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(Thanh tra) – The APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Week, to be hosted in Phu Quoc, presents a major opportunity for the Pearl Island to make a powerful breakthrough, achieve development commensurate with its potential, and contribute to elevating Viet Nam’s standing on the international stage.

Terminal T2 of Phu Quoc International Airport will be designed with inspiration drawn from the image of the Phoenix.

Building upon the achievements of previous APEC host years, Viet Nam’s hosting of APEC 2027 is oriented toward a peaceful, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive Asia–Pacific region.

In the lead-up to APEC 2027, the special administrative zone of Phu Quoc has effectively become a vast construction site, with a series of trillion-dong infrastructure projects being urgently implemented—from the expansion of the international airport to the construction of conference centers and international-standard hospitals.

Article Contents

• A historic opportunity for Phu Quoc’s development
• Phu Quoc – Asia’s “new rising star” thanks to APEC 2027

A Historic Opportunity for Phu Quoc’s Development

APEC 2027 will be held in the Special Administrative Zone of Phu Quoc, An Giang Province (formerly Kien Giang Province), under the theme “Connecting, Building Inclusive and Resilient Economies.” This is an especially significant political and diplomatic event for the nation. Phu Quoc has been honored with the Central Government’s trust to host the event—representing a major opportunity for the island to accelerate its development, grow in stature, contribute to provincial and national growth, and enhance Viet Nam’s international profile.

To ensure smooth preparations for APEC 2027, under Decision No. 1507/QĐ-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on July 10, the National Committee for APEC 2027—chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son—will oversee and organize the meetings and activities during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the official announcement of the Committee’s establishment is expected to take place in August 2025 in Hanoi.

APEC 2027 marks a milestone in Viet Nam’s regional diplomacy and offers a valuable opportunity to promote the country’s image and national standing internationally. Accordingly, An Giang Province has announced a series of projects and developments to serve APEC 2027, while emphasizing the local and community message of a “green, clean, beautiful Phu Quoc—environmentally responsible and investment-connected.” Reports indicate that the province has proactively carried out preparations largely on schedule.On the global tourism map, the “Pearl Island” brand of Phu Quoc continues to be firmly reinforced. (Illustrative image)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, has affirmed that APEC 2027 represents a historic opportunity for Phu Quoc’s development.

With the expected arrival of thousands of delegates, senior leaders, and business figures from the 21 APEC member economies, Phu Quoc will become a focal point for trade agreement signings and strategic partnerships among major economies. This, in turn, is expected to trigger a strong inflow of foreign direct investment, fueling robust growth in key sectors such as tourism, real estate, retail, and services.

Moreover, the event offers a significant opportunity for Phu Quoc to emerge as a leading tourism and economic hub in the region and globally.

South Korea’s leading business newspaper Herald Business has lavished praise on Phu Quoc, viewing its hosting of APEC 2027 as a historic turning point for the Pearl Island—affirming its international aspirations and serving as a powerful catalyst for comprehensive transformation.Readers of DestinAsian magazine voted Phu Quoc among the Top 10 Most Beautiful Islands in Asia in 2025. (Illustrative image)

Phu Quoc – Asia’s “New Rising Star” Thanks to APEC 2027

Phu Quoc is no longer merely a leisure destination; it is increasingly seen as a new symbol of sustainable and integrated tourism in Southeast Asia. Experts note that hosting APEC 2027 has opened a new chapter in Phu Quoc’s journey toward becoming “one of the world’s leading eco-smart tourism cities.” The island is undergoing comprehensive upgrades in infrastructure, technology, and service culture to meet increasingly rigorous international standards.

With focused investment from the central and local governments as well as the business community, Phu Quoc is steadily consolidating its position and progressively realizing the goal of becoming a high-quality eco-tourism service hub and a nationally and internationally significant marine-island tourism center, connected to major economic hubs in the region and worldwide. In 2024 alone, Phu Quoc welcomed more than 5.9 million visitors, including 962,000 international arrivals.

