Tan Da Spa: A trip back to a Vietnamese generation's childhood.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Place: Tan Da Spa Resort
Location: Tan Linh - Ba Vi - Ha Tay
[visit
http://www.tandasparesort.com.vn/ for more details and pictures of the pool - which I failed to capture, being afraid people may think I am a pervert -.-" Anyway, there is English version there but it's not working for me. There is also online booking for room and certain sevices]
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Located 2 hour drive away from the center of Hanoi - in good traffic (which never happens -.-"), Tan Da Spa is truly one good place for a family breakaway from the crowded and busy city life. Offering a wholesome experience, suitable for every single member of the family (from great grandparents to great grandchild) Tan Da Spa is becoming a hot sot for Hanoi families who seeks for tranquility during the weekend.
I went to Tan Da Spa with my extended family <3 last April (don't hate me for only posting it up now). The two beautiful girls in my pictures are Hanan and Rima (with Rima in a full dress and Hanan wearing a top and a denim skirt), my extended cousins. With my camera robbed, I apologized for taking only some of the pictures - taking credit for only editing though ;)
Tan Da Spa was inspired by the lost childhood of our parents' generation. My parents were both born in Hanoi. However, during the last Vietnamese war, at the age of 6,7 my parents, their brothers and sister, friends and neighborhood friends all had to leave Hanoi for the villages due to safety reason - avoiding American bombs in the middle of the night. One thing for sure, memories of the war were still somewhat bittersweet in their once innocent minds. There will always be fear of the war, fear of loosing and separation, fear of starvation and the longing for Hanoi, still those wooden houses behind the bamboo trees were the most tranquil moments of the war. There they were protected, brought up, their they learned the love for a city, a few hundred miles apart.
In my generation, most of us were born and grew up in Hanoi. As of me who origin from this capital, never truly experience a life like this: a childhood with the pigs the chickens, with the water buffalo and the well behind yard. Tan Da Spa is almost a perfect place for reminiscing the beautiful memories. So here I come, here I come to know more about my parents' my aunts' uncles' childhood, and stories under the cooling shadow of the trees
Pix above:
A model of a typical well-off Vietnamese house in the countryside.
In Tan Spa, it is offered to the guest in the hotel structure. There are 4 rooms inside, a parents room, next to a children room, a living room and a nice bathroom. There is a yard in front, an outdoor stone table.
I would love to recommend it for a family stay, approximately 2 nights max
Foot massage
Tan Da Spa attempts to live up to their "spa" title. There is a swimming pool (which you have to buy the ticket for entrance), a sauna (ticket comes with the swimming pool, so it's for free once you purchase a swimming ticket). I praise the pool for its cleanness - truly the best I have seen in the North of Vietnam. When you walk along the side of the pool, you really don't experience this "yuck" feeling underneath your feet. Even the common bathroom is constantly cleaned by the staff. Towels are given for free, just like hotel service. :)
Foot massage service is actually separated from the swimming ticket, so you will have to pay extra for it. I did, and it was 3 star, if rated. Certainly it was over priced, almost doubt what a foot massage usually cost in Hanoi. Still, the business is doing well. I guess, this is due to convenience. Guests come here with open minds and open pockets
Pix of Hanan:
We were playing with the ingredients, the herbs for the food massage. I saw ginger, lemon grass, hot oil... Your feet kinda smell really great after the massage - u you don't mind smelling your feet, i assume ;)
Pictures of Rima outside the Treatment rooms
There is a beauty salon here, well equipped with modern machines. These room are pretty private, with one side facing a beautiful lake.
a FAMILY experience
Grand parents can take a walk around the "village road", breathing in fresh country air. Parents can go for a good massage, sauna. Mothers to spa, and Fathers can hit the tennis court. Children at teenage will surely enjoy the swimming pool, or they can accompany their younger siblings to a "couple" bicycle ride around the compound (bicycles are for rent, single or couple, all available in good condition) Little babies may want to join Tan Da Spa's kindergarten, vibrantly decorated with babysitter service offers. After a good day relaxing, families can gather for a good wholehearted meal in either one of Tanda Spa's Restaurant. The food is mediocre, nothing remarkable apart from the freshness of the ingredient. Once bored, we can all meet each other in the Karaoke room, though I am sad to say, there isn't much Korean music available :P There are also 2 business meeting room for rent, 2 coffee shops and other services attended to you 24/7
Overall, Tan Da Spa brings you back to a true Vietnamese village life, with the countryside concept. You will come across a green banana tree, a beautiful wild flower falling unappreciated on the ground, a fishing pond, many traditional Vietnamese houses. I would love to recommend it to a family of three different generations to come together and share some bonding time. One thing I highly praise this Spa for is the security and the pleasant staff service. My cousin forgot her bag in one of the dining room and only returned after almost 4 hours. It wasn't there anymore but was kept safe in the reception area for us to retrieve. I did have wonderful experience with my family and would love to return in the next 3 months or 6 - you know, I am not really a "countryside" and "nature" person, indeed
and this is for you, thx for reading my review, dear wonderful readers
The pix I love the most, taken by me, retouched : ME ALSO
Labels: My Linh
5 Comments:
<3<3<3 all the pix!!!
I'd love to come here someday with you guys!
Anyway, ruam, gimme your full address!!! hehehe
btw i havent gotten my mail from my linh T_T
This comment has been removed by the author.
The pix I love the most, taken by me, retouched : ME ALSO
tsk, someone is damn vain : P
but someone else is loving that vain someone so so damn much
lol - -.-" your package'd better arrive, there is a postcard and a gift for both of u.
Fer, if u don't have Ruam's add, can ask me in fb - I am pro with bombing that beautiful house lol
thx for liking the pix, since I am more equipped with a good camera now, I will be more active <3
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