The Prime Minister has approved a master plan to develop Phu Quoc island in southern Kien Giang province between now and 2010 with a vision up to 2020, which will turn the island into an international centre for tourism and trade.

Under the plan, the island district will firstly focus on developing high quality ecological tourism. By 2010, some tourism and entertainment areas will be built on the island to attract between 300,000-350,000 tourists per year. By 2020, the major construction work to turn the island into a tourism centre is expected to be completed and to be capable of receiving about three million holidaymakers each year.

Urban areas, luxury complexes and entertainment venues and centres for sea sports, trade, gastronomy and international conventions will be built on the island.

Several tours, including Phu Quoc-Ha Tien-Chau Doc, Nui Sam-Ha Tien-Phu Quoc and tours to Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia will be organised.

Kien Giang province will coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City to hold a press briefing to present the island's development plans, its potential, new policies and mechanisms.

Phu Quoc has been waiting for the Construction Ministry's approval for the master plan on site and constructional scale, which is considered to be decisive for more detailed plans.

The 573 sq. km island has a population of almost 80,000. It is the largest island with largest population among nine island districts in Viet Nam. The island is 500 km from the tourism and industrial centre in southeastern Thailand, 700 km from eastern Malaysia, about 1,000 km from Singapore and close to the southwestern gate of Cambodia. When construction of KRA cannal in Thailand is completed, the island will be 600 km from Thailand's large port.