The Health Retreat in Vietnam You Need When You Don’t Think You Need One

The perfect health retreat in Vietnam when you don’t think you need a health retreat

Not everyone is like me, and wants a full blown health retreat or detox holiday experience, so this is the perfect Vietnamese health retreat when you think you don’t want one.

I loved my stay at Fusion Maia, this gorgeous oasis in Vietnam. It is in Da Nang which in itself a bucket list destination. There are three Unesco World Heritage  sites in the area, including the Imperial City of Hue, Hoi An, An Ancient Town and the My Son ruins. But for me, the area is all about the resorts, and there are some brilliant ones, including this one.

The minute I arrived, a friendly woman called Thuy Anh, a gentle local from the hotel, (called a Fusionista), greeted me, and insisted on a fresh lime, ginger, herb and flower filled bath in my enormous private bath overlooking my plunge pool, before dinner. Three people came into the room to make it up for me.

What an incredible way to start my holiday and my stay, and when drying myself, I found a beautifully wrapped box of home made shortbreads on the table, just what I needed to kick my jet lag after flying from Sydney via Singapore.

I am not sure what I liked more, the fact spa treatments are included in the room rate or the food, which is some of the best I have had at a health retreat. Plus staff will serve breakfast anywhere, any time, which sets the tone of your stay – you’re in charge.

The resort is appropriately called Fusion Maia, as it fuses a relaxing holiday with the healthier elements of a retreat, so you can choose the style of holiday you want and push it either way.

I’m one of those people who has no problem with discipline at a health retreat, and I guess that is because I have been to so many since I discovered Health and Fitness Travel, a brilliant Australian company with inside information on every health retreat in the world (I’m serious), who connect me with a health retreat one or twice a year.

But even for me, it was nice to tone things down a few notches and make my own choices each day, depending on how I felt. During my stay, I attended a laughing class – it was hilarious, as well as a yoga and breathing class, and had some incredible massages and reiki treatments. Fusion Maia have 100 therapists in the spa, making it the biggest in Vietnam.

Fusion Maia in Da Nang, Vietnam is the first retreat I have found where two people can go with two agendas and achieve them – together. The concept is based on seven different themes for the 7 days of the week, called A Natural Living Program which I personally loved.

Daily themes include  “Feel Free – a focus on emotions, “Be Active” – Fitness, “Get Social” – be more social, “Eat Well” – nutrition, and so on. And there are specific activities each day to match the themes. It is so well executed.

It was the food that really won me though, as there were so many choices. Dinner at the seafood buffet was a highlight, (I am not usually a buffet person, but everything here is cooked to order, you select it raw) and they even have red meat on the seafood buffet for people who don’t want to stick to seafood.

There were gorgeous wines by the glass from various global regions, as well as interesting mocktails. There is nothing boring or vanilla here, everything is creative and sensational.

At breakfast, there are many different sprinkles on the buffet to spice up your meal, and infuse some healthy ingredients if you want to, from asian style sesame based dukkah mixes to green spirulina or spicy chilli mixes, I went crazy.

I saw several couples where the guy was having a typical Western breakfast, and the woman was eating made to order salmon on spinach – such is the range on offer here.

I haven’t even mentioned the resort, but it is stunning, everything you hope for from an Asian holiday resort including a beautiful beach, pools, manicured gardens and calming, alluring restaurants in tranquil settings.

I’d go again in a heartbeat – January if I can.

Prices start from $2,980 per person on a twin share basis to $4,595 single occupancy for 7 nights accommodation including full board and private transfers. Check out www.healthandfitnesstravel.com.au for more.