International Tourist Boom Prompts Phu Quoc’s Southern Island Developers to Expand Hotels and Restaurants

In the first 10 months of 2025, Phu Quoc Island welcomed nearly 7.1 million visitors, marking a 34.2% increase compared to the same period last year and achieving 97.6% of the annual target. International arrivals set consecutive records, reaching approximately 1.35 million visitors, a 68.4% surge year-on-year. Each day, Phu Quoc’s skies are painted with vibrant colors as nearly 60 flights land, bringing both domestic and international tourists from key markets such as South Korea, China, and CIS countries.

The Epicenter of Growth and Investment in the Pearl Island

Amidst this growth wave, the southern part of Phu Quoc has emerged as a hotspot, attracting visitors with its world-class tourism offerings. From the two spectacular shows, “Ocean Symphony” and “The Kiss of the Ocean,” featuring dazzling nightly fireworks, to the bustling shopping and dining district, and the world’s longest three-wire sea-crossing cable car, a plethora of new tourism projects draw tens of thousands of visitors daily.

World-class attractions transform Phu Quoc into a tourism hub

Mr. Tran Minh Khoa, Chairman of the Phu Quoc Special Administrative Region’s People’s Committee, stated, “Sun Group is continuously perfecting its ecosystem of tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and aviation, significantly boosting Phu Quoc’s tourism and preparing for APEC 2027.”

Beyond attracting tourists, southern Phu Quoc has become a magnet for tourism and service investors, collectively shaping a world-class resort paradise. Mr. Vu Van Cuong, owner of the Times Corner hotel chain in Sunset Town, shared an optimistic business outlook with occupancy rates consistently at 90-95%, and often reaching 100% during Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Assessing Phu Quoc’s investment environment, Mr. Cuong noted, “Phu Quoc will continue to develop, and there’s currently a shortage of services, particularly those catering to tourists, such as hotels, restaurants, spas, beauty care, and ancillary services like laundry and industrial cleaning. I believe there’s still ample room for investment and business in Phu Quoc, especially in tourism and commerce.”

Mr. Fabl Belek, a Turkish national and owner of Istanbul Beach Club in Kem Beach, shared his future plans to potentially open 2-3 more restaurants in Phu Quoc. “I initially came to Phu Quoc for a short break but ended up staying for nine years because it offers everything: from natural beauty to a thriving business environment. Our customers hail from around the globe—Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand… My shop sometimes feels like the United Nations.”

According to Sun Paradise Land, a subsidiary of Sun Group, the occupancy rate of commercial spaces in Sunset Town is expected to exceed 70% by the end of 2025, up from 20% in 2023. Mr. Dinh Gia Long, Director of Sun Paradise Land, described Phu Quoc’s tourism growth as “incalculable,” citing examples such as a sevenfold increase in Indian visitors within a year.

“Alongside Phu Quoc’s overall tourism growth, Sun Group’s continuous investment in world-class policies, festivals, and events has created significant business opportunities for investors. As a result, the occupancy rate of real estate properties is rising at a record pace. Not only domestic investors but also many entrepreneurs and communities from South Korea and Taiwan are flocking here, opening restaurants and developing tourism itineraries to bring visitors from these markets,” Mr. Long added.

APEC Infrastructure – Laying the Foundation for Phu Quoc’s Next Leap

Alongside tourism and service investments, Phu Quoc is experiencing a robust urban infrastructure boom, particularly with key projects accelerating to support APEC 2027. Notable developments include the APEC Conference Center in Red Land, which will host high-level events, the VND 9 trillion urban rail project, and the DT.975 provincial road directly connecting Phu Quoc International Airport to the conference center.

Simultaneously, Phu Quoc International Airport is undergoing expansion and modernization by Sun Group, aiming to enhance capacity and become a world-class gateway to the Pearl Island. Once completed, these projects will provide Phu Quoc, especially its southern region, with a synchronized, modern infrastructure system, driving tourism, commerce, and services forward.

In parallel with infrastructure development, Sun Group has partnered strategically with Hilton to develop multi-branded hotels in southern Phu Quoc, including luxury brands like Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton, offering nearly 2,000 internationally-standard rooms. Previously, Sun Group collaborated with Rixos to introduce Southeast Asia’s first all-inclusive luxury resort concept on Hon Thom Island. Upon completion, this brand will provide Phu Quoc with nearly 2,000 rooms in an unprecedented model for Vietnam.

Relentless investment in new projects, crafting a world-class tourism ecosystem

These initiatives not only aim to support international events like APEC 2027 but also reflect the ambition to position southern Phu Quoc as a global hub for resorts, conferences, and investment, blending nature, international services, and world-class experiences. With APEC 2027 as a catalyst and projections of 30 million visitors by 2030, the ripe season for tourism and service investors in Phu Quoc, particularly its southern region, is fast approaching.