Each country has its unique massage methods, and so does Vietnam. The art of massage in Vietnam has extended outside the country, and now spas all over the world offer their own massage inspired by and drawing from Vietnamese techniques, and vise versa.
No matter what type you pick, going in for your first massage can be nerve-racking. When somebody’s touching your body, it naturally wants to know what to expect. We’ve got the rundown on six types of massages in Vietnam to help you prepare for your relaxing vacation.
Notes: all the massages mentioned in this guide are legitimate massages and legal services provided by professional spas and massages in Vietnam.
The traditional Vietnamese massage technique, or “Tam quat”, is a technique focusing on stimulating blood circulation by punching and clapping on the treatment areas. It relieves pain by putting pressure directly on the afflicted muscle to help you relaxed. It may sound rough to people who are unfamiliar, but the technique is very soothing and relaxing.
However, nowadays, in most spas in Vietnam, they do not have “Tam quat” in their service menus; they usually combine it with other techniques like those of Chinese, Swedish, Japanese, and Thai to create different types of body massages.
T
he whole body massage will usually start with a facial massage; the masseur massages your forehead and cheek with their fingers, and then gently rubs against your eyes and the back of your neck. After that, your back, legs, and arms are massaged. And the acupressure points are pressed to increase the circulation you need to remove toxins and stress from your body. Finally, they will perform Tam quat, punching and percussion on your whole body from the back to the legs.
You can also ask for additional services like 4-handed massages and cupping therapy.
4-Handed Massage: This technique is an elevated version of Tam quat, using the synchronization of clapping and punching of two masseurs. The purpose is to increase the speed and give you a simultaneous massage on the back and legs.
Cupping Therapy. Cupping therapy is a unique form of massage originated from China. Some people are frightened of this version after seeing
photographs of people’s backs littered with bruised, red marks from the cups. However, the practice isn’t as painful as it looks.
At first, the masseurs will move the heated cup across your back to loosen up the muscle. After that, the warm cups will be placed on the waist to shoulders for about 5 – 10 minutes. The technique is supposed to create a vacuum to draw in the cup a part of flesh that needs treatment to relievepain, tension, and prevent cramps by working through the muscles, which is why it is usually used by many athletes.
Because of the side effects like red marks on the body, the cupping therapy is not popular as it used to be and can be hard to find in modern spas. Only some traditional places practicing Eastern medicine may perform this technique. It should be performed by professionals as it requires applying correct heat to your body. And it is not recommended for people with heart disease, skin injuries, and women in menstruation or pregnancy. Make sure to explain to the therapists about your health conditions before the therapy to receive a consultation.
Source: https://www.itourvn.com
