Vietnam is an increasingly popular tourism destination, as travellers crave its natural, cultural and culinary experiences.

The destination welcomed more than 1.7 million international tourists in November alone, an increase of 14.4 per cent compared to October, bringing the total to 11.6 million in the first 11 months of 2017 — a 27.8 per cent increase from the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

One of its most popular locales, Phu Quoc’s remote, beautiful beaches, year-round sunshine, luxurious renovations, history and local charm draw crowds, and the island saw a surge in international tourist arrivals to the island over the past year.

Significantly enhancing the accommodation scene on the island is the recently opened JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay — a luxury academia-inspired hotel featuring a unique, fantastical design and bespoke amenities.

Ease of accessibility is also a large contributing factor to Vietnam’s rise in tourism. New non-stop charter service via TUI Airways and flights via Bangkok Airways complement Vietnam Airlines’ existing daily service, and major ongoing investments in tourism infrastructure including the redevelopment of the island’s airport, highways and passenger port help the destination grow in popularity.

Representative of the tourism trend, Vietnam Airlines recently hit a 200 million-passenger milestone. From 1995 to 2017, Vietnam Airlines operated 1.6 million flights, domestic and international, transporting 200 million passengers with an annual average growth of 11 per cent.

By 2030, tourism is expected to spearhead the economy, driving development in other sectors, and Vietnam is expected to be one of the leading Southeast Asian countries for tourism.