Yoko Onsen is a complex of bath, spa, accommodation and restaurant. Resembling the Japanese architecture, it is a brand new tourist draw in Quang Ninh Province, offering Japanese-style healthcare tourism services with hot spring baths. The luxury resort, opened in May, is located about 10 km from Ha Long city and 15 km from Cam Pha city in the northwestern province, home to UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay. French colonial researchers first discovered the health benefits of the mineral-rich Quang Hanh hot spring, according to Sun Group, the resort developer. Analysis has proven this hot spring is rich in metasilicic acid and boric acid. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The content of Na+ and Cl- ions accounts for more than 20 g/l. It also contains a significantly large proportion of Bromine of up to 40 mg/l. As one of the three mineral sources boasting the highest Bromine content in the world, Quang Hanh hot spring offers great relaxation and healthcare benefits, especially for the elderly and those working under pressure. A visit to Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh will help customers eliminate toxins, promote blood circulation, boost immunity, support the treatment of skin diseases, rejuvenate the skin, relax nerves, make it easier to sleep and feel refreshed after each working day, in addition to reducing fatigue, relieving pain and quickly restoring musculoskeletal functions. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Here, visitors could experience various services, such as hot-spring baths, sauna, etc., both private and public. The Himalayan salt stone sauna is great for those suffering respiratory problems. Cold steam inhalation therapy at temperatures down to 6 degrees Celsius is also very popular, especially among female customers, for it helps smoothing the skin. A total of 25 Japanese-style spa rooms providing massage therapy with Shiatsu reflexology is also a must-try experience for those who wish to enjoy everlasting youth. The mineral bath experience is considered a good way to renew energy for a healthier body.They are not just a quiet place to help people escape from the hustle and bustle of life but also a bridge to enhance social relationships.(Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Yoko Onsen looks exactly the same to those in Japan. Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh has up to 27 baths with many different uses. For example, Silky Bath may be used for cleansing and relaxing the whole body while helping clear pores and beautifying the skin. A high concentration CO2 aeration tank (carbonate aeration tanks) helps clean the skin, expand capillaries, reduce high blood pressure, and increase the concentration of oxygen in the blood, in addition to warming the body from the inside. Japanese research has shown high concentration CO2 aeration tanks help reduce clinical symptoms in diabetic patients. Different types of sauna and spa services following a mineral bath are also preferred at Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh. The rock sauna - commonly known as the panacea among the Finns - soothes aching muscles for a healthy and smooth skin. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The onsen is run by a Japanese expert with 17 years’ experience. Wataru Shintaku - the Japanese director of Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh Resort - said that he has managed 11 onsen areas, set up five new onsen areas, and monitored the transfer and merger of four other onsen areas. These include Shofuku no Yu onsen covering an area of 4,300 m2, a large scale mineral bath area in Japan that attracts more than 700,000 tourists per year.In Japanese history, the popularity of onsens was clearly reflected through cultural development. Onsens satisfy the demand for fun and relaxation with friends, colleagues, families and couples. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Those who are in love with onsens could now experience the Japanese-style hot-spring bathing which will not cost a large amount of money on traveling. Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is actually a really large mineral spring area favoured by nature for its extremely beautiful and majestic surrounding landscape. In Japan, hot springs and the therapeutic effects of onsens are believed to be a miraculous treatment with divine power thanks to the mineral content of geothermal water. Wataru Shintaku said he hopes that Vietnamese people will love onsens and consider them as part of their spiritual life as Japanese people do. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Different types of sauna and spa services after mineral baths are also preferred at Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh. Hot stone sauna - commonly known as “the panacea” among the Finns - soothes aching muscles for a healthy and smooth skin. Meanwhile, Himalayan salt stone sauna will be a great treatment for people with respiratory problems. Cold steam inhalation therapy at temperatures down to 6 degrees C is also very popular with many customers, especially female for its help smoothen the skin as if it has just been regenerated. The 25 Japanese-style spa rooms providing massage therapy with Shiatsu reflexology is also a must-try experience for those who wish to have "everlasting youth" beauty. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is located in a charming and unique mountainous area surrounded by mountains and forests. Viewed from above, Yoko Onsen is like a small, peaceful and quiet Japanese village. While resting and experiencing Yoko Onsen, visitors will feel completely relaxed amidst a quiet, isolated and romantic natural space. Furthermore, Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is built and operated in compliance with the standards of a luxury Japanese onsen resort. These baths are equipped with the first filtration system by continuous flow in Vietnam, helping to remove impurities that are harmful to the skin and ensure good water quality even when there are many customers at the same time. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
