Looking back at its journey at DestinAsian, Phu Quoc Island has made spectacular and sustained progress: from 6th place in 2024, to 5th place in 2025, and now officially becoming the runner-up in 2026.
Phu Quoc (An Giang province) has just been honored by the prestigious travel magazine DestinAsian as one of the top 10 most beautiful islands in Asia in 2026, as part of the Readers' Choice Awards, voted on by readers.
Not only was Phu Quoc the sole representative from Vietnam, but it also made a remarkable impression by rising to the runner-up position, extending its impressive upward trajectory for three consecutive years.
In the Best Islands category, Phu Quoc impressively rose to second place in Asia. Looking back at its journey at DestinAsian, the Pearl Island has marked a spectacular and sustained leap: from 6th place in 2024, to 5th place in 2025, and now officially becoming the runner-up in 2026.
This continuous upward trend sends a clear message: Phu Quoc is not a "passing phenomenon," but is maintaining stable appeal and gradually competing on equal footing with the region's leading tourist destinations.
It's not difficult to understand why Phu Quoc has been able to maintain its enduring appeal and win over even the most discerning readers. Even the experts at DestinAsian have praised the island's spectacular transformation. Commenting on Phu Quoc's turnaround, the prestigious magazine affirmed: "Phu Quoc is ushering in a new era of tropical tourism."
This transformation is most evident in Sunset Town in the south of the island, which, according to DestinAsian, is a place where "scenery, culture, and entertainment blend in extraordinary ways." Not only does it boast inspiring architecture, but it also holds an unprecedented record with two unique fireworks multimedia shows each night, turning southern Phu Quoc into a hub of continuous festivities and offering visitors one surprise after another, from early morning to late night.
The tourism landscape of Phu Quoc is further enhanced by iconic structures that transcend the boundaries of conventional design. A prime example is the Kissing Bridge, the world's only touchless bridge.
Alongside this is the world's longest three-wire cable car line to Hon Thom Island, a "unique aerial experience" that many international travel websites unanimously agree is the most favorite activity for all tourists visiting Phu Quoc Island.
Recently, the Hon Thom cable car line on Phu Quoc Island was also selected as one of the 11 most spectacular cable car experiences in Asia by Travel + Leisure.
Phu Quoc's rise to prominence would not be complete without the presence of world-class resort complexes. Also within the framework of the DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards 2026, the island's accommodation infrastructure created a "seismic shift" in the Best Vietnam Resorts category, contributing five representatives to the top 10.
In this list, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort is in 3rd place, New World Phu Quoc Resort made a comeback from 10th place (in 2025) to 5th place, Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort is in 7th place and Regent Phu Quoc is in 9th place.
More than just a title, the series of achievements at DestinAsian 2026 is becoming a significant milestone in Phu Quoc's journey to greater heights. The continuous rise in rankings voted on by global readers shows that the Pearl Island's appeal stems not only from its natural landscapes, but also from an increasingly complete tourism ecosystem – where resorts, entertainment, architecture, and experiences are all connected in one destination.
When APEC 2027 chooses Phu Quoc as its host destination, the world's attention to this island will undoubtedly increase even further. And with its current development trajectory, the Pearl Island is not only remembered as a beautiful beach in Asia, but is also gradually establishing itself as a new symbol of modern tropical tourism in the region.
Phu Quoc Island, often referred to as the "Pearl Island," consistently ranks among the world's most popular tourist destinations. In 2025 alone, Phu Quoc welcomed 8.3 million tourists, exceeding the target by 18.1% and increasing by 38.5% compared to 2024. Of these, international visitors reached 1.9 million, a 93.6% increase.