Seizing historic opportunity
Located in the southwest of Viet Nam, Phu Quoc is the country’s largest island. The area covers around 580 square kilometres and features 22 large and small islands. It boasts a rich natural ecosystem, long coastlines, and many scenic attractions. With a year-round mild tropical monsoon climate and well-developed tourism infrastructure, Phu Quoc has become a highly attractive destination on the international tourism map.
To date, the city has attracted 320 tourism projects with total registered capital of more than 388 trillion VND. The current accommodation system includes 484 establishments with over 26,000 rooms, of which 27 hotels meet 4–5-star standards, offering 12,703 rooms. Major corporations such as Vingroup, Sun Group, Bim Group, and CEO Group have made their mark with iconic developments such as Safari Zoo, Hon Thom Cable Car, and Hon Bridge, reinforcing the “pearl island” brand on the international stage.
In 2024, Phu Quoc welcomed over 5.9 million visitors, accounting for 60% of Kien Giang Province’s total tourist arrivals, including nearly one million international visitors. These impressive figures highlight the locality’s strong development potential, particularly in the lead-up to national and international events such as the APEC 2027 Leaders’ Week.
According to Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Chairman of the Kien Giang Provincial People’s Committee, the province has developed a list of 29 urgent projects with total investment of more than 220 trillion VND, sourced from various channels, including private enterprises. “This is a historic opportunity for us to simultaneously promote infrastructure and service development, attract strategic investment, and improve quality of life for the people of Phu Quoc,” Nhan emphasised.
Key projects include waste and wastewater treatment plants, a domestic water supply plant, the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport, upgrades to An Thoi International Seaport, improvement of main road systems, installation of underground power and telecom lines, and construction of the APEC multifunctional complex. These are considered pivotal works, not only to meet the needs of APEC but also to serve Phu Quoc’s long-term development.
According to Kien Giang Provincial Department of Tourism, to accommodate an estimated 12,000–15,000 delegates from 21 APEC economies, Phu Quoc needs 15–20 five-star hotels, including at least 30 presidential suites and 50 rooms for ministers and senior officials. Additionally, a range of 3–4-star lodging facilities will be prepared for the media, business representatives, and support staff.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, remarked: “APEC 2027 is a major opportunity to affirm Viet Nam’s strategic position and to transform Phu Quoc into a global centre for socio-economic cooperation and trade”. With the large number of international delegates expected, the event is poised to attract significant foreign investment, driving growth across tourism, real estate, retail, and service industries.
However, with enormous workloads and less than 20 months remaining for preparations, Dr. Thien proposed that the government and central agencies should grant greater autonomy to the local authorities and establish special mechanisms to streamline processes and enable prioritised projects to proceed swiftly and effectively.
Toward sustainable development
These days, in the southern area of Phu Quoc Island, construction activity has been in full swing. Barges and specialised equipment are busy constructing the foundations for the 57-hectare APEC multifunctional complex, which will include a convention-exhibition centre with a capacity of 3,500 seats, an international press centre for 4,000 journalists, a multipurpose hall, and the APEC Square.
In addition, the Ministry of Construction and the Kien Giang Provincial People’s Committee have announced plans to expand Phu Quoc International Airport to 1,050 hectares by 2050. The airport is projected to handle 10 million passengers per year by 2030, and up to 18 million by 2050, with the capacity to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A350.
Notably, Sun Group is accelerating the construction of Aspira - Khat Vong Tower, a new symbol of Phu Quoc, expected to be completed before APEC 2027. Dang Minh Truong, Chairman of Sun Group, affirmed: “We are committed to partnering with the authorities and investing in key projects to help promote Viet Nam’s image to the world through APEC 2027.”
To ensure progress, Kien Giang authorities have directed relevant agencies, investors, and Phu Quoc City administration to remain highly focused, while also seeking direct support from the government, ministries, and central agencies.
Tran Minh Khoa, Chairman of the Phu Quoc City People’s Committee, said that the city is accelerating land clearance, ensuring compensation and resettlement are carried out in accordance with regulations to hand over clean land to investors. At the same time, the city is enhancing urban renewal, upgrading synchronised infrastructure, and addressing issues in land-use planning and construction order.
In addition, the locality has launched the “Day for Phu Quoc’s Environment” movement, aiming to build a “Green–Clean–Beautiful–Safe and Civilised Phu Quoc”. Authorities are also raising public awareness of preserving the city’s image as a friendly and hospitable destination. Nguyen Van Be, a resident of An Thoi Ward, shared: “I am willing to relocate trees and buildings to make way for construction. We all understand this is a chance for Phu Quoc to grow — something every islander is proud of.”
As of now, Kien Giang Province has essentially completed the initial preparations for key projects. Chairman Nguyen Thanh Nhan noted:“Preparing for APEC 2027 is a central political mission for the coming period. With the spirit of ‘Discipline – Responsibility – Proactivity – Acceleration – Breakthrough’, Kien Giang is determined to fulfil this task well, thus contributing to the overall success of APEC 2027 and reinforcing Viet Nam’s standing on the global stage.”
