Hanoi (VNA) - Leading US travel magazine Travel + Leisure recently described Phu Quoc not only as Vietnam’s tropical getaway, but as an emerging “showcase of global architectural influences” where inspirations from around the world come together in a distinctly tropical setting.
In a fresh perspective on the island, Travel + Leisure moves beyond beaches and resorts to spotlight Phu Quoc’s evolving identity. The magazine highlights how internationally inspired architectural works are increasingly shaping the destination, forming a new tourism character. These multicultural “pieces,” it notes, are gradually redefining the island in much the same way architecture has shaped many global cities.
From Singapore’s lesson to a multicultural architectural strategy
Travel + Leisure draws a comparison between Phu Quoc and Singapore, a destination celebrated for its cultural fusion. While Singapore reflects this through history and its diverse communities, Phu Quoc is expressing a similar spirit through architecture.
One of the most notable examples mentioned is Sunset Town. With its colorful facades, cascading stairways and sea-facing piazzas, the area evokes the charm of Italian coastal villages. Yet, as the magazine points out, it is not a Mediterranean replica, but rather a Mediterranean dream reimagined in Phu Quoc’s own way.
At the heart of this architectural ensemble stands a clock tower inspired by St. Mark’s Campanile. Instead of retaining the original’s solemn single-faced clock, the Phu Quoc version has been reinterpreted with a more open, dynamic design featuring four clock faces oriented toward different streets. Nearby, the King of the Sun fountain – crafted from 30 tons of marble by Frilli Gallery – adds a striking artistic focal point, with the Sun God Helios riding his chariot, echoing classical European aesthetics.
On Hon Thom Island, Santo Port offers another reinterpretation – this time of Santorini. While the Greek original is known for its dramatic volcanic cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea, the version in Phu Quoc feels infused with tropical vitality.
Travel + Leisure calls it an intelligent reimagining. “Many describe it as a ‘tropical Santorini’ – bright, lush and deeply rooted in Phu Quoc’s landscape… a tropical expression of Mediterranean beauty that you won’t find anywhere else in the world,” the magazine notes.
Where architectural “legends” leave their mark
Beyond its multicultural inspirations, Phu Quoc has also drawn the attention of world-renowned architects, contributing to a new generation of iconic structures. Travel + Leisure highlights how Sun Group has collaborated with leading global designers to shape the island’s evolving identity.
First arriving in Phu Quoc in 2015, “resort maestro” Bill Bensley created the striking JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort. Through his narrative-driven design approach, he transports guests into a fictional 19th-century university. From libraries to laboratories and dormitories, every detail unfolds like part of an elaborate story, offering a stay that goes beyond the conventional. The magazine describes it as a “ultra-luxurious, highly artistic, immersive architectural universe found nowhere else on earth.”
Bensley is also behind Sun Signature Gallery at Sunset Town, a bold Mid-Century Modern structure defined by striking forms and vibrant colors.
This architectural dialogue continues with other landmark works, most notably Kiss Bridge. In contrast to Bensley’s richly detailed interiors, architect Marco Casamonti adopts a more direct approach, placing the structure in a close relationship with nature. Inspired by Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam and echoing the Vietnamese legend of Ong Ngau and Ba Ngau, the bridge extends in two arms toward the sea, stopping just 30 centimetres apart – an intentional distance for a kiss, a handshake or a quiet moment at sunset.
According to Travel + Leisure, projects like these position Phu Quoc as “a meeting point for some of the world’s most imaginative architectural ideas.”
The experience goes beyond architecture alone. The magazine notes that Phu Quoc’s architectural landscape is increasingly integrated with large-scale shows and events, creating a more immersive travel experience. As night falls, performances such as Kiss of the Sea and Symphony of the Sea, alongside year-round fireworks, transform the island’s south into a vibrant open-air stage. “By combining iconic architecture reimagined with a Phu Quoc twist, large-scale theatrical performances and nightly fireworks displays, this Vietnamese island is carving out a bold creative identity – one that elevates the tourism experience to new heights.” Travel + Leisure observes.
As the US travel publication suggests, this evolution is turning Phu Quoc into more than just a beach destination. It is becoming a place where visitors embark on an aesthetic journey – where architecture, art and nature come together in a single, seamless experience./.
