Vietnam’s Phu Quoc welcomes surge of international visitors in January

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, Phu Quoc received an estimated 983,387 visitors in January, up 60.7 percent year on year and equivalent to 11.6 percent of its full-year target.

Foreign arrivals reached about 278,347 in January, surging 122.9 percent from a year earlier and accounting for 13.8 percent of the annual plan.

Total tourism receipts in January were estimated at VND6.128 trillion (US$236 million), up 140.9 percent year on year and equivalent to 13.5 percent of the yearly target.

Airport data further confirm the upward trend, with nearly 790,000 passengers passing through Phu Quoc International Airport in January, up about 34 percent from a year earlier.

International air arrivals totaled 214,446 passengers, an increase of roughly 27 percent year on year.

A key driver behind the recent tourism boom is Phu Quoc’s expanding ecosystem of leisure, entertainment, and resort products, fueled largely by investment from Vietnam's Sun Group.

In the island’s south, Hoang Hon (Sunset) Town has emerged as a nighttime hub, featuring two international-scale shows, nightly fireworks, a night market, and vibrant commercial streets that attract international visitors and encourage longer stays.

Sunset Town and Sun World Hon Thom together serve more than 15,000 visitors a day.

According to a representative of Sun World Hon Thom, attendance at the show 'Kiss of the Sea' rose 132 percent in 2025 compared with 2024, and the figure for 2026 is forecast to grow more than 40 percent year on year.

The impact is spreading across the local tourism community in southern Phu Quoc.

Restaurants, boutique hotels, and other service providers in areas such as Sunset Town and Khem Beach have reported solid growth recently, with hotel room occupancy rates estimated to exceed 90 percent.

Since early 2026, the island has drawn growing attention from global media and major travel platforms.

TravelAwaits, a U.S.-based travel publication, recently named Phu Quoc among the world’s top 10 trending destinations for 2026.

Travel trend reports released earlier this year, including those by Expedia, have ranked Phu Quoc among leading recommended destinations, describing it as ‘one of the most attractive destinations in the world.’