Vietnam is a hot commodity when it comes to spas, with the wellness sector predicted to grow at an annual rate of 16 per cent over the next five years.

Euromonitor International’s 2012 Health and Wellness Tourism in Vietnam report predicted the sector increase, and compared the revenues of hotels and resort spas (86 per cent) versus other spas (14 per cent), with the clear indication being that wellness tourism is being driven mainly by hospitality operations.

Key purchasers in Vietnam, says Euromonitor, are middle- and upper-income consumers and foreign tourists who enjoy Vietnam’s low-priced spa and wellness services and it is predicted that more Vietnamese will become interested in spas “thanks to greater exposure of western culture in the country.”

Outside the country’s two main urban hubs, coastal regions make natural homes for spa resorts with notable developments including the Ho Tram Strip project in the south of the country, which will accommodate five different resorts with spa offerings upon its completion in 2020.

With the influx of spas to the country, plans are afoot for Vietnam’s first spa association, with membership slated to be open to facilities across the country. The new association intends to focus on international standards, training and collaboration, with a proposed spa school expected to follow and be closely linked with the Fusion Maia Da Nang resort.

For more on spas in Vietnam, see the latest issue of Spa Business Magazine Q3 2013 available here.