The "Trending" Destination: Is Phu Quoc is the New Phuket?

You're scrolling through Instagram at 11 PM, looking at beach vacation photos, and you keep seeing the same thing: Phuket. Again. The turquoise water. The limestone cliffs. The aesthetic cocktails in

coconuts. It looks amazing. It also looks... expensive. And crowded. And exactly like everyone else's vacation.

Then someone tags a location you haven't heard of: Phu Quoc.

The photos look suspiciously similar—white sand, clear water, resort pools that seem to go on forever. But when you check prices, something doesn't add up. A beachfront resort villa in Phu Quoc costs what a mid-range hotel room in Phuket charges. A seafood dinner for four runs half the price. And according to Travel + Leisure, a three-day vacation here costs a third to a quarter of what you'd spend in other regional hot spots.

Welcome to Vietnam's worst-kept secret—and Southeast Asia's answer to overtourism and overpricing.

In 2025, Phu Quoc welcomed nearly 1.6 million international visitors in the first 11 months alone—an 80.9% year-over-year increase. The island just scored 95.51 points on Travel + Leisure's "World's Most Wonderful Islands" list, ranking it higher than last year and making it the top Asian destination on that list.

Meanwhile, Phuket prices have been climbing steadily. What used to be Southeast Asia's budget beach paradise now charges Thailand prices for everything except the smile. Mid-range hotel rooms that cost $75 USD five years ago now run $150+ in high season. A simple beachside meal that was once $8 is now $25. Even the tuk-tuks have gotten greedy.

Travelers noticed. And they started looking elsewhere.

Enter Phu Quoc, stage left, with brand-new infrastructure, 30-day visa-free entry for most nationalities, and prices that make you double-check the exchange rate.

Phu Quoc sits off Vietnam's southwest coast in the Gulf of Thailand, about 45 kilometers from the mainland. It's Vietnam's largest island—roughly the size of Singapore—but with way more palm trees and significantly fewer skyscrapers.

For decades, it was the place Vietnamese families visited but international tourists skipped. Then came the international airport in 2012. Then came massive infrastructure investment. Then came the realization that Phu Quoc has something Phuket doesn't anymore: room to breathe.

The island stretches 50 kilometers north to south, with Long Beach running 20 kilometers down the west coast. There's a national park covering 60% of the island. There are pepper plantations and pearl farms. And there's a cable car—the world's longest over-sea cable car, actually—that makes the trip to Hon Thom Island feel like you're floating through a postcard.

It's got the beaches and resorts of Phuket, the laid-back vibe of pre-2010 Thailand, and the prices of... well, Vietnam.

Phuket's Beaches: Still gorgeous. Kata, Karon, and Nai Harn remain stunning, especially in the dry season. But finding space on the sand during peak season now requires either showing up at dawn or accepting that you'll be surrounded by approximately 4,000 of your closest new friends. Patong Beach has become less "tropical paradise" and more "open-air nightclub with sand."

Phu Quoc's Beaches: Long Beach stretches 20 kilometers and rarely feels crowded. Sao Beach offers powdery white sand and turquoise water that looks almost too perfect to be real. And here's the thing families love: the water is shallow and calm. Kids can wade out 50 meters and still be standing. The beaches have that "undiscovered" feeling—even though technically, 1.6 million people discovered them this year.

A Thai journalist who visited in 2024 noted that Phu Quoc's beaches are "comparable to Bahamas." A South Korean travel blogger said parts of northern Phu Quoc reminded them of Hawaii. These aren't budget backpacker beaches—they're world-class, just without world-class crowds.

Winner: Phu Quoc for the "I can actually relax" factor. Phuket if you like people-watching more than ocean-watching.

Phuket's Lineup: Andamanda Water Park, Splash Jungle, the Big Buddha, island-hopping tours, FantaSea (if you ignore the animal welfare concerns), Old Town, elephant sanctuaries, and approximately 47 other activities your kids will demand.

It's exhausting just thinking about it. Which is both Phuket's strength and weakness—there's so much to do that you'll need another vacation to recover from your vacation.

Phu Quoc's Secret Weapon: VinWonders

This is where Phu Quoc plays its ace. VinWonders Phu Quoc is a 50-hectare Disney-style theme park that opened in 2020 and has been quietly blowing families' minds ever since.

The park features six themed zones inspired by world civilizations—European Street, Fantasy World, Viking Village, Adventure World, Typhoon World (water park), and The Seashell (a giant turtle-shaped aquarium with 25,000 marine creatures). There are over 100 rides and attractions, including roller coasters, a massive Ferris wheel, and a mermaid show that makes kids lose their minds.

Reviews consistently call it "Viet-Disney," and families report spending entire days there without getting bored. The best part? It's virtually empty compared to actual Disney. No hour-long queues. Rides start when you arrive. You can go on the same attraction three times in a row if your kid demands it.

Adult tickets run about 800,000 VND ($32 USD). Kids under 1 meter get in free. Compare that to Phuket's water parks at 1,000-1,500 baht ($30-45 USD) with significantly smaller footprints.

