or two of these techniques and their benefits?
Since ancient times, Vietnamese have had knowledge of plants and herbs and their use in health and beauty treatments. One of the methods used locally to improve health and mental relaxation is steaming herbs with leaves and grasses. When you are about to catch a cold, a simple leaf rush caldron will start the body perspiring and detoxifying. Besides that, Vietnamese women have long relied on natural materials, such as rice bran, honey, and royal jelly for sustaining beauty. Other techniques, such as coin scraping and cupping are popular with men who do a lot of physical labor.
Where should a traveler go to experience these treatments? Are they offered at the Caravelle’s spa?
Some spas in Ho Chi Minh City use natural materials such as plants and herbs in their saunas as way to bring this experience to customers.
At Kara Salon & Spa, natural herbal ingredients are used throughout most of the treatments. Our welcome drink is made from leaves and roots for an internal cooling effect and beautiful skin. The water used for foot massage therapy, manicures and hot stones is also processed using herbal leaves. We don’t perform cupping or scraping, but we do a traditional Vietnamese body scrubs and facials, and we have a special mud wrap with Vietnamese herbs – the destination is well reflected in our menu.
The Caravelle took over management of its spa and re-launched it as Kara Spa & Salon just last year. In your role as spa manager you’ve helped to set a new direction for the spa since then. How has the spa changed and improved (its services, products, staff and menu) over the past year?
From the start, my goal was to set up Kara Salon & Spa based on the criteria of the World Spa Association. We focus on ten aspects to fully satisfy the five senses, and bring balance and energy to the body and soul. We also aim to introduce foreigners to wellness traditions from the Orient. As part of our preparation, we sought out therapists from the city’s top spas and retrained them for consistency and to reflect the standards of the Caravelle Hotel.
You’ve worked for leading day and hotel spas in HCMC and Central Vietnam. What has your experience taught you about the differences between Vietnamese and Western spa-goers?
I believe there’s a high demand for spas in the West because people there have a greater demand for mental relaxation. However, the techniques used at Western spas are not as mysterious and fascinating as those used in the East. I figure this is why foreigners love to come to Vietnam and try Asian-style spas.
Is there a treatment unique to Kara Spa, perhaps difficult to find elsewhere, that you always recommend to guests?
A unique experience with surprising results is our red wine exfoliation and royal jelly body wrap. Our customers have a lot of positive things to say about these treatments.
Do you have a personal wellness routine or method of de-stressing when you’re feeling worn out?
Aside from reading and writing for pleasure, I can recommend a good swim, Zen meditation and fragrant bath oils as DIY ways to regain balance and restore the mind.
Post by John Gardner, General Manager, the Caravelle Hotel