PHÚ QUỐC, Vietnam — Once known mainly as a quiet fishing island off Vietnam's southern coast, Phú Quốc has rapidly transformed into one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing beach destinations.

With white sand beaches, luxury resorts, night markets and massive entertainment projects, the island is increasingly attracting travellers looking for a tropical getaway that combines nature with modern tourism infrastructure.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian coast, Phú Quốc is Vietnam's largest island and has become a key part of the country's tourism ambitions.

Beaches, sunsets and clear water

Phú Quốc's biggest attraction remains its coastline. Long Beach, stretching along the island's western side, is known for sunset views, beach bars and resorts, while Sao Beach on the southeast coast is famous for powdery white sand and turquoise water.

The dry season between November and April is considered the best time to visit, when calm seas and sunny skies make the island ideal for swimming, snorkelling and island hopping. Compared with many larger beach destinations in the region, parts of Phú Quốc still retain a slower and more relaxed atmosphere.

From fishing island to tourism giant

Over the past decade, the island has seen major investment in tourism infrastructure. Large-scale developments such as Sunset Town and Grand World have transformed parts of the island into entertainment and shopping hubs filled with colourful Mediterranean-style architecture, restaurants and nightlife.

Luxury international resorts now line many sections of the coast, while Phú Quốc International Airport has made access far easier for foreign travellers. The island is also becoming increasingly popular among Thai tourists because of short regional flight times and visa-friendly entry policies for many visitors.

The world's longest sea-crossing cable car

One of the island's most famous attractions is the Hon Thom Cable Car, which stretches across the sea connecting Phú Quốc with smaller southern islands. The cable car offers panoramic views of fishing boats, coral reefs and the Gulf of Thailand below. Visitors can also take boat tours to nearby islands for snorkelling, diving and seafood dining.

Seafood and local culture

Despite rapid development, traditional fishing communities still remain part of island life. Seafood is one of the highlights of visiting Phú Quốc, with fresh crab, squid, sea urchin and grilled shellfish widely available at local markets and beachside restaurants. The island is also known across Vietnam for fish sauce production and pepper farms.

Easy access from Thailand

Travellers from Bangkok can reach Phú Quốc through connecting flights via Ho Chi Minh City or direct regional routes depending on airline schedules. As Vietnam continues investing heavily in tourism, Phú Quốc is positioning itself as one of the region's major island destinations — offering a mix of tropical scenery, entertainment and fast-growing resort development.

Thai actor Tack Pharunyoo Rojnavuddhi posted a video chatting with legendary Thai boxer Buakao Banchamek about the Manchester derby, where Manchester United narrowly defeated Liverpool, with Buakao jokingly remarking 'Two balls, don't talk too much.'

Manchester United defeated Liverpool 3-2 at home, and the Red Devils have swept both fixtures against their rivals this season.

In the video, Tack discusses the match with Buakao, who is wearing a Liverpool shirt. Buakao jokes, 'Two balls, don't talk too much—once in a while.' In the clip, Buakao says: 'When you lose something, no need to be loud about it. Just accept it as it is. But when our team wins a lot, we can talk about it too. We only won by half a goal or two (a reference to Tao Somchai). Don't even see them, don't talk too much. Their chance to win had to be like boom, boom, boom—a complete disaster. Just a tiny bit. The gap isn't that big anyway. Two balls, don't talk too much—once in a while. Or you can take it if you want.' The clip drew laughter from those around him.

Authorities have identified the cause of the road collapse near the Fai Chae intersection on Charoen Sanitwong Street as an old canal beneath the surface, combined with heavy rain and truck traffic. Multiple agencies rushed to inspect and repair the area after the incident disrupted traffic on this critical Thonburi route. At 4 p.m. on May 9th, Deputy Bangkok Governor Vishnu Saemphon visited the site and announced that repair crews and engineers were mobilized to fix the collapsed section, with completion targeted for that evening to restore normal traffic flow.

Since the road serves as a major route connecting multiple areas including Buddhhamonthon Lane, Tha Phra intersection, and Wang Lang-Siriraj, delays in repairs risked severe traffic congestion. Traffic police coordinated partial road closures and temporary tunnel diversions until the area could be cleared and repairs completed.

Daw Sithigulmanit, project supervisor for the water tunnel, revealed that the area was originally an old canal with an existing bridge. Although elevated railway construction had been completed in the area, the underlying soil along the old canal remained intact clay. This clay gradually eroded, creating cavities along the canal route. Currently, a siphon pipe is being installed beneath the tunnel, requiring excavation to 12-15 meters depth using 2.5-meter diameter piping, with directional boring coming from the opposite side.

When asked whether the soil had entirely disappeared from the old canal area, Daw explained that the original canal fill may not have been sufficiently compacted. The underlying clay soil experienced movement over time, creating cavities along the canal line. While the opposite side had been completed, this side's boring had just reached this point. Cavities had been detected and preparations were underway to drill and inject concrete to fill the voids, but heavy rain combined with heavy truck traffic caused the road to collapse before this work could be completed.

Daw noted that around 1 p.m., unusual road surface conditions appeared after the first vehicle passed. By 2 p.m., when a second heavy trailer truck passed, the road suddenly gave way. The team aimed to clear the area and complete preliminary repairs by night to restore normal traffic flow. Currently, coordination is underway to plan repairs for full restoration of the road.

