Construction of Phu Quoc's first light rail line is underway, linking the island's international airport with the APEC International Convention and Exhibition Center in the south. Trial runs are scheduled to begin in June 2027, with commercial operation slated for August, ahead of the APEC 2027 summit in Vietnam.
The 17.59 km first phase of the project is being implemented under a Build-Operate-Transfer model, with a total investment of approximately 9 trillion VND ($342 million). Once completed, travel time from the airport to the southern part of the island will be reduced to around 20 minutes.
The project investor is Sun Group, making it Vietnam's first light rail line built with private capital. As of early August, about 1.8 trillion VND ($68 million), or 28.7% of the total investment, has already been allocated to the project.
Construction is taking place simultaneously across three main sections: bridges, tunnels, and ground-level tracks. Around 600 engineers, managers, and workers are currently on-site. The first rails on ground sections are planned for installation in late August 2026, with track laying on elevated and underground sections set to begin in October.
However, the project faces several challenges. Phu Quoc's rainy season complicates drainage in certain areas, while tunnel excavation has encountered hard soil and rock layers. Additionally, construction must be coordinated with existing power and water supply networks as well as the upgrade of the DT.975 provincial road.
Despite these difficulties, the project is progressing on an accelerated schedule. The first trainsets are expected to arrive in Phu Quoc in January–February 2027 for equipment installation and trial preparation. Major construction works are scheduled for completion by June 2027, followed by trial operations, leading up to the planned commercial launch in August.
The project is part of Phu Quoc's broader preparations for APEC 2027. In parallel, road infrastructure and other facilities related to hosting the summit are being upgraded across the island.