Phu Quoc Leads Vietnam Destinations as Eastern European Travel Searches Jump 113%

A winter travel surge puts Phu Quoc first

Searches from Eastern Europe for stays on Phu Quoc rose 113 percent compared with a year earlier, putting Vietnam's largest island ahead of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang in Agoda's destination rankings. The figures cover searches made from August 15 to September 30, 2025, for arrivals in October and November, a period between the busiest travel seasons that offers an early view of winter demand.

The island's rise comes as European arrivals to Vietnam accelerate. The General Statistics Office reported that visitors from Europe increased nearly 35 percent in the first nine months of 2025. During the third quarter, Vietnam welcomed 568,370 European travelers, up 38 percent from the second quarter and 60 percent from the same period in 2024.

Phu Quoc received about 1.2 million foreign arrivals between January and September, an increase of 65.8 percent compared with the previous year. By the end of those nine months, the island had already exceeded its international visitor target for the whole year.

Eastern Europe's colder weather helps explain the timing. Travelers looking for winter sunshine can find warm seas, long beaches and protected forests on Phu Quoc, alongside hotels at different price levels. Growing flight connections and competitive prices are making the island easier to consider for a holiday centered on rest and recreation.

Search activity, rising visitor numbers and expanding winter flight schedules all point toward stronger demand as of October 25, 2025. Each measures a different part of the journey: people considering a trip, visitors who have already arrived, and the transport capacity being prepared for the months ahead.

How Vietnam's five leading destinations compare

Phu Quoc's 113 percent search increase was the strongest among the five Vietnamese destinations leading Eastern European interest. Hanoi ranked second, with searches rising 77 percent, followed by Ho Chi Minh City at 56 percent. Da Nang and Nha Trang completed the list, with increases of 36 percent and 35 percent respectively.

Hanoi attracts travelers through its heritage sites, street food and access to nearby landscapes for day trips. Ho Chi Minh City's appeal includes nightlife, shopping and its position as a starting point for visits to the Mekong Delta.

Da Nang and Nha Trang combine beach and resort stays with access to surrounding attractions. Together, the rankings suggest that Eastern European travelers are considering both urban culture and coastal relaxation, including itineraries that pair time in a city with several days by the sea.

Phu Quoc's search growth was 36 percentage points above Hanoi's, using the respective increases of 113 percent and 77 percent. The comparison shows how quickly interest in the island was growing within this group of destinations.

Entry changes make planning easier

Vietnam expanded visa exemptions for citizens of a group of European countries from mid August and simplified procedures for others through a broader electronic visa system. An electronic visa allows travelers to complete the visa process online, reducing some of the administration involved in planning a trip.

Agoda's analysis recorded strong growth in searches from several Eastern European markets during the same period. Searches from Slovenia rose 77 percent, followed by Poland at 74 percent, Bulgaria at 72 percent, Romania at 69 percent and Slovakia at 61 percent.

Phu Quoc also has an entry policy separate from the national rules. Tourists of any nationality can visit without a visa for up to 30 days if they enter directly and remain on the island. For travelers arriving on a nonstop flight or charter, that removes an administrative step from an island holiday.

Easier entry and more flight choices reduce the work involved before booking. They also make decisions close to departure more practical for Eastern European travelers whose winter plans may depend on changing weather or school schedules.

Winter charters connect Russia and nearby markets

Local authorities and tour operators have coordinated a charter program expected to bring more than 60,000 visitors to Phu Quoc during the 2025 to 2026 winter period. Plans cover departures from 14 cities across Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, known as the CIS, with an estimated 75 to 80 flights a month.

The season's first charter arrived from Vladivostok on October 19 carrying 220 passengers. Charter flights are arranged for a particular travel program, allowing tour operators to connect transport with accommodation and other parts of a package holiday.

Airlines and tour companies are also marketing direct routes or journeys with one connection from Poland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Mongolia. The aim is to reach travelers seeking a warm beach break without a complicated itinerary.

Flight frequency typically increases from late autumn through early spring, matching winter escape demand and school holidays. Charter programs and seasonal routes are expanding capacity through the end of 2025 and into early 2026.

The main dates show how travel planning and new capacity are coming together:

• August 15 to September 30, 2025: Agoda measured searches for stays beginning in October and November.
• Mid August 2025: Vietnam expanded visa exemptions for a group of European countries.
• October 19, 2025: The first charter of the winter season arrived from Vladivostok with 220 passengers.
• Winter 2025 to 2026: The coordinated charter program is expected to bring more than 60,000 visitors.

Carriers are also using aircraft with a single aisle and lower fuel consumption on routes of medium distance. These aircraft help make new connections between cities possible at costs suited to leisure travel budgets.

What longer holidays mean for local businesses

Russian and other Eastern European visitors who stay for a week or longer often divide their time between beach relaxation and day trips. Their spending reaches beyond accommodation to restaurants, excursions, transport and attractions, supporting a broad range of businesses on the island.

A dependable flow of flights also helps hotels prepare. With more confidence about incoming guests, properties can recruit staff and run fuller schedules of activities, including clubs for children and evening shows. That gives visitors more to do during a longer stay.

Packages make holiday budgets easier to manage, particularly for families and groups. Combining flights, hotels and activities helps travelers understand the main costs before departure, while seasonal charters and connections through Asian hubs can reduce travel time and the number of transfers.

Frequent domestic flights add another way to reach Phu Quoc. Together with expanding international links, they allow travelers to weigh the island against other tropical destinations in the region on both convenience and price.

Beaches, forests and international recognition

Phu Quoc has more than a dozen beaches with gentle surf and shallow water, coral reefs for snorkeling, and a largely forested interior protected as a national park. Its relatively compact size and broad choice of hotels make it possible to settle into one base while exploring different parts of the island.

