Blog, Countries, Destinations, Vietnam
Phu Quoc Island
May
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, 45km from Ha Tien City, 120km from Rach Gia Town by sea, Phu Quoc is an island district of Kien Giang Province. This island is the largest one in Vietnam, covering a natural area of 593km, with a length of 50km, of which the widest area is 25km, 99 hills from the north to the south of the island. This island endowed with great tourism potentials, seafood. Hence, it is considered as a “Pear of the Southern sea area”.
Phu Quoc also is an evergreen island. View from above, Phu Quoc covers green colour, a variety of resplendent green colors that mix altogether, creating a splendid landscape.
Thanks to its forest, Phu Quoc has rivers, water falls, streams and sweet water source. With all great potentials, Phu Quoc will become a grear tourist economic and seafood – processing center in the region.
You can get to Phu Quoc island by either plane from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Capital or speed boat from Rach Gia Town and Ha Tien City.
When is the best time to visit Phu Quoc Island?
Phu Quoc islands sub-equatorial climate is at its best during the November to March period, when the sunny skies dominate, with consistent temperatures around 25-28 Celsius (77-82 Fahrenheit) and lower humidity make it a great time to be here.
Where to stay in Phu Quoc Island?
Phu Quoc Island is the center of all tourism related activities and it is here where you will find 99% of all the accommodation options that are available. We will break the island down into manageable chunks to help you make the right decision when choosing where to stay in Phu Quoc, whether it is a hotel or a beach resort. Below you will find the regions on Phu Quoc where you can stay as well as the best hotels and resorts in those areas.
The Long Beach
Bai Truong, also referred to as “Long Beach”, is the most popular beach on Phu Quoc Island and it is located along the western coast within a vast township called “Dương Tơ”. The aptly named beach stretches for almost 20 km, is classified as a “yellow sand beach”, and it is one of the best places to watch the famed Phu Quoc ocean sunsets. Packed with beach resorts, hotels, restaurants, and temples it is mere minutes from the Phu Quoc International Airport as well as Duong Dong Town, the economic capital of Phu Quoc District. Most of the island’s best restaurants are found in this area, and most happen to be on a single popular street known as Tran Hung Dao. Long Beach can be further divided into 3 sections: The North, The South, and Long Beach Village
Ganh Dau Beach
Ganh Dau is located in the north western section of Phu Quoc Island. It is best known for Dai Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on Phu Quoc. Dai Beach is Phu Quoc’s upmarket beach resort area, where you will find luxury five star resorts, secluded villas, the Phu Quoc Casino, a upscale shopping district, an amusement and safari park, as well as a 27 hole world class golf course. North of Dai Beach is another more urban beach called Ganh Dau Beach.
Ong Lang Beach
Ong Lang is located north of Duong Dong Town across the Duong Dong River and it is an alternative to the crowded beach scene offered at Long Beach. Ong Lang Beach, the main beach here, is spread out and broken up by patches of rocks. Here you will find a wide assortment of resorts, both on the beach and in the interior. A collection of a few luxury retreats define a stay at Ong Lang, some offering magnificent spas and wellness programs to suit. There are some good restaurants and cafes near by and if you do get bored you are only just a stones throw away from the hustle and bustle found at Long Beach.
Cua Can Beach
Cua Can commune is a new up-and-coming resort area and soon to be Phu Quoc’s 3rd town. Historically, this commune was famous its rustic wooden bridges, unique river and estuary, and a place to find long stretches of uninhabited wild beaches. The commune has slowly transformed itself and it is now known for having very unique beach-eco garden type of resorts.
Vung Bau Beach
Sandwiched right between Ganh Dau and Ong Lang, Vung Bau Beach offers a mix of these two famous beach resort areas. Affordable beachfront resorts and hotels present quiet spaces to relax, while the areas natural surroundings is a welcome peace. Vung Bau Beach has soft powdery yellow sand and just a few km from shore lies Fingernail Island, a snorkelers haven. Vung Bau is the last great semi-wild beach location left on Phu Quoc Island and it is developing at a much slower pace than Phu Quoc’s other beaches.
Bai Sao Beach
With its white powdery sandy beach lined with palm trees overlooking a turquoise sea, Sao Beach is vastly considered the best beach on Phu Quoc. Sao Beach is a popular destination for day trippers and in the evening the area is slow paced and laid back. Most of the hotels here are of the boutique beach resort type and are relatively old, although most have upgraded their amenities. Dining options are also limited as you are confined to your hotel or small canteens along the beach.
Bai Khem Beach
Phu Quoc’s most exclusive beachfront resort enclave; virtually all hotels in Emerald Bay are international five-star resorts. These line the gorgeous white sand southeastern coast beach known as Kem Beach. Quality dining options are within respective resorts and nightlife consists of mostly of the refined bar scene at the resorts.
