Vietnam's Phu Quoc named Asia’s best island, surpassing Bali
DNO - Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam has surpassed Indonesia’s Bali and other renowned beach destinations to rank as the best island in Asia in 2026 by readers of Condé Nast Traveler.
Phu Quoc outpaces Asia’s top island rivals
According to the US edition of this renowned magazine, Phu Quoc clinched the top spot in Asia with an impressive 95.26 points, outperforming popular destinations, including Boracay, Palawan (the Philippines), Bali (Indonesia), and Phuket (Thailand).
Meanwhile, on the UK edition of the magazine, Viet Nam’s “Pearl Island” earned a stellar 98.26 points, taking second place in Asia just behind Palawan (98.99 points).
The result is particularly notable for Bali, long recognised as one of Asia’s leading island destinations and a major international tourism hub for Indonesia.
Phu Quoc’s top ranking reflects intensifying competition among resort destinations across Southeast Asia, where established tourism markets are facing growing challenges from emerging rivals.
According to the ranking, Phu Quoc’s appeal lies primarily in its natural landscape, featuring long stretches of white sand, clear waters, and diverse ecosystems.
These natural assets provide a foundation for a wide range of tourism experiences, from beach holidays and seaside relaxation to snorkeling, coral reef exploration and excursions to smaller islands off the southern coast. Visitors can also explore the island’s national park and learn about local pearl cultivation.
Tourism growth puts Phu Quoc in the international spotlight
In recent years, Phu Quoc has expanded its tourism offerings by combining resort stays with nature-based activities, local cuisine and cultural experiences.
This diversification has helped strengthen the island’s appeal to international travelers seeking a broader range of experiences beyond traditional beach holidays.
Phu Quoc’s leading position in the Asian island category signals growing international recognition for the Vietnamese destination and underscores the rising competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism industry in the regional market.
Phu Quoc’s international profile and connectivity have received a further boost from Sun PhuQuoc Airways, the island’s namesake carrier, which began commercial operations on November 1, 2025.
As the airline expands its route network, Phu Quoc is becoming more accessible to travelers and strengthening its position on the regional aviation map.
The island’s name is also gaining greater visibility among international travelers from the moment they search for and book their trips.
In 2027, as Vietnam prepares to host APEC Economic Leaders’ Week on Phu Quoc, the island is set to showcase its transformation and growing international appeal to the world.
Organized annually by Condé Nast Traveler, the Readers’ Choice Awards polls readers on destinations and tourism products worldwide. The Readers’ Choice Awards stand as one of the international travel industry’s most authoritative and enduring honors, spanning nearly four decades of history for the US edition.
The 39th annual edition attracted 798,867 votes, with readers rating destinations and tourism services based on their firsthand travel experiences. To qualify, candidates must satisfy a minimum threshold of responses and overall scores.
Readers evaluate each category against specific criteria on a 5-point scale from “poor” to “excellent”, which is subsequently indexed to a 100-point scale. For island destinations, the criteria include natural beauty, beach quality, culinary culture, service standards and local hospitality.