Vietnam just picked up a rare honor on the global stage. In Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, Regent Phu Quoc landed at No. 58 among the world’s top 100 hotels – the only Vietnamese property on the list – and was named the best resort in Southeast Asia for 2026. The ranking is built entirely from traveler votes: this year, more than 207,000 readers cast roughly 661,000 ballots across hotels, resorts, airlines, and destinations worldwide.
It’s a milestone with real timing behind it. Phu Quoc has been on a growth curve that few islands in the region can match – over 4.7 million visitors in the first five months of the year alone, with international arrivals up more than 50% year over year. For travelers who still picture Phu Quoc as a quiet backpacker beach, that era is closing fast. What’s replacing it is one of Southeast Asia’s most ambitious luxury coastlines, and Regent Phu Quoc’s award is simply the most visible proof of it.
Here’s what’s driving the shift, what Regent Phu Quoc actually offers, where else to look if you want a different flavor of luxury, and how to spend your days once you’ve checked in.
Regent Phu Quoc: Vietnam’s First Michelin Key Resort
Regent Phu Quoc sits inside Phu Quoc Marina, a beachfront complex developed by BIM Land at Bai Truong that blends resort living with marina, dining, and entertainment infrastructure – essentially a small luxury district rather than a single hotel. Operated by IHG’s Regent Hotels & Resorts, the property is built entirely around suites and villas, so there are no standard rooms to speak of; every stay comes with more space, a private layout, and direct access to the resort’s spa, dining, and marine activities.
The accolades have been stacking up. Regent Phu Quoc currently holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor with Travellers’ Choice status for 2026, was the first hotel in Phu Quoc to receive a Michelin Key, and has been featured on the World’s 50 Best Discovery platform. For travelers who care about service consistency as much as design, that combination – Michelin, Travel + Leisure, and TripAdvisor all pointing the same direction – is a rare alignment.
Alternative Luxury Resorts Worth Considering
Regent Phu Quoc isn’t the only reason the island is having a moment, and depending on what you’re after, one of these might suit your trip better.
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay is the island’s most photographed resort for good reason. Designed by Bill Bensley around the fictional backstory of a 19th-century French university, the property is built like a campus of “departments,” each with its own architectural personality, connected by gardens, courtyards, and a shell-shaped mosaic pool. It leans playful and visually rich rather than minimalist, and it’s a strong pick for design-driven travelers and honeymooners who want a resort that photographs as well as it functions.
InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach anchors the more polished, classic end of the island’s luxury strip, not far down the coast from Regent Phu Quoc, with the kind of dependable five-star service international travelers expect from the brand, set directly on Long Beach.
New World Phu Quoc Resort goes all-in on privacy – every unit on the property is a standalone pool villa, with no standard hotel rooms at all, making it a natural fit for families or couples who want to spend more of their stay behind their own gate than around a shared pool deck.
Premier Village and Premier Residences Phu Quoc offer a similar villa-first model along Khem Beach, with compounds spilling toward the water and a slightly more relaxed, residential feel than the flagship brands nearby.
Each of these sits within a short drive of the others on the island’s southern coast, which makes it realistic to headquarter at one property and still experience the atmosphere of the others through dinner reservations or spa visits during a longer stay.
What to Actually Do in Phu Quoc
A luxury resort is only half the trip. Phu Quoc’s south island has developed enough in the last few years that a full week of activities is realistic without repeating a single day.
Ride the world’s longest sea-crossing cable car. The Hon Thom Cable Car, a Guinness World Record holder, stretches nearly 7,900 meters from An Thoi to Hon Thom Island in a smooth 15-minute ride, replacing what used to be a 30-minute boat crossing. It’s the gateway to Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park, where the day typically continues with a private beach club, water park, and an evening cable car ride back timed for sunset over the archipelago. Guests based at Regent Phu Quoc or the other southern-coast resorts are typically a short transfer from the cable car’s departure station.
Sail and snorkel the An Thoi archipelago. A private boat charter through the cluster of small islands south of Phu Quoc remains one of the best ways to see the coastline away from resort crowds, with calm, clear water well suited to snorkeling and half-day island hopping.
Book a private sunset cruise. Beyond the archipelago day trips, a smaller private boat timed for late afternoon is worth arranging separately – the western coastline faces the Gulf of Thailand directly, which makes Phu Quoc one of the more reliable sunset-watching spots in Vietnam, best enjoyed from the water rather than a beach chair.
Walk Dinh Cau Night Market. For a contrast to resort dining, the night market in Duong Dong town is where to eat fresh seafood grilled to order alongside locals, and it pairs naturally with a stop at one of the island’s pepper farms or a traditional fish sauce distillery earlier in the day – Phu Quoc’s two most distinctive local exports.
Slow down with a wellness day. Several of the island’s resorts have built out spa programs substantial enough to anchor a full day on their own, from traditional Vietnamese therapies to more contemporary wellness menus – worth building into the itinerary for travelers who want at least one unhurried day between beach time and sightseeing – Regent Phu Quoc’s spa is a strong option if you’re already staying on property.
Getting There
Phu Quoc International Airport receives direct flights from major Vietnamese hubs including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, along with a growing number of direct regional connections from Southeast Asia. Most of the island’s flagship resorts – Regent Phu Quoc, JW Marriott, InterContinental, and New World among them – sit along the same southern coastal stretch, generally 20 to 40 minutes from the airport by private transfer, which most properties arrange directly.
When to Go
Phu Quoc’s dry season runs roughly from November through April, which is generally the most reliable stretch of calm seas and sunny days for beach-focused travel. The months from April through August also work well for sunshine, though this overlaps with the rest of southern Vietnam’s warmer, more humid stretch, so shoulder months tend to offer the best balance of good weather and lighter crowds.
Planning a Trip Around It
Phu Quoc’s rise into genuine luxury territory, led by Regent Phu Quoc’s award this year, means the island now rewards a bit more planning than it used to – which resort suits your travel style, which activities are worth a full day versus a half day, and how to sequence beach time with the island’s cultural corners. Rather than choosing a resort in isolation, it’s worth building the whole stay around it.
That’s the part we handle. Tell us your dates, who’s traveling, and what a great day in Phu Quoc looks like to you, and the team at Vietnam Luxury Tours will build a private itinerary around it.
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