Pristine nature, kilometers of magnificent beaches with soft sand. We are talking about the largest island in Vietnam – Phu Quoc. It is located in the warm and calm waters of the Gulf of Thailand, south of the city of Hai Duong.
Earlier the island was just a huge fishermen village. And now the resort is becoming more and more popular and develops very fast.
Check this guide on best things to do in Phu Quoc island; except of the tourist attractions list you’ll find useful information for first timers that will help to plan ideal holidays.
Best Time to Visit Phu Quoc
The dry season lasts in Phu Quoc almost nine months. The least precipitation falls in February, and the most at the end of September. During the rainy season, rains are short and warm. The sea waters surrounding Phu Quoc island are always calm. The average air temperature all year round is about +28 +30 o C. The sea temperature doesn’t fall below +27 o C all year round.
When is the best time to go to Phu Quoc? The high season here lasts from December to April. Indeed, during these months it is dry and warm. But the prices are also higher. You can also visit Phu Quoc in the period from April to May, however, the weather is getting hotter. This is also a period when there are a lot of jellyfish in the coastal waters.
Things to Do in Phu Quoc Island
The island can be a perfect destination for a beach holiday. You can visit national park, pagodas and temples, an amusement park, join safari tour, ride a cable car or visit a water park.
Explore Phu Quoc Beaches
Phu Quoc island has very long beach line; kilometers of pure sand, lush greenery, gentle sea and long walks along a deserted beach. Most often, Vietnamese come to Phu Quoc from big cities. They prefer to swim in the warm sea early in the morning, as they do not like to sunbathe. Therefore, there are no locals on the beach during the day.
One of the most secluded beaches is Bai Dai, while the longest and most popular among travelers is Long Beach. If you’re looking for porivacy, go ahead to the northern part of the island where you can find several sparsely populated and even wild beaches.
Enjoy Breathtaking Cable Car Ride
You can ride the longest cable car in the world. Its length from Phu Quoc to Pineapple Island (Hon Thom) is 8 km. The 360-degree panoramic views opened on the southern part of the city are just amazing. The cost of the trip is 500.000 VND.
Visit Fish Sauce Factory
The most popular fish sauce in Asia is produced here. It is in Phu Quoc that the largest companies producing this sauce with an unusual smell are located, which is added to almost all traditional dishes in Vietnam. Fish sauce is considered the “nectar of the gods”. Want to know how it’s made? Visit one of the many factories.
If you go to the north of Phu Quoc, you will see a huge number of pepper farms along the road. Phu Quoc pepper is considered the best in all of Vietnam.
Check Pearl Farms
Here you can learn about how pearls are cultivated, as well as buy jewelry or even find some pearls yourself. But this type of business has some drawbacks. Farmers want to “produce” as many pearls as possible, and to achieve this they intervene in natural processes.
A pearl is obtained as a result of the reaction of an oyster to an irritant, it covers it with mother-of-pearl. To ensure that almost every oyster has a pearl, farm workers open them and put an irritant there. As a result, most oysters die.
Visit Dinh Cau Night Market in Duong Dong
It is open every evening from 17.00 to 22.00. A great place to try local cuisine and buy souvenirs.
Check One of Phu Quoc’s Temples
There are many temples to explore on Phu Quoc island, so you can start your exploration with the 300-years Chinese temple Dinh Cau. It is small, but locals like to come here during sunset. Another striking temple is nearby – Dinh Ba Thuy Long Thanh Mau. Another must-visit temple in Phu Quoc is Nguyen Trung Truc in Ganh Dau. Entrance to the temples is absolutely free. Don’t forget to dress appropriately.
Phu Quoc Prison
It is also called Coconut Tree prison or Nha Tu Cay Dua. Thousands of communist soldiers and political prisoners from North Vietnam were tortured here during the Vietnam War. Today, Phu Quoc Prison is a museum and serves as a reminder of the past.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Be sure to go snorkeling and diving. The best time for scuba diving is from October to April. Usually diving tours take place in the northwest of the island or near the An Thoi archipelago in the south. You can join diving tour and get more details about prices here.
Phu Quoc is not the best place for shopping, as there are almost no shopping centers on the island. What can you bring back home from your trip to Phu Quoc? You can buy pearls, coffee, spices, souvenirs.
Phu Quoc Island General Information
Phu Quoc Island is very large, the Vietnamese compare it with Singapore itself in terms of area. The best way to get around the island is to use motobikes or bicycles.
On the island, except for the hotel staff, almost no one speaks English. Unlike a deserted beach, life is in full swing in the center of the island. This is especially felt near the markets. But there is not much to buy here, except for exotic Vietnamese fruits and delicious sea food. Life on the island starts early in the morning. Vietnamese believers go to morning services in Buddhist pagodas, and then to their workplaces. Fishermen go to sea, farmers – to their plantations. The island is known for its black pepper plantations, it is grown and then dried here.
Phu Quoc island is full of contrasts. By the sea it is white sand and palm trees, in the center of the island pine trees appear among the palm trees. All this looks unusual against the backdrop of red dirt roads. Phu Quoc has many empty, as yet untouched beaches, where you can safely stroll. So the measured atmosphere of Phu Quoc Island is well suited for both adult tourists and travelers with kids.
Where to stay in Phu Quoc
On the island you can find different types of hotels: both inexpensive guesthouses and luxury hotels. The price of a more or less decent room starts at $25/per night. Of course, it is more convenient to buy a tour to Phu Quoc Island, since often the total cost of the trip, including flights, is cheaper.