Which places to visit in Phu Quoc Island?
Phu Quoc Island attractions aren’t just limited to its stunning beaches, but extends to historical sites, Buddhist shrines, and fishing villages that have stood the test of time.
Duong Dong Town
Duong Dong (Dương Đông) is the chief town of Phu Quoc Island and a big fishing port located on the central west coast of the island.
Cau Temple (Dinh Cau)
The temple was built in 1937 and was dedicated to Cau – the God of the sea who protects fishermen and sailors from storms and other sea dangers. The temple has maintained its ancient architectural style, and there is a great view from here.
Duong Dong night market
Dinh Cau Night Market is a must-visit for travelers on Phu Quoc Island.
Duong Dong night market (also known as Dinh Cau night market) is located Vo Thi Sau Street, Duong Dong Town. It opens from 17h00 to 24h00 every day. Dinh Cau Night Market is a must-visit for travellers on Phu Quoc Island, offering a plethora of dining and shopping opportunities until late. This Phu Quoc market caters mainly to tourists but is rather bustling with many people.
Visitors can find about 100 stalls, more than half of which sell fresh seafood, street snacks, and beverages at affordable prices. Live fish, sea snails, crabs and scallops are kept in large tanks with prices listed on the board in front of every booth. To order, just choose whichever strikes your fancy before taking your seat at the makeshift dining section.
Suoi Tranh (Tranh Stream)
Tranh means picture – A stream is beautiful as a picture. It springs from Ham Ninh stone range (north east of the island), consist of many smaller streams which edge their way from the ravines through green grass carpets, and joint the main current to become a big stream.
Suoi Da Ban (Da Ban Stream)
It is situated in the central south of the island, murmuring down through the hill all year around, passing splendid and charming sceneries, with wild ginseng roots and beautiful orchids.
Ho Quoc Pagoda
On a remote stretch of coastal road 10km north of Sao Beach, climb the stairs for one of the best views from any temple in Vietnam – blue sky and the water off Bai Dam Beach frame the temple-gate eaves. Behind you, green hills. Ho Quoc was only built in 2012 and features a Quan Am statue and a giant bell. Admirers of Ho Quoc venture here for sunrise and full-moon evenings.
Phu Quoc Prison Museum
Not far from Sao Beach in the south of the island, Phu Quoc’s notorious old prison, built by the French in the late 1940s, contains a small museum that narrates (in English) the gruesome history of the jail. Much of the site comprises mannequins of Vietnamese soldiers in chilling reenactments, such as being forced to stand and starve in exposed, outdoor barbed-wire cages. A war memorial stands south of the prison on the far side of the road.
What to eat in Phu Quoc Island
Seafood
Phu Quoc island is not only a paradise for beach lovers but also for seafood fans. Seafood in Phu Quoc is cheap and fresh and succulent. Some places to eat seafood for you such as Duong Dong night market, Ham Ninh fishing village, Xin Chào Seafood Restaurant (66 Tran Hung Dao street), Ot Ngot seafood (129 Tran Hung Dao street)…
DIY Shrimp Noodle Soup
A popular shrimp and rice noodle soup where all the ingredients are fresh – the noodles are freshly made, and the shrimp cooks in the soup. Customers also are responsible for making their own condiments.
Beef or Chicken Noodle Soup (Phở)
Vietnam’s famous savory soup enjoyed by both locals and foreigners alike. Customers control the degree of “spiciness” by either adding chili peppers, Sri Racha sauce, and or chili paste. There is the beef soup (phở bò) or the chicken soup (phở gà) here on Phu Quoc. It is normally eaten for breakfast.
Sweet & Sour Fish Soup
A delicious tangy sweet and sour soup that incorporates pineapples, tomatoes, okra, and cobia fish (cá bớp), a much healthier fish species farmed around the shores of Phu Quoc instead of catfish (basa). Most seafood restaurants will serve this soup.
Crab Soup
A unique tomato based soup that incorporates salt-water crab found around Phu Quoc’s shores.
Fish & Pork Noodle Soup
Banh Canh is a type of fish cake soup which is quite popular all over Vietnam but extremely popular with the locals here in Phu Quoc due to the freshness of the ingredients.
How to get to Phu Quoc Island?
You can get to Phu Quoc Island by air from Hanoi Capital, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho City, Danang City and other big cities in Laos, Cambodia, Korean, Japan…
You also get to Phu Quoc by speed boats from Ha Tien City or Rach Gia Town. It takes about 2.5 hours from Ha Tien and 2 hours from Rach Gia Town to get to Phu Quoc by Superdong speed boats.
