US media calls Phu Quoc a “hidden gem” worth a 16-hour flight for American travellers

Phu Quoc may still be a relatively new name to many American travellers, but for Vietnam, the Pearl Island has long ceased to be a secret. That very contrast – familiar to locals yet full of surprises for American visitors – is now turning Phu Quoc into a compelling new discovery on the travel map for U.S. tourists.

TravelPulse, one of the leading travel information platforms in the United States and a key reference point for travel advisors and global online travel platforms, recently published an article recounting journalist Chelsea Davis’s journey to Phu Quoc following her 16-hour flight from San Francisco. In the piece, Davis notes that Phu Quoc is emerging as an appealing alternative to established destinations such as Thailand or Bali, thanks to its rare combination of well-developed tourism infrastructure and the sense of “escaping reality” that American travellers increasingly seek.

“For Americans looking beyond familiar beach destinations like Thailand or Bali, Phu Quoc stands out for combining infrastructure locals already love with the sense of discovery U.S. travelers crave,” Davis wrote.

As Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc is described by TravelPulse as an ideal beach destination, known for its powdery white-sand beaches, well-invested resorts, an increasingly diverse culinary scene, and large-scale entertainment shows staged nightly.

One of the experiences that left the strongest impression on the author was exploring the island’s southern coast – an area she described as “the most astonishing part” of her journey. Here, the Hon Thom cable car, the world’s longest three-wire cable car, is portrayed as a signature experience. Suspended high above the sea, visitors can take in sweeping views of the An Thoi archipelago, with its turquoise waters, scattered islets and traditional fishing boats typical of tropical seas. The experience has previously been praised by CNN and Lonely Planet as a must-do in Phu Quoc, while The New York Times recently selected the Hon Thom cable car as a representative image of Vietnam’s tourism in a period of rapid growth.

Southern Phu Quoc also surprised the writer with Sunset Town. Rows of pastel-coloured buildings, winding streets, tiled staircases and structures reminiscent of Rome’s Colosseum or San Francisco’s famous Lombard Street, often dubbed the world’s most winding road, created what Davis described as “not something you’d expect to find in Vietnam”. According to the author, it is precisely this striking contrast that gives the destination its lasting appeal.

Located in Sunset Town is the Kiss Bridge, a landmark the writer describes as one of Phu Quoc’s most poetic new icons. The two arms of the bridge extend toward each other over the sea without meeting, leaving a narrow gap through which the sunset light passes — a moment Davis calls “the perfect rendezvous for a symbolic sunset kiss”.

As night falls, Phu Quoc appears to “come alive” with a series of large-scale entertainment experiences. Chelsea Davis reserved particular praise for the Kiss of the Sea and Symphony of the Sea shows in Sunset Town, highlighting their spectacular combination of music, laser lighting, fire, fireworks, and live performances featuring acrobatics, flyboarding and jet skiing on the sea surface. According to the writer, the shows’ grand fireworks finales leave a powerful impression, bringing an emotional close to a full day of exploration.

In terms of accommodation, TravelPulse identifies JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay at Kem Beach as the island’s most immersive “escape from reality”. Designed as a fictional French university, the resort impresses with its sense of hidden luxury woven into a creative narrative, from the aristocratic dinner-party atmosphere of the Pink Pearl restaurant to the Alice-in-Wonderland-inspired Chanterelle Spa, which Davis describes as “entirely unlike any other”.

Beyond modern resorts and entertainment complexes, the article also highlights local culture through culinary experiences such as bun quay, a regional noodle dish. According to Davis, mixing the dipping sauce by hand and enjoying freshly prepared seafood in a setting that reflects the island’s fishing-village roots offers an authentic experience, allowing visitors to connect more deeply with local life on the Pearl Island.

In conclusion, the TravelPulse journalist notes that with its 30-day visa-free policy for direct international arrivals, increasingly convenient air connectivity, and a comprehensive tourism and entertainment ecosystem, Phu Quoc is well positioned to emerge as a leading beach destination for American travellers in the near future, standing alongside, and potentially surpassing, some of the most established tropical destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.