Local Demographics in Phu Quoc

Good to Know

• Phu Quoc has a very small residential expat community (~200 people) compared to larger Vietnamese cities, creating an intimate, close-knit international community where most locals and expats know each other.
• The island experienced explosive population and economic growth post-2020 (when it became Vietnam's first island city); demographic and business data may lag behind rapid current changes.
• Tourism dominates the economy (~70% of GDP); business opportunities heavily skew toward hospitality, real estate, and service sectors rather than tech startups.
• Growing 'smart city' tech infrastructure investments serve APEC 2027 preparation; connectivity and digital services improving rapidly but still developing compared to major urban centers.
• International visitor numbers (~1.8M annually as of 2025) vastly exceed permanent foreign residents, reflecting Phu Quoc's identity as a tourism destination rather than a primary expat settlement hub.
• The local population is 96.3% Kinh (Vietnamese ethnic majority), with small Khmer and Chinese communities, reflecting historical and geographic ties to Cambodia and regional trade networks.
• Expat community heavily concentrates in Duong Dong; remote workers and entrepreneurs are increasingly settling on the island due to low cost of living and growing infrastructure, though official work permits and visa regulations apply.