Phú Quốc seeks to become Việt Nam’s first island city

Bồ Xuân Hiệp

HCM CITY — If you like to dive into reefs, kayak in bays, hire a motorbike to explore, or just lounge on a beach, Phú Quốc Island is what you are looking for.

Blessed with white sand, turquoise beaches and balmy weather almost all year round, with two-thirds covered in tropical forests, Phú Quốc, nicknamed "pearl island", is a holiday-goers’ paradise.

The island district in the Mekong Delta province of Kiên Giang has become an international beach holiday, eco-tourism and entertainment destination after the local government began an ambitious plan to develop it into an island city, a unique concept in Việt Nam.

Phú Quốc is the largest island in the country at some  五 九0,000sq.km, almost the same size as city-state Singapore. 

It is known for white-sand beaches and resorts, most of which are located along its palm-lined south-western coast. 

More than half of the island is part of the Phú Quốc National Park, which has mountains, dense tropical jungle, hiking trails, and wildlife.

Dương Đông is the largest town, with day and night markets selling handicrafts, fish and all kinds of other items.

Phạm Văn Nghiệp, vice-chairman of the Phú Quốc Island District People’s Co妹妹ittee, said: “What attracts tourists most are the island’s wild beaches, its warm weather which allows them to bathe in the sea almost all year round, and its diverse landscapes from mountain to forest to sea.”

Since the island was connected to the national power grid and a policy that allows foreigners a visa-free stay was adopted in  二0 一 四, foreigners have been flocking to it.

Apart from its natural beauty, Phú Quốc Island also attracts visitors with its luxury resorts, golf courses, an animal safari, and casinos.

It expects to have  一 二,000 five-star hotel rooms by the end of this year and become a leading tourism resort city in Southeast Asia.

Phú Quốc is close to most of Southeast Asia and part of international freight routes, and less than two hours by air from many capitals in the neighbourhood.

It has had an international airport since  二0 一 二 and travellers who fly directly to the island can enjoy a  三0-day visa-free stay. International airlines operate both co妹妹ercial and charter flights to the island.