Temple massages in Chiang Mai are cheap, making this place always packed with tourists and locals.
On a cool January morning in Chiang Mai, many people get up early to jog along the city’s moat, passing fruit vendors on the sidewalk. Plump red strawberries are the most popular.
At the same time, there was much activity at the city’s temples. In the courtyard of Wat Pan Whaen, young monks swept fallen leaves into neat piles after cleaning the entrance steps. Two women placed incense, bananas, and lotus flowers beside a golden statue. People bowed to the Buddha, clasped their hands, touched their fingertips to their noses, and prayed for a good day.
Massage staff give customers a massage at Wat Pan Whaen temple in Chiang Mai. Photo: SCMP
Minutes later, the first customers arrived in tuk tuks. Wat Pan Whaen is one of 300 temples in Chiang Mai, but it is also a massage center that attracts Thais and tourists looking to relieve aches and pains.
There is a main room with 14 beds for customers to lie down and get massages, but there are no curtains. The waiting time is often long because it is crowded and the prices are cheap, the therapists are highly skilled and have many years of experience. A customer who is lying down and getting a massage just made a video call to his family and bragged: "I am getting a massage in the temple".
The money collected during the day from customers coming to get massages at the temple is divided into three parts: for the temple, the manager and the masseuse.
Recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage, Thai massage evolved from an ancient healing practice that dates back 2,500 years. In 2020, the Thai Ministry of Public Health estimated that there were at least 10,000 massage parlors nationwide, and they were the first businesses ordered to close during the pandemic.
Four years later, many establishments have reopened. Strolling the streets of Chiang Mai, visitors will encounter countless multilingual signs offering aromatherapy massages, herbal compresses, physical therapy, and neck and shoulder acupressure.
Young monks cleaning at Wat Pan Whaen temple. Photo: SCMP
The massage techniques at Wat Pan Whaen are controversial. Some say it is wonderful and the best physical therapy in the country. Others are less satisfied because the techniques are basic and nothing special. The biggest complaint is the lack of air conditioning, especially in the summer months. However, if you want to go to a luxurious, cool place, the price is more expensive, 1,000 baht (700,000 VND) per session. Meanwhile, the price of a massage at the temple is 180 baht (125,000 VND) and the toilets are not clean.
The low prices make the service appealing to both Thais and tourists. One Canadian said his girlfriend spent the morning searching online for the cheapest massage in Chiang Mai and stumbled upon Wat Pan Whaen. She was pleased that she didn’t need to tip.
Tourists come to the temple for massage. Photo: SCMP
Anh Minh (According to SCMP )
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