But Wait, There's More:

Winner: Phu Quoc for value and variety without the chaos. Your kids will be just as entertained, and you'll spend half the money.

Let's talk actual numbers, because this is where Phu Quoc stops being interesting and starts being irresistible.

Accommodation:

A South Korean visitor noted that while airfare from Seoul to Phu Quoc is slightly higher than to Jeju Island, the overall trip cost is far lower. A coffee that costs 10,000 won ($7.50 USD) in Jeju can buy you a full meal in Phu Quoc.

Food:

A Thai journalist visiting from Bangkok wrote that seafood prices in Phu Quoc are "about half of those in Thailand." She specifically noted that you get luxury experiences at mid-range prices—something Phuket stopped offering years ago.

Activities:

Winner: Phu Quoc, and it's not even close. You'll save 30-50% on almost everything while getting comparable (or better) quality.

Getting There:

Phuket: International flights from everywhere. Direct connections from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and major European cities. Domestic flights from Bangkok run hourly. Once you land, it's a 45-60 minute taxi to most hotels.

Phu Quoc: International flights have expanded rapidly. Direct flights from Seoul, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Singapore, and Bangkok. New airline Sun Phu Quoc Airways launched in November 2025 with additional routes from Taiwan and South Korea. Domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi run frequently. Airport to hotel is usually 20-50 minutes depending on where you're staying.

For families already in Southeast Asia, Phu Quoc is often easier. No visa required for 30 days (compared to Thailand's visa-on-arrival fees). Less crowded immigration. Newer airport facilities.

Winner: Phuket for international reach, Phu Quoc for hassle-free entry and newer infrastructure.

Phuket feels like it's trying really hard. The beaches are still beautiful, but they're surrounded by development that can't quite hide itself. Patong at night is intense—great if you're 25 and ready to party, less great if you're trying to get a 4-year-old to sleep. The island has incredible high-end resorts, but step outside their gates and you're immediately hit with traffic, vendors, and the general chaos of a destination that's been discovered, rediscovered, and over-discovered.

Phu Quoc still has that "soft opening" energy. Yes, there's development—massive development, actually. The southern part of the island around Sunset Town looks like someone tried to build a Vietnamese Venice (complete with replica European architecture that's simultaneously impressive and slightly surreal). But the northern beaches remain quiet. The national park is still wild. You can rent a motorbike and find empty stretches of coastline without trying that hard.

It feels like Phuket did in 2005—polished enough to be comfortable, raw enough to feel like discovery.

Winner: Phu Quoc if you want "getting in early" energy. Phuket if you prefer established tourist infrastructure and don't mind sharing.

Phu Quoc's Challenges:

But here's the thing: for families with kids, most of these "downsides" are actually upsides. Less nightlife means safer, quieter evenings. Cloudier water is still perfectly swimmable and warm. And the language barrier is minimal when you're pointing at food and using translation apps.

Choose Phuket if:

Choose Phu Quoc if:

The Wild Card Option: Do both. A flight between Phuket and Phu Quoc is about $107 USD and takes 90 minutes. Spend four days in Phu Quoc soaking up the value and newness, then hop to Phuket for three days of island-hopping and established tourist experiences. You get the best of both worlds and enough stories to bore your friends for months.

Reading through hundreds of 2025 reviews, a pattern emerges:

"We were skeptical because we'd never heard of Phu Quoc, but it exceeded expectations. The kids loved VinWonders, the beaches were beautiful, and we spent half what we budgeted." – Family from Singapore

"After visiting, we canceled our Phuket leg and just stayed in Phu Quoc the whole time. Why pay double for crowds?" – Family from Australia

"VinWonders was empty on a Tuesday. We went on the water slides 10 times each. My kids thought we were at a private theme park." – Family from South Korea

"The cable car to Hon Thom was the highlight of our trip. Views were incredible, and our toddler slept the whole ride." – Family from Taiwan

The consensus? Phu Quoc delivers Phuket-level experiences at Vietnam prices, with fewer crowds and a friendlier vibe.

Best Time to Visit:

How Long to Stay:

Where to Stay:

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Must-Do Activities (Family Edition):

What to Pack:

Phu Quoc isn't trying to replace Phuket. It's offering an alternative for families who've realized that "world-famous" often means "overcrowded and overpriced."

The beaches are comparable. The resorts are newer and cheaper. The activities rival anything Phuket offers, especially for families with kids under 12. And you'll save enough money to either upgrade your accommodations, extend your trip, or just come home without credit card regret.

Is it perfect? No. The English isn't as widespread. Some areas feel a bit manufactured. The water isn't always crystal-clear.

But it's also not trying to squeeze every last dollar out of you. Staff smile because they're genuinely happy to see you, not because they're angling for tips. Prices are posted clearly. And there's still that sense of discovery you remember from traveling in the 2000s before everything became optimized for Instagram.

So maybe Phu Quoc isn't the "new Phuket." Maybe it's something better: the place smart travelers go before everyone else figures it out.

Your move.

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Travel smart. Travel often. — The Asia Family Travel Team

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