Auko Eco-Wellness Lodges is set to open in 3Q2026 along the Son River within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang UNESCO World Heritage Site, an area known for its extensive cave systems, including Son Doong. The 30-lodge development introduces an all-inclusive eco-wellness concept shaped by the surrounding landscape and local heritage.
The project has been developed with a focus on environmental resilience in a region characterised by monsoon flooding and dense jungle. Designed in alignment with IFC’s Building Resilience Index, the site incorporates elevated bamboo walkways, adaptable glamping structures and reclaimed materials, with lodges arranged in clusters among indigenous planting selected for biodiversity and durability.
Guest experiences are structured around three flexible pathways: The Open Way, centred on balance and unstructured exploration; The Still Way, offering guided wellness programmes focused on rest and reflection; and The Wild Way, combining physical activity with outdoor exploration. All stays include daily meals at the on-site restaurant, which highlights seasonal produce, river fish and locally sourced ingredients from Central Vietnam.
The wellness approach draws on traditional practices associated with the Cham culture, incorporating natural elements such as clay, botanicals and water-based therapies. Programmes include hydrotherapy circuits, sound healing, movement sessions and nature-led rituals, alongside a calendar of seasonal activities and visiting practitioners.
The name Auko is inspired by a Vietnamese origin legend, reflecting themes of balance between nature and movement. Guests are encouraged to engage with the environment at their own pace, with experiences designed to foster personal well-being and connection to place.
Access to the lodges is available via Dong Hoi or Hue airports, with onward transfers to the site. Rates are expected to start from US$300++ per night for two guests, on an all-inclusive basis.
Michelle Ford, founder of Lumina Wellbeing and wellness hospitality operator of Auko, shared that sustainability and well-being are closely connected, and that Auko’s approach is centred on developing a regenerative hospitality model with well-being at the core of its operations, for both the environment and its guests.
