Foreign tourists limit night activities, demand refund as Phu Quoc vacation disrupted by power outage

British tourist Tina Compton and her husband arrived in Phu Quoc on Nov. 29 when a massive power outage hit many parts of the island.

Their 15-day stay began with a climb of 100 stairs in darkness, as elevators and hotel lighting were out of service.

Compton's husband even slipped on the stairs in the dark while trying to go out for dinner.

"The hotel provided very limited information. We didn't know when the electricity would be back on," Compton said.

The power outage also disrupted water supply, throwing the tourists' routines, hygiene, and dining into disarray.

Tina Compton and her husband in Phu Quoc. Photo courtesy of Tina Compton

Since Nov. 29 the island's north have been without power after the 110 kV Ha Tien – Phu Quoc submarine cable was damaged when a contractor building a coastal road unknowingly drove piles into it.

On Dec. 1 the Southern Power Corporation said it would need at least one month to repair the submarine cable if there is favorable weather.

Digital nomads were hit particularly hard by the blackout.

British tourist Ewa, who rented a house on the island to work remotely, found her wifi and devices unusable.

To maintain work, she had to relocate to a friend's hotel that maintained electricity during certain hours thanks to a generator.

"We came here to find creative inspiration by the beach, but instead spent days dealing with heat, darkness, and silence from technology devices," she said.

Despite the disruptions, tourists tried to make the best of their stay.

"Everything became more difficult, far from what I initially thought, but Phu Quoc is still beautiful," Ewa added.

Ellina poses for photos outside the bungalow. Photo courtesy of Ellina

Compton and Ewa's experiences highlight how vulnerable the tourism industry can be when infrastructure fails.

Compton said she and her husband spent around US$2,300 on airfare and hotel accommodations, not including food. They had saved over a long time for the money with the expectation of receiving services that matched the cost.

"The $40 per night hotel stay is not too high, but tourists have the right to demand the most basic amenities like electricity and water," she said.

After five days and being unable to endure the inconvenience any longer, Compton asked the hotel for a refund and moved to a resort in the south of the island, which is not affected by the blackout.

A resort in the northern part of Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. Photo by Agoda

Ellina, a Kazakh tourist staying in a bungalow in Duong To, tried to stay calm but acknowledged the serious inconvenience.

She had to change her routine working from coffee shops during the day and avoiding nighttime outings in areas without street lighting for safety.

"Phu Quoc is still very beautiful, but this situation really tests tourists' patience," she said.

Phu Quoc Island welcomed nearly 7.6 million tourists including 1.6 million foreign arrivals in the first 11 months of this year, up 35% year-on-year and surpassing this year's target.