As with most places in Southeast Asia, Vang Vieng is a good option to enjoy a traditional massage. That fits perfectly, since most of the activities in Vang Vieng can be tiresome. A massage is a great way to relax and unwind. In our personal opinion, it’s an absolute must if you visit the town. A vacation is all about relaxing and recharging, right? A massage in Vang Vieng provides exactly that.
Types of massages you can enjoy in Vang Vieng
Not every massage is the same, as the experience can vary greatly depending on the type. Luckily, even if you don’t understand a single word of Lao, the menus often have a proper translation, and you’ll directly know what types of massages are available. The only exception is the soapy massages in Vang Vieng. If you’re interested in those, your best bet is to ask for an oil massage and see where it goes. In the following list, you can see some common massage types in Vang Vieng and other parts of Laos:
- Aroma massage
- Foot massage
- Herbal steam massage
- Oil massage
- Shoulder massage
- Sport massage
In addition to these, there are a few other options available. The variety depends on the specific massage shop in Vang Vieng. Most of the places that offer massages are usually small local spas that also offer other services. Those services can range from pedicure to manicure to waxing. Another popular service is the fish spa. Fish spas are a unique experience where small fish nibble on dead skin. Their purpose is to exfoliate your skin and leave it feeling smoother. They‘re a great way for relaxation.
Best massage shops in Vang Vieng
Since Vang Vieng isn’t very big, there aren’t as many options as in bigger cities like Luang Prabang or Vientiane. However, as a tourist destination in Laos, you’ll find enough places to get a relaxing massage. You just need to ask yourself the question, what’s the best place for your needs. The information below will help you decide.
Name | Opening hours | Years of experience | Popularity | Location | Price |
Smile Massage & Spa | n/a | over 5 years | medium | starting at around 90.000 kip | |
Utopia Massage Vangvieng | 10:00-21:00 daily | over 7 years | very popular | starting at around 150.000 kip | |
Seng Dao Massage | 10:00-22:00 daily | over 5 years | very popular | starting at around 100.000 kip | |
Khankham Massage | 09:00-22:00 daily | over 5 years | popular | starting at around 100.000 kip | |
First Massage | 10:00-22:00 daily | over 5 years | very popular | starting at around 175.000 kip | |
Mandarina Spa | 09:00-22:00 daily | over 5 years | medium | starting at around 60.000 kip |
Smile Massage & Spa
We just happened to have a picture of this massage place and therefore decided to include it in our comparison. One big plus of the massage salon are the cheap prices. The quality could be better and is the main reason many tourists complain. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a good massage here. The chance to find one of the more experienced and passionate massage therapists is just lower than at other places.
Utopia Massage Vangvieng
Utopia Massage offers a wide variety of services and with more than 7 years of experience, it’s one of the longest operating massage centers in town. Since the massage complex is very huge, even during the peak season you shouldn’t have any problems regarding availability. While not the most expensive spa in Vang Vieng, it’s more pricey than most other places. For that, you get a high-quality service. Many tourists with health issues reported that the massage therapists were able to address their needs effectively.
Seng Dao Massage
This spa is definitely an interesting option for a traditional Lao massage. Visitors appreciate the skill of the massage therapists, and if you take a look at the reviews, you’ll notice different names, which means that the spa employs a variety of skilled massage therapists. The overall environment is very clean, which contributes to a pleasant and relaxing experience. Even occasional communication issues are possible, they rarely affect the overall satisfaction.
Khankham Massage
What differentiates the Khankham Massage from the other salons is that this place is also a motorcycle rental. To be honest, that’s a brave combination, but it works well for those in need of both services. Khankham offers affordable massages and also other services like haircuts. It’s popular among tourists, but also among locals that appreciate its versatile services.
First Massage
The name can be a bit misleading, since the First Massage is not the first spa in Vang Vieng. There are plenty of others that are by far older and even in terms of popularity, although this spa is indeed very well-known, it still attracts many customers. Thanks to its eye-catching outdoor advertising, it’s almost impossible to miss. First Massage is by far one of the most expensive massage shops in Vang Vieng, since there aren’t many cheap alternatives. For that, you get very professional services. Definitely a nice option if you’re suffering from back pain or other muscular issues.
Mandarina Spa
From all our recommendations, the Mandarina Spa is by far the least popular, but that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad option. One of its big advantages is that there are plenty of cheap massage options. If you’re looking for a cheap way to relax, this massage salon in Vang Vieng is a great choice. Even the massages are a bit worse than higher-end spas, the value for money makes it worthwhile.
How much you have to pay for a massage in Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is definitely not the cheapest place if you’re looking for a massage in Laos. In Vientiane and more rural places, you’ll definitely find way cheaper options. In significantly more developed tourist areas in Thailand, massages are expensive. Some cheap massages cost only around 3 USD per hour, and even the regular massages just around 5 USD per hour. Compared to massages in Europe or the US, this is incredibly affordable.
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Are the massages in Vang Vieng worthwhile?
It always depends on the massage shop you choose, and even most places are professional, you always risk encountering uninterested massage therapists without any enthusiasm. With good research, such cases are pretty rare. From our personal experience, the massages in Laos can almost match ones in Thailand. Vang Vieng is no exception.
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