All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
by Helen Andrews | 28 May 2026
Lumina Wellbeing has designed the programming concept and three eco-wellness pathways for Auko
The facilities at the eco-wellness destination include a rasul mud cave
Expert facilitators will lead retreats and rituals throughout the year
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Van Phu Real Estate Development JSC owns the property, which is set along the Son River in the UNESCO-listed landscape of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park. The site borders the world’s largest cave system by volume (38.5 million cubic metres), the Son Doong caves.
Guests will be invited to switch off their phones and lock away their wallets for the all-inclusive experience and to connect with nature and their own intuition. There are three different “eco-wellness pathways” visitors can choose from to guide their experience.
These include:
- The Still Way – programming that allows for rest, introspective wellness and deep transformation.
- The Wild Way – Dynamic wellness experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures.
- The Open Way – Where guests can be their own guide, with freedom to explore and self-discover.
Wellness
In addition to luxurious eco-wellness lodges and seasonal full board meals, the wellness experiences are inspired by nature.
Lumina Wellbeing’s programming has been shaped by the region’s natural elements, indigenous traditions, wild herbs and earth-based rituals.
Michelle Ford, founder of Lumina Wellbeing, said, "Sustainability and wellbeing come hand in hand, and at Auko, our commitment is to bring a regenerative hospitality model with wellbeing at the core of everything we do. For the land and for the people who visit it."
The facilities include a rasul mud cave that accommodates six guests at a time. The temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius and reaches 75 per cent humidity.
There is also a forest shower for two guests at a time and six clifftop cool plunge tubs, which range from 5-10 degrees Celsius.
The sound healing cave, which fits 12-20 guests per session, is where sound rituals such as drumming and sound bowl healing take place.
The open-air tented sky studio provides a space for 18 guests to take part in classes, including yoga and what Lumina calls “animal flow and eco-somatic movement”.
The site’s silent meditation cave has a maximum capacity of four people.
Wellbeing experiences include in-lodge wild herb footbath and reflexology sessions, a clay rasul, breathwork and cold plunge in nature and meditation classes.
The property will offer a series of seasonal rituals, such as those that coincide with full moons, harvests, rainy season, and both sunrise and sunset.
Both local and internationally-renowned expert facilitators will lead a programme of wellness retreats, ideally for 20 people at a time.
Other activities
Guests will have the option to take part in guided forest treks, river boating and rock climbing experiences.
There are also cave expeditions on offer in partnership with local providers.
The all-inclusive dining options will include seasonal ingredients and non-alcoholic beverages such as freshly pressed kombucha and soft drinks. The property will offer community cooking classes, outdoor picnics, barbecues and meals with locals.
breathwork Lumina Wellbeing UNESCO Wellbeing Programming Meditation Wellness Wild wellness Community Development Hospitality Partnership Property Real estate Yoga
Yoga and other movement sessions will take place in the open-air tented sky studio Credit: Auko
There will be a sound healing cave, that fits 12-20 guests Credit: Auko
Lumina Wellbeing has designed nature-led healing journeys, incorporating rasul clay rituals Credit: Auko
The resort is located in the UNESCO-listed landscape of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park Credit: Auko
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing. Van Phu Real Estate Development JSC owns the property, which is set along the Son River in the UNESCO-listed landscape of Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park. The site borders the world’s largest cave system by volume (38.5 million cubic metres), the Son
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