More international flights to Phu Quoc: opportunities, challenges
Some airlines of the Republic of Korea (RoK) are planning to open direct air routes to Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island dubbed as the Pearl Island in the southern province of Kien Giang, which is considered not only opportunities but also challenges for its tourism sector.
Sunset Town - a destination favoured by foreign tourists in Phu Quoc (Photo: thanhnien.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Some airlines of the Republic ofKorea (RoK) are planning to open direct air routes to Vietnam’s Phu Quoc islanddubbed as the Pearl Island in the southern province of Kien Giang, which is considered not onlyopportunities but also challenges for its tourism sector.
In late November, the Korean national flag carrier KoreanAir will launch the Seoul-Phu Quoc route to meet increasing travel demand.
Other Seoul-Phu Quoc routes will be also put into operationby Jeju Air on October 29, and Jin Air on December 24.
Currently, international flights linked to Phu Quoc are fromthe RoK’s Incheon with the frequency of two a day, Hong Kong (China) with thefrequency of three a week, Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur (three a week), and Thailand’sBangkok (four a week), according to the provincial Department of Tourism.
According to experts, the last months of a year are theright time to open new flights to Phu Quoc, because the island is entering itsmost beautiful season of the year. The Booking.com recently ranked the Pearl Islandin the top five "most romantic" fall destinations in Vietnam thanksto the ideal mild weather in fall and winter.
The department’s Director Bui Quoc Thai said that Kien Gianghas implemented concerted measures to stimulate travel demand, includingstepping up promotion activities and developing new tours to connect it withprovinces and cities inside and outside Vietnam.
It has also intensified dissemination on the visa exemptionpolicy for foreign tourists to the island city, added Thai.
Phu Quoc international airport (Photo: ACV)
The operation of international flights contributes toopening up opportunities for Phu Quoc to revive its tourism, but poseschallenges in attracting tourists to re-visit the island, given the fact thatit is reporting a significant decrease in the number of domestic tourists,according to insiders.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lam Minh Thanhasked departments, sectors and localities to exert efforts to popularise theimage of Phu Quoc; build programmes to attract tourists to come back to Phu Quoc;diversify and improve the quality of products and services.
The city should focus resources on addressing problemsrelated to the environment and waste, he stated./.
The number of foreign arrivals in Phu Quoc city, the southern province of Kien Giang nearly tripled to more than 470,500 in the first nine months of this year.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island off the coast of the southern province of Kien Giang, has been named among the top 10 most favourite resort islands in Asia in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2023 by tourism magazine Condé Nast Traveler of the US.
Boasting long beaches with gleaming white sand lying serenely along inviting turquoise waters, Phu Quoc island off the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has been honoured by the American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler (CN Traveler) as one of the world’s top islands in 2023.
Korean Air will start direct flights connecting Seoul to Phu Quoc resort island in southern Vietnam, also known as the Pearl Island, from the end of November 2023 to meet the increasing travel demand of Korean tourists to Vietnam's largest island.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Sunset Town - a destination favoured by foreign tourists in Phu Quoc (Photo: thanhnien.vn) 
Phu Quoc international airport (Photo: ACV) 
