The irresistible call of the “fertile land”

In Travel + Leisure, to describe Phu Quoc - one of the 25 most worth-visiting destinations in the world , writer Esha Dasgupta did not spare any beautiful words to describe the natural beauty and increasingly upgraded experiences of the "Pearl Island". That is the "enchantment" that has "given wings" to more than 150 flights departing from all continents every week to the Pearl Island. Thanks to that, in 2024, the local tourism industry reached the finish line with 962,449 international visitors, breaking the "record" of 2019.

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International visitors love the nightly fireworks display at the show Kiss of the Sea. Photo:Sun Group

At this time, if you walk around Sunset Town in the south of the island, everyone will have the same question: is this Vietnam or abroad? Many tourists have chosen Phu Quoc as a long-term vacation destination for the whole family because of its tropical paradise-like landscape, visa-free policy, temporary stay of up to 30 days, and direct flights with more reasonable costs than Phuket (Thailand), Bali (Indonesia).

Or it could be a representative of the “wave” of global citizens immigrating to the island city, like Arkadius Rieger, 38 years old, a Polish businessman who was “knocked out” by Phu Quoc during his journey around the world.

“Honestly, Phu Quoc was never part of the plan. The beaches, the jungle, the island vibe and the freedom… attracted me. So I finally skipped my flight and decided to stay. Now, Phu Quoc is home. I have built a life here, with great friends and a job that allows me to stay in the island life. Early morning or sunset swims, cold beer and the sparkling lights of squid boats, it is truly a miracle”, Arkadius Rieger shared.

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Kem Beach has the stunning beauty of a tropical beach that captivates many tourists. Photo: Sun Group

Arkadius is just one of tens of thousands of people who have settled in Phu Quoc over the past two decades, contributing to the island's population nearly doubling to more than 150,000 people. It can be seen that this progress comes not only from the natural advantages of a leading tourist "paradise" but also from a series of policies to attract investment, develop infrastructure, and social security to turn the Pearl Island into a "living paradise" of the region.

Shaping the portrait of "living paradise"

Every night in the sky of Sunset Town of Ngoc Island, there are two "fireworks festivals" lighting up the sky to the thunderous applause of thousands of tourists.

Not only is the island city "willing to spend" on tourism, it should also receive applause for its economic, social security, and investment indicators over the past time, transforming itself into a tourist and residential destination in the region.

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Phu Quoc - City of fireworks with 2 fireworks displays every night. Photo: Sun Group

From an island with 3 no's: no electricity, no transportation, no fresh water, Phu Quoc - according to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed at the Conference summarizing Decision 178, has "turned nothing into something, turned difficult into easy, turned impossible into possible". Local budget revenue has increased more than 200 times in 20 years. The tourism industry alone has up to now had 274 projects, with a total investment capital of up to 388,410 billion VND.

Thanks to these advances, the material life and employment opportunities in the city are also improving day by day. The average income per capita in 2023 is approximately 5,000 USD/year, 40% higher than the national average. Among the 45,000 workers in the city's tourism industry, there are many foreign workers and experts.

However, in order to become an island city by 2040; a high-quality tourism and resort service center, the local government is applying many drastic measures, attracting investment from "big eagles" in developing infrastructure to change the quality of life on the pearl island.

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When the Sun Hospital comes into operation, it will contribute to making the pearl island a new medical tourism destination in the world. Photo: Sun Group

On November 16, Sun Serenia Hospital Phu Quoc was also launched, aiming to provide high-end medical services with advanced machinery systems, along with a team of leading domestic and international consultants and doctors.

Next, waste, wastewater and clean water treatment projects will also be deployed. These include the 18.5-hectare waste treatment plant in Ham Ninh commune, the spillway on Cua Can hanging lake with about 3 million m3 of water and combined with Duong Dong lake with 4 million m3 of water... Phu Quoc is not only proving its own identity and brand on the regional tourism map but also getting closer to the model of "living paradise".

Le Thanh