A corner of Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang province

Those projects focus on four key tourism areas including Phu Quoc, Ha Tien – Kien Luong, Rach Gia – Kien Hai and U Minh Thuong. Phu Quoc Island alone has attracted 189 projects covering over 6,800 hectares.

Some 37 projects with a total investment of over 1.8 trillion VND (83.4 million USD) have gone into operation, mainly hotels, resorts and shopping malls. A highlight is the 300-hectare Vinpearl Resort Phu Quoc which offers a 750-room five star hotel, an entertainment complex and a world class golf course.

This year, the province expects to have 370 accommodation options with 7,750 rooms and suites, 12 of which are 3-5 star hotels, located primarily in Phu Quoc, Rach Gia and Ha Tien.

Kien Giang has also been developing tourism infrastructure with the construction of the Rach Gia Port, An Thoi Port, Bai Vong Port, Phu Quoc International Airport and a number of highways and roads in line with the upgrades to Rach Gia Airport. Several islands, such as Phu Quoc and Hon Tre, have also received access to the national power grid.

The province has worked hard to attract visitors with a wide range of tour offerings and festivals, such as eco-tours, tours to local beautiful beaches and islands as well as to folk villages that produce traditional fish sauce, sim wine (wine made from Rose Myrtle), peppers, pearl products and handicrafts made from stone, timber and gastropod shell.

Additionally, the locality has worked with other cities and provinces, including An Giang, Can Tho, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu, to link tours with several popular destinations.

The province has earned over 6.1 trillion VND (280.6 million USD) from around 18.4 million tourist arrivals over the past four years, including 874,000 from overseas, and expects over 6 million domestic and foreign visitors in 2015 alone.

The locality has welcomed 1.9 million tourists during the first four month of this year, fulfilling 31.6 percent of its yearly target.