Phu Quoc ranks among world's top 4 destinations of 2026

The Vietnamese island is the only representative from Southeast Asia and one of two Asian destinations, alongside Okinawa, Japan, to make the list.

Expedia's annual "Unpack" report, a comprehensive global travel trends study forecasting travel behavior for the upcoming year, serves as a reliable source for emerging trends and insights into traveler behavior. It highlights destinations capturing global attention, shifts in accommodation bookings, and evolving travel styles for the year ahead.

In its "Destinations of the Year 2026" list, Expedia ranked Phu Quoc the world's fourth best destination, citing a 53% surge in travel searches. The ranking is based on year-over-year growth in searches for flights and accommodations.

Bai Kem beach in Phu Quoc. Photo courtesy of Sun Group

Expedia praised Phu Quoc as "a wonderful island for a relaxing vacation." The platform highlighted the island's natural charm—golden sandy beaches, stunning sunsets, and pristine islets ideal for snorkeling and diving. Beyond nature, Phu Quoc offers a wealth of entertainment experiences, from riding the world's longest three-wire cable car to visiting the iconic Kiss Bridge or watching the multimedia spectacle "Kiss of the Sea", which holds a Guinness World Record.

On its official Instagram account, Expedia's travel experts also recommended that travelers explore Sunset Town in Phu Quoc: "There's nothing better than riding a scooter around the town, stopping by vibrant neighborhoods and bustling night markets as the sun begins to set," one expert noted.

Phu Quoc's inclusion in Expedia's list underscores the island's rapidly rising brand on the international tourism map. Recently, Travel + Leisure described Phu Quoc as "a phenomenal rising star." The BBC praised Phu Quoc as "a wonderful place to live" for expats, thanks to its reasonable cost of living and friendly locals. The island was also named Asia's best island and one of the three best islands in the world at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2025.

Fireworks show at "Kiss of the Sea" in Sunset Town. Photo courtesy of Sun Group

Phu Quoc's growing appeal to international travelers lies not only in its natural beauty and people but also in strong infrastructure investments as it prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2027. Over the past three years, a wave of new developments has been transforming Phu Quoc from a once little-known island into a global phenomenon.

In the first seven months of 2025, international arrivals to Phu Quoc rose 74.1%, supported by an expanding network of direct flights. Sun Phu Quoc Airways, the island's namesake airline, debuted on Oct. 15 and will operate its first commercial flight on Nov. 1. This new carrier is expected to further strengthen Phu Quoc's position as a global destination and an emerging aviation hub.

"Symphony of the Sea" season 2 will return to Phu Quoc from Nov. 1, 2025. Photo courtesy of Sun Group

By year's end, Phu Quoc will unveil a host of new experiences to keep visitors coming back. Highlights include the opening of the Eric Kayser bakery by the renowned French brand Maison Kayser at Sunset Bazaar in Sunset Town, the return of "Symphony of the Sea" season 2, and the upcoming Phu Quoc Tropica Fest 2025 at the Sun Paradise Land complex in the island's south.

The festival will feature dazzling light shows, beer celebrations, and lively street performances from morning until late night.

From being one of the world's most-searched destinations to receiving consistent recognition from top international travel magazines, Phu Quoc continues to prove its charm. The island is steadily emerging as a new symbol of Asian tourism—an ideal option for tropical escapes, just as Bali, Phuket, and the Maldives have done before.