Regent Phu Quoc among world's 12 most over the top new hotels

Regent Phu Quoc on Phu Quoc island, southern Vietnam was ranked 11th among the world's 12 most over the top new hotels by New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

The resort, located on Bai Truong beach off Kien Giang province, next to a UNESCO-recognised world biosphere reserve, opened in the first quarter of this year.

Around 15 minutes from Phu Quoc International Airport, Regent Phu Quoc features 342 suites and villas, six restaurants and bars, swimming pools and the first resort-owned catamaran on the island.

"This sprawling resort on southern Vietnam's palm-fringed Phu Quoc island is Regent’s opening gambit in an ambitious cross-Asia plan (properties in Hong Kong, Bali, and Kyoto are set to open in the coming years). It’s all suites and villas here — and all that space comes with extraordinarily luxe touches," the magazine wrote.

"The 126 villas feature private pools, generous living rooms (and terraces or decks), and kitchens stocked with everything from craft sodas to artisanal Vietnamese chocolate. Even the 176 suites have spacious balconies and, in some cases, plunge pools," it added.

The other hotels in the list in order are Atlantis The Royal Dubai, Passalacqua — Lake Como (Italy), Aman New York, VIlla Palladio Jaipur, Mandarin Oriental Palace — Luzern (Switzerland), Saint James Paris, Jumeirah Bali, Castle Elvira — Trepuzzi (Italy), Santo Mauro, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Madrid), Cashel Palace Hotel — Ireland and The Peninsula Istanbul.

In November, Regent Phu Quoc was named among Asia's "exciting new retreats" to travel to right now by U.S travel magazine Afar.

"In the 302 suites and villas, everything from artisanal snacks and rice cookers to yoga blocks and playing cards is available at the touch of a button. The accommodations are set around the property’s grand pools, calm shorelines, and five drinking and dining establishments including the Vietnamese restaurant Rice Market and a rooftop gin bar," Afar added.

In March, the Hong Kong-based daily South China Morning Post (SCMP) named it among the "best new resorts to see in 2022".

"The resort will be the first of the Regent brand’s properties in Southeast Asia to open since IHG Hotels & Resorts, which operates InterContinental hotels, bought a majority stake in Regent. A Regent rebranding includes emphasis on design and curated experiences," SCMP wrote. "The Regent will, it is claimed, be the most luxurious resort on the island."