“Phu Quoc is the most beautiful resort island in Vietnam,” affirms Lonely Planet - the American travel guide - dubbed the “bible for global travelers”.
As one of the most influential travel guides in the world with over 50 years of history, Lonely Planet is considered a reliable reference for the travel community. Lonely Planet's rankings often reflect global travel trends and are considered by tourists and travel experts alike as an indicator of a destination's quality.
From Lonely Planet's perspective, Phu Quoc is always honored as the best beach destination in Vietnam, named simultaneously in 3 lists: “10 Best Beaches in Vietnam”, “10 Best Destinations in Vietnam”, and “9 Natural Wonders of Vietnam”.
“The island is an ideal place for a relaxing beach vacation. Imagine long days on the sandy beach, sipping a cocktail by the sea as the sun bathes the clear blue sea in golden light,” the American travel guide uses the most beautiful words to describe the Pearl Island.
Beach lovers definitely won't want to miss Sao Beach during its most beautiful season
One of the beaches rated as the most beautiful by Lonely Planet, symbolizing the Pearl Island, is Sao Beach. "A picturesque white sandy beach, with a perfect crescent shape and turquoise waters, Sao Beach is a top choice for sea lovers," the American travel guide commented. Separated by a hill is Kem Beach - the "twin sibling" of Sao Beach with similar advantages in terms of white sand and emerald green waters. This beach was once ranked among the top 50 most beautiful on the planet and is home to top resorts in Phu Quoc such as JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, New World Phu Quoc, Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay…
Beaches like Kem Beach in Phu Quoc offer visitors complete relaxation
Besides beaches that Lonely Planet rated as “natural wonders” and so beautiful that anyone who loves the sea must “praise them”, the US travel guide also highly values the entertainment activities in Phu Quoc, which make the island more attractive and suitable for all types of tourists.
Lonely Planet suggests visitors try something new - admire the panoramic view of Phu Quoc island from above via the world's longest 3-wire cable car to Hon Thom Island. Afterwards, spend a whole day enjoying entertainment at Sun World Hon Thom - home to Aquatopia water park, Asia's leading water park, and Exotica village with Vietnam's only wooden roller coaster - Moc xa thinh no.
Hon Thom Cable Car is one of the experiences that international tourists love the most in Phu Quoc
Besides the beauty of Phu Quoc, American travel guides also highly appreciate the convenient transportation to the island, with competitive advantages over other destinations in the region such as the 30-day visa exemption policy for all international tourists, or continuously added direct flights. “Many Asian airlines have direct flights to Phu Quoc from hubs like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Seoul…”, Lonely Planet introduced.
Currently, there are about 30 international flights daily bringing guests to the Pearl Island. According to information from the Department of Tourism of An Giang province, in the first 10 months of 2025, the province's tourism attracted nearly 24 million visitors, an increase of 27% compared to the same period, exceeding the annual plan by 14.7%. Of which, international visitors were about 1.9 million (Phu Quoc alone accounted for over 1.2 million visitors), an increase of 90% compared to the same period, exceeding the annual plan by 55%.
Beaches in Phu Quoc are not just for relaxation, but also a place where tourists can watch attractive entertainment shows, such as Symphony of the Sea at Sunset Town
With the current growth momentum, many experts believe Phu Quoc is entering a new development cycle, similar to the "take-off" phase of Bali (Indonesia) or Phuket (Thailand) in the past. From a destination once considered "sleeping" by international media, Jade Island has been continuously honored in just two years, thereby affirming its growing appeal on the world's tourism map and attracting tourists from many different markets.
Phu Quoc's appeal has accelerated significantly thanks to the 30-day visa exemption policy for international tourists, creating a direct competitive advantage with other beach destinations in the region and opening up opportunities to attract long-staying journeys. The expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport along with new routes has created a foundation for Phu Quoc to conquer global markets, turning the Pearl Island into one of the new tourism gateways of the region. At the same time, the launch of Sun PhuQuoc Airways , the island's namesake airline, promises a booming 2026 with many international routes being opened, bringing Phu Quoc to the world and inviting the world to "The most beautiful island in Asia and 3rd on the planet".
