Burnout Diary: How Running off to this Vietnam Retreat Saved me

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A month into walking away from my last job, I still couldn’t sleep. Working at a fast-paced tech startup while being pulled in opposite directions by two different supervisors didn’t just break my spirit—it left me with a brutal case of insomnia that had been draining me for months.

Do you know that feeling? When your sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive and your body is kept at a constant state of alertness and tension? I knew I needed a hard reset but I don’t think I have the energy to plan anything glamorous either. I wanted somewhere safe, easy, and quiet. So, I Googled with a strict checklist: proximity, budget-friendly, and unequivocally safe for a solo female traveler looking for a retreat to cure burnout.

Finding Hoi An: The Budget-Friendly Sister of Bali

When you search for a women-safe retreat, the internet loves to throw overpriced Bali options at you. In my humble opinion, Bali has become overly touristy.

Thanks to some stellar SEO on a retreat.com (and no, this is not a sponsored post, haha), I managed to down a few options in Vietnam. A cozy (yet slightly raw) yoga studio called Naia located in Vietnam’s ancient city, Hoi An, caught my eye. To my surprise, Hoi An has its own version of Beach clubs and resorts, as well as world-class cafes with a less luxurious, but warmer and friendlier vibe (I can safely say I love Vietnam after being there four times). It can definitely be referred as the budget-friendly version of Bali! 

Found by a badass Vietnamese lady, Huong, Naia Hoi An was born from her personal transformation. Following a health crisis and debilitating insomnia, the founder—a former corporate professional and mother—sought refuge in the tranquil nature of Hoi An (a story so strikingly similar to mine!!).

How to travel safely as a woman (99% reliable)

Safety is my number one concern when I’m travelling outside a cosmopolitan area. 

1. Looking at Google reviews, bottoms up

When I look for a retreat, I like to look at the place’s Google reviews starting from the lowest. I remembered seeing another retreat, which actually fits my fitness goal more in Phuc Quoc, but ended up dropping the idea entirely seeing a review where a lady completed the head coach of force entering her room

2. I don’t go out late. I like to keep my exploring to daytime and early evenings
3. Don’t accept invites easily – you owe no one to be nice
4. Be situationally aware. Watch what the locals do and don’t do. Act like you are confident &  know what you are doing (even when you don’t)
   

I also found some good tips to travel safe solo as a woman on Reddit.

Is Vietnam Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

The short answer is yes—if you choose your spaces wisely. While English isn’t universally spoken outside of tourist hubs, Vietnam has an incredibly warm, welcoming culture (think closer to the hospitality of the Philippines or Taiwan, rather than more reserved cultures).

I actually made a friend with a lovely local girl in the bar (also ran by women luckily!!)

Inside Naia: A Female-Founded Yoga Retreat in Hoi An

If I had to sum up my experience at this yoga retreat in Hoi An in one word, it would be nourishing. 

Let’s me be completely real: Naia is not one of those over-sanitized, ultra-luxurious, air-conditioned wellness resorts you see on generic travel brochures. The staff didn’t chat up to you either. And honestly? I love it for that.

It is small, quiet, and wonderfully raw. There is no air-con, nothing fancy (except for the beautiful ocean view, and zero pretentiousness. Practicing yoga here means feeling the actual sea breeze on your skin, listening to the crashing waves, and enjoying the creative flow led by teachers catered to different levels. 

The Naia Vibe Check:

• Luxury level: Zero fluff. Barefoot, raw, and minimalist.
• AC: None (hello, natural ocean breeze and detox sweating).
• Views: 10/10 stellar, front-row seats to the beautiful My Khe ocean looking over the South China Sea.
• Environment: Be immersed in nature.

The retreat was founded by Huong, whose own wellness journey began in 2016 after facing an early-stage cervical cancer diagnosis and her own battles with insomnia, more here. She built exactly what recovering corporate women need: to rebuild their balance. The amazing part of the story is that Huong completely reversed her cancer diagnosis and transformed her health after her new way of mindful living with yoga and macrobiotic cooking.

The all-female staff gently curates your schedule based on your energy levels and cooks the most comforting, hearty meals. Not much even needs to be said; their genuine smiles instantly make you feel cared for. (Plus, I got a delightful surprise when I realized my daily spa trip involved a fun local motorbike ride!)

The Daily Routine at my Yoga Retreat: 

Yoga & meditation class ➔ Hearty breakfast ➔ Reading and journaling by the beach ➔ Afternoon class ➔ Delicious dinner ➔ Daily spa treatments (absolute heaven).

The Budget and Accommodation

Naia pairs her daily classes with a stay at this villa opposite the studio. It is stunning. The rooms are massive, featuring massive glass doors that open up to a peaceful fountain and garden, head to my Substack article if you wanted more details about the accommodation name, real photos and budget planning!

Facing My Anxiety Head-On (And Finally Catching Some Zzz’s)

In full disclosure—because The Sunny Club is all about radical honesty—I am no bold, fearless adventurer. I travel alone, but my brain is constantly hyper-vigilant.

For the first three nights, the insomnia followed me. My anxiety kept whispering: What if someone breaks through these gorgeous glass doors?

Instead of panicking, I forced myself to dissect the fear with logic:

• Is this fear valid right now? No.
• What are the facts? There is a 24/7 security guard downstairs, and two other women are staying right upstairs.

I also used a simple somatic sleep hack: shifting my sleeping position entirely to the right side to signal to my brain that it was safe to drop its guard. By night four, the chronic tension broke. I finally slept.

Sightseeing, Weather, and Packing Tips for Hoi An

• The Location: The villa is just a 10-minute Grab ride away from Hoi An Ancient Town, where world-class specialty coffee shops meet vibrant, historic yellow buildings.
• The People: The locals are incredibly sweet. I actually ended up making three new girlfriends during my stay (which, let’s honest, is an Olympic sport once you pass 35! You can read my guide on How to Meet Girlfriends in Your Late 30s [here]).
• The Weather in January & February: It was already roasting at 25-29 Celsius
• What to Pack: Bringing thick long-sleeve tees was a massive rookie mistake. Stick to breathable tank tops, swimsuits, and thin, long linen pants—the linen is perfect for protecting your skin while biking around town.

What type of Burnout are you?

Through my own recovery and extensive reading, I’ve realized that some of us are simply wired to hit the wall faster than others. See if you recognize yourself in these traits:

• The People Pleaser: Struggles to say “no.” Driven by a desire to avoid conflict, they ignore their own capacity until they collapse.
• The Perfectionist: Sets impossible standards. Anything less than 100% feels like a failure, creating a loop of constant self-criticism.
• The “Type A” High Achiever: Highly ambitious with an intense sense of urgency. They try to optimize everything, leaving zero room for rest.
• The Over-Identified Workaholic: Ties their entire identity and self-worth to professional productivity, entirely neglecting their personal life.
• The Masking Neurodivergent: Expends double the energy just trying to fit into rigid corporate structures until the sensory overload takes over.

If you fit any of these profiles, please don’t wait until you are utterly hollowed out to make a change. Take a break when things start feeling muted, or when you find yourself asking, “Is this really all life is?”

Most of the time, we don’t need an entirely new life. We just need to carve out a little space to see the one we have more clearly. Distance brings clarity. When your surroundings change, your perspective follows.

Go find your right place, and your right pace.