Tourists flood in as Phu Quoc booms

More than 60 flights land at Phu Quoc Airport each day, with a plane touching down every five minutes at peak times. With over half of these being international flights, 10,000 passengers arrive daily–five times the figure from the same period last year.

Simultaneously, more than 30 high-speed ferries travel daily between the mainland and the island. To meet the surging demand, the city has extended the operational hours of ferries and boats to 10 PM, compared to the previous cut-off of 2 PM.

The number of visitors arriving by sea is close to 3,000 per day, which does not include passengers arriving via large cruise ships, such as the 2,000 international visitors who docked at Duong Dong Port in December. In total, across all modes of transport, daily arrivals to Phu Quoc during peak days can surpass 15,000.

At billion-dollar entertainment and hospitality spots like Sunset Town or Bai Kem, operating at full capacity has become the norm for most businesses and attractions over the past few months.

Every morning on Bai Kem Beach, practically every square metre is occupied by tourists, many of whom are international. Sunset Town itself is estimated to welcome nearly 15,000 visitors daily

A similarly vibrant scene unfolds at Sun World Hon Thom, where daily visitor numbers are estimated at 7,000. By 9 PM each evening, all roads leading to the stage of the show Kiss of the Sea are jam-packed with thousands of tourists flocking to witness the performance.

For the past month, nearly all 40 accommodation facilities, ranging from 5-star resorts and hotels like JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, New World Phu Quoc Resort, Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, and La Festa Phu Quoc, to 3-4-star hotels and mini-hotels in Sunset Town and Bai Kem, have reported an occupancy rate of over 90 per cent.

During the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, the average occupancy rate for 5-star hotels in Phu Quoc is projected to reach 85 per cent, while 4-star hotels are nearly fully booked during the main holiday dates.

"The occupancy rate at our facility in December and January 2025 is above 90 per cent, with some days reaching 100 per cent. This year, we’ve seen three to four times more guests than last year, with international visitors accounting for 70 per cent," shared Vu Cuong, owner of the Times Corner Hotel in Sunset Town. He also revealed plans to open a second lodging facility in the heart of the town this year.

The food and beverages (F&B) sector is equally thriving. Viet Hung, manager of Cai Mam Bistro in the bustling Vui Phet night market, said, "During the year-end season, the number of visitors to Sunset Town is two to three times higher than in the middle of the year. At our restaurant, we’ve been operating at full capacity almost every day. Sometimes, we even have to turn guests away because there’s no seating available."

Viet Hung’s observations echo the sentiments of many business owners in Sunset Town. Nearly 50 F&B establishments in the area have been serving at over 80 per cent capacity for the past few months.

For high-class venues like the Sun Bavaria GastroPub, renowned for its unique dinner shows and prime vantage point for watching performances by world champion jet-ski and fly-board athletes as well as stunning fireworks displays, nearly 1,000 reservations have already been made for New Year’s Eve.

In short, Phu Quoc’s tourism industry has experienced an unprecedented 2024–both in terms of the sheer number of visitors and the steady inflow of revenue.

By 2030, the number of visitors to Phu Quoc is expected to quadruple, which means that the demand for services will multiply exponentially, suggesting that now may the 'perfect moment' to invest in the 'Pearl Island'.

Lonely Planet gives tips to fully explore Phu Quoc Going on an island-hopping snorkelling tour, taking the cable car to an amusement park on Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) and visiting Sunset Town are among top activities while travelling Phu Quoc island in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, recommended Lonely Planet, the travel information website dubbed “the backpacker's blue bible”.

US Magazine: A 3-Day trip to Phu Quoc costs less than a weekend in Singapore Renowned travel magazine Travel + Leisure has dedicated an entire article to explain the allure of Phu Quoc to its nearly 5 million readers. Key reasons highlighted include convenient transportation, an advantageous visa policy, and a variety of appealing experiences.

Phu Quoc expects to welcome 1 million foreign travellers in 2025 Phu Quoc island city in the southern province of Kien Giang has set a target of serving 7 million tourists in 2025, including 1 million foreigners, according to Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Minh Khoa.