Omamori Spa West Lake

There is no shortage of massage parlours in Vietnam, and Hanoi is no exception. Following the regular foot traffic of tourists through the center of the city you'll hear many a lackadaisical massage offer from shop fronts where your massage could be worth it, could be not, depending on the apathy level of your masseuse.

But north of this area, tucked down an alley near the beautiful Trúc Bạch Lake, is a massage parlour quietly giving some of the best service around. The level of service and social benefit are parallel: not only do they have a strict no-tipping rule out of pride in their service, but the staff are all visually impaired. 

Omamori spa offers training and stable jobs to those who have vision problems to show that they are not only capable but excel in this skill. 

And if you're interested in learning how to give massages too, they also offer classes!