After a full year of hectic work schedules, deadlines and business strategy discussions, I was desperate for a break. So, last December, my husband and I packed our bags and flew to a wellness resort called Fusion Maia in Da Nang, Vietnam. We were seeking a break; what we received was a lifestyle change.
By Kavita Chandran
(This article was written in 2018)
I was antsy even when we were at the airport, almost missing our flight because I wanted to send out that one last “important” email, and then another quick one after that. As I stood in line jotting down a ‘Things-to-do’ list on my phone—my forehead frown at its deepest best—the cheerful greeting of Jetstar’s ground staff pulled me back to the present moment. “It’s a full flight,” she was proudly telling my husband. “Everyone seems to want to go to Da Nang these days.” Really?— I thought, and turned around to see a busy line of tourists waiting to be called to other counters. “I thought we were getting away to no-man’s land,” I whispered to my husband, miffed. “Da Nang?” he said, just as cheerily as the Jetstar lady. “It’s the most sought-after destination in Asia these days.” Well, I could see he had already switched his work button off, while I continued to scroll through my phone to find any email left unanswered.
The boarding process was a breeze and the flight very comfortable (food wasn’t bad either), with an equally cheerful crew. It was a late evening flight from Singapore, and Fusion Maia resort had been gracious to extend a late check-in to accommodate our arrival. The flight took us little less than three hours, where I managed to sneak a snooze, sporadically disturbed by chirpy passengers exchanging notes about Da Nang, a historical city that had witnessed the most air traffic during the Vietnam War.
Landing at Da Nang airport, I found it to be modern and clean, with ample dining and shopping options. It was the approach to Fusion Maia that transformed me immediately to a state of tranquility—natural bamboo growing its way into an arch formation, like a hidden mystical tunnel with a surprise at the end.
We were greeted by warm staff and a welcome drink—a refreshing hibiscus cold tea that switched my nerves immediately to wellness mode. The first sip of calming smoothness was an assurance that this place intends to provide tender loving care; a lot more of which followed in the next three days we were there.
Fusion Maia is a perfect example of class, elegance and the art of relaxation. The ambience is calming, yet exciting. The service is subtle, yet superior. The design is simple, yet luxurious (I was told cushions at the restaurant are deliberately purple, a color that embodies royalty as well as wisdom).
I felt special that our villa came with a pool, only to find out the next day that all villas at Fusion Maia had pools. That’s what I call private pampering. There was a beautiful little carved stone that lay on our bed with the letters ‘Just Breathe’ and under it was a square picture card that said ‘Get Social’ on one side, a reminder for guests to join the resort staff for meditation the next day. I flipped the card over, and scribbled beautifully in blue over a beach picture were these words—You are. Therefore, I am.
Waking Up To Yoga
I am an early riser and have always valued my morning solitude—sipping a cup of tea whilst watching colorful little birds from the balcony of our Singapore apartment, followed by my daily yoga practice in our living area—all this when the whole family, including the dog, continue with their morning slumber. So, with the fresh morning air kissing my face, I walked to Fusion Maia’s yoga studio the next morning, the scent of lavender filling my senses as I passed by the Spa on the way. My husband and I had planned a 3pm massage for that day and the fragrance got me all excited about the afternoon.
The yoga teacher, Le Thi Thu Van, introduced herself as Miss Van. I was soon to find out how gracious the entire staff was at the resort, and how each one also doubled up as a ‘Fusionista’—assigned to each guest to offer personalized service and advice. Turns out our Fusionista was Ms. Van during our stay. She was a gentle, almost feather-like, dainty young woman who, after her initial yoga teacher training at Fusion Maia, had found her way to India to strengthen her practice in Rishikesh on the foothills of the Himalayas.
Ms. Van’s yoga teaching every morning was gentle and slow. On my first day of yoga with her, she informed me that the ‘theme of the day’ was ‘Balance’ and ‘Social Living’, which also explained the card on our bed the night before. In keeping with the theme of the day, there were pink daisies all over the spa and resort, a sign that all therapists and staff members followed what is well-defined as a ‘Natural Living Program’. The program divides each day into smell, emotion and motivation, focusing on the intended purpose of the day, ranging from feeling free to being active to eating well to enjoying nature.
We did slow breathing for half-an-hour followed by a few sun salutations to balance the yin and the yang. There were two couples that joined in, and the five of us listened to Ms. Van’s soft voice and benevolent demeanor as she guided us through moon salutations and finally into Savasana, where we scanned our inner body to ensure its well-being. I skipped their signature warrior workout that followed—one that blended yoga, martial arts and animal movements—as my body was calling out for a good breakfast instead of an intense exercise.
