AMANOI

HIGHLIGHT

Customised wellness retreats are best enjoyed at the two purpose-built spa houses, Thuy Lien and An Son. The former, where I stayed, comes with a hammam, steam room, Jacuzzi, cold plunge pool, ice fountain, relaxation deck and a 15m pool overlooking a serene lotus pond. An Son comes with a banya thermal facility. Wellness immersions can be booked regardless of the room type.

WELLNESS PHILOSOPHY

Health and well-being has always been an integral part of Aman, whose distinctive design ethos encourages guests to embrace simplicity. Its recently launched wellness immersions—currently available in only four properties at the time of print—displays commitment to helping Aman junkies find their chi. It’s easy to find the headspace to relax once you arrive at Amanoi, a tranquil escape set on 43ha of land within Vietnam’s Nui Chua National Park. Sculptural granite boulders stand tall against verdant rolling hills, with pavilions subtly dotting the pristine landscape. Since opening in 2013, Amanoi’s spa has reaped multiple awards, and the recent addition of two dedicated spa houses and a wellness programme centred on East Asian medicine therapy only strengthen the offering. The immersions are led by in-house manager Joshua Hehr, an expert of East Asian medicine and a licensed acupuncturist. Whether one chooses the detoxification, weight management or stress control track, each immersion is goal-oriented, requires a minimum of three full days, and follows a tailored schedule. I went for the Mindfulness, Relaxation and Stress Control retreat, which consists of therapies, treatments and practices that help calm the nervous system and reconnect with oneself. Each day is made up of movement, treatment and specialist sessions; the specific components are decided during the arrival consultation with Hehr. They are complemented with an immersion menu featuring guilt-free food and drink (I really relished the fish cooked in claypot with a side of Asian salad), plus twice a day serving of herbal tea, specially brewed to address one’s ailments and conditions. Movement sessions range from a private yoga class to guided hikes within the property, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. This is usually followed by a treatment, and there’s a whole universe to avail of such as the hot stone massage, Vietnamese cupping massage or an indulgent modern-day hammam ritual. The specialist sessions finish off this trifecta of wellness. During my stay, I was able to learn the fundamentals of qigong and meditation from visiting expert Sascha Wagener, and try a contemporary take on acupuncture called meridian therapy executed by Hehr. Downtime is also factored in, of course. Leisurely mealtimes allowed me to explore the sprawling property and take in (as well as Instagram) the mesmerising symmetrical design of Jean-michel Gathy. When it was time to leave, I realised how beneficial a shift in pace and perspective is to remain healthy. My mind was clear, and the improvement was also physically visible, much to my delight. Most importantly, however, Aman’s balanced approach equipped me to continue the journey to wellness even now that I’m back to reality.