While searching for the perfect place to host a yoga retreat in Ninh Binh, Kuba spent days visiting different venues, yet nothing truly resonated with him. Just as he was about to give up, someone recommended Halise Home.
Kuba is the founder of Oi Retreats and the lead yoga instructor at Oi’s newly established retreat, Halise Sanctuary in Ninh Binh.
Earlier this year, when he began looking for a partner to create a new retreat in Ninh Binh Province, his goal was to find someone who shared his holistic vision of building a retreat that does not simply begin and end on the yoga mat.
Kuba dreamed of guiding people to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and cultivate greater balance, clarity, and inner peace—both on and off the mat. However, finding someone who truly shared that vision proved more challenging than he had expected.
Then, just as he was preparing to leave Ninh Binh, he met Nancy at Halise Home:
“The moment I arrived, I knew this was the place. I met Nancy, the owner, and discovered that she had been looking for a partner to create a mindful yoga retreat. It felt like the perfect match, and together we brought Halise Sanctuary to life.”
Now, six months later, Kuba and Nancy invite people to experience yoga as something far greater than physical movement. For them, yoga is a way of life. That is why they describe Halise Sanctuary as:
“A place where people can step away from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with what truly matters.”
It Doesn’t End Here
Kuba believes that when we slow down and allow ourselves the space to simply be, clarity, balance, and inner peace naturally begin to emerge.
His vision for Halise Sanctuary is to create a safe and welcoming home for anyone seeking rest, renewal, and a deeper connection with themselves.
It is a place where nature, yoga, mindfulness, nourishing food, and meaningful human connection come together to support healing and personal growth.
His hope is that guests leave the sanctuary with greater balance, inner peace, and practical tools they can carry into their everyday lives:
“I hope they take home practices they can continue using long after their stay. Whether it’s a breathing technique, a yoga routine, or simply the habit of creating space for themselves. Above all, I hope everyone discovers a deeper sense of inner peace, because I truly believe that is where lasting happiness begins.”
Halise Sanctuary is therefore more than a retreat where people come to experience a holistic lifestyle for a few days. It is a community, a mindset, and a way of life that encourages and supports guests in learning and growing—not only during their time at the sanctuary, but, more importantly, in their everyday lives at home.
We Are Not Different
For Kuba, it is important to emphasize that a retreat does not need to be extraordinary or unique. For him, the focus lies elsewhere:
“What makes Halise Sanctuary special is a return to the simple things that truly matter: yoga, meditation, mindful workshops, nourishing food, meaningful connections, and the peaceful beauty of nature.”
If you ask Kuba, these are the elements that create a true retreat: a place where you can arrive exactly as you are, slow down, let go of the outside world, and reconnect with yourself.
“Sometimes, that’s all we really need,” he says.
Coming from a completely different professional background, Kuba speaks from personal experience.
A few years ago, he made the decision to leave the stresses of the business world behind and dedicate his life to helping both himself and others reconnect with what exists within and around us.
It was a decision that taught him an important lesson: the most meaningful work he could do was not directed outward, but inward.
Through this inner work, Kuba found growth, healing, and improved mental well-being – a journey he had never previously considered important enough to invest his time and energy in.
“Because it is a challenging practice,” he explains.
Real change takes time, patience, and sometimes a helping hand.
It Begins with Halise Sanctuary...
…and from there, Kuba dreams of expanding Oi Retreats to different locations throughout Vietnam.
“I want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to experience Oi Retreats. By establishing retreats in different locations across Vietnam and embracing the unique character of each place, I hope to build not only a diverse collection of retreats, but also a community that welcomes everyone, inspires one another, and grows together.”
With these words, Kuba invites us to bring our palms together in front of our hearts, close our eyes, and gently bow our heads as we softly pronounce the ancient greeting:
Namaste.
And now, let the journey within begin.
