Hanoi (VNA) - The Phu Quoc Special Zone People’s Committee and Sun Group on January 28 officially broke ground on the Bai Dat Do (Ruby Beach) Mixed-Use Urban Area and the Ong Quan mountain Ecotourism Mixed-Use Urban Area, two of the 21 approved APEC 2027 projects.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and senior leaders of the Party and the State. In his remarks, the Prime Minister said that launching major projects immediately after the successful conclusion of the 14th National Party Congress demonstrated the spirit of “right choices, swift execution, thorough implementation, and results-based evaluation.”
He emphasized that hosting APEC 2027 is a great honour for Vietnam, particularly for the Phu Quoc Special Zone in An Giang province. Drawing on Vietnam’s experience in hosting APEC in 2006 and 2017, the PM noted that strategic infrastructure is a key pillar of success. With nearly two years remaining for implementation, he expressed confidence that infrastructure projects serving APEC will not only ensure a successful event but also contribute to national development, strengthening the capacity, standing, and international credibility of Viet Nam, as well as An Giang and Phu Quoc in particular.
The two projects are expected to provide approximately 12,000 hotel rooms, serviced apartments, and international-standard commercial and landscaped spaces, establishing the most advanced accommodation infrastructure to meet the stringent requirements of the high-level international APEC 2027 event, while contributing to the creation of a new hotel and commercial urban landscape for Phu Quoc.
Bai Dat Do (Ruby Beach) Mixed-Use Urban Area, covering 88.4 hectares with a total investment of approximately 64,000 billion VND, is developed along the APEC Boulevard axis with towers up to 40 stories, integrating luxury hotels, shopping centers, and coastal plazas.
The highlight of the project is a cluster of 15 high-rise beachfront hotels with nearly 6,500 rooms, creating a “hotel city” in the heart of Phu Quoc. This cluster is expected to transform Bai Dat Do (Ruby Beach) into a “Second Sydney,” world-class yet rich in local identity.
Thirteen premium hotel brands from five leading global hotel groups will operate here, including many appearing in Vietnam for the first time, such as SO, Conrad, and W Hotels. Accor will introduce SO: a brand combining fashion, design, and art; MGallery: boutique hotels highlighting local identity; and Grand Mercure – catering to large groups.
Hilton Worldwide, with 18 brands across 119 countries, will feature Hilton Hotels & Resorts for MICE and premium leisure, and Conrad, tailored for leaders, business executives, and international official delegations.
Marriott International, with over 30 global brands, will introduce W Hotels with bold design and premium experiences; Marriott Hotels for conferences and high-level diplomatic events; Westin emphasizing “well-being” for long stays; and Le Méridien and Courtyard by Marriott. Lotte’s top-tier brands will also join, reinforcing Phu Quoc’s capacity to host heads of state, senior leaders, and global elites.
Bai Dat Do (Ruby Beach) demonstrates a rare, meticulously planned standard, even surpassing international norms, comparable with regions and countries that have previously hosted APEC. The project is located next to the APEC Convention and Exhibition Center, Multipurpose Hall, and APEC Park, directly connected to the expanded Phu Quoc International Airport within 15–20 minutes. Large portions of the project are dedicated to public spaces and landscaping, supporting urban life, cultural activities, festivals, and events, laying the foundation for Phu Quoc’s post-APEC 2027 development as a national and international service and coastal tourism hub.
Grounded on the same day, the Ong Quan mountain Ecotourism Mixed-Use Urban Area has a total investment of approximately 5,550 billion VND and spans more than 21 hectares, located on hillside terrain near Bai Dat Do (Ruby Beach) and Sunset Town. The project is designed as a multifunctional ecological urban area, integrating accommodation, services, and commerce, with environmentally friendly traffic planning. Upon completion, it is expected to offer approximately 5,200 serviced apartments, helping address the current acute shortage of accommodation in Phu Quoc and fully preparing the island for APEC 2027.
The experience of hosting APEC 2025 in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, demonstrated that insufficient accommodation and service infrastructure forced the host to implement emergency solutions such as inter-regional lodging coordination and using cruise ships. This affected event quality and diminished the nation’s promotional impact, as well as its ability to leverage APEC for investment, tourism, and international cooperation in the post-event period.
In this context, the large-scale development of Bai Dat Do (Ruby Beach) and Ong Quan mountain represents a proactive and fundamental preparation by the Phu Quoc Special Zone and Sun Group, establishing a centre for hosting, accommodation, and events to optimally serve APEC 2027, while laying the foundation for Phu Quoc not only to achieve its goal as a modern, dynamic, internationally integrated coastal city but also to drive development for An Giang province and the nation./.
