Phu Quoc and the “long stay” trend: Stay longer, spend more

VTV.vn - The "long-stay" trend is becoming popular in Phu Quoc.

Tourists are coming to Vietnam more and more, but most of them only stay for a few days, take a few pictures and leave. They leave with beautiful pictures, but the amount of money they spend is still modest. The question is: how to make tourists stay longer, experience more and spend more?

Anna Starikova's morning starts just like any other day at home: she cleans the kitchen, opens her laptop to work, then spends time chatting with her mother by the pool.

But instead of a noisy city, the scenery around them is the sound of waves, sunshine and fresh air of the pearl island of Phu Quoc.

Over the past 10 days, she has chosen to slow down, to rest, work remotely and enjoy the peaceful pace of life that this place brings.

Ms. Anna Starikova (Russian tourist) commented: "Phu Quoc is really a very beautiful and pleasant place, the people here are extremely friendly and hospitable. We had a wonderful vacation and not only want to introduce this place to friends and relatives, but we also really want to come back. Almost every time we have a two-week vacation, we like to spend all our time in one place to really relax."

On average, international tourists only stay in Phu Quoc for about 3-4 nights, spending about 200 USD per day including accommodation, food and sightseeing. But recently, the number of long-term guests like Anna's family has been increasing. Because travel agencies have found suitable sources of customers.

To retain tourists, destinations must have spaces that can meet the needs of long-term stays: places where they can work, relax and live as if they were in their own homes.

Grasping that trend, businesses in Phu Quoc are developing the "urban retreat" model - a resort connected with nature and a balanced lifestyle.

In the Bung Goi area, this model is gradually taking shape, targeting the international community of long-term residents, contributing to making Phu Quoc a destination for trips not only for vacation, but also for living.

In the first 9 months of 2025, Phu Quoc welcomed more than 6.5 million visitors, of which international visitors exceeded 1.2 million, setting a new record, earning more than 31,000 billion VND. When tourists stay longer, they spend more, experience more deeply and tourism value is also spread more widely. "Long-stay" is therefore not just a trend, but a strategy to help pearl island tourism increase revenue and affirm its position as an international destination.

Source: https://vtv.vn/phu-quoc-va-xu-huong-long-stay-o-lau-hon-chi-tieu-nhieu-hon-100251025170134925.htm