In January-February 2026, hotel room-occupancy rates on Phu Quoc Island recordedover 90%.Given that Bali was 60% and Phuket over 80% in the same period, Phu Quoc Island has come to stand at the "top of occupancy" in Southeast Asia's beach-resort competition. RevPAR (average room rate x occupancy) surged from under $50 in 2024 to $160-170, closing in on Phuket on price too.
Phu Quoc Island's 2026 leap seen in numbers
| Indicator | Phu Quoc (Q1 2026) | Bali | Phuket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel occupancy | over 90%. | 60% | Over 80% |
| RevPAR | $160〜170 | — | Somewhat high |
| International tourists year on year | +72〜86% | — | — |
| January-February visitors | Over 1 million | — | — |
The growth rate of international tourists showed an order-of-magnitude jump of 72-86% (varying by survey source), with 366,000 visiting during the Tet (Lunar New Year) period alone.
Why was Phu Quoc Island able to grow so rapidly?
The 90% occupancy figure is no accident. Behind Phu Quoc Island overtaking Bali and Phuket are three structural changes.
1. Investment in "experiential entertainment": Large shows held every night, such as "Kiss of the Sea" and "Symphony of the Sea," function as customer-drawing devices that extend the number of nights stayed. It's a mechanism where travelers who would return after one night turn into 2-3 nights, raising occupancy.
2. The "nighttime flow" design of Sunset Town: It's designed so that a series of experiences—sunset viewing, then a dining street, then fireworks—runs continuously, creating nighttime-stay demand. A "mechanism for enjoying the night" not found in Bali or Phuket leads to acquiring repeat visitors.
3. Rapid expansion of air routes: On March 29, 2026, Sun PhuQuoc Airways launched its first scheduled international flight to Taipei, Taiwan. From April 17, a Seoul-Incheon route also launched (one flight a day, later expanded to two). Air India, China Eastern Airlines, and Cathay Pacific have also announced route expansions, dramatically improving access from East Asia.
Vietnamese pride and awareness of the challenges
The news that "Phu Quoc surpassed Bali" is proudly introduced in Vietnam's social media and reporting. Along with the sentiment "it was once seen as an inferior version of Bali or Phuket," the morale of those in the tourism industry is rising.
On the other hand, concern over "overtourism risk accompanying rapid growth" is also starting to appear. The impact on the local fishing community, increasing plastic waste, and strained water resources are pointed out as challenges, and a balance with sustainable tourism development is being questioned.
Phu Quoc Island 2026 for Japanese travelers
Access from Japan to Phu Quoc Island is currently mainly via Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport). Flights from various parts of Japan to Ho Chi Minh City operate from Narita, Chubu, Kansai, and Fukuoka, and it's about an hour from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc Island by domestic flight.
The 90% occupancy figure also means it's hard to get bookings in peak season. If you're going to visit Phu Quoc Island,booking a hotel more than three months aheadis recommended. Hotels in the Sunset Town area in particular see concentrated popularity, and luxury resorts fill up early.
April on Phu Quoc Island is at the end of the dry season and is stable weather-wise. Since the rainy season begins from May, April to early May is the last chance for a trip. If combining it with a Vietnam trip,a specialty-café tour of Ho Chi Minh Cityas a set is recommended.
Phu Quoc Island from 2027 on: Sun Group's "hotel city" plan
Sun Group is developing a large-scale "hotel city" on Ruby Beach housing 13 international hotel brands. On Hon Thom Island, a Rixos resort is also under construction. As long as infrastructure investment continues, Phu Quoc Island's growth is expected to continue for the time being.
That said, if supply increases too much, occupancy will naturally decline. Whether it can maintain the "premium resort" position long-term will be the key to differentiating itself from Bali and Phuket.
Summary
Phu Quoc Island's Q1 2026 figures of over 90% occupancy and a 72% rise in international tourists are a symbolic event that redraws Southeast Asia's beach-resort map. Three factors—experiential entertainment, nighttime-flow design, and expanded air routes—overlapped to overtake Bali and Phuket. For Japanese travelers too, now can be called "the golden age for visiting Phu Quoc." Move to book early.
Source:Vietnam Plus – Phu Quoc surpasses Bali, Phuket、Skift、Travel And Tour World
