Welcoming more than 1.7 million international visitors each year, Maldives is known for its hundreds of luxury resorts and has become a vacation paradise that everyone dreams of visiting once in their lifetime.

JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay.

Up to now, it seems that there is hardly any island in the world that can usurp the throne of this resort paradise.

After Maldives, Phu Quoc is gradually becoming the "new dream" of global resort travel enthusiasts, when recently Travel + Leisure announced that the pearl island ranked 2nd in the list of 25 most favorite islands in the world.

The "resort and entertainment paradise" formula applied in Phu Quoc shows that this Vietnamese island is investing heavily to become a formidable rival of the Maldives.

According to statistics, in 2023, Phu Quoc will have 470 accommodation establishments, including 19 5-star hotels and resorts.

The South of Phu Quoc Island alone has caught the attention of the international super-rich with luxury resorts such as La Festa Phu Quoc - Curio Collection by Hilton or JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay,...

In the South of the island, Sungroup Corporation and Phu Quoc city also have the ambition to create a new concept of "paradise in paradise", when Hon Thom Island - one of 22 islands in Phu Quoc, connected to the main island via the world's longest three-wire cable car system, is being invested into an isolated resort paradise with a new iconic project, the Aspiration Tower - Aspira Tower.

Along with that is the arrival of a series of "giants" in the world resort industry such as Rixos, The Luxury Collection, Ritz Carlton Reserve.

Aspira Tower - Aspira Tower.

On the afternoon of December 10, the project with a total investment of 13,000 billion VND of Sungroup - Aspira Tower - officially started construction.

This is considered the next iconic project of Phu Quoc and the pride of Vietnamese tourism in the new era - the era of national growth.

The 36-storey central tower will become a high-end resort - entertainment - commercial complex including a hotel branded The Luxury Collection with a "million dollar" view, infinity pool, sky club...

The podium, with its curvaceous multi-storey architecture, will include many multifunctional spaces such as a prize-winning entertainment center with a separate entrance, an outdoor restaurant, an infinity pool, a Jacuzzi, etc.

The building is likened to the "second sail", a new highlight of the world after the Burj Al Arab sail tower in Dubai, promising to attract millions of tourists every year after its inauguration.

Shaping this paradise, besides the nature that crystallizes all the indisputable beauty of the Pearl Island, the iconic construction, a series of international 5-star hotels and resorts nestled in nature are being invested in thoroughly.

Recently, the Rixos brand has been brought to Hon Thom by Sungroup with Rixos Phu Quoc Hotel, hoping to help visitors feel a resort experience like "kings".

Arriving at Hon Thom, Rixos brings to Vietnam and Southeast Asia for the first time the concept of "all-inclusive" (all-inclusive vacation, exclusive vacation) as a new resort standard in the world, where visitors can enjoy all resort amenities, entertainment, recreation, relaxation... designed in a personalized way at the most luxurious level, with a package price paid only once.

And in the near future, Ritz Carlton Reserve - the most luxurious brand in the global hotel industry will also place its 7th resort in the world in Hon Thom.

As a brand that is extremely strict in choosing the land to locate, Ritz Carlton Reserve considers Hon Thom as a promised land to bring their guests extraordinary discoveries, excitement from unexpected adventures and luxurious experiences beyond imagination.

It can be seen that the construction of a "n in 1" luxury destination model is taking shape clearly at Hon Thom.

Sungroup is creating high-class entertainment experiences in Phu Quoc.

Along with a series of luxury resorts continuously being invested in and launched, Hon Thom Island is also connected to a "satellite" of international-class entertainment experiences in Sunset town.

It can be said that in 2024, the Sunset town has triggered a big "explosion" for Phu Quoc tourism when launching new experiences such as the Sun Bavaria GastroPub restaurant - a restaurant that offers a unique dinner show concept, with German craft beer, fine cuisine and the privilege of watching the Ocean Symphony show, with a 20-minute fireworks display every night combined with extreme sports art; Awaken Sea - an extreme sports art show.

Ms. Agnes Roquefort, Global Development Director of Accor Luxury & Lifestyle, emphasized the potential of the tourism product ecosystem that the pearl island possesses: "Sungroup has built a comprehensive ecosystem including accommodation, entertainment and many unique experiences.

This is completely in line with the value we bring to our guests – a 360-degree, holistic experience.”

According to Mr. Mehmet Kin - Vice President of Crystal Bay Group, he expects: "Brands like Rixos or Crystal Bay and many international corporations coming here in the future will change the image of Phu Quoc and help boost marketing.

I believe that within the next 5 years, Phu Quoc will become a top destination. This area will be very famous and will attract a lot of tourists."

Phu Quoc is investing heavily in the "little paradise" Hon Thom.

In 2024, the pearl island will welcome approximately 6 million visitors, of which international visitors are estimated to reach nearly 1 million, exceeding 92% of the plan and 70% over the same period.

In the first and second quarters of 2023, Phu Quoc International Airport only received 2-5 international flights, at most 8 flights/day, but by December this year, the number was 27-28 flights/day. Many direct flights from new markets to Phu Quoc have been and are being established.

It can be seen that the investment in the resort paradise at Hon Thom continues to show Phu Quoc's ambition to become a new destination in the world, especially a destination chosen by tourists with high spending power.

This is a necessary link to create an ecosystem of entertainment, resort, sports, and health care projects that Phu Quoc is urgently implementing, to open up opportunities to welcome millions of tourists each year.