Why I Can No Longer Recommend CB Spa (And their main branch: MB Spa) — A Hard but Honest Update

If you've been following my channel from the beginning, you'll know that one of my favorite gay spas in Vietnam was MB Spa. In fact, it was the centerpiece of my most viral video—the one that really launched my YouTube journey. That video didn’t just help me, it helped the spa too. The owner actually reached out to thank me personally, saying the video brought a huge boost to his business. Every time I went back, he always made me feel welcome—offering gifts, chatting with me, and showing genuine pride in his spa.

So, believe me when I say: this is not a video, or blog post, I wanted to make.

But I have to be honest with both myself and you. Because my earlier glowing reviews of MB Spa (which are still online and still getting views) no longer reflect my current experience—at least not with their new branch, CB Spa.

Before I dive in, I want to make something clear: I’ve already messaged the owner privately about everything I’m about to share. I debated whether to make this post, but at the end of the day, I don’t want people spending their money based on outdated info—especially not travelers coming all the way to Vietnam and trusting my recommendations.

So with that said, here’s what happened during my visit to CB Spa in March 2025.

The First Red Flags

I chose a masseur who had that “personal trainer meets boy-next-door” look—glasses, fit, soft features. Basically, my kryptonite. The room we entered was nicely designed—modern, spacious, clean-smelling. CB Spa’s interior design is one of its strong points, as you can see in the video I uploaded. There were a few things that irked me though, such as a greasy handprint left on the bed frame from the previous guest. It definitely threw me off. Hopefully, that is not a reoccurring issue, because it's very distracting and doesn't look good.

But things really went downhill once the session started.

The Worst Massage Experience I’ve Ever Had

From the beginning, it didn’t feel like a massage. It felt like a half-hearted stretch session. The masseur used his palms briefly to massage my legs, then spent the next several minutes manipulating my limbs in, fitness-style stretches. He even paused a couple of times to check his phone. That all lasted for about 5 minutes.

Then, he abruptly flipped me over, exposed himself, and then just… laid down. Literally. For the next 20–30 minutes, he barely moved. Just laid there on his back, eyes closed, occasionally checking his phone.

Though, I do admit, I made the mistake of trying to put him at ease, prior to him lying down. Before he laid down, he did somewhat try to make an effort to please me... but it was totally lackluster. Let's just say... he was definitely a straight man. It was an embarrassing performance, so much so that I wanted to appease the awkwardness by saying that I actually did like being submissive and liked the act of serving someone. Big regret. That gave him the green light to completely check out. I honestly thought he had fallen asleep at one point.

Eventually, sensing my disappointment, he made a lackluster attempt to "finish" the session, and that was it.

The Final Straw

As I was leaving, the masseur asked me how much I’d tip him. Following my usual guide, I intended to give him 700,000 VND—already generous considering the abysmal service. But he insisted that he only accepts tips of 1 million VND or more.

That’s a red flag in any spa, let alone one where the service felt like being ghosted in real life.

Still, I didn’t argue. I hate confrontation. So I paid the full amount, feeling completely ripped off.

What CB Spa Needs to Fix

The biggest issue for this spa (MB Spa included) is quality assurance. The range in service quality between masseurs is staggering. One day you might get the best spa experience of your life, and the next, you’ll be treated like a pillow for 30 minutes by someone half-asleep.

That shouldn’t happen.

There needs to be a baseline standard that all staff are trained to meet—both in skill and in etiquette. That includes:

• No phones during the massage

• Proper client engagement

• Respectful and transparent tip handling

Honestly, a standardized tip system could help a lot. Let staff know: “If you do X, Y, and Z, expect this amount.” Because I should not be paying the same for a zombie session as I would for someone who gave 110%.

A Message to the Owner

If you're reading this—and I suspect you are—I hope you know this isn’t coming from a place of malice. I genuinely want you to succeed. You’ve always treated me kindly, and I’ve seen how passionate you are about your business.

But the inconsistency in service quality is starting to hurt your reputation. I’ve received many comments and DMs ranging from “MB Spa was incredible!” to “It was literally the worst spa I’ve been to.”

I used to chalk that up to personal preference. But now I see—it’s the staff. Some are amazing. Others are actively hurting your brand.

Please, don’t just hire based on appearance. I do understand that looks matter in this industry—but so does customer satisfaction. Maybe consider implementing:

• Anonymous customer feedback forms

• QR-coded digital surveys

• Even a staff rating system, like an internal Yelp

Let customers help you spot weak links before it’s too late. And allow for customers to make informed decisions about the masseur they are choosing.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know if things have improved since my visit. Maybe they have—and I genuinely hope they have. But I ultimately decided that I couldn’t promote CB Spa without being transparent.

So if you’re planning to visit, proceed with caution. Your experience might still be good, but there’s no guarantee. And that, to me, is the biggest problem.

Let me know your thoughts or ideas in the comments—especially if you’ve had your own experience here. Maybe together, we can help improve things.

Because I want Vietnamese gay spas to thrive. But they can only do that if we’re honest about what needs fixing.