The Politburo recently issued Resolution 26-NQ/TW on developing tourism into a key economic sector in Vietnam’s new era.

Under the resolution, Vietnam aims to welcome 45-50 million international visitors by 2030, generating total tourism revenue of US$80 billion to $90 billion.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang have been identified as major growth hubs tasked with driving tourism development in their respective regions.

Phu Quoc is expected to gradually emerge as a new growth hub and a high-end coastal resort destination with international competitiveness, while positioning itself as a major MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination capable of hosting major international events.

Among the world's top three islands

Phu Quoc has in recent years received widespread praise and has repeatedly appeared on rankings of attractive destinations for international travelers.

In late July 2026, online travel platform Expedia named Phu Quoc among the world's top 10 island destinations for 2026, describing it as an ideal destination for luxury vacations at competitive prices.

In October 2025, CN Traveler named Phu Quoc the best island in Asia and the world's third-best island, with a score of 95.51 out of 100.

According to Traveloka's SEA Index, a measure of the growth in bookings for services in a destination compared with the overall market, Phu Quoc ranked first with a score of 100, while hotel bookings rose 86 percent year on year among the top five destinations.

In the first nine months of 2026, An Giang Province is estimated to have welcomed 23.4 million visitors. 

Phu Quoc alone received nearly 8.6 million visitors, including about 1.9 million international arrivals. 

The island generated more than VND45.97 trillion ($1.74 billion) in tourism revenue, accounting for about 79 percent of the province's total tourism revenue.

Phu Quoc's appeal lies in its diverse experiences catering to travelers across the budget and luxury segments, along with a vibrant range of activities from morning to night across the island's northern and southern areas.

In the south, landmarks such as the Hon Thom cable car, Sunset Town, and Kiss Bridge are helping attract visitors from some of Vietnam's largest source markets, including China, South Korea, and India.

Alongside these developments, a series of billion-dollar projects aimed at supporting APEC are raising prospects for attracting MICE travelers to the island.

Vietnam will host APEC 2027, with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week scheduled for November 2027 in Phu Quoc.

At the center of the ecosystem is the APEC Convention and Exhibition Center. 

The complex covers more than 157,000 square meters and includes 30 meeting rooms with a capacity of up to 10,000 people.

South Korea's Korea JoongAng Daily has said the venue could become the world's largest ballroom if completed as designed, surpassing Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Positioning Phu Quoc as new growth hub

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, Tran Thi Bao Thu, communications and marketing director at Vietluxtour, said positioning Phu Quoc as a new growth hub is a strategic move grounded in practical needs.

Ahead of APEC 2027, the island has significant room for growth, driven by infrastructure development. 

Vietluxtour sees Phu Quoc as an ideal destination for two key visitor segments: international-scale MICE groups and high-end, long-stay leisure travelers.

“Infrastructure, particularly the airport expansion project aimed at handling 24 million passengers, serves as a vital lifeline," Thu said.

"However, hard infrastructure is only a necessary condition."

"For Phu Quoc to truly emerge as a sustainable growth hub, the key priority is soft infrastructure,” Thu said. 

This includes transparent destination management policies, such as tackling waste management and protecting coral reefs, as well as breakthrough visa policies and internationally standardized, coordinated service management.

According to Thu, Vietnamese travel companies have the capacity to bring high-end travelers to Phu Quoc.

But to turn them into lifelong customers, the island needs a seamless service ecosystem where visitors feel they receive value at every touchpoint.

Pham Ha, CEO of Lux Group, said visitors come to Phu Quoc for its beaches and islands, sunshine, sea breezes, and sunset experiences. 

Developing infrastructure ahead of demand is essential to making the destination more accessible.

He said airports and seaports need to be better connected to maximize the value of the infrastructure. 

At the same time, infrastructure development should be planned in ways that preserve and enhance the island’s landscape.

Citing Bali in Indonesia as an example, Ha said an island can accommodate different visitor segments, from mass-market to high-end travelers. 

What matters is preserving its character, stories, sustainability, and natural beauty, qualities that visitors are looking for.