Blessed with stretches of sandy white beaches along its 150km coastline, sparkling seas, and an abundance of year-round sunshine, the island of Phu Quoc justifiably deserves its moniker of ‘Pearl Island’. Set in the Gulf of Thailand towards the southernmost part of Vietnam, the country’s largest island was renowned for its natural beauty as early as the French colonial era, but has only recently embarked on the process of being developed into a premium tourist destination.
The newest addition to Phu Quoc’s small but selective luxury hotel scene is La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton — an Amalfi Coast-inspired resort replete with Italian charm and personality. Its official opening in February 2024 marked the arrival of the first Curio Collection by Hilton property in Vietnam, selected for its distinctive architecture and design, one-of-a-kind curated experiences, and polished culinary offerings – all of the brand’s characteristic calling cards.
Clearly determined to do things differently from the outset, La Festa Phu Quoc is located in Sunset Town, which takes its name from the hillside’s reputation as a spectacular sunset-viewing spot. The development — an intriguing blend of real estate, hospitality, and entertainment — has been constructed to resemble a picturesque coastal Italian village, right down to its Taormina-style townhouses, candy-coloured pastel buildings, Greco-Roman statues, and an imitation Colosseum.
A 75m-tall red brick clock tower based on the bell tower of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice even serves as a landmark for the hotel. This can be easily spotted during the 25-minute car journey from Phu Quoc International Airport. There are also subtler ways in which La Festa Phu Quoc brings the Mediterranean la dolce vita to its guests, such as the citrus-flavoured iced slushies (a nod to the zesty zing of prized Amalfi lemons) presented as a signature welcome ritual and the Italian-accented interiors of the property’s 197 rooms and suites.
Vibrant splashes of terracotta and cerulean are tempered with calm white walls, voluptuously arched ceilings, and delicate terrazzo surfaces, transforming all 13 room categories — from a King Classico Room to the supersized, split-level King Dolce Vita Suite — into a stylish private haven that overlooks the ocean. Securing a room with a Juliet- or loggia-style balcony is an ideal way to marvel at the island’s breathtaking sunsets, which frequently span a full technicolour display of blazing yellow, royal blue, violet, and rose pink.
While the resort will appeal to travellers who have neither the time nor the patience to make the long journey over to Europe (along with those drawn in by the unusual prospect of exploring a corner of Italy within the perimeter of Southeast Asia), Vietnamese-focused hospitality experiences play as equally important a role at La Festa Phu Quoc as those that espouse the continental glamour of a holiday along the Italian Riviera. The aesthetic detailing of eforea spa, for instance, pays tribute to both the pebble-lined beaches of Italy and the purple myrtle flowers scattered across Phu Quoc’s hills. The spa’s Saigon Heritage massage employs the use of aromatic Vietnamese herbal poultices.
Authentic dining
The all-day dining venue The Merchant also bridges the geographical gap between Italy and Vietnam by serving dishes from both culinary cultures. For international guests who rarely venture beyond national favourites like phở bò (beef noodles), it’s a prime opportunity to sample some of the country’s region-specific cuisine, infused with fresh northern herbs or the assertive spice levels of central Vietnam. (For the record, La Festa Phu Quoc’s Executive Chef, Brett Muller, is still immensely proud of their phở. It remains a staple during The Merchant’s breakfast service, and he considers it to be on par with what’s offered at local phở stalls.)
Local produce from around the island is creatively channelled into The Merchant’s menu, with freshly caught baby squid (a famous Phu Quoc delicacy), clams, snails, and sea urchins gracing seafood buffets. Hill’s chickens — cageless poultry that are allowed to roam freely along the slopes — are steamed and served with honey and lime leaf, while locally grown peppercorns are stir-fried with beef and garlic. At breakfast, sweet-toothed guests are bound to be delighted by honeycombs sourced from an apiary that’s a mere 15-minute drive from the hotel. Your day is complete with a decadent frozen yoghurt and ice cream station flavoured with native fruits like mango and lychee.
La Festa Phu Quoc’s joy-filled, Italian-themed narrative truly comes alive at the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant, Mare, which goes the extra mile to create authentic Italian dishes: carbonara is prepared the traditional way with silken egg yolk and guanciale, then tossed within a wheel of pecorino romano by the Sardinian head chef. An old-school tiramisu is similarly assembled à la minute in front of diners, then finished off with an industrial-strength espresso shot. In addition, it takes the form of a high tea set laden with crostini at the palazzo-inspired lobby bar Il Salone or an Aperol Spritz-fuelled dinner at the top of the Campanile clock tower.
Beyond the hotel
Guests at La Festa Phu Quoc won’t have to venture far from the property in search of activities or amusement. Inquisitive travellers who fancy a day trip beyond Sunset Town might enjoy a visit to one of the island’s burgeoning pearl farms or a family-run production facility that makes sweet ruou sim (rose myrtle) wine, which is said to be an excellent local digestif. Those with a head for heights can take the Hon Thom Cable Car — which travels a distance of almost eight km and holds a Guinness World Record as the world’s longest three-wire cable car — to the islet of Hon Thom, giving passengers a dazzling bird’s eye view of the turquoise seas and verdant jungle-lined shores below.
As the sunset hour approaches, Kiss Bridge — a symbol of love and harmony that stretches out into the ocean in front of La Festa Phu Quoc — is the photography spot of choice for many Instagram-conscious couples. After that, take a leisurely stroll through Vui-Fest Bazaar, a seaside night market that sells street food and handcrafted souvenirs. Regular performances of the ‘Kiss of the Sea’ — a phantasmagorical drama performed in a sea-based theatre next to the hotel – employ laser projections, pyrotechnics, water cannons, and a cast of 60 performing artists, which means that evenings in Sunset Town are always guaranteed to be lively.
An extravagant seven-minute firework display signals the conclusion of the show, but for guests who’ve decided to embrace La Festa Phu Quoc’s ethos of celebrating the joy of life, that may well mean that the party’s only just getting started.
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BY RENYI LIM
PHOTOS BY L A FESTA PHU QUOC, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON
