Auko Eco-Wellness Lodges has received two awards recognising its approach to sustainable design and hospitality: Winner of the HICAP 2026 Sustainable Hotel Awards in the Sustainable Design category, and a Gold Award in the Sustainable Hospitality Space category at the VMARK F&B Excellence Award 2026.
The HICAP Sustainable Hotel Awards, presented as part of the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific, recognise hospitality projects across the region that demonstrate innovative approaches to sustainable development. The Sustainable Design category considers how architecture, materials, building efficiency and site planning can reduce environmental impact, protect natural ecosystems and preserve a sense of place. Its emphasis on practical, replicable solutions makes the recognition particularly meaningful for projects seeking to advance sustainability in hospitality.
The VMARK Design Award for Hospitality & F&B Excellence celebrates innovation and excellence in hospitality spaces, bringing together design, functionality, cultural identity and guest experience. Its Sustainable Hospitality Space category recognises projects that integrate environmental responsibility into the way hospitality environments are conceived and built.
These recognitions affirm the intention behind Auko, a project set along the Son River within the Phong Nha – Ke Bang UNESCO World Heritage landscape, and shaped by its natural surroundings of ancient limestone karsts and lush native botanicals, where architecture, wellbeing and environmental responsibility are considered part of the same experience.
Designed to Belong
Rather than imposing a conventional resort layout on the landscape, the development responds to the region’s limestone formations, existing vegetation, river systems and seasonal flooding.
30 eco-wellness tented lodges sit in small clusters within the natural terrain, offering comfort while maintaining a close connection to the forest, river and surrounding wilderness. Elevated bamboo walkways rise above historic flood levels, while reclaimed timber, naturally ventilated platforms and structures designed to adapt to seasonal water movement help the retreat respond to the realities of its environment.
The approach is guided by a belief that good design should allow the land to remain present in the guest experience, creating nature-led space for discovery, quiet and a deeper appreciation of the natural world.
Sustainability, Considered from the Ground Up
Auko is aligned with the IFC Building Resilience Index and holds EDGE Advanced certification, with performance benchmarks demonstrating savings of 65% in energy consumption, 47% in water consumption and 56% in embodied energy in materials compared with conventional building standards.
The wider approach includes solar power, refillable amenities, the elimination of single-use plastics, recycling and indigenous planting selected to support local resilience and biodiversity. Conscious food sourcing, seasonal produce and relationships with the local community further connect the guest experience to the place Auko calls home.
A Different Way to Experience Phong Nha
Through an all-inclusive stay at Auko, guests can shape their stay around freedom, restoration or guided adventure. Wellness journeys draw on native botanicals, earth-based rituals and the natural elements of Phong Nha, while local food, river experiences and encounters with the surrounding landscape offer a more grounded connection to the destination.
Developed by Van Phu Real Estate Development JSC and operated by Lumina Wellbeing, Auko brings together sustainable design and regenerative wellness with a shared intention: to create hospitality that cares for both the guest and the place.
