November 26th marked an interesting collaboration when the world's oldest travel guide - Lonely Planet, partnered with the world's leading payment platform Apple Pay to introduce the most worthwhile experiences in Vietnam. The experiences on the list need to be rich in cultural identity, but also keep up with global convenience trends.
Besides traditional sightseeing experiences that any foreigner visiting Vietnam wants to try, such as conquering Fansipan peak, visiting Phong Nha - Ke Bang cave, or exploring Bai Tu Long Bay, Lonely Planet also selected very "local" culinary and shopping experiences like sidewalk draft beer, and especially immersing oneself in the night markets in Phu Quoc.
The VUI-Fest Bazaar night market offers a full range of culinary options and cultural products for travelers from all walks of life
Arguably, Phu Quoc is one of the destinations in Vietnam that has strongly developed its night economy through night market models and evening art performances and fireworks shows. When selecting Phu Quoc as a trending global destination for 2026, the leading online travel platform - Expedia, emphasized: "There is nothing better than riding a scooter around town and stopping by the vibrant streets and night markets here as dusk begins to fall."
VUI-Fest Bazaar brings a one-of-a-kind beachfront night market space to Vietnam
Besides traditional and long-standing night markets like Dinh Cau Night Market or Duong Dong Night Market, Phu Quoc also has creative, modern night markets, which can be said to be as diverse as night market models in Thailand or Taiwan. One of them is VUI-Fest Bazaar at Sunset Town with over 100 stalls ranging from food to souvenirs, featuring specialties from Asia to Europe to those with a local Phu Quoc flavor. This is also the first beachfront night market in Vietnam, connecting to other experiences at Sunset Town, with the highlight being two fireworks displays in one night from world-class shows such as the Guinness World Record-winning multimedia show Kiss of the Sea or the show Symphony of the Sea with jetski and flyboard performances combined with thousands of fireworks.
Admire fireworks from top shows in one night
To add to the vibrant nightlife of Phu Quoc, Sunset Town has newly launched the Sunset Bazaar commercial, culinary, and art street featuring street performances from day to night, including the first Eric Kayser bakery in Vietnam and creative culinary and shopping brands not found anywhere else. Together with VUI-Fest Bazaar, these are the only night markets in the world where visitors from any vantage point can enjoy two fireworks shows in one night.
Immerse yourself in the festival season at Sunset Bazaar with vibrant street performances
From the recognition of one of the world's most reputable travel guides, it can be seen that Vietnam's tourism is showing increasing appeal, with local experiences refreshed to the rhythm of global development. The appearance of night markets - a familiar slice of Vietnamese life - on the list of suggestions for international tourists not only opens up more exploration options but also reflects the increasingly booming vibrant lifestyle on the Pearl Island. Phu Quoc continues to be a highlight of Vietnam's night economy, and this journey promises to add more colors in the coming time.
