There’s no shortage of longevity spas on the market but Six Senses Con Dao is promising to do things differently; leaning upon ancient wisdom to open portals to the future. Robbie Hodges reports

The Six Senses Con Dao in Vietnam is the latest hotel to embrace the longevity wellness trend with its expansive new spa. Unlike some competitors, Six Senses moves away from the clinical, medi-spa approach and instead honors time-tested healing traditions native to Asia.

The facilities have been designed to resemble a traditional Vietnamese fishing village, with some cabanas hovering above the ocean on stilts and others buried deep within the tropical forest. Despite having just eight treatment rooms and a VIP couple’s suite, Six Senses has strategically spread them across 2,200 square meters of land and sea, ensuring a secluded, tranquil experience.

Six Senses has embraced a design philosophy that flows with nature rather than fights against it. Instead of rigid lines and clinical precision, the space mirrors the organic curves of the landscape, with undulating bamboo-lined walls that ripple like waves.

Guests aren’t left to navigate the treatment menu on their own. Their wellness journey begins with a private screening, where therapists assess key biomarkers and pinpoint areas for improvement. From there, a bespoke treatment plan is crafted, drawing on ancient Vietnamese and Indian healing traditions designed to restore both body and mind.

Recommended therapies might include "Vietnamese Touch Therapy," which combines acupressure, rhythmic massage, and pressure point stimulation to boost circulation. Or, guests might experience the "Hot Bamboo Muscle Melt", where warm bamboo canes ease tension through gentle massage. Traditional Ayurvedic treatments like Shirodhara, where warm oil is poured onto the forehead to calm the nervous system, are also available.

Beyond the treatment rooms, the spa features a beauty parlor, relaxation lounge, and Alchemy Bar, where therapists guide guests in harnessing the healing powers of indigenous plants grown on-site. For those interested in cutting-edge wellness, the Biohack Recovery Lounge offers advanced treatments under the guidance of in-house biohackers.

But the wellness experience extends beyond the various lounges and treatment rooms. Through the hotel’s "Eat With Six Senses" initiative (which was rolled out across properties in 2015) guests are served locally sourced and organic meals that align with their personal nutrition goals.

Meanwhile, "Sleep With Six Senses|, an initiative created in partnership with the sleep doctor Michael Breus helps guests to optimise their shut eye. Rooms are not only equipped with handmade mattresses but also sleep tracking devices that provide guests with a sleep review the morning after.

The Spa at Six Senses Con Dao opened in November 2024 with programmes priced from US$675 and rooms from US$1,300, bed and breakfast.