International reader awards have added to its visibility. Condé Nast Traveler readers named Phu Quoc the most beautiful island in Asia in 2025, following an earlier recognition from Travel + Leisure readers who placed it among the world's most beautiful islands.

The island's appeal extends from accessible nature to larger leisure attractions. Visitors can take the cable car to Hon Thom, also known as Pineapple Island, visit major theme parks and water parks, play golf, or stay at luxury resorts along the northern and southern coasts.

Families have options ranging from wildlife encounters at a safari park to beach days and evening markets. Couples can choose quieter coves, spa programs and sunset cruises. That variety allows people traveling together to mix relaxation with activities without building a complicated schedule.

Food is another part of the attraction. Fresh seafood sits alongside local products such as pepper, sim wine and the fish sauce that carries Phu Quoc's name, giving visitors reasons to explore beyond their hotels.

Marine trips and family attractions shape itineraries

Snorkeling excursions to coral gardens, introductory scuba diving courses and trips between islands to quieter beaches are among the marine activities popular with families and couples. Kayaking through mangroves and paddleboarding while standing at sunrise are also drawing interest.

The dry season, from November to April, generally brings calmer seas. Those conditions give children and people trying snorkeling for the first time opportunities to enjoy the water, while clearer seas improve the appeal of marine excursions.

Families also gravitate toward the safari park, an aquarium, beach clubs and resort programs for children. The cable car to Hon Thom combines wide sea views with access to a beach and an amusement area, making it an attraction as well as a means of transport.

Sunset Town, designed with Italian influences, brings restaurants, places for photographs and evening shows together. For visitors staying nearby, it provides a night out without lengthy transfers.

Cultural visits offer a change of pace. Dinh Cau Temple is a familiar sunset viewpoint, while markets in Duong Dong provide seafood dinners and local snacks. Tours of fish sauce factories, pepper farms and pearl farms introduce visitors to the island's production and craft traditions.

These choices suit holidays that alternate between quiet days and outings. A family can spend one day at the beach and another at an attraction, while couples can combine marine trips with markets, food and cultural stops.

Airport plans and a new airline support expansion

Local leaders are renovating urban areas, building roads and expanding resort zones to support rising visitor traffic. Authorities are also working on an airport expansion intended to accommodate international growth and major events in the coming years.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a new airline providing a full range of passenger services, has received an air transport license and is preparing to begin commercial operations. Its focus is on leisure routes and charter services.

The airline's early plans center on Airbus A321neo aircraft. Their ability to operate routes of medium distance could connect Phu Quoc with more Asian cities and create opportunities for services targeting Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Sun PhuQuoc Airways aims to connect flights with resorts and entertainment on the island, giving tour operators a coordinated product for package holidays. As of October 25, the airline is preparing for commercial service; no launch date was given.

More reliable schedules and fewer connections can make a practical difference for families comparing winter destinations. A simpler journey reduces travel time and uncertainty, and can make an itinerary with several stops less necessary.

What the demand figures measure

Agoda's figures track searches for accommodation during a defined booking window. They capture interest at the planning stage, while government arrival statistics count travelers who have reached their destination. Airline schedules describe the capacity available to carry future passengers.

The figures are moving in the same direction. European arrivals to Vietnam rose nearly 35 percent across the first nine months of 2025, while the third quarter recorded growth of 60 percent from a year earlier. Phu Quoc's foreign arrivals increased 65.8 percent over the first nine months.

The third quarter's 568,370 European visitors also represented a 38 percent increase from the preceding quarter. Together, those figures show a strengthening European market as Vietnam approaches the winter travel period.

Phu Quoc's search lead sits within that wider growth. Easier entry, new flight options and an established range of beach, nature and family activities help explain why more travelers are considering the island for October, November and the winter months beyond.

Growth puts pressure on beaches and public services

Rapid tourism growth is placing pressure on Phu Quoc's environment and public services. Waste management is a known challenge, especially during windy periods when currents carry rubbish onto some eastern beaches.

Many resorts clean the beaches in front of their properties daily. Local initiatives also organize beach cleanups and recycling drives, tackling visible waste while encouraging changes in how rubbish is handled.

Beach conditions vary with the season. Popular beaches are typically at their best during the dry months, when winds are calmer and the sea is clearer. The rainy season remains an option for visitors who place more value on lower prices and quieter beaches.

Authorities and local businesses are promoting greener practices and developing a wider range of tourism products to spread visitor flows. Events and seminars focused on tourism with lower emissions have taken place this year. Hospitality providers are also developing services suited to Muslim travelers as they seek visitors from the Middle East.

Planning, consistent enforcement and community participation will be needed to protect the natural places that help attract tourists. Travelers can contribute by choosing responsible operators, avoiding disposable plastics and respecting protected areas.

For Phu Quoc, the immediate opportunity is a winter season supported by stronger European interest and more flights. The practical task is to match those arrivals with dependable services while caring for the beaches, reefs and forests that visitors come to enjoy.

Key Points

• Eastern European searches for Phu Quoc stays rose 113 percent, ahead of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang.
• The search window ran from August 15 to September 30, 2025, for arrivals in October and November.
• Phu Quoc welcomed about 1.2 million foreign arrivals in the first nine months of 2025, up 65.8 percent and already above its annual target.
• European arrivals to Vietnam increased nearly 35 percent over the same nine months.
• A winter charter program covering 14 cities in Russia and CIS markets is expected to bring more than 60,000 visitors, with 75 to 80 flights monthly.
• Phu Quoc allows tourists of any nationality to stay without a visa for up to 30 days if they enter directly and remain on the island.
• Airport work, road improvements and preparations by Sun PhuQuoc Airways are intended to support greater access.
• Waste management and protection of beaches, reefs and forests remain practical priorities as tourism grows.