Foreign visitors choose islet tours on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island during Tet

Vietnamese people are enjoying the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, which runs from Saturday, February 14 (27th of the twelfth lunar month), to Sunday, February 22 (sixth of the first lunar month).

Nguyen Minh Tam, director of Tam Dang Khoa Tourism Service One Member Company Limited in An Thoi Ward, said that during Tet, speedboat tours to visit three islets off An Thoi for swimming, snorkeling, coral watching and water sports are sought after by international tourists.

“International visitors began joining islet tours in large numbers on Wednesday,” Tam said.

“We have prepared 12 speedboats to serve tourists.

“Our company has received bookings from 15 international groups heading out to the islands for diving, coral watching, photography and marine sports,” he shared.

“We expect even larger crowds tomorrow, the third day of Tet,” he added.

The three-islet speedboat tour has become one of Phu Quoc’s signature experiences.

About seven kilometers offshore from An Thoi, islets such as Gam Ghi, May Rut Trong and May Rut Ngoai retain their unspoiled beauty, where emerald seas meet lush greenery and dramatic rocky outcrops.

Visitors are particularly enthusiastic about snorkeling in the clear water, feeding fish and admiring vibrant coral reefs.

“From 9:00 am on the second day of Tet, international visitors began departing for photo shoots and seabed walking experiences,” said Nguyen Ha Trieu, operations director at Nautilus, a cruise ship service provider.

“Our ships are carrying around 200 international passengers per day, while our employees are fully prepared to support visitors so they can enjoy a joyful and meaningful Tet on Phu Quoc Island with their families,” he said.

Exploring festive atmosphere onshore

According to a representative from Phu Quoc International Airport, during the peak of the Lunar New Year 2026 holiday, Phu Quoc is welcoming between 80 and 86 flights per day, including around 50 international services, bringing some 18,200 foreign arrivals.

Popular tourist sites such as Sunset Town and Hon Bridge, also known as Kiss Bridge, are receiving about 15,000 visitors per day.

“Local authorities and travel firms have created beautifully-decorated festive spaces,” said Kim Anh, a visitor from Can Tho City.

“The night markets and attractions in both the southern and northern parts of the island are truly impressive and lively with so many international guests,” she shared.

Nguyen Ba Quan, director of Sun Airport JSC, noted that both domestic and international passenger volumes through Phu Quoc International Airport have surged during the 2026 holiday.

The airport has increased staffing during peak hours and is operating flexibly to handle congestion, ensuring safe and smooth service for travelers.

Nguyen Minh Khoa, chairman of the Phu Quoc People’s Committee, forecast that during this Tet, crowds of tourists would join islet tours.

He has also urged tour operators to improve service quality.

He added that authorities would strictly handle cases of harassment, overcharging or price violations, in order to protect visitors’ rights.