Phu Quoc’s transport infrastructure surpasses many island cities ahead of APEC 2027

It is just about 20 minutes from the international airport to the convention center and resorts in the southern part of Phu Quoc. The island’s synchronized “air-road-sea” transport system is creating a rare mobility advantage, ensuring fast, green and seamless travel while harmonizing with natural landscapes in the lead-up to APEC 2027.

A world-class “gateway to the sky”

The foundation of this advantage lies in the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport, developed on a scale of 1,050 hectares and meeting ICAO’s 4E airport standards, with capacity projected to reach 20 million passengers per year from 2027.

Drawing inspiration from the operational success of Singapore’s Changi International Airport, long regarded as an icon of aviation excellence, Phu Quoc 2027 will directly apply the TAM management model alongside contactless biometric technology and advanced baggage screening systems, reducing processing time to just 15-20 seconds per passenger.

More than just a transit hub, the airport is envisioned as a new architectural landmark for the island.

Terminal T2 draws inspiration from the image of a fire phoenix, while the VIP terminal takes the form of a sea eagle fish, creating a striking visual identity similar to how Qatar’s Hamad International Airport impressed the world with its iconic architecture and premium aviation services.

The runway and apron infrastructure are designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or Airbus A350, approaching the standards of many major international airports.

Steven Thor, executive vice president of Global Atelier Collective under CPG Consultants (Singapore), who directly designed Terminal T2, said: “CPG approaches the design of the Phu Quoc terminal with a modern mindset, prioritizing operational efficiency, sustainability and long-term scalability.

"More than an infrastructure project, the development is expected to become a key driver enabling Phu Quoc to integrate more deeply into the regional and global aviation network, contributing to the goal of transforming Phu Quoc into a national and international hub for economy, tourism and services, in line with the Government’s development strategy."

Road infrastructure with “first-of-its-kind” features in Vietnam

From the sky gateway, Phu Quoc’s road and urban railway (light rail) networks are being developed to create modern infrastructure, the first of its kind on an island in Vietnam.

Provincial road DT.975 stretches 17.7 km with 10 lanes and a right-of-way up to 62 meters wide, integrating land reserves for a parallel rail line, forming a modern backbone comparable to the tourism boulevards of Australia’s Gold Coast.

Alongside green spaces and coastal landscapes, these new routes still preserve the natural harmony characteristic of the island.

The high-speed LRT line, with six stations operating from the airport to key event clusters, is considered a step toward “green transportation,” placing Phu Quoc on par with advanced island cities in Japan or South Korea.

Here, traffic pressure will be fully relieved by an electrified public transport system with capacity of up to 4,500 passengers per hour – a challenge that even renowned resort destinations such as Bali (Indonesia) or Phuket (Thailand) are still struggling to address during peak seasons.

The key factor that sets Phu Quoc apart in its preparations for APEC 2027 lies in the seamless connectivity within a “speed circle.” From the airport, delegates can reach the convention center in less than 20 minutes via a boulevard leading directly to the venue.

At the same time, they can easily access the island’s maritime network through An Thoi Port, which is being upgraded to accommodate large cruise ships and luxury yachts, opening up premium sea journeys.

While in many cities that have hosted APEC, such as San Francisco, Bangkok or Sydney, the journey from airport to downtown typically takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on the time of day, not to mention congestion common in megacities like New York or Manila, Phu Quoc’s multi-modal connectivity across air, road and sea allows it to optimize traffic flow for major events within significantly shorter travel times.

This rapid preparation is not only aimed at ensuring a successful APEC summit, but also serves as a statement of Phu Quoc’s emerging position as one of Asia’s most dynamic centers for economy, services and diplomacy.

With forward-looking planning, Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is redefining the standards of a modern island city in the new era.