The year 2004 completely transformed Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc was once a pristine island district, primarily reliant on agriculture and fishing. The turning point came in 2004, when the government approved a plan to pave the way for the island's tourism development.

Tourists explore Hon Roi, a relatively unspoiled island in Phu Quoc, in 2024. Photo: Vinh Gấu .

October 5, 2004 is considered a significant milestone in the development history of Phu Quoc, when the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 178/2004/QD-TTg approving the overall development plan for Phu Quoc Island (now An Giang province) until 2010 and with a vision to 2020.

This is the first time a vision for tourism development on a national, regional, and international scale has been set out for this island.

The project aims to transform Phu Quoc into "a center for marine and island ecotourism; a center for high-quality exchange, trade, and services for the whole country, the region, and internationally; and a strategically important location for national security and defense."

To date, after more than 20 years of implementation, Decision 178 is recognized as a pioneering document that has paved the way and shaped the long-term development direction for Phu Quoc Island.

Tran Phu fishing village, an incredibly rustic spot in Phu Quoc. Photo: Vo Minh Thien.

Before 2004, Phu Quoc was just an isolated island district, its economy primarily based on agriculture, fishing, and traditional crafts. At that time, the island was almost an unknown name on the domestic and international tourism map.

Decision 178 marked a turning point when Phu Quoc's development vision officially changed. Although still only a district-level administrative unit, Phu Quoc received investment for an international airport, something unprecedented in Vietnam at that time.

Simultaneously, power cables connecting the mainland to the island were also deployed, creating an important infrastructure foundation for socio-economic development.

Subsequently, Phu Quoc was recognized as Vietnam's first island city, thereby gaining access to special mechanisms and special attention from the central government. These policies embodied a distinct development vision, guiding Phu Quoc along its own path, unlike any other locality.

Tourists scuba diving and paddleboarding in Phu Quoc, 2024. Photo: Vinh Gấu.

In Decision 178, one of the emphasized goals is to gradually develop Phu Quoc into a regional and international-level eco-tourism, resort, and beach tourism center, with the expectation of attracting approximately 2-3 million visitors annually by 2020.

In reality, the growth rate of tourism in Phu Quoc has far exceeded initial forecasts. In 2019, the number of visitors to the island reached 5.1 million, 1.7 times the target, including approximately 600,000 international tourists. This figure is 46 times higher than the number of visitors in 2005.

After more than two decades, Phu Quoc is considered one of the localities with the most significant and rapid changes in terms of tourism appearance, infrastructure, and development scale, with tourism playing a key driving role, boosted by a special "mechanism."

NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS VISITING PHU QUOC
Source: Kien Giang (former) and An Giang (new) Departments of Tourism
Label		2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
	Million views	0.318	0.548	0.671	0.16	0.029	0.022	0.521	0.962	1.86

Following the administrative boundary merger, Phu Quoc is poised to transform into a world-class special economic zone. Being selected as the venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) in 2027 is seen as a crucial opportunity for the island to further improve its socio-economic infrastructure, attract investment, and enhance the quality of its tourism services.

For the whole year of 2025, Phu Quoc is expected to welcome 8.14 million tourists, generating total revenue of 43,879 billion VND .

This growth stems from several factors, including favorable weather conditions for winter tourists, a 30-day visa exemption policy, and an expanding network of direct international flights. Currently, international tourists visit Phu Quoc from more than 150 countries and territories.

Source: https://znews.vn/nam-2004-da-thay-doi-hoan-toan-phu-quoc-post1612113.html