Breakfast Anytime Anywhere
At the Five restaurant where my husband and I met for breakfast after my yoga (and his sleeping), the Vietnamese chef brigade of Fusion Maia had cooked up a healthy and organic storm—from home style grills to poached eggs to smoothies and salads—the spread was unexpectedly large and wholesome. The restaurant follows the food philosophy of catering to all five senses, hence the name, where textures and flavors have to be enjoyed mindfully.
The best part of Fusion Maia’s dining experience is that the first meal of the day is served anytime and anywhere at the wellness resort—a unique selling point which attracts many honeymooners seen strolling around lazily out of their villas any time of the day for their breakfast. If you don’t feel like sitting next to the buffet area, you could eat at the poolside dining or better still, reserve a spot by the beach, which is what we did for the next day.
On the first evening, we had met with some other guests at the poolside barbeque amid soft live music. One of them had commented about my glowing and healthy skin, a result of my afternoon massages and the nap that followed—a gentle reminder of the impact of touch and rest. A day after Fusion Maia slowed down our physical and mental state, and only when someone asked me about my work, did it occur to me—I hadn’t checked my emails in one full day. Never in the past had I ignored this relentless habit of refreshing my inbox despite setting up an out-of-office outgoing mail. It was a very liberating feeling to surrender to a break in its very true sense.
Meditation And Sightseeing
After another round of morning yoga, my husband and I met by the beach for a ‘Rainbow Breakfast’ where we devoured smoothies, muesli and avocado toast as we watched the waves caress the beautiful sandy beach in front. A couple sat next to us, both in white spa robes, and we all watched their toddler build a sand castle mindfully, oblivious to anything but the connection to nature.
We were lucky to have Ms. Van escort us for a meditation session few minutes away at Son Tra Peninsula, where stands the masterpiece ‘Lady Buddha’—a gigantic white statue of The Buddha wearing a veil—standing tall at 67 metres, overlooking Da Nang city and My Khe beach. The story goes that the statue, which some believe is the Goddess of Mercy, was built to watch over and protect the locals against typhoons, and there has never been a natural disaster in Da Nang since it was erected in 2010. We spent 30 minutes doing meditation with Ms. Van on a green patch next to the statue—she lovingly calling it the “Lumbini Gardens” after the place where The Buddha achieved Nirvana.
That evening, after a refreshing mocktail and delicious grilled fish, we escaped to Hoi An, one of the cutest and most well-preserved ancient port cities in South East Asia with Venetian canals, an iconic pagoda shaped Japanese bridge, French colonial buildings, tube houses and wooden Chinese shophouses.
When we returned late that night, we found an inviting bathtub covered with fragrant flowers and a lovely card by the side—We would like to surprise you with this Flower Bath to add to your collection of memories here! With love, your Fusionista Ms. Van.
Spa Treatments
Fusion Maia is the only wellness retreat I know where spa treatments are included in the nightly rate, with the massage menu a treat for the body and soul. Their philosophy of healing through touch and massage is holistic and fuses reiki, aromatherapy, scrubs, wraps and many other traditional therapeutic treatments—all done by trained in-house healing therapists. A frequent sight is guests walking around or snoozing by the beach, or even enjoying a nice salad in their white spa robes.
On our first day, I signed up for a harmonizing and fragrant aromatherapy massage, followed by a one-of-a-kind “Maia Energy Experience” where the therapist, Ms. Chua, performed reiki using light body brush technique and coconut oil along energy lines. My husband chose the same aromatherapy massage, followed by a long foot massage. This was the first time my husband and I were in the same room getting our massages done, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that both of us don’t like too much chatter during the massage, each enjoying our respective time connecting with the healing given by our therapists.
Fusion Maia’s spa treatments constitute a major part of their wellness program, and no guest goes unserved in what appears to be a meticulously organized system with 18 spa rooms and 74 therapists, each trained in healing techniques.
“I personally ensure that each therapist undergoes proper training and practices on me,” the Spa and Wellness Manager, Emilie Chanon, told me. “Each therapist also practices self reiki, counseling, meditation and Tai Chi because we believe it’s important for everyone to absorb and understand what the wellness initiative means.”
Ms. Emilie, a healer from France, who practices ‘accessing consciousness’ herself, strongly feels the universe beckoned her to be part of Fusion Maia, a resort she chanced upon while traveling around the world some years ago. “The Vietnamese taught me to be humble,” she said. “They are very real people.”
I finally opened my email inbox after the Jetstar flight touched Singapore three days, six massages, 12 smoothies, lots of water, delicious salads and plentiful sleep later. And, as the messages rolled in, I switched off my phone reminding myself to check again during work hours the next day. I have since then compartmentalized my schedules and allocated themes to my days too, each a reminder to live a healthy life where wellness is ranked higher than anything else on my to-do list.
This article was first published in Yoga Journal Singapore, which is now rebranded by Yogahood Online.
