Trip Report: Hoi An and Da Nang

[Daddy415]

We spent a few days in Hoi An and checked out two spas there, Gay Male Spa and Rooster Spa. We had booked at Gay Male Spa based on the photos (AI?) we saw on their Facebook page and let me tell you, the therapists who met us there looked nothing like those photos. One of them was quite overweight. The other would have done in a pinch but we decided the vibe was off and left.

We then went to Rooster and the receptionist was very nice and spoke great English. However he told us there were no private rooms for massage there so we left.

 

The next day we tried Nom Spa in Da Nang and again "just ok." There were two of us, and we were used to Bangkok style services and facilities. Both are lacking here. The shower looked pretty dirty with huge mildew on the wall, and overall the appearance of the building (after you leave the nicer reception area) was pretty bad. Air con did work well and the therapists were ok (soft services only, strictly) and we felt it was expensive for what we got. Neither of us would return.

 

We are back in Bangkok now and feel like we are back "home" with the excellent spas here. So glad that someone on the forum told us to book Fast Track (via Klook) immigration in Da Nang. The arrival queue would have been easily 2 very hot hours, but we were through in 2 very fast minutes. Exit departure not as bad, maybe 30-45 mins wait, but we again booked Fast Track and were through in 2-4 minutes.

 

[tm_nyc]

Thanks for the Hoi An/Da Nang report!  I have visited Da Nang a couple of times & there's a lot to like there (IMO).  But the spa/massage scene is disappointing.  Thanks also for the Fast Track Immigration tip.  On my last trip, there were long, slow moving lines, both arriving & departing from HCMC.

[Daddy415]

5 hours ago, tm_nyc said:

Thanks for the Hoi An/Da Nang report!  I have visited Da Nang a couple of times & there's a lot to like there (IMO).  But the spa/massage scene is disappointing.  Thanks also for the Fast Track Immigration tip.  On my last trip, there were long, slow moving lines, both arriving & departing from HCMC.

Happy to help pay it forward on this forum. The arrival queues were epic. I haven't seen anything like that since Bali 10 years ago where the immigration guys were looking for $20 to skip the line. Now Bali is super fast with their e-gates and Da Nang is... not. It was also really hot and we got some nasty looks as we cut the line but I was gleeful as we zoomed to our car and out of there so quickly. Thai Vietjet made us check luggage even though we were business class, but it came out immediately, zero wait, unlike immigration.

If Fast Track did not exist, I would not ever return to Da Nang. I've earned my grey hairs and I dont wait in lines like that unless it's the apocalypse.