Vietnam’s Phu Quoc eyes net-zero future as APEC 2027 host

Officials, businesses, and environmental experts gathered on Tuesday at the Vinpearl Resort & Spa for a forum titled ‘Action for a Green and Emission-Free Phu Quoc,’ where they outlined an ambitious sustainability roadmap for the fast-growing tourist island off southern Kien Giang Province.

Co-organized by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and Phu Quoc city authorities, the event marked the first major step in a long-term communication campaign under the Green Vietnam project initiated by the Ho Chi Minh City-based daily.

According to Phu Quoc City Party secretary Le Quoc Anh, the island, known for its pristine beaches and tropical allure, welcomed five million visitors in 2024, including one million from overseas.

“However, if we do not act decisively now, welcoming over 10 million visitors annually could become a threat rather than a milestone,” Anh said.

Officials warn that the island’s infrastructure, environment, and natural resources could buckle under further strain without a clear strategy to manage growth sustainably.

To meet this ambitious goal, the city’s green roadmap outlines five foundational pillars: clean transportation, renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable tourism, and transparent, supportive governance.

The initiative becomes more crucial as Phu Quoc prepares to host the APEC Summit in 2027 — the third Vietnamese city to do so after Hanoi in 2006 and Da Nang in 2017.

“This is about more than just branding a green destination,” said Tran Xuan Toan, deputy editor-in-chief of Tuoi Tre.

“It’s about setting up a long-term, strategic vision that aligns with APEC’s values of innovation, sustainability, and inclusion.”

The Ministry of Environment has backed a series of initiatives for Phu Quoc, including a 2025 pilot program to separate and recycle solid waste, and the expanded use of treated wastewater and rainwater.

Phu Quoc currently generates up to 200 metric tons of waste daily, much of it is landfilled.

“Phu Quoc must become a model of circular economy thinking,” said Ho Kien Trung, deputy director of the Vietnam Environment Agency.

“From waste to water to tourism, everything must shift to a regenerative approach.”

Tourism, a key economic driver for the island, is being reshaped around eco-conscious practices.

Authorities are urging hotels and tour operators to eliminate single-use plastics, improve waste management, and reduce emissions by transitioning to electric vehicles.

In a symbolic gesture, local government, businesses, and international partners signed a joint declaration for a Green Phu Quoc, pledging to collaborate on green infrastructure, financing, and emissions reductions in the lead-up to APEC 2027.

“The clock is ticking,” said Bui Quoc Thai, director of Kien Giang’s tourism department.

“To meet global expectations in 2027, we need not only new facilities and services, but also a new mindset.

“Phu Quoc must become Vietnam’s leading model for sustainable tourism.”