Tourist influx gives rise to hotel boom on southeastern island

Bui The Nhan, director of the Department of Tourism of Binh Thuan Province, home to the island, said Phu Quy received 165,000 visitors last year, double the 2022 number and four times 2019’s.

Currently there are 60 hotels and motels with more than 1,000 rooms.

Many people realize the potential for tourism on the island and have invested in building hotels and homestays.

Huynh Nhu of HCMC said she visited the island twice in 2022, realized its tourism potential and decided to rent a house, renovate it into a homestay and start a business in March last year.

Her homestay reached 100% occupancy in May-June.

But she has to compete with a lot of other new establishments, especially along the coast.

A homestay along the coast in Phu Quy Island. Photo by La Isla Bonita

The tourism boom has also pushed up house and land rents.

When Nhu rented the property last year to set up the homestay, rents were only VND30-40 million (US$1,205-1,607) for a house a year.

But this year they have increased to VND80-100 million at some places.

Phu Quy, 56 nautical miles (104 kilometers) from the mainland Phan Thiet, the capital of Binh Thuan, has pristine beaches, lush green landscapes and outstanding seafood.

High-speed boats take visitors to the island from the mainland, with a trip taking three hours.