Hoya vitellinoides is native to Southeast Asia, specifically from the rainforests of the Greater Sunda Islands.
It grows as a climbing epiphyte (on trees) or occasionally a lithophyte (on rocks) in the wet tropical biome. It is often found at higher elevations (up to 800 meters) in humid, shaded areas, sometimes near riverbanks, suggesting a preference for consistent moisture and good light filtration.
Hoya vitellinoides was formally described by Rudolph C. Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr. (often abbreviated as Bakh. f.) in 1950. The description was published in the botanical journal "Blumea" (Vol. 6, p. 381).
The specific epithet "vitellinoides" comes from the Latin "vitellinus," meaning "egg-yolk yellow," likely referring to the luminous green or yellowish tone of the leaves and their prominent venation, or perhaps the subtle color of the flowers.