Western tourists try cupping for the first time on the sidewalk of Ho Chi Minh City

Laura Try’s video recording her cupping experience on the sidewalk of Ho Chi Minh City, posted at the end of May, has now attracted more than one million views. On her personal YouTube channel with more than 18,000 followers, the British female tourist who specializes in exploring health care therapies around the world affirmed that this was “the most memorable experience” during her trip to Vietnam.

Laura’s stop was a sidewalk corner where “Uncle Bay” practiced massage and cupping for more than 40 years. She knew this worker through videos spread on social networks. According to research, Mr. Bay’s working corner is located on Ky Con street, Saigon ward (former district 1), Ho Chi Minh City, a place that attracts a large number of local people and foreign tourists to experience.

Visiting the store early in the morning, Laura admitted that she was both curious and worried because most of the previous customers she had seen on the video were men. Due to the language barrier, she did not fully understand the treatments she was about to undergo but still decided to experience 45 minutes of therapy.

The massage session begins with familiar rhythms, then the technician uses a heated glass cup to create a vacuum, suctioning tightly onto the skin.

“There were a few things in my legs that were really painful, I had to ask to stop many times,” Laura said.

While lying down for treatment, Laura was fascinated by the scene happening around her. A man on a motorbike stopped on the side of the road to take a photo of her. Vehicles and passersby were still moving right next to where she was lying.

“There were times when I completely forgot I was lying on the sidewalk next to a road,” she said.

Some viewers said that the service’s sanitary conditions might make them apprehensive. Laura said she chose to trust the worker because he has been doing this job for more than four decades.

In addition to cupping, the treatment session also includes stretching, rotation and acupressure. Laura commented that some of the techniques reminded her of Thai massage. After the cupping cups were removed, she described a feeling of both pain and relaxation.

At the end of the treatment costing 150,000 VND, the female YouTuber decided to pay Uncle Bay 500,000 VND and happily took souvenir photos. Before saying goodbye, she saved a souvenir photo with Uncle Bay and was given a handwritten business card.

“He made me so happy and the experience was really great,” she said.

In recent years, the trend of international tourists looking for tourism experiences that are deeply indigenous and directly integrated into the daily lives of Ho Chi Minh City residents has been increasing. According to a report from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, community tourism products and street culture experiences are being developed by the city’s tourism industry to diversify its appeal to international visitors.