Phú Quốc is the "biggest surprise" of this year's awards

Travel+Leisure officially announced its list of the 25 best islands in the world for 2024 in its annual World's Best Awards, which are premier awards based on global readers' opinions to evaluate the best cities, islands, resorts, hotels, airlines and cruise ships worldwide.

“The top three winners included two destinations that need little introduction: The Maldives (No.1) and Bali (No.3). But sneaking in at No.2 is the under-the-radar Vietnamese island of Phú Quốc," the magazine highlighted the biggest surprise of the year at the beginning of the article.

Bãi Kem - one of the most beautiful beaches of Phú Quốc in summer

The magazine introduces Phú Quốc, located off the west coast of Việt Nam, as an emerging travel destination. It is also the island’s biggest strength. While some beaches in Southeast Asia are developing rapidly, Phú Quốc remains one of the few places that retains its pristine and peaceful charm. However, it does not mean that Phú Quốc lacks luxurious hotels with top-tier amenities and private pools.

As part of this year's awards from Travel+Leisure, New World Phu Quoc Resort, an investment by Sun Group, was also honoured in the top 100 best resorts in the world. Nestled along the pristine Bãi Kem beach, the resort offers a tranquil retreat with stunning ocean views, lush tropical gardens and world-class villas.

New World Phu Quoc Resort among the top 100 best resorts in the world

The attraction of Việt Nam's tropical island

Not only is it featured on international rankings, but the recent increase in flight frequency to the island also confirms Phú Quốc's attraction to international tourists. In the first six months of 2024, there were 1,947 international flights to Phú Quốc, a 186 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023, with new direct flights from Korean Air, Jin Air of South Korea, and StarLux, Tiger Air of Taiwan (China).

One of the key factors making Phú Quốc a favourite among international tourists is its invaluable natural conditions, including a mild climate, warm sunshine year-round, rolling mountains and vast seas with 28 large and small islands and 150km of coastline.

Many beaches, including Bãi Kem and Bãi Sao with their creamy white sand, have been internationally recognised. Phú Quốc also boasts Phú Quốc National Park and Phú Quốc Marine Reserve, covering over two-thirds of the island’s natural area and are the core zone of the Kiên Giang Biosphere Reserve.

Phú Quốc is increasingly attractive in the eyes of international tourists

However, the impression of Phú Quốc as an emerging global destination would not be enough with just nature as it was a decade ago. In recent years, Phú Quốc has become an international tourist favourite, transforming into a paradise for relaxation and entertainment day and night, thanks to investments from major tourism players.

One of Phú Quốc's advantages, frequently highlighted by international media, is its diverse range of accommodations, featuring prominent international hotel brands. For example, the southern part of the island alone boasts five resorts managed by four leading brands: Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Rosewood Hotels and Hilton.

Sun Group's pioneering collaboration with renowned brands and architects to create a resort system has enhanced Phú Quốc's allure and set new standards for the island's and Việt Nam's hotel industry.

Additionally, Phú Quốc features entertainment complexes that few places in Việt Nam can match. Sunset Town - an entertainment complex with the largest total investment in Việt Nam of up to VNĐ4 trillion, offering visitors fun experiences day and night year-round.

Highlights include the Kiss Bridge - the iconic work praised by CNN, Kiss of the Sea - the world-class multimedia show, Vui Phết - Việt Nam's first seaside night market and À Ơi - the Vietnamese puppet theatre.

From here, visitors can also easily connect to Hòn Thơm Island via the world’s longest three-wire sea cable car, leading to the land of a million joys Sun World Hon Thom.

With the Kiss of the Sea show, Phú Quốc becomes the only island in the world to have nightly fireworks displays

Currently, Phú Quốc is also the only island in Việt Nam offering visa-free entry for visitors with a stay of up to 30 days. Experts forecast that Phú Quốc could welcome up to 14.6 million visitors in 2024, directly competing with major Asian tourist centres, including Phuket and Bali.

The continuous achievement of international titles and awards, especially the fact that Phú Quốc surpassed two world-renowned paradise islands in Travel+Leisure's prestigious list, affirms the island’s growing appeal and position among international tourists. It also signals a vibrant future for Việt Nam's marine tourism industry.