Traveling to Phu Quoc for the First Time (Tips & Tricks)

Phu Quoc is also known as the Pearl Island, the largest island in Vietnam, and also the largest of the 22 islands here, located in the Gulf of Thailand. Phu Quoc Island with other islands forms the Phu Quoc Island District of Kien Giang Province. The entire island district has a total area of ​​589.23 km². Duong Dong Town, located in the Northwest, is the capital of the island district. Phu Quoc has located 120 km from Rach Gia City and 45 km from Ha Tien Town. In 2006, the Kien Giang coastal and marine biosphere reserve, including this district, was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. Phu Quoc Tourism is strongly invested in transportation infrastructure and accommodation facilities, many direct flights from Vietnam and abroad have been set up to Phu Quoc, hundreds of resorts large and small are built. By these factors, Phu Quoc is gradually becoming one of the top resorts in Vietnam.

General introduction about Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc has 22 islands large and small of which the largest island Phu Quoc has an area of ​​574 km² (56,200 ha), 50 km long, and the widest place (in the north of the island) is 25 km. The highest point is 603 m (Chua Mountain). Gentle natural terrain runs from South to North with 99 hills and mountains. The marine areas around the shallow island have a depth of less than 10 m. However, the small island cluster of An Thoi port is separated from the Southern tip of Phu Quoc Island by a strait with a depth of more than 60 m.

In 1671, a Chinese man named Mac Cuu (Mac Kinh Cuu), from Leizhou, Guangdong Province, brought his whole family, soldiers, and some of his wife of about 400 people on a boat to leave Fujian. After several days floating on the high seas, the Mac Cuu delegation landed in a wasteland in the Gulf of Thailand. After inquiring and knowing that this land belonged to the Chan Lap influence, the delegation immediately made a way to Oudong to seek asylum, but at that time there was a disturbance within Chan Lap. Mac Cuu met Nac Ong Thu (Ang Sur, Jayajettha III) and remained cooperative until 1681.

In 1680, Mac Cuu established scattered hamlets from Vung Thom, Trung Ke, Can Vot, Rach Gia, and Ca Mau. Ha Tien became an important trading port, the hamlets settled close to the sea, convenient for boats to go back and forth, or on high land along with Giang Thanh, Cai Lon, Ganh Hao, and Ong Doc rivers for farming.

He established 7 casinos along the coast: Man Kham (Peam), Long Ky (Ream), Can Bon (Kampot), Huong Australia (Kompong Som), Sai Mat (Cheal Meas), Linh Quynh (Rach Gia), and Phu Quoc (Koh Tral). The capital was located in Man Kham (the port of the Mán, which is the Khmer), later changed to Can Khau (Can Khao or Can Cao). The rumor echoed far away, Chinese immigrants from all over the Gulf of Thailand asked to come here to settle, gradually this land became a prosperous territory with a new name: Can Khau Quoc. Koh Tral Island also changed its name to Phu Quoc (rich land).

When should travel to Phu Quoc?

You can go to Phu Quoc at any time of the year. But if you do not want to be uncomfortable with the persistent rains, you should avoid the rainy season (June-October) every year. The dry season of Phu Quoc is from around November to April. If you do not plan to go out a few months in advance (to hunt for cheap flights) but only schedule a few days in advance, you can track the weather on the mass media so you can choose the time suitably.

Means to travel to Phu Quoc

As an island located not too far from the mainland and a major tourist center of the West, to Phu Quoc, you can go by plane or high-speed train.

By Aircraft vehicles

If traveling from the plane, you can fly directly from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, or Rach Gia. Airlines currently operating domestic routes to Phu Quoc include Vietnam Airline and VietjetAir. Or you can check the price here!

Hanoi – Phu Quoc

Vietnam Airlines operates a daily Airbus flight from Hanoi to Phu Quoc, departing at 8:40 and arriving at 10:45. The reverse flight departs from Phu Quoc at 11:35 and arrives at 13:40.

Saigon – Phu Quoc

Vietnam Airlines operates 17 flights per day with ATR aircraft and 1 flight with Airbus aircraft. Viet Jet Air co-operates one flight a day with an Airbus aircraft. Flight time is 50 minutes.

