Vietnam's 'Jinju' Phu Quoc... Luxury Leader IHG Group [Visit Report]

Experience Two Luxury Line Hotels of IHG Group
Understated Luxury, 'Kids'-Specialized Resort 'InterContinental'
"More Personal, More Attentive" 'Private' Resort 'Regent'

After a 6-hour flight from Incheon International Airport and about a 7-minute drive by car, a bright light appeared at the end of a road that was as dark as night. Passing numerous hotels, we arrived at a tall building that required looking up for quite a while. At the hotel entrance, adorned with lighting reminiscent of the Vietnamese conical hat (n?n l?), the staff greeted us with bright smiles and said "Xin ch?o (hello)".

InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach main swimming pool 'Vista Pool'. Facing the sea. Photo by Minji Lee.

Vietnam's Hidden Gem 'Phu Quoc'

Entrance view of InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Hotel, offering pickup service for guests heading to the airport. Photo by Minji Lee.

Phu Quoc, a small island located at the southern tip of Vietnam, has many nicknames. Its vast beaches, clear skies, and lush greenery blend together, earning it the titles 'Vietnam's Maldives' and 'Vietnam's Hawaii.' It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Phu Quoc is also known as 'Vietnam's Hidden Pearl.' This not only refers to the abundance of pearls but also implies it is a special place yet to be fully discovered within the shell. Unlike well-known domestic travel destinations such as 'Gyeonggi-do Da Nang City' and 'Gyeonggi-do Nha Trang City (Nha Trang),' Phu Quoc is a veiled resort destination frequently chosen by Vietnamese newlyweds for their honeymoon trips.

InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach, located about 10 minutes from Phu Quoc Airport, is one of the luxury hotels operated by the UK-based IHG Group. The group manages six luxury brands including Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, and Vignette, with InterContinental being the third brand. Currently, IHG Group operates two hotels in Phu Quoc: InterContinental Hotel and the higher-tier Regent Phu Quoc.

Among the staff at the InterContinental Hotel was a Korean employee. Giselle Le, the General Manager, said, "We run an internship exchange program with the Seoul InterContinental Hotel to ensure Korean guests can enjoy their stay comfortably without language barriers," adding, "All program materials are also provided in Korean."

The hotel's services were even more Korean-friendly. A KakaoTalk channel was set up, and guests could ask questions in Korean.

'Family-Friendly Resort'

Early in the morning, when the blackout curtains were drawn back, the hotel's main swimming pool, 'Vista Pool,' and the Long Beach coastline came into full view. The lukewarm breeze brushing the cheeks and the warm sunlight entered the terrace. November in Phu Quoc is the dry season. From April to October, it is the rainy season with heavy clouds and fewer tourists, but from November, the peak season begins. On that day, the hotel's occupancy rate was close to 90%.

InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach is a 5-star resort composed of 459 rooms, including standard and resort-style rooms. The resort features a total of three swimming pools, three restaurants, and two bars. For swimming pools, there is a private resort pool for IHG Group membership members and a special pool exclusively for children.

The core of the resort is its children's programs. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., various children's activities are prepared. Swimming lessons, kite flying, treasure hunts, balloon art, and hanji (traditional Korean paper) crafts are held for one hour each day. Play areas are divided according to age groups. There is a 'Hideout' space for children aged 5 to 12 and games for teenagers aged 12 to 16.

The childcare facility at InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach is located right next to a swimming pool for children. Photo by Minji Lee.

Brand Manager Bin said, "Parents can leave their children and enjoy free time," adding, "Four babysitters are stationed in the Hideout area to take care of the children." There are also abundant programs for parents or general guests, including yoga, meditation, beach volleyball, boxing, beach basketball, and candle making. All are free of charge.

Breakfast was special as well. At the restaurant called 'Sorau Mi,' a variety of fun-shaped foods and snacks that children would enjoy were prepared on one side. It was easy to see children choosing food skewered on sticks with their parents.

If you sign up for beach yoga at InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach, towels, sweat towels, and water are provided. Photo by Minji Lee.

The reporter's group took a yoga class. Leaning on just a towel by the seaside, they wobbled through yoga poses for about 50 minutes. The instructor conducting the class was impressively attentive, taking commemorative photos with a phone during breaks.

In the evening, we went up to Ink 360 Bar, known for the best sunsets. Due to a brief cloud cover, we couldn't fully enjoy a rich sunset. The pub was bustling with Korean families, foreign couples, and group guests. From pop music to Korean idol songs, the DJ's performance filled the air, and guests continued the lively party.

The view of the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach hotel from Ink360 Bar, Photo by Minji Lee.

Ultimate Quiet Luxury 'Regent'

About a 3-minute buggy (electric car) ride from InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach, we moved to Regent Phu Quoc. Each hotel pursues a different kind of luxury. Regent's luxury reminded one of an 'old money' look in fashion terms?understated without excess. Compared to InterContinental Hotel, it was less flashy but grander and more sophisticated. Instead of using artificial lighting, the hotel was illuminated by sunlight streaming through lattice windows.

While InterContinental focuses on 'details' for guests, Regent concentrates on providing more personalized services. Regent's rooms consist of villa types (126 units) and suites with terraces and pools (176 units).

Regent Phu Quoc villa-type accommodation, each room has a swimming pool in front. Photo by Minji Lee.

The villa type consists of standalone units, each with its own pool. For large families traveling together, grandparents, parents, and children can each enjoy swimming in their own rooms, spending personal time. There are two villas with up to seven rooms, which are highly exclusive and popular among large family guests. Ivana Alsobsky, Marketing Communications Director, explained, "Pool villas facing the sea are always booked first," adding, "This is why Regent has successfully established itself as a luxury hotel in Phu Quoc." The cabanas next to the main pool are also separated by space to allow guests more private time.

All services at Regent are aimed at guest convenience. Bellboys (staff who carry luggage) do not use the same elevators as guests and discreetly move luggage to rooms. All beverages, chocolates, and snacks provided in the rooms are complimentary. General Manager Sriram Kailasam emphasized, "Although free services incur costs, they can raise customer satisfaction beyond that," adding, "Moreover, the ability to provide customized services according to customer situations symbolically represents the Regent brand."

Regent Phu Quoc main poolside cabana view. The space is clearly separated, making it ideal for spending private time. Photo by Minji Lee.

'Taste Studio' is a new venture introduced by Regent Phu Quoc. It combines fine dining with art (painting), fashion, and music to offer guests a new experience. It is held once a year for three days. The General Manager, who is a former chef, is putting great effort into developing it as a key event representing Regent Phu Quoc.

Sriram Kailasam, General Manager, said, "Although Regent Phu Quoc has been open for less than three years, the revisit rate is in the high 20% range," adding, "Considering that Phu Quoc's development is just beginning, we will continue to enhance the resort's competitiveness by focusing on repeat visits based solely on the resort itself."

Food appearance from the 'Taste Studio' held at Regent Phu Quoc. Photo by Minji Lee