Vietnam's largest island is having a moment. Phú Quốc has taken the top spot in Traveloka's Q3 2026 SEA Index, beating out Hangzhou, London, Nagoya and Paris in the regional destination rankings — a signal that the pearl island's appeal now stretches well beyond Vietnamese holidaymakers.

The numbers back it up across the board. Phú Quốc outperformed growth benchmarks in all five Southeast Asian markets Traveloka tracks: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It was the fastest-growing international destination among Indonesian travellers, strong in Malaysian searches, and a top-five riser for domestic Vietnamese travellers too. Thai interest in emerging beach islands has grown so much that Traveloka floated Koh Chang as 'the next Phú Quốc' — using the Vietnamese island as the benchmark.

Add the awards and it's a clear pattern. In Condé Nast Traveler's US Readers' Choice Awards 2026, Phú Quốc ranked first among Asian islands with a score of 95.26, its fifth consecutive year on the list. The UK edition scored it 98.26, second in Asia.

The timing is no accident. The island is gearing up to host APEC Economic Leaders' Week in 2027, and the build-out is substantial: an expanded Phú Quốc International Airport, a new APEC Convention and Exhibition Centre, an APEC Multipurpose Theatre, and upgrades to key roads. Officials hope the new venues will pull in international flights, conferences and exhibitions long after the leaders fly home, turning the island into a MICE player alongside its leisure base.

For travellers, the practical hooks are already in place. The island offers visa-free stays of up to 30 days, and international brands including Marriott, Hilton and New World have expanded there. In the south, you can ride the cable car to Sun World Hòn Thơm, hit Aquatopia Water Park, and wander Sunset Town with its Kiss Bridge and evening shows. Large-scale productions like Kiss of the Sea (multimedia, live performance, fireworks) and Symphony of the Sea (lasers and water effects) give the island an entertainment scene few beach destinations can match. New airline Sun PhuQuoc Airways should also improve access.

The open question is whether the island can keep service quality up as demand climbs — but for now, the window before APEC 2027 may be the sweet spot: world-class resorts and shows with fewer crowds than the post-summit boom is likely to bring. Vietnam News Life