Prime infrastructure development in Phu Quoc ideal for attracting large MICE groups. Photo Credit: AdobeStock/CravenA
Phu Quoc is positioning itself as Southeast Asia's next major MICE destination, backed by a US$4 billion investment programme set to roll out next year, according to Sun Group.
Speaking on a panel at the High-Level Tourism Forum, held during the 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026) on 27 August, Tran Nguyen, Deputy CEO of the Entertainment and Hospitality Division at Sun Group, said the Vietnamese island is building a complete ecosystem to welcome large-scale MICE groups, spanning an international airport, five-star hotels, a major exhibition centre and a large-capacity theatre.
Sun Group is the dominant private developer behind Phu Quoc's MICE infrastructure, having built or invested in the island's airport, its convention and exhibition centre, and several of its five-star hotels, giving it a significant role in shaping the destination's MICE capacity.
Nguyen said Phu Quoc will feature 15 international five-star hotels offering more than 8,000 room keys to support major events, alongside an exhibition centre spanning 11,000 square metres.
According to Vietnam news reports, the centre, part of a wider APEC 2027 complex, features an 11,050sqm column-free ballroom said to be the largest of its kind in the world, surpassing Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. A neighbouring multipurpose theatre seats more than 4,000, among the largest performance venues in Asia.
On aviation, Nguyen said Phu Quoc International Airport's capacity is being expanded from 6 to 10 million passengers to a projected 50 million over five years, with a new terminal expected to lift capacity to about 20 to 24 million by 2027, according to industry reports.
The developments are timed to APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2027, which Phu Quoc will host.
The push comes as Asia Pacific cements its position as the world's largest MICE market, holding an estimated 44 per cent share of global revenue in 2025, according to Precedence Research, with the region forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of more than 7 per cent through to 2035.
For event planners scouting future Asia Pacific venues, Phu Quoc's scale of investment marks a rapid shift from beach resort to convention contender.