Aroma massage extended to 80 minutes with décolleté care in Songpa

Lately my whole body's been feeling heavy and stiff from childcare (especially my shoulders from nursing — it feels like there's a rock sitting on them, haha), so I went to get a massage.

Today I went all the way over to Songpa, the next neighborhood over, because I'd heard about a place that's supposedly really good at massages. That place is The Hanoi Foot & Body Songpa Garak Branch.

Location and hours of The Hanoi Foot & Body Songpa Garak Branch near Garak Market Station

• Location: 5-minute walk from Garak Market Station Exit 4 / 1st floor of the building near Hyundaiok and Banpo Six
• Hours: Sun–Thu 10:00–23:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–24:00
• Parking: Free parking in the building

At first I booked a no-pressure 60-minute aroma massage, but spoiler alert — it was so good that I ended up extending to 80 minutes...! It was amazing!!! Not a bit sorry I trekked over to the next neighborhood, haha.

Store atmosphere and private treatment rooms

Overall the store had a clean, calm atmosphere.

And there was an autograph from Son Heung-min, whom I really like?! Running into him here made me so happy!!

The space was also divided into private sections, so I liked that I could relax and get treated without worrying about other people.

Aroma care that starts with a foot bath and scrubbing

True to its name, Foot & Body, this place starts with a foot bath.

Soaking your tired feet in blue-tinted water while sipping tea and healing makes the time fly by.

After the foot bath, they give you a pleasantly refreshing scrub so you head into the massage feeling nice and fresh.

At this point you also choose the aroma oil for your massage. I picked a scent good for muscle pain.

I changed comfortably before the treatment and got into the aroma care properly. When it comes to massages, I prefer pressure that comes in somewhat firm rather than too weak.

Firm but never painful pressure, shoulder and hip care

Today's therapist, whom I'll call Teacher Cho, had exactly the pressure style I like. I hadn't even requested her specifically — total lucky draw!! She pressed firmly but didn't just make it painful across the board; she properly released the tight spots without making my body tense up from pain!

This matters more than you'd think. If the pressure's too strong, it can feel good for a moment but your body tenses up. Teacher Cho adjusted the pressure just right so I could relax the whole time.

I especially loved the shoulder and hip care. My shoulders are usually really knotted, so I pay close attention to how a massage handles them, and as she pressed firmly and released the tension, I kept thinking, 'ah, this spot feels amazing.'

But personally, what impressed me even more was the hip care! I've had hip work done at plenty of massage shops, but it's been a while since it felt this good. It was like she dug deep into something that had been completely blocked up. There was a kind of relief I hadn't felt anywhere else, so it really stuck with me.

The difference between 60 and 80 minutes, adding décolleté care

As the 60-minute session was wrapping up, it felt like the time had flown by way too fast. I was thinking 'I want a bit more...' and luckily Teacher Cho had time available, so I extended to 80 minutes right away!

The difference between 60 and 80 minutes: 60 minutes covers only the back, while 80 minutes adds either abdomen or décolleté care. Since she said the muscles at the front of my shoulders seemed quite contracted, I added the décolleté care.

It turned out to be a great choice. Coming out after a leisurely 80 minutes, my body felt much lighter, and my shoulders — which had been bothering me the most — felt so much more relaxed. I felt like I'd sprouted wings.

The neighborhood is pretty far from me, so I came mostly just to try it out, but I liked it so much I'm now thinking of buying a membership to go regularly. With massage shops, I think it really comes down to finding a therapist who suits you, and Teacher Cho's touch really suited me.

Who is this for

If you like firm pressure but hate massages that hurt, or if you tend to hold a lot of tension in your shoulders or hips, this is worth trying. And honestly, for this quality and this amount of time, the price felt quite affordable to me!

If you're looking for a massage in Songpa or Garak-dong, keep The Hanoi Foot & Body Songpa Garak Branch in mind. Next time I visit, I'd book 80 minutes from the start, and if possible, get Teacher Cho again.