Located at the source of Thanh Tan Hot Springs and embraced by the foothills of the Truong Son mountain range (about 18 miles northwest of the city of Hue and 30 miles from Phu Bai International Airport), Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion offers an environment conducive to relaxation as well as an opportunity to recharge, plus it allows guests to also indulge a more adventurous side.
The boutique property offers just 30 well-equipped rooms, plus 14 one-bedroom bungalows and six 2-bedroom bungalows, all surrounded by nature.
Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion is recognized as a pioneering “sustainable wellness” product in Vietnam, and in 2022, Spa & Wellness director I Nyoman Yastama was one of two recipients of the Wellness Tourism Association’s “Leading Light Award.”
More recently, Alba Wellness Valley placed first in three categories of the 2023 Luxury Lifestyle Readers’ Travel Awards: “Best Hotel for Nature Lovers,” “Best Hotel for Sustainability” and “Best Hotel for Families.”
Harmony & Balance
Catering to guests seeking rest, relaxation and renewal, themed programs include a 4- or 6-day Healing Yourself Retreat Package and 5- or 7-day Detox Yourself package. The Healing Yourself Retreat is designed, says director of sales & marketing Dien Pham, “to bring harmony and balance to three key components: body, mind and soulful well-being, with a special focus on mental health.” Both themed programs are priced from $490 per person.
Pham points out that programs can also be customized to suit an individual client’s goals, and the Alba wellness team can assist guests with customizing or tailoring a program or service after the booking has been made and the sale is closed. Examples of specific wellness intentions might be learning stress management techniques, learning about digestive or sleep issues, and dealing with negative emotions.
For guests who are not booked for a specific program or package, activities include unlimited access to the mineral waters of Thanh Tan Hot Springs, a 30-minute Japanese onsen and 50-minute spa treatment per adult per night. A wide range of daily activities (taking place both on and off site) and scheduled between 7 AM and 6 PM include yoga, water meditation, tai chi, the traditional art of mask-making, forest meditation, various types of meditation, qigong (an ancient form of martial arts) and a visit to the organic Alba Farm where guests can arrange to pick their own pesticide-free produce, plus more. No minimum booking is required to access these daily classes.
For an extra charge, a healthy, vegetarian or Hue favorites cooking class is available for individual guests. The cooking class is included with the Healing Yourself Retreat package.
For the more adventurous guest there is mountain hiking, an 800+-foot zipline, plus a high-wire treetop adventure course featuring 32 challenges at close to 20 ft. above ground.
Target Client for this Vietnam Oasis
Alba caters to a variety of guests including (leisure, business and wedding parties) and the age range is typically between 30 and 50 years old. According to Pham, most guests simply “want to relax, recharge and rejuvenate.”
The property also welcomes solo travelers and caters to them with the option of one-to-one sessions (included in the room price) led by members of the Alba wellness team. Such options include yoga, meditation, tai chi and a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Hue. A healthy, vegetarian or local favorites-themed cooking class is also available to solo guests.
For families traveling with young children, there’s an onsite kids’ club.
‘Local, Friendly & Accommodating’
In addition to unlimited access to hot springs, a 30-minute dip in a Japanese onsen and one 50-minute spa treatment per adult per night included in the room rate, one of the signature offerings at Alba is “breakfast anywhere, anytime.”
On a final note, Pham says, “Our staff is local, friendly and accommodating. The team is caring and giving to guests who are suffering stress from busy corporate or personal lives and are here looking for relaxation and calm and mindful moments.”
Best Time to Visit
While there is no defined “high and low season,” Pham points out that since October and November is considered “raining season,” the best time to travel is, generally, from December to September of the following year. She says October and November does, however, allow guests to enjoy greater serenity and tranquility with more options for customized programs. “It’s a great time for enjoying the slow life and laid-back retreat.” For those who prefer warm, dry travel, she recommends the busier summer months of June, July and August.
For more information, visit fusionhotelgroup.com/albawellnessvalley.
Recommend magazine has partnered with the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) to bring you monthly columns to help travel advisors sell wellness travel. For more information on the WTA, visit wellnesstourismassociation.org.
