Phu Quoc, renowned as 'asia's most beautiful island', welcomed a remarkable 5.7 million visitors in the first half of the year. This figure represents a 30% increase compared to the same period last year and signifies that the island has already achieved 68% of its annual tourism target. Notably, Vietnam's largest island attracted 1,32 million international visitors during this period, a 50% surge year-on-year, according to a report from the An Giang Department of Tourism.

Bui Quoc Thai, Director of the An Giang Department of Tourism, attributed the sector's positive growth in the first six months to a combination of factors. These include the synchronized implementation of tourism development projects and policies, alongside significant advancements in international cooperation. The local authorities have also prioritized integrating technology into tourism operations. This includes a tourism website with virtual reality (VR) technology, a dedicated mobile application for tourists, an AI-powered access control and monitoring system at attractions, artificial intelligence-driven automated narration, and various digital tourism publications.

Phu Quoc is actively preparing to host APEC 2027, with numerous transport infrastructure upgrade projects currently underway to enhance connectivity to key tourist destinations. Concurrently, accommodation facilities across the island are expanding their capacity to meet anticipated demand. Alexandra Murray, Vice President and Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Hilton, expressed her astonishment at the pace of large-scale tourism project implementation in Vietnam, stating it is something she "has never witnessed in any other country, including the Middle East".

Recently, Fortune, a leading US business magazine, highlighted Phu Quoc as a breakthrough destination and a "new locomotive" for Vietnam's tourism industry. Fortune specifically cited the infrastructure projects underway for APEC 2027, such as the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport. Data from Klook, referenced by Fortune, indicates that visitor numbers to Phu Quoc more than doubled in 2025.

Foreign tourists relaxing at Khem Beach, Phu Quoc special zone, december 2025. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

Phu Quoc's international recognition extends beyond business accolades. The island was also named the most beautiful island in Asia and ranked third globally in 2025 by the renowned US travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler, in its ranking published in october 2025. The Pearl Island secured the top spot in the Asia regional ranking with an impressive total score of 95,51/100. This score reflects high visitor satisfaction across diverse criteria, including service quality, stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, unique cuisine, and exceptional hospitality. This impressive score propelled the Pearl Island to third place worldwide, trailing only two US islands: Kiawah and Hilton Head. Phu Quoc surpassed other famous destinations such as Maldives (92,31), Maui of Hawaii (93,35), Bali (89,84), and Phuket (84,62).

For the current year, Phu Quoc aims to welcome 8,5 million visitors, including two million international arrivals. International tourists visiting Phu Quoc particularly enjoy experiences such as swimming in the clear waters, exploring vibrant night markets, attending multimedia shows featuring fireworks in the South Island, and riding the world's longest three-wire sea-crossing cable car.

Tuan Anh