Int’l visitors drawn to Tet traditions on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island

Foreign tourists have crowded popular areas including Rach Vem, Ham Ninh, and Duong Dong fishing villages, as well as major attractions such as Grand World Phu Quoc and Sunset Town.

Many visitors have taken part in calligraphy writing, rented traditional costumes and ‘ao dai,’ and posed for photographs amid spring flower displays and Tet decorations, which organizers say are designed to introduce Vietnamese Lunar New Year customs to international travelers.

A Brazilian tourist, Lousie, who visited Phu Quoc with his family, said they were impressed by the festive atmosphere, noting that flower streets, calligraphy areas, and people wearing ‘ao dai’ helped them better understand how Vietnamese people celebrate the Lunar New Year festival, which lasts about a week from February 17.

He said the warm atmosphere and local cuisine made the experience memorable and worth sharing with friends back home.

A South Korean visitor, Joo Gwang, said the short cultural performances still conveyed the richness of Vietnam’s Tet traditions, adding that favorable weather made the island an appealing holiday destination during the festival period.

Across the island, major streets in Duong Dong, Ganh Dau, and An Thoi have been decorated for Tet, while residents have been buying flowers and preparing their homes for the holiday.

Tourist attractions have set up displays featuring traditional symbols such as apricot and peach blossoms to reflect Lunar New Year customs from different regions of Vietnam.

Fishing villages have also seen a surge in visitors.

Le Xuan Thuy, who operates a floating house in Rach Vem, said international tourists had been arriving in large numbers to experience local island life through fishing trips and seafood tours.

He said his floating house sometimes welcomed hundreds of visitors a day.

Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, chairman of the An Giang Tourism Association, said Phu Quoc's sea conditions during Tet were favorable and that the island offered a wide range of tourism products, many highlighting traditional Tet themes.

He said local tourism businesses had prepared additional resources and staff to meet demand for the holiday.

Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, deputy chairwoman of the Phu Quoc Special Zone, said the island remained a bright spot for Vietnam’s tourism sector, attracting both domestic and international visitors.

Loan added that authorities were focusing on sustainable tourism development with diverse products and tour routes to serve different markets.