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Can Tho – Phu Quoc

Vietnam Airlines operates a daily flight with ATR aircraft departing from Can Tho to Phu Quoc at 13:00 and arriving at 13:45. The reverse flight departs from Phu Quoc at 11:35 and arrives at 12:20.

By High-speed Train

High-speed Trains to Phu Quoc usually depart from Ha Tien or Rach Gia, the destination port in Phu Quoc will be Ham Ninh or Da Chong. Depending on weather conditions at sea, the travel time of the ship will change. To move to Ha Tien and Rach Gia, you can refer to more information about the routes to Kien Giang.

Transportation in Phu Quoc

On Phu Quoc Island, there are always taxi services, car rental services for the group. However, if there are no babies and elderly in your group, you should rent a motorbike to explore Phu Quoc more conveniently and economically. Motorbike rental price in Phu Quoc fluctuates around 150,000 VND / 1 day, gasoline spilled.

Staying in Phu Quoc

Hotels in Phu Quoc

As one of the top tourist destinations in Vietnam, the system of hotels and resorts in Phu Quoc is among the most diverse and largest in the country. Depending on your cost level, you can choose from budget resorts of about 1 million VND per night to luxury resorts of up to 10 million VND. Phu Quoc has no shortage of affordable hotels but the quality is extremely good for your reference. These hotels will be around in the Duong Dong town area, maybe not be an available swimming pool, private beach. But ensuring the remaining services are enough to make you have a comfortable trip in Phu Quoc.

Homestay in Phu Quoc

A homestay is a form of travel with locals, meals, and activities to learn more about local cultural features. In Phu Quoc, in fact, the true homestay is not much because most accommodation facilities on the island are due to people from other places doing business. You can find some real homestays in the An Thoi Islands. Homestay is now expanded to include hotels, motels with dorm rooms, a very popular choice for backpackers. These rooms are very suitable for those who go alone or with few people, often go out and just go back to the hotel room to sleep.

What to play in Phu Quoc

Surely anyone when traveling to Phu Quoc will also be interested in what to play in Phu Quoc. Previously, Pearl Island was still unspoiled and did not have many services, but in recent years, investors have massively moved to Phu Quoc, making it no longer peaceful, but in return, the services are fully sprouted. to serve tourists.

Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc

Located in the Bai Dai area, northwest of Phu Quoc island, Vinpearl Safari Animal Care and Conservation Park is the largest open zoo in Vietnam. In phase 1, with a scale of 180 ha, Vinpearl Safari gathers about 2,000 individuals, representing 140 rare animal species from all over the world; is divided into two main areas: wildlife park and open zoo:

• Wildlife park: it contains 660 individuals of 45 animal species. Therefore, visitors will have the opportunity to see some of the typical animals such as the White Rhino, the Bengal Tiger, the African Lion, the Giraffe, the Zebras, and the African antelope.

• Open zoo: There are 1,500 individuals of 100 animals. Some rare animals will be cared for here such as Chimpanzees, Black-footed Scrub, Black and White Lemur, Caved Tailed Lemur, Dwarf Hippo, Flamingos, and White-Tailed Thunderbird.

Not just a park displaying wildlife, Vinpearl Safari also acts as a center for storing, conserving, and multiplying rare animals and plants of Vietnam and the world. From the center of Duong Dong town, you can use Vinpearl’s free bus to visit the zoo. Opening time from 9 am -4:30 pm.

Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc

Aquarium

At Vinpearlland Phu Quoc Aquarium, you will admire hundreds of exotic marine species from all over the world, divided into separate areas such as freshwater area, saltwater area, or reptiles area.

In addition, special and interesting performances such as performances by beautiful mermaids, or fish feeding performances will also be held daily at this beautiful Aquarium.

Showtime:

– The Little Mermaid show: 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

– Fish Feeding Program: 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Water park

Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc Water Park is a combination of beaches and a series of exciting and fun underwater games that create a strong feeling for all ages. In the midst of the immense space of water, you will burn your energy with endless games, experiences, and joys. With must-see rides like Tornado Slide, Super Basin Slide, or Multi-Lane Slide.

