Neck and Shoulder Massage in 45 Minutes: What to Expect

A 45 minute neck and shoulder massage does one thing: it works on your neck, shoulders, upper back and arms, seated or lying, and it fits inside a lunch break. It costs 490,000 VND, 8% VAT included, no tip. It does not do a doctor’s job: if pain has lasted for days, your hands go numb, or it started after a fall, see a doctor first.

I am Tài, a body massage therapist at Lụa Spa (lụa means silk), working Wednesday to Sunday. On weekday lunchtimes this is the session I do most, usually for people who sit at a screen all day. Here is where the 45 minutes go.

How the 45 minutes are split

This is how I split it when you have no preference. If your shoulders feel heavier than your neck, I move time to the shoulders.

That adds up to 45, including the 5 minute talk. At Lụa Spa, minutes always mean time in the room with your therapist.

Seated or lying? Your choice. Seated suits people who would rather not lie down in the middle of a working day. Lying face down lets me reach the upper back more easily and use massage oil. If you are going straight back into a meeting, say so and I keep oil away from your collar.

What to say about pressure

Our body massage starts at medium. Three phrases cover most of it:

• “Shoulders more than neck” (or the other way round): I shift the time.
• “Firmer” or “lighter”: any time you like.
• “That hurts”: I stop on that spot and move to the next area.

Clients who like firm pressure often ask for me, but firmer is not better. If you are holding your breath, it is too much. Hằng does this session too, light or firm; if you prefer a female therapist, choose Hằng (Monday to Saturday).

Clients often say their shoulders feel lighter afterwards. That is what they tell us, not something we promise.

Who it suits

It suits people who sit a lot, have about an hour, and want the time on their neck and shoulders rather than the whole body.

Tạ Minh Thư, a chief accountant in Phú Mỹ Hưng, works eight hours at a computer with a one-hour lunch break. She booked a 45 minute neck and shoulder massage (490,000 VND) with me on a Thursday at 12:30. In her words: “I booked 12:30 and was back at my desk at 13:15.”

For the whole body, choose the relaxing body massage: 60 minutes (690,000 VND) for back and legs, 90 minutes (890,000 VND) for everything. Body massage in Ho Chi Minh City compares the body sessions.

What it does not do

• It is not a substitute for a check-up. If your neck or shoulders have hurt for days, if your arms or fingers go numb, or if the pain began after a fall or a knock, see a doctor before booking a massage.
• We do not diagnose why you feel stiff, tell you what you “have”, or prescribe anything.
• If you feel numbness running down your arm, dizziness or anything unpleasant during the session, say so. I stop.
• If you have an open wound around the neck or shoulders, or you are pregnant, tick the box when booking and the front desk will call before confirming. We do not take body massage during pregnancy.

Pairing it with a hair wash

Three ways, depending on your time:

1. Herbal hair wash with shoulders, 60 minutes, 480,000 VND. Chi does it: two herbal rinses, a scalp and neck massage, and 15 extra minutes on the shoulders. Not a dedicated shoulder massage, but head and shoulders in one hour.
2. Two sessions back to back: neck and shoulders 45, then the herbal hair wash (gội đầu dưỡng sinh) 45. 90 minutes, 490,000 plus 360,000 VND, so 850,000 VND. Book two slots in a row; from Thursday to Sunday both Chi and I are in.
3. The Light Afternoon package (Gói Chiều Nhẹ), 150 minutes, 1,490,000 VND. A 60 minute body massage (back, shoulders and legs, not the 45 minute neck session), a 45 minute herbal hair wash and a 45 minute face massage. Separately 1,640,000 VND, so 150,000 VND less. Packages of 135 minutes or more need a 30% deposit, here 447,000 VND, which comes off the bill. Details on the Light Afternoon page.

How we do it at Lụa Spa

• The 45 minutes include the 5 minute talk: where it feels heavy, pressure, seated or lying.
• Hằng works Monday to Saturday, I work Wednesday to Sunday. Choose by name, by “male” or “female”, or “any”.
• One person, a 45 minute session: no deposit. Book at least 3 hours and up to 45 days ahead.
• Change or cancel free until 12 hours before. Up to 15 minutes late, the session still ends at the booked time unless no one is after you.
• If your lunch break is fixed, book a few days ahead to get the time and the person you want.

Steps, price and who does it are on the neck and shoulder massage page. My days are on my profile. When you have a time in mind, book the 45 minute session.

Updated 4 October 2026. Prices include 8% VAT, no tip.