Nguyen Manh Duy and the journey of bringing Himalayan singing bowl therapy to heal Vietnamese souls

When you first began introducing Himalayan culture to Vietnam, what was your approach to making its values and traditions more accessible?

In truth, when I started bringing Himalayan culture to Vietnam, I didn’t have a formal business strategy in mind. I’m not a businessman—my background is in journalism, and my passion lies in storytelling. Rather than meticulously planning from the outset, I followed my instincts and listened to my inner voice. Had I conducted market research at the time, I might have been too hesitant to take the leap, simply because I had no clear sense of my target audience (laughs). I set out to reach those with a deep appreciation for Tibetan and Himalayan culture. Yet, it was precisely this novelty that sparked curiosity, drawing more and more people to us.

To sustain this path in the long run, I constantly ask myself: do I truly love and believe in the value of what I am sharing? If the answer is yes, then I know I will remain committed to it for the long haul. That conviction fuels my perseverance. If something has real value, time will naturally allow it to take root and flourish. Cultural development is a slow and steady journey—it demands faith and patience.

This belief was especially significant in my introduction of Singing Bowl Therapy. From the very beginning, I recognised its unique ability to promote healing, restore balance, and harmonise emotions. At first, there was no existing market—people in Vietnam were unfamiliar with the concept entirely. But instead of being discouraged, I focused on raising awareness. I prioritised education, introducing the community to the benefits of sound therapy and allowing them to experience its effects firsthand. Additionally, I organised immersive journeys to the Himalayas, enabling participants to engage directly with the region’s cultural, spiritual, and energetic essence.

For me, everything starts with a deep love and trust in the values I pursue. I believe that when something is shared with sincerity, it will naturally find a way to resonate with others.

You mentioned that mental healing is one of the core offerings at Tibet House, with Singing Bowl Therapy playing a central role. Could you elaborate on this method and share what other healing practices you incorporate?

Singing Bowl Therapy—more accurately described as sound frequency therapy—is an ancient Himalayan healing tradition, particularly revered in Nepal and Tibet. Before 2014, this practice was virtually unknown in Vietnam, and the singing bowls that did exist were primarily used as decorative objects.

In 2015, after deepening my knowledge at workshops and therapy centres in Nepal, I introduced this method to Vietnam. Since 2016, the Om Healing centre has invited some of the world’s foremost masters of Singing Bowl Therapy to share their expertise. Among them is Master Santa Ratna Shakya, who has introduced this practice to over 45 countries. Since 2018, he has visited Vietnam at our invitation, and today, Om Healing serves as the official hub for his training programmes and treatment methodologies in the country.

The foundation of this method lies in the frequencies of sound waves and vibrations—forms of energy that can help realign an individual’s physical and energetic state when experiencing imbalance or instability. Scientific research has shown that raising the body’s energy frequency can naturally alleviate or even reverse certain conditions. In recent years, both the international and Vietnamese medical communities have recognised the scientific validity of this practice, identifying its clear benefits in supporting the body’s self-healing processes.

Notably, in 2023 and 2024, Professor Dr. Duong Quy Sy—President of the Vietnam Sleep Medicine Association—incorporated Singing Bowl Therapy as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to improve sleep quality. By using the singing bowls as a natural alternative to medication, patients were able to enhance their sleep without reliance on drugs.

Beyond Singing Bowl Therapy, the team at Tibet House integrates a range of complementary approaches to support mental well-being. These include yoga and energy practices rooted in Indian Ayurvedic traditions, psychotherapy methods such as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and hypnotherapy, and herbal remedies sourced from the Himalayas.

And what tangible benefits have these therapies, including Singing Bowl Therapy, provided in improving clients’ mental health?

In today’s fast-paced society, where relentless pressure contributes to stress-related conditions, Singing Bowl Therapy has demonstrated remarkable benefits—particularly for those suffering from insomnia, chronic stress, or depression.

