4 Best Sights in Vietnam

The concept of a warm mud bath may already be strange, but taking one in an egg-shaped tub makes it even more bizarre—and memorable. Reopened in June 2024 after a renovation, the facility’s private egg tubs each accommodate two to three people, and there are larger stone tubs for groups, hot- and cold-water pools, herbal baths, as well as saunas and steam rooms. The purported therapeutic quality of sitting in and slathering on mud is questionable, but it's still worth spending a few hours here for a fun, messy pampering session. There are showers, change rooms, lockers, and a restaurant.

The highlands around Son La are naturally blessed with veins of underground hot water. Vietnam, by and large, doesn't really have much in the way of a communal bathing culture. As a result, hot spring tourism, even in a place as naturally predisposed as this, is still only burgeoning.

Several smaller highland villages surround the small city, each with its own hot springs, some of which are open to the public. If you feel like soaking your tired bones for a while, have your driver or a motorbike taxi take you to either Phu Mau Ville or Mong Ville. Both are only a few miles from the main road and are open to the public. The hot springs at Phu Mau Ville are cheaper and have been open to travelers for longer, so the quality of the water and the facilities themselves have definitely seen better days. Mon Ville is a little further, newer, and a little more expensive (by a few dollars). Its spring water is clearer and the surrounding scenery more beautiful.

While the mud baths are the main attraction at I-Resort, there are also warm mineral pools, mineral water spas, waterfalls, and a kids' play area, all set within landscaped grounds 20 minutes northwest of Nha Trang's tourist center. Packages can be purchased that include a massage, mud bath, and a "light bite" that's really a full meal.

If your idea of relaxation involves soaking in warm mineral water, head to this hot spring center on the northern outskirts of Nha Trang, 7 km (4½ miles) from the tourist area. In addition to mud baths there are hot mineral pools and a mineral swimming pool. You can choose to soak in private tubs or communal areas.