Hello there, this is Aosorabouzu☺
So, here I am—back in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam—for the first time in about two years.
Last time was mainly for work, a pretty buttoned-up kind of trip. But this time it’s personal, so I figured I’d take the opportunity to explore a few of the city’s deeper, more local spots. And that’s how I ended up at a place called STARKING MASSAGE.
It’s located right in the heart of District 1, on Dong Khoi Street—super easy for tourists to get to. It’s even within walking distance from Ben Thanh Market. With cafés, boutiques, and currency exchange places scattered all around, it’s the perfect spot to just wander into while you’re out sightseeing.
I dropped by around 6:00 PM on a Saturday evening.
Now, if you’ve ever been to Southeast Asia, you probably know the drill—these types of massage places usually have some guy out front trying to pull people in. But this place? None of that. No flashy signs, no staff outside flagging you down. Just a plain-looking door with nothing visible from the outside. Honestly, it felt a bit sketchy at first.
But once I opened the door, I was greeted by a reception desk bathed in neon light, and just like that, the whole vibe changed—it finally felt like I’d arrived.
For the record, I went without a reservation this time. I’ve seen other people mention making bookings in advance, so if you’re planning to visit during a busy time (especially in the evening), it might be safer to reserve ahead. (Heads-up though: it looks like reservations are handled through Telegram, so you’ll need to have that app.)
When I asked the lady at the front desk, she told me that only the 30-minute course was available at the moment. I was hoping to take it slow with a 60-minute session, but since there weren’t any other options, I went with the 30-minute one. The price was 800,000 VND (around $35 USD).
For reference, the 60-minute course costs 1,300,000 VND (roughly $58 USD).
As I’ll explain later, the difference isn’t just in time—there’s a noticeable difference in the service content as well. So if you have the option, I’d definitely recommend going for the 60-minute course.
After paying at the front desk, I was guided by a staff member to the playroom. We took the elevator up and I was shown to a room a few floors above.
Soon after, the girl came in. For some reason, she was dressed in a cute, uniform-style costume. She had that sharp gaze typical of many Southeast Asian women, with a small face and a petite frame. Her hair was blonde, and overall she was quite cute.
If I had to give her a rating, I’d say… about 4 out of 10.
After greeting her, I started undressing—and that’s when I got a bit of a surprise: she asked me to brush my teeth before the massage.
Wait, what? I thought. But hey, when in Rome, right? So I went along with it without protest.
Was it for bad breath? Some kind of ritual? I wasn’t particularly worried about how my breath smelled, so it left me feeling a little unsure. Still, it felt like one of those small cultural quirks you only run into when you’re abroad.
And no—just in case you’re wondering—brushing your teeth doesn’t mean there’s going to be kissing or anything like that.
After brushing, she took me to the bathroom to wash my body.
That part was quick—she used some body soap and gave me a light all-over rinse. Once that was done, she guided me to lie down on the bed, face up.
At this point, nearly 10 minutes had already passed—so from here on, things got pretty rushed.
After a light massage on my hands and feet, it was time for the main event I’d been waiting for.
She used warm lotion and gave me a fairly thorough massage.
When it came to the cleaning of the balls, she actually took her time—while it’s not a particularly sensitive area for me, I appreciated the attention to detail.
As for that part, her grip was a bit too firm and honestly, it hurt a little.
Definitely a minus point there. I get that time was short, but still…
Also, gripping hard near the base doesn’t feel good at all—so that part was kind of a letdown.
Despite the discomfort, I tried to focus, stretched my legs out fully, and somehow managed to reach the finish line.
Once I did, she let go and used her mouth to take care of the rest, which brought a pretty intense sense of refreshment—especially as someone traveling far from home.
After that, there was a few minutes of chill time, then another quick body wash.
One small surprise: she carefully dried my slightly damp hair with a hairdryer. That little touch totally got me—it’s those unexpected gestures that leave a mark.
This story continues in my next blog post, but I’ll say this: Vietnamese girls seem really good at the whole caring, attentive thing. I really like that about them.
I got dressed, and just like that, I was out the door—right on the 30-minute mark.
Final thoughts?
Honestly, 30 minutes goes by way too fast. Not just time-wise—everything felt rushed.
She did provide the service in the nude, but the room was dimly lit, and with so little time, there wasn’t much chance to take in the view.
And let’s be real—if you’re going to a place like this, you do want to take your time and enjoy the scenery, right?
From what I heard later, the 60-minute course includes not just a standard body massage, but also a cleansing treatment (maybe with foam or scrub?), so it’s not just the time that makes the difference in pricing.
As for the place itself, I’d say STARKING MASSAGE hits a sweet spot: it might look a little upscale, but it’s actually quite approachable.
Whether you’re a traveler chasing “a man’s dream” or just curious and looking for a lighthearted experience, it’s not too intimidating—yet still offers a nice little escape from the ordinary.
Next time, I’ll be reviewing the 60-minute course—so stay tuned!
Thanks a ton for reading all the way to the end!
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