Mr. Tran Minh Khoa, Chairman of the Phu Quoc City People’s Committee, stated that the island currently hosts over 300 projects—accounting for more than 86% of all tourism investment projects in An Giang Province—with a total area of 9,485 hectares and total registered investment capital of VND 388.41 trillion. Major corporations such as Vingroup, Sun Group, BIM Group, CEO Group, Tan A Dai Thanh, and CityLand have invested and continue to develop large-scale projects in Phu Quoc’s core sectors.

In terms of tourism infrastructure, by the end of 2024 Phu Quoc had 484 accommodation establishments with 26,461 rooms. These range from hotels and resorts to guesthouses, serviced apartments, and camping sites. Notably, the island boasts 27 four- and five-star hotels offering 12,703 rooms—nearly 48% of total accommodation capacity—well prepared to serve the high-end market.

Grand World Phu Quoc is also a paradise for stunning “check-in” photography. (Illustrative image)

Preparations for the APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Week are being fast-tracked, with numerous key projects underway, including the upgrading of Phu Quoc International Airport infrastructure, ports, transportation systems, the construction of a multifunctional APEC complex, expansion of luxury resorts, and the implementation of smart waste-management systems across the island.

These efforts not only serve APEC 2027 but also reflect a long-term ambition to position Phu Quoc as a leading eco-smart tourism hub in the region.

Particularly noteworthy are the large-scale projects currently under planning for APEC 2027, including the development of a major multifunctional complex. According to design plans, the APEC complex will feature a convention and exhibition center with a total area of 95,200 square meters, including a main conference hall of 10,790 square meters—surpassing even the world’s largest existing venue, Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, USA.

A key highlight of the complex is its seamless connectivity with iconic destinations and landmarks such as Khem Beach, Kiss Bridge, the world-class show “Kiss of the Sea,” and the world’s longest three-cable gondola line to Hon Thom Island.

Construction sites across Phu Quoc dedicated to APEC 2027 are witnessing a race against time, with more than 1,100 engineers and workers operating day and night—not merely to meet deadlines, but to surpass them. Many contract packages aim to be completed three to six months ahead of schedule, reflecting the strong determination of both the political system and construction contractors in preparation for the Asia–Pacific’s largest diplomatic event.

Phu Quoc is increasingly recognized as a new bright spot in Asian tourism, boasting impressive achievements such as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest air-traffic growth rates; ranking among the Top 3 most beautiful islands in Asia; and being the second most favored destination in Viet Nam among Korean travelers.

Beyond that, on the global tourism map, the Pearl Island brand continues to be reinforced as an international-class destination and a venue capable of hosting world-scale events.

It is therefore no surprise that Phu Quoc is the only Vietnamese representative voted by DestinAsian readers among the Top 10 Most Beautiful Islands in Asia in 2025; listed by Travel Off Path among the Top 5 Fastest-Growing Tourism Destinations in Southeast Asia; and honored by Singapore’s CNA as a standout destination for 2025.

Phu Quoc’s success is further supported by its 30-day visa-free policy for all international visitors and strong endorsement from international media. Following APEC 2027, the island is projected to sustain its growth momentum, become a focal point of regional tourism, and further solidify its image as a world-class destination.

Given its visible and foreseeable potential, Phu Quoc can confidently envision its future as a premier host for major global events—especially with APEC 2027 on the horizon.

By the end of next year, Phu Quoc is expected to complete its international cruise port, with a capacity of 3,000–4,000 passengers per call, alongside plans to upgrade and expand Phu Quoc International Airport to accommodate millions of international visitors annually.

Over more than 25 years since joining APEC, Viet Nam has made proactive and substantive contributions to the Forum and remains one of the few members to have successfully hosted APEC twice—in 2006 and 2017. Viet Nam has actively proposed initiatives and projects, with over 150 projects across various fields, and currently serves as Chair of the APEC Structural Reform Agenda Working Group for the 2026–2030 period.

The APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Week, to be held in the Special Administrative Zone of Phu Quoc, An Giang Province, will be a landmark event—underscoring Viet Nam’s regional role and offering a powerful platform to promote the nation’s image and standing on the international stage.

Source: thanhtra.com.vn