What does Phu Quoc do to become a unique destination in the world?

'The inherent appeal of Phu Quoc's natural beauty is increasingly amplified by its local cultural identity and world- class attractions' - the brief description of the famous travel platform Travel Lemming has concisely summarized the current portrait of the Pearl Island: a global tourism hotspot, 'Asia's leading luxury island tourism destination.

At 1 a.m., a Jeju Air flight landed at Phu Quoc airport after a 6-hour journey from Seoul, South Korea. After 30 minutes of crossing the wide avenues leading to An Thoi ward, Kim Ji Won - a reporter for Chosun Ilbo newspaper, arrived at the resort at Bai Kem to rest after the long flight. Waking Ji Won up in the morning were the rays of dawn and the scenery that moved the female reporter: "The sparkling sunlight reflected on the clear turquoise sea, and the long, smooth white sand made me feel like I was still dreaming." Taking direct flights to Phu Quoc International Airport, speeding on four-lane roads, waking up in a luxurious 5-star resort with one of the 50 most beautiful beaches on the planet outside the window... perhaps, Ji Won doesn't know that her "dreamy" experiences at the "Maldives of Vietnam" were also the dreams of the people of the Pearl Island two decades ago.

Phu Quoc has now become "Asia's Leading Luxury Destination"

Sunshine

From a ruined "3 no" island to Asia's top luxury destination

In October 2004, Decision No. 178 of the Prime Minister approving the "Overall Development Project of Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang) to 2010 and Vision to 2020" was officially issued with the ultimate task set for the entire political system from the Central to the local level: "Step by step building Phu Quoc Island into a tourism center (ecotourism, resort and marine tourism) of regional and international stature with high-quality service forms, attracting many international tourists and meeting the needs of domestic tourists. By 2020, basically complete the construction of Phu Quoc Island into a highly developed marine tourism and ecotourism center, attracting about 2 - 3 million tourists". Like a "lighthouse" leading the way, since Decision 178, a series of turning points, along with "Vietnamese eagles" have come to the pearl island. As a result, investment capital has increased by 64 times (as of 2023). From a ruined island after the war with 3 no's: no electricity, no traffic, no fresh water, Phu Quoc is now a class 2 city, the "best island in the world in 2024". The "miraculous" development indicators, the budget revenue increased by more than 200 times in 20 years are the clearest evidence of the Pearl Island's leap forward. In 2005, the number of tourists to Phu Quoc was only a little over 100,000, but by 2023, this number had increased 46 times with 5.1 million visitors. Revenue from tourism in 2023 will reach VND13,928 billion, nearly 50 times higher than in 2004. Phu Quoc International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, receiving an average of nearly 50 international and domestic flights per day... A series of high-class resort and entertainment projects have been added. From the "starting line" in 2004, the number of 5-star accommodation rooms on the island has now reached nearly 15,000 rooms. All the "giants" of the world's hotel industry such as Accor, Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Rosewood... are present in the island city. In the near future, Marriott Group will bring to Hon Thom Island 2 "brands of brands" in the hotel industry: Ritz Carlton Reserve and The Luxury Collection.

JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort at Kem Beach

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At the same time, from a poor fishing village filled with bushes and red soil, An Thoi ward now has a new, vibrant and vibrant look with Sunset Town - a place that attracts tens of thousands of tourists every day.

We need to continue to develop Phu Quoc more sustainably, based on the foundation of science and technology innovation, based on Phu Quoc's internal strength, based on Phu Quoc's people, based on Phu Quoc's heroic historical and cultural traditions.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh

At the conference summarizing Decision 178 on March 31, assessing the achievements of Phu Quoc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed: "Phu Quoc has basically achieved the goals in the Overall Development Project..., turned nothing into something, turned difficult into easy, turned impossible into possible." Sweet fruit has come to the Pearl Island. But to go further, to sharpen the portrait of "a high-quality tourism and resort service center, with identity, attractive to domestic and international tourists" as in the Phu Quoc City Master Plan until 2040, it is easy to see that quality products are only a necessary condition. To be a unique destination in the world, Phu Quoc also needs another sufficient condition, which is difference. According to the Prime Minister's affirmation at the conference summarizing Decision 178, that difference comes from culture. "In Phu Quoc, the development of cultural industry has foundations, based on different potentials. Unique identity combined with the modern quintessence of the world is the internationalization of our culture. But on the contrary, we also need to nationalize the modern culture of the world. I think this harmonious combination will make a big difference" - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested.

A very Vietnamese, very different Pearl Island!

In recent years, the remarkable growth of the Pearl Island on the regional tourism map has been attributed to the serious investment of the locality and private economic groups with a consistent direction: creating a multi-experience ecosystem with diverse, quality, classy products and taking culture as the foundation. Today, coming to Phu Quoc, it is not difficult for tourists to find an iconic building, a resort, a show or even a market filled with cultural colors. The Pearl Island is like a "hub" - where Vietnamese identity and world culture are cleverly combined to achieve a common goal: sustainable tourism development.

The first Vietnamese Puppetry Theater by the Sea in Vietnam

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Typically, Cau Hon - the bridge that was on CNN's front page just a few days after its launch is also a product of the goal of "internationalizing Vietnamese culture and nationalizing international elements". Inspired by the legendary love story of Nguu Lang - Chuc Nu and the classic Italian love story between Romeo and Juliet, Cau Hon is the "symbol" connecting Vietnamese and Italian cultures. In addition, in just a few months at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, a series of large-scale, elaborate, and culturally imbued shows have been launched; turning Phu Quoc into a new "entertainment paradise" of Asia. That is Vietnamese Puppetry with a water puppet stage by the sea - where every night artists of the Vietnam Puppetry Theatre will perform to promote the national cultural heritage. Or at Vui Phet - the first creative night market by the sea in Vietnam, young artists through funny street art performances with props such as fishing tools, kitchen utensils or stories about shoe shine boys on the street will play the role of "ambassadors", introducing to visitors the unique features of local culture. Or on the "infinity" stage of the multimedia technology show Kiss of The Sea - The Kiss of the Sea; the leading French producer ECA2 chose to present the audience with top-notch technology, light, water and fire performances... based on a plot that combines the fantasy of Hollywood movies with local culture such as the theory of the five elements or shadow puppetry. Not to mention, through the fireworks show, Phu Quoc is also a rare island in the world that fires fireworks 365 days a year.

The Wedding Bridge - a symbolic work connecting Vietnamese and Italian cultures

Minh Tu

Meanwhile, if you want to find a resort with a full "identity", Phu Quoc is not lacking with JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay - a fictional university containing an interesting story about 19th century architecture and culture, or New World Phu Quoc Resort - a Southern fishing village in the heart of the Pearl Island... "Forget Phuket, come to Phu Quoc - the new hope of Vietnamese tourism" - that is the title of an article in the famous newspaper South China Morning Post . This can be seen as an affirmation: Phu Quoc is no longer inferior to Phuket or even the leading tourist paradises in the region. However, to continue to consolidate its position, Phu Quoc needs to continue to persevere with the roadmap of "bringing Vietnam to the world and bringing the world to Vietnam" as the Prime Minister has emphasized.

Thanhnien.vn

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