As the year-end travel season approaches and European tourists begin planning their winter getaways, Phu Quoc has unexpectedly caught the attention of Express UK, one of the country’s largest mainstream news sites with an enormous daily readership. 

In an article on emerging travel trends among British visitors across Southeast Asia, Express suggested that instead of Thailand, which has become overly familiar, travellers should consider nearby destinations with “more affordable prices” and “more incredible beaches.” Phu Quoc, it wrote, stands out as the most compelling example.

Citing comments from many international travellers, especially those who have visited both Thailand and Vietnam, Express emphasised that “Vietnam is becoming a top contender for Brits travelling to Southeast Asia”, and visitors should “spend weeks at a time experiencing everything there is to do in Vietnam.” Among the recommendations from these travellers, Phu Quoc appeared most frequently. The newspaper highlighted a video by Geek Wandering, a travel vlogger with nearly half a million followers, who dedicated significant time to talking about the island. He praised its white-sand beaches, emerald waters, peaceful temples and, above all, the sense that Phu Quoc “has it all”, from “breathtaking natural wonders to unique cultural experiences”, all while being more affordable than many well-known destinations in the region. 

Kem Beach – world’s top 50 most beautiful beaches – captivates every international visitor in Phu Quoc (Photo: Fabl Belek)

It wasn’t just Geek Wandering. Many other travellers also noted that Phu Quoc possesses “breathtaking beaches and magnificent scenery that you have to see to believe.” Among these, Kem Beach and Sao Beach stand out: two beaches famed for their creamy powdery white sand and emerald crystal-clear water, both having been listed among the most beautiful beaches on the planet. 

Beyond natural beauty, Express also attributed Phu Quoc’s appeal to its unique experiences. The combination of authentic local culture and one-of-a-kind activities that are difficult to find elsewhere, at reasonable prices, makes the island a compelling choice for British tourists. To illustrate this, Express journalist Chloe Selvester wrote about her own journey on the world’s longest three-cable gondola ride to Hon Thom Island – an experience she described as “perfect way to see paradise.” 

The Hon Thom cable car offers a “stunning” journey that every visitor to Phu Quoc wants to experience

She described the ride as “stunning,” noting how the nearly 8km route, suspended at almost 180m above sea level, allowed her to sweep her gaze across the luminous turquoise waters of the An Thoi archipelago. The 15-minute flight between sky and sea was, as Express wrote, “captivating look at paradise from above” – a sight impressive enough to justify travelling halfway around the world to Vietnam.

This isn’t the first time the Hon Thom cable car has received international acclaim. The world-record-setting structure has been praised by Lonely Planet, one of the oldest and most respected travel guidebook publishers, as the most worthwhile experience in Phu Quoc. CNN, in 2019, also commended the remarkable vistas it offers travellers. 

The Symphony of the Sea show lights up the sky over Pearl Island with dazzling fireworks

From soaring above the sea on the spectacular cable car, visitors return to the vibrant streets of Sunset Town, where street performances light up the waterfront, where the record-breaking Kiss of the Sea and Symphony of the Sea shows take place, where fireworks illuminate the sky twice in one night, and where the island’s lively rhythm continues well into the late hours. This is how Phu Quoc “tells its story” and gives international visitors countless reasons to return again and again. 

If in the past Phu Quoc was simply known to British travellers as a fresh alternative to Thailand, then Express’s recent wave of praise, from encouraging tourists to “skip Thailand” to celebrating the island as a place that “has everything”, shows how dramatically the island’s image has evolved. Phu Quoc is no longer a “rising star” but is quickly becoming one of the region’s premier island-beach destinations, taking its place alongside the likes of Bali and Phuket.