Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc, has been ranked Asia’s second-best island after Bali in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards by travel magazine DestinAsian, overtaking the long-popular Maldives. The recognition highlights the island’s growing appeal as a premium travel destination in the region.

Phu Quoc has steadily climbed the rankings in recent years, moving from sixth place in 2024 to fifth in 2025 before securing the runner-up spot in 2026. Experts at DestinAsian attributed the rise to the island’s rapid transformation, describing it as representing “the new era of tropical splendor,” with pristine beaches, expanding hospitality infrastructure, and diverse tourism experiences.

The annual awards are determined entirely by votes from millions of DestinAsian readers worldwide. These voters largely consist of high-end travellers, including business leaders, investors, and experiential travel enthusiasts known for their high expectations regarding landscapes, ecosystems, infrastructure, and service quality.

Tourism figures also reflect the island’s surging popularity. Phu Quoc welcomed more than 2.2 million visitors in the first two months of 2026, marking a 57.7% year-on-year increase. International arrivals jumped 86.4% to nearly 600,000 visitors.

Authorities expect the island to receive about 8.5 million tourists this year, including around two million international visitors.