Located 56 nautical miles from the mainland of Phan Thiet, Phu Quy Special Zone has an area of about 18km2 and a population of more than 32,000 people.
The entire special zone currently has over 1,500 fishing vessels with more than 7,500 workers directly exploiting seafood, with an average output of more than 30,000 tons per year. The traditional marine economy still plays a pillar role, associated with the task of protecting resources and sea and island sovereignty.
In recent years, Phu Quy has opened up new directions when developing sea and island tourism. Blue sea, pristine sandy beaches, rich coral ecosystems and typical destinations such as Cao Cat mountain, ancient lighthouse, Linh Son pagoda over 300 years old, Hon Tranh...
These strengths have helped Phu Quy gradually escape the image of a purely fishing island, becoming an attractive experiential destination. In 2025, Phu Quy welcomed about 178,000 visitors, an increase of 18% compared to the same period; international visitors increased by 24%.
The commissioning of the high-speed train system with a travel time of about 2.5 hours has shortened the distance between the island and the mainland, creating favorable conditions for tourism development. Tourism has gradually formed a second pillar role, supporting the traditional marine economy and creating more livelihoods for people.
Infrastructure and tourism services on the island continue to be invested in. The entire special zone currently has nearly 70 accommodation facilities with more than 1,200 beds, along with hundreds of homestays and boarding houses serving tourists.
Sea tourism products are increasingly diverse, in which Hon Tranh tourist route always attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.
Recognizing the potential for tourism development, in 2019, Ms. Tra Thi Thanh Xuan decided to go to the island to invest in accommodation services. According to Ms. Xuan, Phu Quy used to have many difficulties and limited facilities, but the island's appearance has now changed significantly.
In the early days of coming to the island, motels and hotels were very few. Through surveys, I saw great potential, so I decided to invest in building hotels for business," Ms. Xuan shared.
Phu Quy's attraction comes not only from the natural landscape but also from the recognition of the international market.
This special zone was once in the top 10 most attractive destinations in Southeast Asia voted by a major Thai newspaper, creating a positive effect in attracting tourists, especially international tourists.
According to Mr. Ngo Minh Pho, Head of Phu Quy Special Economic Zone Tourism Association, for tourism to develop sustainably, infrastructure is only a part, the key factor is still human resources.
Many young people on the island have proactively linked up, participated in providing services, designing tours, contributing to creating tourism products imbued with local identity.
Regarding the long-term orientation, Chairman of Phu Quy Special Economic Zone People's Committee Le Hong Loi said that from 2026, the locality will implement the Green - Sustainable Tourism Development Project for the period 2026-2030.
Tourism is identified as a key economic sector, associated with environmental protection and preservation of marine and island culture. At the same time, focus on completing planning, diversifying products, promoting the application of digital technology and improving the quality of human resources.
Phu Quy is entering the spring of new expectations. When key projects are unlocked, mechanisms and policies create leverage and people's lives are constantly improving.
At that time, Phu Quy pearl island promises to become a dynamic and prosperous special zone, where sea and island potential and people together create sustainable value in the open sea of the East Sea.
