Traditional Vietnamese massage: what a session at Tong Gia feels like
Tong Gia team · Lương Y Tống Văn Huynh · 2026-10-29
A traditional Vietnamese massage at Tong Gia is available at 225 Duong Thi Muoi Street, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12 (open 8:00 to 20:00 daily) and at Unit T16-21, The Manhattan, Vinhomes Grand Park, Long Binh Ward, Thu Duc City (open 9:00 to 20:00 daily). It costs 450,000 VND (about $17) for 60 minutes or 550,000 VND (about $21) for 90 minutes, and this guide walks through the longer session as a clock, so you know what is happening at each point.
In Vietnamese the style is called “massage Đông y”, massage in the Eastern tradition. It is built on pressure points, kneading and stretching through the muscles rather than long oily strokes, and at Tong Gia it always follows the same order: look, search, press, warm.
Before minute zero
Send a WhatsApp or Zalo message to +84 888 264 559 with the branch, the day, the time and “traditional massage, 90 min”.
Eat lightly one to two hours before, and wear something easy to change out of. If you are pregnant, have a recent injury or live with an ongoing health condition, say so when you book. When you are unsure whether massage suits you at all, see a licensed physician first.
Minutes 0–5: being looked at
You arrive and sit for a moment before lying down. The technician looks at your complexion, the height of each shoulder and the line of your back. This comes from founder Lương Y Tống Văn Huynh, a traditional Vietnamese wellness master with more than 13 years in the craft, who uses Vietnamese face and posture reading to suggest where the session should spend its time. It is observation to plan the session, nothing more.
Minutes 5–15: the search
Face down now. The technician’s fingers move slowly along both sides of your spine from the base of the skull to the waist. It feels like someone reading a map with their hands. Every so often they pause on a spot that answers back with a dull, surprising ache. Those spots set the plan for the next hour.
Minutes 15–60: the long middle
This is where most of the pressing happens. Expect:
- Thumbs on points along the neck, the edge of the shoulder blades and beside the spine, held for a few breaths rather than rubbed.
- Kneading of the shoulders and the muscles between the shoulder blades, firm enough to feel through.
- Wide pressing strokes, like the photo above: both hands on the shoulders, then a long sweep down the back towards the hips, which links the worked areas together.
The feeling to aim for is a deep, heavy ache that softens as you breathe out. Sharp, burning or tingling sensations are not part of it; say “lighter” or lift a hand and the technician will adjust.
Minutes 60–80: the extra half hour
This is what the 90-minute booking buys you. Instead of wrapping up, the technician returns to the spots that stayed stubborn and moves on to areas that a 60-minute session often only touches briefly, such as the lower back, the hips or the arms. The pace slows, and it is easy to drift into a half-sleep.
Minutes 80–90: warmth and the slow return
Then a warm herbal compress goes over the areas that worked hardest, then a foot soak. After all that pressure, the heat feels heavy and calm. Sit up slowly before standing.
The next morning
Light tenderness in the worked areas is common and fades within a day or so. Keep that evening gentle and skip hard exercise. If something feels wrong rather than simply worked, see a licensed physician.
60 or 90 minutes?
| Session | VND | About USD |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Vietnamese massage, 60 min | 450,000 | 17 |
| Traditional Vietnamese massage, 90 min | 550,000 | 21 |
| Add-on area massage, 30 min | 199,000 | 8 |
Sixty minutes covers the search and the main pressing. Ninety gives the session room to go back over stubborn areas without hurrying, which suits a first visit well. More about the style is on the traditional Vietnamese massage page, and all retail prices are on the prices page.
Find the branches on Google Maps: District 12 (4.9★, 235 Google reviews) and Vinhomes Grand Park (5.0★, 208 Google reviews). To book, message WhatsApp or Zalo on +84 888 264 559.
FAQ
Are needles or tools used? No. The pressing is done with thumbs, knuckles and palms only.
What is the latest time to start a 90-minute session? Both branches close at 20:00, so start a 90-minute session by about 18:15 and a 60-minute session by about 18:45.
Should I eat before the session? Eat something light one to two hours before. A full meal right beforehand makes lying face down uncomfortable.
Can I ask for lighter pressure? Yes, at any time. The technician checks pressure with you throughout the session, and a word or a raised hand is enough.
Is the session the same at both branches? Yes. Both branches follow the same method and the same retail prices; only the opening hour differs.
This is a wellness service, not medical care.