From the air gateway to the cultural gateway
For international tourists, the airport is the first point of contact with a country. It is also from here that the first impressions of the culture, people, and identity of the destination begin to form.
With that orientation, Sun Group and its design consultants are not only building a modern terminal for Phu Quoc International Airport , but also aiming to create a "cultural gateway", where each layer of architecture contributes to telling the story of Vietnam before tourists begin their journey to explore the Jade Island.
Perspective of the expansion project of Phu Quoc International Airport is inspired by the image of a phoenix's wing. In the initial phase, Terminal T2 will form the "left wing" of the phoenix
From the overall design, Terminal T2 is inspired by the image of a phoenix's wing - a symbol of vitality, rebirth, and the aspiration for development. According to the plan until 2050, when all terminal categories of Phu Quoc International Airport are completed, the phoenix shape will appear in its entirety with a capacity to serve about 50 million passengers per year.
In the initial phase, expected to be completed by the end of 2026, Terminal T2 will form the "left wing" of the phoenix with a capacity of 24 million passengers per year. This will be an important infrastructure to serve the APEC 2027 Leaders' Week, while creating a long-term foundation for the development of Phu Quoc with the role of an international tourism, resort, and trade center.
The landscape space is inspired by the image of the "hundred-egg sac" in the legend of Lac Long Quan - Au Co.
But the story of Vietnam is not just told through architectural forms. Right before entering the terminal, visitors will encounter a landscape space inspired by the legend of Lac Long Quan - Au Co. The image of the "hundred-egg sac" evokes the nation's origins, while also conveying a message about the spirit of solidarity and the connection of the Vietnamese community. In an international airport, that story also carries the meaning of a welcome for Vietnamese people returning home and an open invitation to friends from five continents to explore the country.
The characteristic tropical flora of Phu Quoc is integrated into the overall landscape, helping visitors feel the local identity right from the moment they step into the airport gateway
Surrounding this space are pepper gardens, rows of coconut trees, bougainvillea, and the characteristic tropical flora of Phu Quoc. Familiar images of the Jade Island do not appear as isolated decorative details but are integrated into the overall landscape, helping visitors feel the local identity from their very first steps.
From the phoenix image to the legend of origin, from local landscapes to contemporary architecture, Terminal T2 is shaped as the opening chapter of the journey to discover Vietnam, where the story of a culturally rich country is told through the very spaces visitors pass through.
When architecture becomes an experience
If the exterior of the terminal tells a story of aspiration and origin, the interior space continues to guide visitors to explore the nature and life on Phu Quoc Island.
Sun Group and its design partners have created two different experiential journeys for departing and arriving passengers, based on the island's two most characteristic natural aspects: forest and sea.
The design language is inspired by the tropical forest and the characteristic basalt red of Phu Quoc
At the departure area, the design language is inspired by the tropical forest and the characteristic basalt red of Phu Quoc. The earthy brown and red tones bring a warm, intimate feeling, while the tropical garden in the center of the terminal integrates nature into the architecture, creating a relaxing space for passengers while waiting for their flights.
The commercial and culinary space, spanning approximately 25,000-30,000 m², is also developed along the same experiential theme. Shopping and dining areas are not separate from the overall design but are connected to the landscape, lighting, and local stories, so that each stop contributes to extending the Phu Quoc experience before visitors leave the island.
Conversely, the arrival area is designed with the sea in mind. Blue tones and details inspired by pearls and seashells create a cool sensation, evoking images of the ocean right after the flight.
Even the immigration area – typically associated with administrative procedures – is treated as part of the experiential journey. LED screens displaying ocean scenes make the space more vibrant, while also introducing the image of Phu Quoc's sea to visitors from the very first moments they set foot on the island.
The blue color scheme and details inspired by pearls and seashells create a cool, soothing feeling, evoking images of the ocean
What's noteworthy is that throughout the entire project, culture is not presented as separate artifacts or exhibition spaces. Instead, cultural and natural elements are integrated into the architectural forms, materials, colors, lighting, landscape, and even the organization of passenger flow. Every step through the terminal becomes part of a unified story about Phu Quoc and Vietnam.
In 2027, Phu Quoc will be the meeting place for leaders, businesses, media, and thousands of international delegates during the APEC High-Level Week. For many, the airport will be the first image of Vietnam and also the last memory they take away when leaving the island.
In this context, Terminal 2 is not only expected to meet the requirements of modern aviation infrastructure but also to serve as Vietnam's "first greeting" to international friends. Instead of introducing culture through separate exhibition spaces, the project chooses a more natural way of storytelling, allowing legends, nature, products, and local identity to be present in each passenger's experience.
Upon completion, the expansion project of Phu Quoc International Airport will not only shorten the geographical distance between the "Pearl Island" and the world but also open up a new approach to infrastructure design, where architecture not only serves transportation but also becomes a cultural bridge. And from that gateway, the image of a Vietnam rich in identity, modern, and confidently integrating will be spread with every flight arriving and departing.
