Acupressure massage Saigon: what a session at Tong Gia feels like
Tong Gia team · Lương Y Tống Văn Huynh · 2026-10-29
Acupressure massage in Saigon is offered at both Tong Gia branches: 225 Duong Thi Muoi Street, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, open 8:00 to 20:00 daily, and Unit T16-21, The Manhattan, Vinhomes Grand Park, Long Binh Ward, Thu Duc City, open 9:00 to 20:00 daily. A 60-minute traditional Vietnamese massage built on point pressure is 450,000 VND (about $17), and a 60-minute neck & shoulder or lower-back session is 550,000 VND (about $21).
Rather than describe the hour in order, this guide follows the body. Think of it as a map: where the thumbs usually travel, what each stop tends to feel like, and what you can do to make it work for you.
How the route is chosen
Nobody follows a fixed script. The session opens with a short look at your complexion, the height of your shoulders and the line of your spine, a habit taught by founder Lương Y Tống Văn Huynh, a traditional Vietnamese wellness master with more than 13 years in the craft. He uses Vietnamese face and posture reading to suggest which areas need time; it guides the massage and is not a health check.
Then, lying face down, you feel fingers walking slowly down both sides of the spine. Where they meet a knot, they pause. Those pauses become the route.
Stop 1: the base of the skull and the nape
For many Saigon visitors this is where the route starts, after days of looking down at a phone map or up at old buildings. As in the photo, the thumb works small points along the hairline at the back of the neck while the other hand steadies the head.
What it feels like: a narrow, focused ache, sometimes spreading towards the temples. It usually loosens within a few breaths.
Stop 2: the top of the shoulders
The muscle running from neck to shoulder tip holds a lot of carried weight: backpacks, camera straps, a heavy tote in the heat. Here the thumb presses a single point, holds, and releases, then moves a finger-width along.
What it feels like: a heavy, spreading ache, the kind that makes you exhale without being told.
Stop 3: along the shoulder blades
The thumbs trace the inner edge of each shoulder blade.
What it feels like: surprise, mostly. A spot you never noticed suddenly answers back, which simply tells the technician where to stay longer.
Stop 4: beside the spine
Two thumbs press on either side of the spine, working down one vertebra at a time. The pressure is deep but slow.
What it feels like: warmth that builds as the thumbs move down, with the occasional sharper point. Sharp should still mean “intense”, never “painful”.
Stop 5: the lower back
Long bus rides, motorbike pillion seats and walking all day on hot pavements all end up here. The work changes to the heel of the hand and broader presses, so it feels wider and less pinpointed.
What it feels like: a broad heaviness that slowly lets go.
The finish: warmth
The route ends with a warm herbal compress over the areas that worked hardest, then a foot soak. After all that pressing, it feels like putting something down.
Making the map work for you
- Breathe out as the thumb goes in. Holding your breath tightens the very muscle being pressed.
- Speak up. The technician checks pressure throughout; “lighter”, “stronger” or a raised hand all work.
- Name your heavy days. If you have just flown in or walked the city for three days, say so when you book.
- Health first. If you are pregnant, injured or managing an ongoing condition, mention it, and see a licensed physician first if you are unsure whether pressure work suits you.
To book, message WhatsApp or Zalo on +84 888 264 559 with the branch, day, time and session. Branch locations: District 12 on Google Maps (4.9★, 235 Google reviews) and Vinhomes Grand Park on Google Maps (5.0★, 208 Google reviews).
Choosing your session
| Session | VND | About USD |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Vietnamese massage, 60 min | 450,000 | 17 |
| Traditional Vietnamese massage, 90 min | 550,000 | 21 |
| Neck & shoulder or lower-back session, 60 min | 550,000 | 21 |
| Neck & shoulder or lower-back session, 90 min | 750,000 | 29 |
Choose the full traditional massage if the whole route feels tight, or the neck & shoulder or lower-back session if one area does most of the complaining. The style is described on the traditional Vietnamese massage page, and every retail price is on the prices page.
FAQ
Are needles used in acupressure massage? No. Only thumbs, knuckles and palms press on the points.
Is acupressure massage painful? It should feel intense but bearable, like a deep ache that eases as you breathe out. Ask for lighter pressure at any time.
Can I ask the technician to focus on one area? Yes. Mention it when you book or at the start, and choose the neck & shoulder or lower-back session if you want the whole hour on one region.
This is a wellness service, not medical care.