Developing Phu Quy into offshore marine economic hub

Located about 100 kilometres from the mainland, Phu Quy is undergoing a transformation in developing its marine economy while safeguarding national security. However, rapid growth has also posed challenges in essential infrastructure such as electricity, water, transportation, and the environment. To become an offshore marine economic hub and a stronghold for defence and security, Phu Quy requires special policies to further develop its infrastructure.

Remarkable breakthroughs

Once a pristine island, Phu Quy has been transformed into a “green gem” thanks to modern transportation. Since 2018, the operation of high-speed boats has shortened the travel time from six hours to only about three, fueling rapid tourism growth with diverse marine and sports tourism activities.

On average, the special zone welcomes about 1,000 visitors per day. In 2023, it received over 165,000 tourists, and by 2024, the number rose to more than 400,000. Along with that, investors from other localities have flocked to Phu Quy to develop tourism services. In 2019, the island had only nine homestays; today, it has 60 hotels and 100 homestays and guesthouses with a combined capacity of about 1,000 rooms.

Phu Quy has about 1,730 fishing vessels with 7,540 workers, including 594 boats of over 90 horsepower qualified for offshore fishing. The island also has 72 aquaculture farms raising high-value species such as grouper, cobia, and lobster, producing nearly 100 tonnes annually—an attractive destination for tourists. As a result, the living standards of local residents have significantly improved, with only 21 households remaining below the poverty line, accounting for just 0.31% of the population.

Currently, Phu Quy has seven water supply facilities, including two water plants with a total capacity of 1,200 cubic metres per day and five wells providing 60–180 cubic metres per day. Its power supply comes from a 10 MW diesel plant, a 6 MW wind power plant, and a 732 kWp/683 kWac solar system. To meet growing demand, residents have also installed private solar panels. A project to expand Phu Quy Power Plant by an additional 2,200 kW is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

The locality is building comprehensive fishery logistics infrastructure integrated with defence and security, aiming to make Phu Quy a regional hub for fishing and fishery logistics services. Supporting services include one ship repair facility, four offshore fuel supply stations, and a dual-purpose port with a capacity of 150 fishing vessels under 1,000 tonnes.

The first phase of a storm shelter for 500 fishing vessels (600 CV) is already operational, while the second phase—featuring breakwaters, docks, anchoring buoys, and navigation systems—will be inaugurated in September, doubling its capacity to 1,000 vessels.

However, infrastructure still lags behind tourism growth. According to Chairman of the Phu Quy Special Zone People’s Committee Le Hong Loi, transportation is deteriorating, water and electricity supplies are insufficient, and wastewater is seeping into the ground, causing pollution. Saltwater intrusion has also affected wells, limiting extraction capacity. To address this, three freshwater reservoirs with a combined capacity of 125,000 cubic meters will be built, along with flood drainage pipelines to the sea. The project has been included in the province’s 2026–2030 medium-term public investment plan.

Developing while safeguarding fatherland

In 2024, the Prime Minister approved a master plan to develop Phu Quy into a hub for fishing, fishery logistics, and maritime search and rescue.

According to Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the storm shelter will enhance offshore fishing, seafood preservation and processing, fishery logistics services, and trade at both regional and national levels. It will also serve as a centre for rescue and emergency response at sea, improving fishermen’s livelihoods while ensuring national defence and security in the island’s waters.

The port will be capable of handling, classifying, and transshipping about 25,000 tonnes of seafood annually, minimising post-harvest losses, meeting food safety standards, and increasing the value of exploited resources. Chien emphasised that the port could enable direct seafood exports at sea to foreign markets. However, this requires significant freshwater supplies and wastewater treatment facilities, meaning state investment is needed in freshwater reservoirs or seawater desalination technologies. In addition, the storm shelter could also become a tourist attraction where visitors can experience local fishing activities.

To develop the marine economy, Chairman of the Phu Quy Special Zone People’s Committee Le Hong Loi stressed the need to attract investment in large-scale, high-quality tourism infrastructure, eco-tourism, marine exploration, and resort development. The province should also invest in waste collection and treatment systems and upgrade telecommunications infrastructure to support digital transformation. At the same time, Phu Quy Special Zone is exploring smart governance, renewable energy with integrated storage systems, and encouraging innovative startups.

The national power grid is expected to be extended to Phu Quy by 2030. With sufficient electricity, water, and infrastructure, the island will become a true offshore marine economic hub.

Phu Quy holds strategic importance in politics, defence, and security. According to Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam, Secretary of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee, the province is determined to invest in infrastructure as the foundation for future development.

The goal is to build Phu Quy into a strong and dynamic island economy that tightly integrates economic growth with national defense, serving as a reliable rear base for the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Phu Quy is expected to expand key marine industries, especially seafood exploitation, processing, trade, and fishery logistics, not only for Viet Nam but also for the broader Southeast Asian region. In addition, it will develop maritime transport services, coupled with environmental protection and sustainable tourism. The special zone also aims to foster emerging sectors such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and high-quality human resource development, keeping pace with the new trends in island economies.

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