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Co To (Quang Ninh): The new vitality of the "jewel" of the Gulf of Tonkin
Located at the northernmost point of Vietnam, the Co To Special Economic Zone is asserting its position as a leading destination in the North with its cluster of nearly 50 large and small islands. In 2025, Co To recorded an impressive number of over 350,000 visitors, a testament to the enduring appeal of its pristine marine and island ecosystem.
Co To Islands possess a diverse marine and island ecosystem.
The unique experience in Co To focuses on the connection between people and nature. Beaches like Van Chay, Bac Van, and Tau Dam still retain their pristine white sand, where visitors can witness the country's first sunrise. There are also activities such as trekking through the primeval forest or camping on the beach.
A new highlight in 2026 is the trend of exploring Thanh Lan Island – home to millennia-old sedimentary cliffs and beaches that are almost untouched by human footprints.
Accommodation options in Co To are also very flexible, ranging from convenient homestays starting from just 300,000 VND/night to high-end 4-star beachfront resorts costing 1-2 million VND/night, fully meeting the needs of both young travelers and families.
Ly Son Island (Quang Ngai): A geological museum in the middle of the vast ocean.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ly Son Special Economic Zone is expected to welcome around 187,500 tourists in 2025 thanks to its unique volcanic geological landscape. The best time to visit Ly Son is from April to August, when lush green moss covers the coastal rocks, creating a surreal scene for photography enthusiasts. This is also the period when the sea is crystal clear, allowing for full-capacity coral reef diving tours at Be Island.
Ly Son Island has witnessed a strong growth in the number of experiential tourists.
On the main island, renting a motorbike and riding along the coastal road, with the sheer cliffs of Thoi Loi on one side and the gentle waves lapping at Hang Cau on the other, is a particularly popular experience among young people.
Beyond its stunning scenery, Ly Son's cuisine, with specialties like king crab, lobster, and conch, consistently maintains its freshness and offers incredibly competitive prices. Accommodation options here are also stable, with high-end beachfront resorts ranging from 800,000 to 2.9 million VND per night, providing ultimate relaxation for those seeking the tranquility of nature.
"The Vietnamese version of Maldives"
Phu Quy Island (Lam Dong Province): The experiential tourism craze is on the rise.
Despite its small size of less than 18 square kilometers, Phu Quy Island is currently dominating travel forums. With 178,000 visitors projected for 2025, this special zone has proven that size is not a barrier to a quality destination offering unique experiences such as conquering the Phuot Pass, reaching Cao Cat Peak, or enjoying the cool waters of the natural infinity pool at Ganh Hang.
The calm sea season in Phu Quy is ideal for tourists to explore natural "infinity pools" or participate in snorkeling tours to admire the coral reefs by canoe.
What sets Phu Quy apart from other islands is its unique floating house culture and the booming free-diving tours. During calm seas, canoes taking tourists to Hon Tranh for snorkeling trips to admire the magical coral reefs and seaweed forests at the bottom of the ocean are always fully booked.
Despite its rapidly improving tourism infrastructure, Phu Quy Island maintains a reasonable cost of living. However, visitors are advised to book accommodations early, as properties in prime locations are often fully booked during holidays or weekends in the peak season.
Con Dao Island (Ho Chi Minh City): The pinnacle of ecological and spiritual tourism.
In 2025, Con Dao welcomed over 612,000 visitors, affirming its position as a multi-functional tourism center, harmoniously combining history, spirituality, and luxury resort experiences. From March to September, despite being the rainy season in the South, the sea around Con Dao is exceptionally calm, especially on the eastern islands such as Hon Bay Canh and Hon Cau.
The peak season from June to September is the only time of year when tourists can experience watching turtles lay eggs and release baby turtles back into the sea – an ecotourism product with a strong humanitarian aspect.
Con Dao also boasts unique check-in spots such as Dam Trau Beach – where tourists can stand under the wings of planes landing very close to their heads, or conquer the coordinates of Vietnam's territorial waters.
The accommodation segment in Con Dao is the most clearly differentiated among the special zones. While guesthouses in the center cost from 200,000 VND/night, world-class 5-star resorts can cost over 15 million VND/night, catering to the affluent class seeking absolute privacy and luxury in the heart of the ocean.
Phu Quoc (An Giang): Vietnam's sleepless tourism "capital".
Leading the rankings in both size and visitor numbers is the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, with a staggering 8.1 million visitors in 2025. The Pearl Island boasts not only a pristine forest ecosystem and abundant marine resources but also a concentration of world-class entertainment facilities.
Phu Quoc offers multifaceted experiences: from the pristine wilderness of the north with Ganh Dau Cape and Rach Vem fishing village, where the sea is calm and the sun shines brightly, to the vibrant water sports at Bai Sao beach in the south. Canoe tours exploring four islands (Hon Thom, Mong Tay, Gam Ghi, and May Rut) have become an unmissable "specialty".
With its vast accommodation options ranging from budget-friendly homestays to luxurious 5-6 star hotels, Phu Quoc confidently meets the needs of global travelers. The significant upgrade in services and international air connectivity is transforming Phu Quoc into an irreplaceable destination on the Southeast Asian tourism map by 2026.
