Phú Quốc: From a contested maritime outpost to Vietnam's premier special administrative zone
In short: Once a quiet island claimed by both Cambodia and Vietnam, Phú Quốc has transformed into a bustling tourist hub. Now a special administrative zone, this island is famous for its fish sauce, black pepper, and rapid economic growth, balancing its complex colonial history with a modern, high-end tourism boom.
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phú Quốc is Vietnam's largest island, covering 575 square kilometres. Its history is marked by shifting allegiances and territorial disputes. In the 17th century, it was part of the Principality of Hà Tiên under Mạc Cửu, who later pledged loyalty to the Nguyễn lords. By the 19th century, the island became a point of contention between Cambodia and Vietnam, with Cambodian kings like Ang Duong unsuccessfully appealing to France to reclaim it. The maritime boundary was eventually demarcated by the 1939 Brévié Line, which remains a reference point for sovereignty despite periodic irredentist sentiment.
The island has served as a strategic military site throughout the 20th century. It hosted a notorious prison used by the French and later by South Vietnam to detain thousands of political prisoners. Following the fall of mainland China in 1949, over 33,000 Republic of China Army soldiers were interned there before relocating to Taiwan in 1953. In 1975, the island was briefly seized by the Khmer Rouge, an event that helped trigger the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. Today, however, the island's focus has shifted entirely toward economic development and tourism.
Modern Phú Quốc is a rapidly evolving special administrative zone, officially upgraded in 2025. Its economy relies on traditional industries like fishing and agriculture—specifically its renowned fish sauce and black pepper—alongside a massive influx of tourism infrastructure. With the opening of the Phú Quốc International Airport in 2012 and various five-star resorts, the island has become a major destination. Environmental conservation efforts, including the 2001 establishment of a national park and a 2007 marine protected area, aim to preserve the island's biodiversity, even as it grapples with contemporary challenges like plastic waste.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Phú Quốc
- Also: Wikidata — Phú Quốc · CC0
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