Move Over Sri Lanka! This Gorgeous Island Is Asia’s New Vacation Hotspot

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Sri Lanka has been on a surprising tear for years as Asia's new island hotspot, no matter if you're up for a solo adventure with jungle-piercing train rides or seeking your own slice of paradise on what feels like untouched coastline.

That's not to say Sri Lanka's time is up, but there's another island rising to stardom known as Asia's “Hawaii”.

Here at Travel Off Path, we realize when most travelers think of Vietnam, images of sprawling rice fields, gridlock scooter madness, and piping hot bowls of pho may come to mind before any pristine beach destination.

But that's why the island of Phu Quoc is one of the most exciting up-and-coming destinations — to experience a side of Vietnam away from its famed bustling cities in one of Asia's most astoundingly beautiful settings.

Find Your “Aloha” In Vietnam?

Newbies to travel are likely not as familiar as seasoned vets. If Phu Quoc has seen any level of fame, it's due to its adopted moniker as the “Hawaii of Vietnam”.

While you likely won't find puka dogs, color-splashed Hawaiian shirts, or epic surf spots, there are some elements of America's finest paradise here.

For example, be prepared for head-scratching vocabulary. You can swap apostrophe laden tongue-twisters like “Lumi'au'au” for names that appear to rhyme, and still probably mispronouncing. Let us know when you visit Duang Dong Town…

Seriously though, besides its stunning beaches, a couple of aspects about Phu Quoc travelers love is its family-friendly atmosphere and welcoming locals — two obvious things that can be said about Hawaii too.

Phu Quoc offers its own “Disney World”, if you will. VinWonders is clearly an ode to Disney whether the oversized rodents give their stamp of approval or not — it even has a fairytale castle upon entrance.

Of course, there's no friendlier American community than Hawaiians and the same can be said this side of the globe for Vietnam. Even with a rush of tourism in recent years, you don't hear about locals being fed up with crowds.

Affordable Luxury & Wondrous Beaches

Right now is in the midst of peak season, so there's no better time to plan a trip.

As such, we've done some digging for you to find the best hotels and resorts to call home. Best of all, rates won't even sniff what you'd find on Waikiki, or most Asian resort hotspots.

If you love cozy boutique stays with gorgeous views, Rocks Beach Boutique Phu Quoc is just for you at $50 per night.

If you want full-scale luxury without paying your whole paycheck, then 5-star Ocean Bay Resort & Spa Phu Quoc is right up your alley at $110 per night on the flip side of the island.

Or if you're a true budget traveler, you can easily score numerous 3-star stays under $30 per night. Just know you may be sacrificing views and walkability at times.

But Phu Quoc is budget-friendly across the board, whether it's hopping on the world's longest cable car or savoring a soulful bowl of pho.

No matter where you stay, you'll surely find yourself relaxing seaside along one of many beautiful beaches. According to TripAdvisor, travelers' favorite right now is Bãi Tắm Sao (here we go with the vocabulary…) for its white sand and beach bars.

Know Before You Go: Phu Quoc Has Its Own Unique Visa Policy

When you check Vietnam's entry requirements, you might miss a little caveat of Phu Quoc as it's a different setup than Hanoi, Da Nang, and the likes.

Phu Quoc requires Americans to obtain e-visa in advance (not on arrival) if you plan to venture elsewhere within Vietnam.

Once secured, the e-visa allows stays of up to 30 days and can be used for both single or multiple entries. You can apply here.

Reaching Phu Quoc Is Easier Than Ever

Since Phu Quoc will receive over 8 million visitors by year's end, outdoing the island's own projections, they were still prepared by the influx by recently launching their own airline.

It's true, Sun PhuQuoc Airways was launched last fall and is still growing its network. Expect a new route from fellow Vietnam paradise Da Nang at the turn of the calendar with more sure to follow as Phu Quoc continues to pop up on more travelers' radars in 2026.