How a Wellness Resort Can Teach Women Lasting Wellness Habits
The Uber speeds past big-brand hotels lining the main highway on Vietnam’s white-sand central Coast. My partner and I arrive at the five-star TIA Wellness Resort. The over-80 villa Resort started as Fusion Maia in 2008, pioneering a model in which all spa treatments are included in the nightly rate.
TIA takes wellness further by giving guests tools to restore balance, enhance vitality, and make healthy food choices long after they return home. It’s easy to see why TIA Wellness Resort was ranked among the top 10 Destination Spa Resorts in the world in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.
As Alyson Simms, Executive Assistant Manager – Wellness, says, “TIA has been a pioneer and original adopter of the fully Wellness Inclusive and Retreat Inclusive resort concept, embedding wellness into the core business model long before this approach became a global trend. While many luxury resorts offer wellness as an optional extra, TIA was intentionally designed from the outset to integrate wellness into architecture, operations, dining, movement, and daily rituals.”
Architecture for Balance and Relaxation
TIA sits along Vietnam’s Bac My An beachfront in Da Nang. The setting goes beyond relaxation to wellness immersion. A long, elegant infinity pool serves as a focal point for the property, stretching out to the East Sea. The white lobby, with dark wooden accents, includes pops of pastel color. The mostly neutral theme carries through into each villa.
In my villa, the canopied king-size bed is fitted with crisp, white linens, accented with circle-patterned pillowcases. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors frame the outdoor garden and private pool, extending the space outward. After a dunk in the pool, guests can make their way to the 22-treatment-room wellness center.
Wellness Center
The Wellness Center offers an extensive list of personalized treatments, education, and activities, such as yoga and breathwork. Guests can add exclusive therapies (e.g., aerial flow therapy), get a plant-based meal plan, and support from a Wellness Guide. Four and seven-night private retreats are fully guided with daily one-to-one coaching.
I pick the bamboo rollout as one of my treatments. My masseuse, Truyen, gently presses a warm bamboo rod against my body, releasing tension and allowing me to sink deeper into the massage table. After my treatment, I look forward to a healthy meal with plant-based options.
Nutrition for Wellness Habits
TIA’s Wellness Kitchen demonstrates that plant-based dishes can taste good. Guests choose from two restaurants, the Dining Room, the poolside Ocean Bistro, or in-villa dining. An all-day breakfast removes the pressure to eat early. Lunch and dinner are à la carte and follow an “Eat Light, Feel Bright” points system. Meals scoring five points or below are considered lighter options.
I use the points system to make more informed choices about what I order. I pick lighter options to boost energy and sense of well-being. For breakfast, I picked up the pomelo salad, pumpkin loaf, and a mango tartlet, all delicious. For dinner, I opt for lighter dishes that support energy and digestion.
TIA Wellness Resort Fosters New Behaviors
My experience shows that I have a lot to take home from TIA. This is a resort that teaches their guests to go beyond wellness by supporting learning new behaviors. I feel pampered well beyond my expectations and empowered to keep what I’d learned through a combination of environment, wellness-embedded care, and practical tools.I make a pact with my partner to try more plant-based meals at home.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What makes you feel pampered when you go to a resort? What good habits do you take home?
