International flights reach record high as foreigners flock to Phu Quoc for Tet escape

"Receiving 38-40 international flights a day is a never-before-seen number for Phu Quoc, ever since international flight routes are opened," said Truong Cong Tam, president of the Phu Quoc Professional Tour Guide Association.

On Jan. 25, the first day of the nine-day Tet holiday, Phu Quoc received 54 flights, 38 of which were international ones, accounting for 70% of all flights for the day, according to the Phu Quoc international airport.

That number rose to 40 on Jan. 27, when 10 of the flights came from Taiwan, followed by South Korea with nine flights. The rest of the international flights came from places like Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

The number of flights coming to Phu Quoc on the days leading up to Tet broke records in December 2024, when up to 30 flights were received in a day.

The high number of international tourists has helped boost local tourism revenue, which reached over VND152 billion ($6 million) on Jan. 25, according to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism.

According to data from booking platform Mustgo, 90% of accommodations in Phu Quoc have been booked, mostly in 4-star and 5-star hotels.

Certain high-end hotels, such as the Wyndham Grand Phu Quoc, have stopped receiving guests until Feb. 1, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

"The rising booking rate during the Tet holiday was mostly thanks to international tourists," said Dinh Thi Thu Thao, business director of Mustgo.

Tam said Phu Quoc has been attracting more international tourists over the past six months thanks to its status as one of the most beautiful islands in the world according to certain travel magazines, such as Travel+Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. There have also been more infrastructural investments and extra tourism products for visitors, including performance shows and night markets.

Visa policies have also contributed to the rise of international tourists, with Phu Quoc being the only place in Vietnam that allows a 30-day visa waiver for all international tourists.

Tam said the northern and southern areas of the island, where several 5-star accommodations are located, are always full of foreigners. International tourists mostly spend money on accommodations, trips and meals, and not so much on shopping.

They often choose 5-star services and accommodations. Medium and small businesses, with 4 stars and below, mostly receive domestic customers, which account for only 30% of all tourists on the island, representing a business challenge.