On the clear blue beaches, in the colorful coastal neighborhoods or on the cable car routes across the sea, the spring travel rhythm is still vibrant, showing the special attraction of the pearl island during this year's Lunar New Year holiday.
At Phu Quoc International Airport, the atmosphere in the early days of the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday is very bustling.
According to the forecast of the management unit, the total number of flights serving Tet increased by about 50% compared to the same period last year, with an average of about 75 flights per day, and peak days may reach 80 - 84 flights.
The total number of passengers is expected to exceed 720,000, both domestically and internationally increasing sharply compared to 2025. Among them, an impressive milestone is that on February 14, the airport welcomed 50 international flights in one day, the highest since the port started operating in 2012, with more than 30,600 passengers passing through the port, proving Phu Quoc's strong attraction right from the beginning of the Tet tourist season.
During the peak days of Tet, Nam Dao continues to affirm its strong attraction with a series of unique experiences and shows. The number of visitors to Sun World Hon Thom increased by 22% compared to the same period last year. Images of tourists queuing to experience the world's longest sea-crossing cable car have become familiar during this year's Tet holiday. Amusement parks, water parks and beaches at Hon Thom are always crowded from morning to afternoon, especially family groups and international tourists traveling on tours.
In particular, international-class shows recorded breakthrough growth in New Year's Eve with "Ocean Symphony" increasing by more than 250%, and "Kiss of the Sea" increasing by more than 200% compared to the same Lunar New Year period in 2025.
The high-class accommodation block in Nam Dao also recorded impressive room occupancy. Many 4-5 star resorts reached over 90% occupancy during peak days, especially New Year's Eve and the 1st day of Tet were almost fully booked.
New Year's Eve in the South Island became a rendezvous point for many international tourists when they simultaneously enjoyed 3 consecutive fireworks displays in a spacious sea space. 2 fireworks displays in art shows created an impressive visual effect when light, music and fireworks blended on the bay surface. The climax was the countdown fireworks display at 0 o'clock, lighting up the sea sky amidst cheers of New Year's greetings.
Many tourists choose to welcome the New Year's Eve moment right at coastal restaurants, especially the vibrant space of Sun Bavaria GastroPub. Especially on New Year's Eve, the restaurant served nearly 2,500 guests, recording one of the busiest nights ever. While enjoying cuisine and craft beer, and directly counting down and watching fireworks by the sea, international tourists had a complete Vietnamese Tet experience amidst the bustling festival atmosphere of Phu Quoc.
These figures show that Nam Dao is not just a simple sea resort but is becoming a leading entertainment, art and check-in center of Phu Quoc during this Lunar New Year, especially attractive to international tourists who love new experiences and the festive atmosphere by the sea.
Alex Gardunie - a German tourist shared: "I chose Phu Quoc as a destination at the beginning of the year because I have seen a lot on Instagram. Here are beautiful beaches, incredible nightlife and there are many diverse food options. The people here are also great, everyone says hello to us".
Ms. Dipti Goyal - an Indian tourist said: "For me, Phu Quoc is really impressive, a blend of Europe and Bali. The Tet atmosphere here is really bustling, the streets are dyed red, everyone is wearing beautiful clothes and of course there are also shows with 2 brilliant fireworks displays".
According to assessments from travel agencies, Phu Quoc's maintenance of a synchronous tourism ecosystem, from aviation infrastructure, accommodation systems, entertainment to year-round event chains, has contributed to extending stay time and increasing spending by international visitors.
Besides the advantage of a warm climate, blue sea and golden sun during Tet, the pearl island is also considered an attractive alternative destination for many tourists who want to "avoid winter" in big cities but still enjoy the festive atmosphere at the beginning of the year.
The impressive growth momentum right during the Lunar New Year holiday is expected to create a favorable foundation for Phu Quoc to accelerate in the pivotal year of preparing for APEC 2027. The positive signals during Tet not only reflect the immediate attraction, but are also a practical test of the ability to operate, organize and serve large-scale tourist flows, which is an important premise for Phu Quoc to confidently enter the peak preparation phase for the international-level foreign affairs event.