Thousands of individuals have come to Om Healing to experience singing bowl therapy, finding a sense of balance and deep relaxation. When combined with psychological therapies, this method has helped many heal past traumas, navigate emotional upheavals, and realign their energy. We have also established a structured training system, with approximately 700 students completing our programme. Many of them have gone on to establish their own successful healing centres across Vietnam, further spreading awareness of this practice. The growing number of practitioners is a testament to both the effectiveness and the cultural relevance of this method in today’s world.

It is important to emphasise that Singing Bowl Therapy and the complementary methods we employ focus on healing, not treatment or curing in the conventional medical sense. Without the use of pharmaceuticals or external interventions, the self-healing process is activated by the body’s innate energy. Our role is to act as a guide, providing these therapies as “leading medicine” to help individuals elevate their own vibrational frequency, ultimately facilitating their self-healing journey. Unlike painkillers, which offer immediate relief but do not address the root cause, genuine healing is a gradual process—but one that yields long-lasting and sustainable results.

How have you celebrated Himalayan culture in your business ventures while maintaining authenticity alongside commercial success?

In developing my projects, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to preserving and honouring the cultural heritage of the Himalayas. My approach has always been to introduce products and services that uphold the true essence of the region—ensuring that clients not only appreciate these offerings but also gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual and cultural values they represent.

One of the key ways we maintain authenticity is through the organisation of intensive training courses in Singing Bowl Therapy and associated healing practices. We invite esteemed Himalayan masters to Vietnam, or, alternatively, we take our students and clients to the Himalayas to learn directly from these masters in their homeland. By engaging with the traditions at their source, students not only refine their techniques but also immerse themselves in the rich cultural context—making the preservation and appreciation of Himalayan heritage even more profound and meaningful.

Additionally, we prioritise working with artisans in Nepal to preserve traditional crafts, such as statue-making and Thangka painting—both deeply embedded in the spiritual heritage of the region. By enhancing production processes, we help artisans continue their craft, ensuring that these centuries-old traditions are not only maintained but also provide a sustainable livelihood for artisan communities. A portion of the profits from these products is also allocated to charitable funds supporting underprivileged children and infrastructure projects, particularly in Nepal.

We are also actively involved in humanitarian relief efforts and community support, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters. Following the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, we raised and delivered $8,000 to aid victims. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we provided essential supplies to communities in need. Beyond emergency relief, our cultural preservation initiatives also contribute a share of our profits to support schools, monasteries, and charitable projects across Nepal.

These efforts serve to honour and safeguard Himalayan culture while empowering local communities to sustain and develop their cultural heritage.

It is well known that you run a travel company specialising in healing and meditation retreats to the Himalayas—a travel trend that is gaining increasing global appeal. What are your guiding principles to ensure that your services offer long-term value, rather than simply capitalising on a passing trend?

I currently run Himalayan Adventure, a travel company that organises transformative retreats to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. These journeys are carefully curated to offer profound self-discovery, meditation, and immersive cultural experiences. Our aim is to help participants restore balance in their lives, shift perspectives, and develop a deep understanding of the local culture rather than engaging in conventional tourism.

From the outset, my team and I established a guiding philosophy: “Not to follow trends, but to create our own path.” We believe that spiritual and healing journeys should not be treated as fleeting fads but embraced as a sustainable way of life. While the early stages of this endeavour were filled with challenges, each obstacle offered valuable lessons that allowed us to refine and strengthen our approach—leading us to where we are today.

Our commitment is to provide only those experiences that we have personally explored, tested, and evaluated before offering them to our clients. In an era where experiences are often marketed without genuine verification, we stand by the principle that we will never introduce a product or retreat that we have not personally vetted for quality and authenticity. This core integrity ensures that our services remain sustainable, fostering lasting, positive transformations for our clients in a truly meaningful way.

Article published from the original article in Tatler Vietnam, January 2025 issue.

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