AirAsia's travel blog has put Phú Quốc front and centre in its guide to holidays with young children, calling the Vietnamese island almost tailor-made for families. The reasoning is refreshingly practical: enough variety to keep kids of different ages engaged, calm beaches where parents can actually relax, and attractions that can prise a teenager away from their phone.

The airline's picks span the whole Pearl Island. Up north, there's a safari park and amusement attractions; in the main town, Dương Đông Night Market and the working Hàm Ninh Fishing Village offer easy, low-effort outings. But the south of the island gets the most attention, and it's easy to see why.

The headline experience is the cable car to Hòn Thơm Island — at nearly eight kilometres, the longest three-wire cable car in the world. Families glide high above the An Thới archipelago, watching fishing boats shrink beneath them, before landing at Sun World Hòn Thơm. There, Aquatopia Water Park packs in more than 20 attractions for water-mad kids, while Exotica serves up bigger thrills for older siblings and parents. One of AirAsia's points lands well: the best family days are the ones where adults join in, rather than standing guard over the bags.

Evenings belong to Sunset Town. Families can wander the sea-view streets, watch the sun go down at Kiss Bridge, have dinner, then stay for the Kiss of the Sea show and fireworks. A day that starts in a cable car above the sea and ends under an illuminated sky is the sort of thing kids bring up for years.

For the slower days, AirAsia recommends Khem Beach in the south — white sand, gentle water, and resorts with kids' clubs if parents want a proper break. The suggested rhythm is a day each for Hòn Thơm, Sunset Town and the beach, which makes southern Phú Quốc better suited to a multi-day stay than a quick excursion.

For families weighing up Southeast Asian beach options, Phú Quốc stands out because it stacks several distinct experiences within a short drive of each other, with plenty of direct flights and resort stock to match. If the test of a family destination is whether anyone has to ask "when is it my turn?", this island seems to pass.