Khlong Prem Prison was packed with crowds on the morning of May 11 to welcome former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's release after eight months in custody. He returned to his Chan Som Hla residence having satisfied two-thirds of his sentence requirement. Thaksin's family, close associates, and red-shirt supporters from across the country gathered to show their support for the former premier, beloved by grassroots loyalists. Reports suggest he made brief appearances to thank those who came to greet him. His political movements will remain cautious and low-key going forward, as he must continue monitoring requirements with an electronic ankle monitor for another four months and requires permission to travel. While there is no explicit ban on political expression, observers believe Thaksin will maintain a low profile for at least the next four months until his sentence is fully completed on September 9. Adding to his challenges, Thaksin faces an Article 112 lèse-majesté case stemming from an interview with South Korean media that remains under appeal. Although the lower court dismissed the charges, ruling the statements did not constitute insult to the monarchy, the Attorney General's office appealed despite its own committee recommending against it, creating ongoing uncertainty. For the next four months until his full release, Thaksin will need to remain vigilant. This appears consistent with a long-term strategy of staying hidden and waiting for opportunities. Meanwhile, critics caution that red-shirt gatherings should remain peaceful and low-key to avoid inflaming political tensions. Significantly, Pheu Thai is currently a coalition partner in the government led by Bhum Jai Thai, serving alongside Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's administration, making any radical political moves inadvisable. The relationship between Thaksin, the red-shirts, and Pheu Thai is undeniably interconnected. With Pheu Thai's new leader Dr. Yasothorn Wongsawadi performing well in government without needing to weather economic storms, the party appears to be accumulating strength while waiting for the right moment. Overall, the May 11 atmosphere is expected to be lively but not volatile—relatively smooth and orderly.

At 2 p.m. on May 9, 2026, at Na Jomtien Police Station in Chachoengsao Province, Police Commander General Kittiratch Panphetch, along with Chachoengsao Provincial Governor Narish Niramaivangsma and security officials, oversaw the arrest of a Chinese national suspected of concealing military weapons and C-4 explosives in Huai Yai, Banglamung District. The Police Commander ordered a comprehensive investigation across all dimensions, citing the serious national security threat and public safety concerns.

General Kittiratch commended Senior Sergeant Major Nilpat Tongyod, commander of the mobile unit at Na Jomtien Police Station, and detectives from Nong Prueio Police Station for their alertness in spotting a gun magazine in the suspect's vehicle, which led to the search warrant and discovery of numerous firearms and explosives in a residential area.

The investigation will focus on five key areas: the suspect's background and history; entry and exit records from the country; occupation and associations; the origin, source, and purpose of the weapons; and telephone and financial transaction records. The Police Commander instructed a thorough investigation following strict legal procedures, coordinating with regional police units, immigration police, security forces, and special operations units to determine the suspect's true motives.

General Kittiratch ordered special surveillance of foreign nationals exhibiting suspicious behavior in tourist areas including Chachoengsao, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Phang Nga, and Pai District in Mae Hong Son Province. Regarding the semi-automatic pistol found on the suspect during the traffic accident, investigation revealed it belonged to Sai Yai Police Station before being sold through unofficial police channels multiple times until it reached the Chinese suspect. The police officer involved is under investigation. The Police Commander acknowledged that some officers face financial difficulties leading to weapon sales, though the firearms were legally purchased and not police welfare weapons. Any misconduct will result in strict legal action.

General Kittiratch confirmed that while no evidence currently links the case to sabotage or data theft, the investigation will intensify as a precautionary security operation launched at the beginning of 2026 to scan and monitor nationwide threats. Regarding footage of the suspect practicing with weapons alongside what appears to be a Cambodian national, the Police Commander stated that while they have observed this, they are investigating whether the training relates to planning attacks or terrorist activities in Thailand, and will pursue all available intelligence.

The Anuthin government cabinet has approved and confirmed 31 pending draft laws to move forward with the new parliament, but it's particularly disappointing that none includes the Article 256 constitutional amendment draft, which serves as the first step toward drafting a new constitution. This forces the parliamentary process to restart from zero, despite over 20 million voters approving a new constitution in the referendum held alongside the 2025 elections. Prime Minister Anuthin, known for his "say it and do it" campaign slogan, previously stated that the referendum mandate for a new constitution was urgent. Yet his 19-page policy statement to parliament contains no constitutional amendment policy whatsoever, raising doubts about how sincere his repeated claims to obey the people's will and serve them as the master truly are. What exactly is he doing? Although officials claim that urgent priorities are addressing cost-of-living and economic problems first, this effectively signals that the government considers constitutional reform less important—a decision that will leave us trapped in this flawed system. We'll continue to have independent organizations that can't investigate anything and can make bewildering rulings in countless cases—from a mother's ring, to a friend's watch, to proposals to amend laws in parliament. We have National Anti-Corruption Commission members accused of accepting gold bribes from the police chief who still perform their duties as if nothing happened. We have a bizarre election system that somehow becomes transparent and pure, with no one able to question it. We have strict ethics codes applied selectively—strict for some, lenient for others—while ordinary citizens can only watch helplessly. This is what a government born from elections chose to tell us remains unimportant. Every citizen must remember this is how things really are. Checkmate.