HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — As Ho Chi Minh City hurries to cut the ribbon on a new crop of gleaming shopping malls and high-rise complexes, one of its most iconic hotels is quietly unveiling a nostalgia-tinged sanctuary of wellness and rejuvenation in the historic heart of the city.
Six weeks after its soft debut, Kara Salon & Spa on the 7th floor of the Caravelle Hotel has fully opened its doors to guests and visitors seeking a breather from the relentless pace of the streets below.
“We’re in the midst of it all, here on Lam Son Square,” said John Gardner, the hotel’s General Manager. “And with Kara’s debut, we’re carving some space out of the bright lights and big city for an oasis of stillness and calm.”
The first in-house managed spa in the Caravelle’s history covers 750 square metres of hardwood and marble floors in the hotel’s original, 53-year-old wing, made famous as a haven for war correspondents in the 60s and 70s.
Previously home to one of the Qi group of spas, in mid-September the Caravelle embarked on its own wellness story, melding the spa into its distinct brand of luxury and gracious Vietnamese hospitality. The spa’s name is a play on the English word, “carat”, signifying high quality.
Kara Spa’s two corner VIP suites and eight private treatment rooms overlook the treetops of the Opera House and Lam Son Square through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The eight daybeds in the foot massage parlour face a palm-shaded swimming pool and spray of climbing wall vines.
After a pandan and boot-lily tea welcome, guests retreat to separate men’s and women’s areas, each containing aromatherapy steam rooms, saunas, private showers, a Jacuzzi and single treatment rooms. The spa’s double VIP rooms with their captivating views of the city centre cater to friends, VIPs and couples.
Kara Spa partnered with luxury Thai product line THANN and all-natural skin-care brand Pevonia Botanical to enhance the quality of its body and facial treatments. Revitalizing ingredients used in the Spa are as diverse as Myoxy Caviar, black sesame and Dead Sea mud.
Giving greater priority to the full-body experience, the spa added a range of three- to four-hour packages, new massages, scrubs and wraps to its menu. ‘Fit For a King’, a head-to-toe package for a manly polishing-up, balances the indulgent Kara Queen Body Wrap with Royal Jelly, milk and essential oils. The Kara Saigon Signature massage blends five of the spa’s seven massage traditions in one 90-minute session.
The salon’s menu of hair, nail and waxing services are executed by five hairdressers and nail technicians using L’Oreal Professional products and OPI polish.
Ten of the city’s top spa therapists were brought on board under the supervision of a new spa manager, Hoang Thuy Vi, who carries almost a decade of experience heading spas at the Ana Mandara Hue, Sofitel Plaza Saigon and Park Royal Saigon.
For more information please contact Ms Thuy Vi – Spa Manager at vi.hoang@caravellehotel.com or 38234999 ext 27032.
