By the end of a working day your neck has locked up, turning your head to one side clicks, and the ache runs from the base of the skull down into the shoulder blade. Sometimes it is worse after a night's sleep, not better. That is the area neck and shoulder massage works on — and it is the treatment most guests come to Ngải for.
Why necks and shoulders seize up
Almost always posture and habit rather than anything dramatic:
- Long hours at a screen — the head drifts forward and the muscles at the back of the neck hold it there all day, then do not switch off afterwards.
- A pillow too high or too low — the neck is held at an angle all night, which is why stiffness on waking is so common.
- Air conditioning blowing onto the neck — cold muscle contracts and stays that way.
- Looking down at a phone — the same problem as the screen, at a sharper angle.
What we do differently: warmth before pressure
A muscle that is already contracted will fight back if you press hard into it straight away. The harder the pressure, the more it braces — which is why some people leave a massage sorer than they arrived.
Every therapy treatment at Ngải follows the same order, and the order does not change:
- Moxa warmth — heat from dried mugwort (ngải cứu) over the neck and shoulders, so the muscle softens before any hand touches it
- Deep strokes — working along the tight band from the neck down into the shoulder blade and upper back, finding exactly where the knot sits
- Acupressure — holding pressure on those points, which is where the therapist stays a little longer until the knot releases
Moxibustion is the therapy UNESCO inscribed on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. Our herbs come from Lãn Ông street — Hanoi's herbal-medicine street, where our first location sits.
What a session is like
The 65-minute session covers neck, shoulders and upper back. The 85-minute session adds time across the whole back — better if the stiffness has been there for months rather than days.
You lie face down with your face in the headrest. Your therapist asks first where it hurts most and how firm you want the pressure. During the session, just say if you want it lighter or deeper — you do not need to endure anything.
A mild ache the next day, similar to the day after training, is normal and passes within a day. Drink water afterwards and skip a cold shower straight after.
When to see a doctor instead
Massage suits muscular aches. Some signs are not a spa's business, and we would rather say so than take your money:
- Numbness or pins and needles running down the arm or into the hand
- Weakness in the hand, losing grip
- Pain that worsens at night, or wakes you
- Pain following a fall or an impact
- Fever, or unexplained weight loss alongside the pain
With any of these, please see a doctor first. Ngải is a wellbeing spa, not a medical clinic, and a massage is no substitute for a proper examination.
Related treatments
- Sports massage — after training, or before it
- Foot massage — for long days on your feet
- Cupping therapy — for that heavy, run-down feeling
- Four ways to ease neck and shoulder tension at your desk
Price, hours and locations
Office Therapy — Neck & Back: 690,000 VND for 65 minutes, 890,000 VND for 85 minutes. VAT included, no compulsory service charge. See the full price list.
Two locations in Hanoi, open 11:00 – 22:00 every day: 53B Lãn Ông (Hoàn Kiếm ward, Old Quarter) and 102 Phan Kế Bính (Ngọc Hà ward).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
690,000 VND for 65 minutes, 890,000 VND for 85 minutes. VAT is included in the listed price, there is no compulsory service charge, and tipping is entirely optional.
Will it hurt?
On a tight spot you feel a deep, heavy pressure — many guests call it a good kind of sore. It should never be something you have to grit your teeth through. Say so the moment you want it lighter; muscle only lets go when you are not bracing against it.
Do I need to book ahead?
Walk-ins are welcome, but evenings and weekends fill up. You can book through this website, WhatsApp, or Messenger. Both locations open 11:00–22:00, every day.
How many sessions will I need?
If the stiffness is only a few days old, one session usually makes a clear difference. If it has built up over months of desk work, a few sessions five to seven days apart tend to hold better. We do not sell long packages to someone who only needs one visit.
Book a Neck & Shoulder session
Two locations in Hanoi, open 11:00 – 22:00 every day.