Phu Quoc tops list of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing travel destinations
Travel Off Path has listed the top 5 fastest-growing destinations in Southeast Asia, with Phu Quoc Island taking the top spot.
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Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam and boasts a mild climate and natural beauty. It has gradually become a resort paradise for both domestic and foreign tourists, a land rich in primaeval forests, pristine poetic beaches, and a host of resorts and high-end entertainment venues.
According to the website, Phu Quoc steals the hearts of foreign visitors thanks to its palm-strewn coast, white-sand beaches, and affordable luxury resorts.
From its jungle-traversed hinterland, crisscrossed with nature trails, to Doung Dong, a large town hosting a lively night market, to the Disney-style VinWonders, an amusement park featuring princess castles and thrilling theme rides, the island provides guaranteed fun for all travellers.
The four other destinations named in Travel Off Path’s list included Phuket and Bangkok (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and Singapore.
One of the aspects that has most impressed international media is Phu Quoc’s portfolio of tourism products and experiences found nowhere else. The world’s longest three-wire cable car to Hon Thom Island has been described by CNN and Lonely Planet as a must-try experience for any visitor. Sunset Town, with its night market and cascading hillside streets, has been recommended by Expedia’s travel experts to travelers worldwide.
Travel + Leisure has expressed admiration for the nightly fireworks displays at Sunset Town, as well as for the Guinness World Record-holding Kiss of the Sea show. Phu Quoc is also home to iconic landmarks such as Kiss Bridge – the world’s only “non-touching” bridge – which drew admiration from CNN immediately upon its debut.
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| Phu Quoc among fastest-growing travel destinations in Southeast Asia. |
Looking back, Vietnam’s international tourism doubled in scale in less than a decade, rising from 10 million international arrivals in 2016 to 20 million in 2025 – an exceptionally rapid growth rate in the region. During the same period, Thailand recorded an increase of around 19%, while Singapore grew by approximately 8%, despite their larger visitor bases. This trajectory signals Vietnam’s transition from an “emerging destination” to a new tourism hub in the region, distinguished by strong momentum and clear potential for further expansion in international markets.
Within this phase of accelerated growth, Phu Quoc stands out as a representative destination. The island has repeatedly been chosen as the setting for major milestones in Vietnam’s tourism development, underscoring its distinctive position within the national tourism landscape.
In 2016, when Vietnam welcomed its 10-millionth international visitor, Phu Quoc was widely regarded as the embodiment of a new chapter in the country’s tourism journey – shifting from a purely nature-based destination toward a more structured, investment-driven resort model with an increasingly international outlook.
By 2025, Phu Quoc had emerged as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the country, playing a pioneering role and serving as a key driver for international visitor growth. The pilot policy granting visa-free entry to all international travelers for stays of up to 30 days has given the island a clear competitive edge over many regional destinations, while also attracting longer-stay, higher-spending international visitors.
Between 2023 and 2025, Phu Quoc consistently ranked among the most searched island destinations in Asia on international travel platforms and appeared frequently in prestigious global rankings for resort destinations, island tourism, and premium travel experiences. International media coverage has not only praised the island’s natural beauty but also highlighted the dramatic transformation of its urban tourism landscape and the steady improvement in service quality.
(Source: VNA)
