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“The award 'Asia's Leading Green Resort 2025' from World Travel Awards is a recognition of the journey of more than 20 years of tourism development associated with ecological conservation, respect for nature and indigenous culture. We would like to thank the local community of Hoang Su Phi and those who have long accompanied Panhou Retreat to spread good messages", Mr. David Le - representative of Panhou Retreat shared.
Panhou Retreat is known as the "green oasis" of Hoang Su Phi
Located in Hoang Su Phi (Tuyen Quang), Panhou Retreat is one of the first eco-resorts in Vietnam to develop towards sustainable tourism, connecting the community and preserving indigenous culture for over two decades.
The resort uses natural materials such as bamboo, wood, stone, and reed and minimizes concrete in construction. The open design helps take advantage of light, natural air circulation and creates a quiet space in the middle of the mountains and forests. In addition, this place also aims for an environmentally friendly operating model, while focusing on indigenous elements in architecture and services.
During its operation, Panhou Retreat applies the 3R philosophy (Reduce – Reuse – Recycle), completely eliminating single-use plastic and replacing it with environmentally friendly materials such as glass, stone, bamboo, wood and rattan. The resort also uses solar energy, energy-saving sensor lights and is harmoniously arranged in natural space to minimize environmental impact.
Notably, more than 95% of the staff here are local ethnic people. They are well-trained in tourism, foreign languages, waste classification and environmental protection skills, contributing to creating stable and developing job opportunities for the Red Dao community and other ethnic groups in the area.
Sustainable travel journey
Panhou Retreat maintains a cultural exhibition space, which preserves traditional costumes and artifacts of the Dao people. Here, visitors can visit and participate in experiential activities such as wood carving, painting on Do paper, enjoying tea, meditating in the garden, bathing in medicinal herbs from local herbs, or walking and cycling to explore the surrounding villages.
More than 95% of international guests who have stayed at Panhou Retreat said they would be willing to return if they had the opportunity to return to Vietnam, reflecting the value of the experience associated with nature and local culture that this place brings.
With the aim of connecting with the local community, the resort has established the “Panhou Sustainable Development Fund” with an initial capital of 200 million VND, taken from revenue from each guest stay. The fund aims at four main goals: supporting local economic development; vocational training for local people; planting trees to protect primary forests; and supporting waste collection initiatives associated with sustainable development. Every visitor staying at Panhou indirectly contributes to environmental and community activities in Hoang Su Phi.
From a small-scale resort in the mountains of Hoang Su Phi, Panhou Retreat pursues a slow-paced sustainable development, focusing on preserving cultural identity and empowering local communities. Winning the title of “Asia’s Leading Green Resort 2025” by World Travel Awards is a recognition of this model, and reflects the positive trend of sustainable tourism in Vietnam.
When natural, cultural and human factors are placed at the center, destinations in Vietnam can make their mark on the international tourism map.
The World Travel Awards (WTA), dubbed the “Oscars of the travel industry,” is one of the most prestigious global awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to the tourism industry and sustainable development. With more than 30 years of history, WTA evaluates units based on many criteria such as service quality, architecture, environmental impact and sustainability.
In 2025, the category “Asia's Leading Green Resort” had 9 nominations from Asian countries. Among them, Panhou Retreat – one of three representatives from Vietnam met the strict criteria of the jury and was awarded the award.
