Phu Quoc Island, the largest island in Vietnam, has received the prestigious accolade of being the second most beautiful island in the world, surpassing well-known islands such as Bali and Koh Samui. This award was given by the American magazine Travel+Leisure in their 2024 World's Best Awards.
Travel + Leisure conducts an annual survey to find the most stunning travel destinations worldwide. This survey includes various categories such as hotels, resorts, cities, islands, and airlines, aiming to identify the best in each category.
This year, they awarded the 25 most beautiful islands on the planet. The award was based on more than 700,000 votes and considered various factors such as natural beach beauty, beach activities, cuisine, local hospitality, and value.
With a score of 94.41 points, Phu Quoc became the only Vietnamese island to make this list, outperforming other famous tourist islands like Bali (Indonesia) and Koh Samui (Thailand). Phu Quoc ranked second as the most beautiful island in the world, only behind the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
Phu Quoc's advantage lies in its status as an emerging tourist destination. Unlike other crowded tourist islands in Southeast Asia, Phu Quoc offers a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
However, tourists need not worry about a lack of accommodation. The island offers various high-end hotels and resorts, complete with infinity pools or private suites. This combination of luxury and tranquility makes Phu Quoc an ideal place for vacation and relaxation.
Phu Quoc's natural beauty is also a major draw, featuring a warm tropical climate year-round and a 150-kilometer coastline adorned with stunning white sandy beaches, such as Kem Beach and Sao Beach, which have received international recognition.
Phu Quoc's tourism potential looks increasingly promising. In the first six months of this year alone, the island welcomed 500,000 international tourists, showing a 44% increase compared to the previous year. Experts predict that the island could welcome up to 14.6 million tourists this year.
Phu Quoc's growing popularity is further enhanced by its improved accessibility. The frequency of international flights to the island surged 186% year-on-year, with a total of 1,947 flights during January-June 2024. New direct flights from South Korea (Korean Air and Jin Air) and Taiwan (StarLux and Tiger Air) have contributed to this increased accessibility.
Phu Quoc's appeal as a tourist destination is further strengthened by its 30-day visa-free policy for foreign tourists. This benefit makes Phu Quoc the only destination in Vietnam offering such easy access for international visitors.
