Hanoi (VNA) – Expedia, one of the world’s leading online travel platforms, has just named Phu Quoc island in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang among its Top 10 Destinations of the Year 2026.
The Vietnamese island stands out as the only representative from Southeast Asia and one of just two destinations from Asia, alongside Okinawa, Japan.
As part of its annual tradition, Expedia releases the “Unpack” report – a comprehensive global travel trends study forecasting travel behavior for the upcoming year. This report is highly anticipated by the global tourism industry, serving as a trusted source for emerging trends and insights into traveler behavior. It highlights the destinations that are capturing the world’s attention, shifts in accommodation bookings, and evolving travel styles for the coming year.
In its latest “Destinations of the Year 2026” list, Expedia named Phu Quoc among the world’s top four destinations, citing a remarkable 53% surge in travel searches. The ranking is based on the year-over-year growth in searches for flights and accommodations compared to the previous year. Notably, Phu Quoc stands as the only Southeast Asian destination and one of just two from Asia, together with Okinawa, Japan.
Describing Phu Quoc, Expedia praised it as “a wonderful island for a relaxing vacation.” The global travel platform highlighted the island’s natural charm, with golden sandy beaches, stunning sunsets, and pristine islets ideal for snorkeling and diving. Beyond nature, Phu Quoc also 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 world-record 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 demonstrates the island’s rapidly rising brand on the international tourism map. Recently, the prestigious travel magazine Travel + Leisure described Phu Quoc as “a phenomenal rising star.” The Pearl Island was also named Asia’s Best Island and one of the Top 3 Best Islands in the World at the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. Meanwhile, the BBC praised Phu Quoc as “a great place to live” for expats, thanks to its reasonable cost of living and friendly locals.
The island’s growing appeal to international travelers lies not only in its natural beauty and people but also in its strong infrastructure investments as it prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting 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 visitor arrivals to Phu Quoc increased sharply by 74.1%, supported by the growing network of direct international flights. Particularly notable is the launch of Sun PhuQuoc Airways, the island’s namesake airline, which officially debuted on October 15, 2025, and will operate its first commercial flight on November 1, 2025. This new carrier is expected to further strengthen Phu Quoc’s position as a premier global destination and a new aviation hub for the region.
By the end of this year, Phu Quoc will unveil a host of new experiences, ensuring the island remains endlessly captivating. 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 irresistible charm. It is steadily emerging as a new symbol of Asian tourism - a paradise that instantly comes to mind when one thinks of tropical escapes, just as Bali, Phuket, and the Maldives have done before./.