So far, Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh resort have received extremely positive feedback from visitors with a full number of customers booking services during the day, especially at the weekends. ET Brandequity - the Indian-based news site - recently predicted 25 post-COVID-19 tourism and resort trends specifying the domination of experiential tourism in the near future. Particularly, the health farms and spa, etc., all create new opportunities for tourism industry. In Vietnam, tourism associated with relaxation, health care and rehabilitation is attracting the attention of tourists. It is notable that this trend is being shaped and developed with a relatively new type - hot spring resort. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Taking a rest in a pure Japanese space, in the middle of the cool Quang Hanh valley surrounded by green forests and mountains, while enjoying wonderful mineral bath services with many health benefits only is the compelling reason for healthcare resort services like Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh are becoming a "hot" trend. Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh quickly achieved its widespread fame because of Quang Hanh hot spring quality and excellent health benefits. First days after its opening, the resort, as the latest products of Sun Group in Quang Ninh, showed its trendy attraction by an increasing number of service bookings. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Surrounded by the green of the mountains, Yoko Onsen looks like a small Japanese village, peaceful and quiet. The wooden villas featuring traditional Japanese architecture, Japanese gardens with rare pine core bonsais, stone lanterns, bridges and ornaments… have brought about the feeling of tranquility and serenity. Entering this space is absolutely an escape from the hustle and bustle outside. Quang Hanh mineral water samples were also sent to Tokyo, Japan for analysis and the finding showed that the spring was rich in healthy minerals, with the content of Ion Na+ and Cl-, boric acid and bromine, which is an important factor helping it lure visitors. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The widespread of such kind of tourism has been predicted long ago. About two years ago, it was predicted by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) that tourists around the world tend to increasingly prefer different types of tourism to serve their healthcare and beauty needs, etc. Upon the COVID-19 pandemic’s strong spread worldwide in early 2020, this type of tourism proves its attractiveness and is even predicted to be a rising trend in the coming time. The reason for this is the fact that health has become the top concern among people globally, forcing them to change their behavior to meet their healthcare goals, including the need to travel. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Quang Hanh was one of the three mineral water springs with the highest concentration of bromine in the world which was effective in eliminating toxins, relieving pain, promoting blood circulation, enhancing immunity and supporting the treatment of skin diseases as well as reducing stress. The mineral water here also had neutral pH, suitable for people of all ages and those with sensitive skin. Dang Minh Truong, chairman of Sun Group, said that the resort was expected to contribute to the development of Quang Ninh’s tourism and make the province an attractive four-season tourism destination. The project’s second phase will be implemented soon. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Along with the five-star express boat from Tuan Chau to the islands of Co To and Minh Chau, Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is a new highlight in Quang Ninh tourism. Quang Ninh has seen a boom in domestic tourist arrivals over the last month after the weeks-long social distancing order to curb the spread of COVID-19 was lifted, enabling the province to welcome back visitors. Quang Ninh received more than 1.2 million tourists between May 15 and mid-June to earn about 2.7 trillion VND (116.03 million USD) in revenue. The province has launched a stimulus package worth 200 billion VND to boost travel demand. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Spring and winter are perfect for experience hot-spring bathing. It is an ideal hidaway for those who are into transquility. Viewed from above, Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is like a small, peaceful and quiet Japanese village. While resting and experiencing YoKo Onsen, visitors will feel completely relaxed amidst a quiet, isolated and romantic natural space. In near future, the second phase of the project will be carried out, with more service items such as a public hot spring area, therapeutic hospitals that give priority to traditional natural therapies and high-end hotels that are managed by world's leading hotel management group to serve high-end customer segment. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
According to Wataru Shintaku, the director of Yoko Osen Quang Hanh, the COVID-19 pandemic has been causing enormous damage to the tourism industry. However, challenges also open up opportunities. He said he believes that after COVID-19 pandemic, there will be changes in tourists’ consumption, eating, shopping habits as well as their travelling habits. Popular tourism types will include health care tourism and holiday tourism in relatively isolated spaces. As reported by the Global Wellness Institute, the health care tourism market achieves an increase in the growth rate by 6 percent per annum while this figure of the whole tourism industry is 3 percent per annum. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Together with Ha Long Bay and other sites, Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh is expected to be a famous tourist attraction in Quang Ninh province, helping the tourism hub lure more visitors. In the future, once completed, a wide variety of items in Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh project will bring to visitors the most diverse and comprehensive experience options, satisfying each individual demand. The project will step by step make Quang Ninh a leading resort and health care destination in the region as well as in the world, contributing to the elimination of seasonal tourism weaknesses that have hindered local development for many years. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