Outdoor Game Area

In addition to indoor games, Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc also has an outdoor game area with many unique thrilling games such as Flying Disc, SuperSpeed ​​Spinning Disc, and Giant Ferris Wheel.

Indoor Games Zone

The indoor play area of ​​Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc amusement park has a variety of games, suitable for many different ages. In addition to high-tech games such as 3D virtual world games, fairy gardens,… Here, there is also a large 5D cinema system with a capacity of up to hundreds of people.

Performances

Revealed as “The most magnificent stage in the history of Miss Vietnam competitions” – Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc’s Water Music Stage will be the coronation place of Vietnamese beauty 2014. With a capacity of up to thousands of people. With modern and meticulous investment, the Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc Water Music Performing Stage will not only be a place to shine for beauty but also a sublimation of art and music.

In this show, visitors will enjoy and be fascinated by the fascinating performances, get acquainted with the exotic intelligent black seals performing the gestures of greeting the audience and swimming on the ground, jumping through hoops or swimming for fun circles, or cute and active dolphins – the main character of the show. The audience will see firsthand the acrobatics in the air to greet the audience, or more interestingly, the strange dance steps with the Coach, drawing pictures, pushing their Coach to glide across the water. The dolphins are like kids competing in each game for food rewards from the Trainers.

Snorkeling in An Thoi

In the An Thoi Archipelago, there are many places for you to watch corals and fish. Because there are 18 islands but only about 12 big and small islands such as Hon Thom, Hon Dam Trong, Hon Dau, Hon. Coconut, Hon Gam Record,… is the place with the most beautiful corals.

Fishing in Phu Quoc

Going to Phu Quoc without fishing is missing an interesting unique feature in this beautiful pearl island. Sitting on a fishing boat watching the calm blue sea, going to the rocky reefs which are grouper, carp, mudfish, copper fish and continuously pulling the fishing line is an indescribable joy.

From An Thoi, the boat will take you to calm seas with few waves. Here you will enjoy the fun of sea fishing with a drag fishing device (hook-up hook is wrapped in small tubes) along with shredded squid as bait. If you have a good hand, you can probably catch a whole fishbowl.

Night squid fishing in Phu Quoc

If you go to Phu Quoc on the right occasion of the calm sea, you also have the opportunity to experience one of the very interesting activities at night that is squid fishing. Squid fishing attracts visitors not only because of the unique way of fishing (without bait) but also because of the beautiful memory of sea-loving tourists. It is great when you can catch squid hunting in the sea with your own hand or you can pick up swordfish, bluefish floating on the sea surface. The spoils of squid or salvaged fish will be served onboard the fishermen’s own style (boiled, grilled with steaming hot squid porridge will give you a very interesting feeling).

Instructions: Go to the end of Dinh Cau night market with a pier, you can go there to join the squid fishing trip. The ticket price is 150,000 VND / 1 person, enough people are trained. The trip takes about 3 hours.

Kayaking in Bai Khem (Khem Beach)

Previously, Khem Beach was under the management of the army, due to its quiet and discreet terrain, suitable for practice. Therefore, Bai Khem still retains many primitive features, has no impact on the tourist infrastructure calendar.

All services in Khem Beach are considered very affordable. Khem Beach also has a fishing service, kayaking, at very cheap prices. With fishing services at Gieng Tien and diving to watch coral for 4 people, you will be provided with fishing tools and a charcoal stove to grill. You should buy more drinks, shrimp, crabs, crabs to improve the meal on board. With kayaking, a canoe for 2 people for 30 minutes costs 40,000 VND, a canoe for 30 minutes costs 30,000 VND.

Water motorcyclist in Bai Sao

Visitors to Sao Beach, if they like thrilling games, can rent a water motorbike to explore the surrounding waters.

Note: Driving a water motorbike is quite dangerous and requires a guide to accompany you. If you are not familiar, you should not drive by yourself to avoid unfortunate accidents. Last year, there was a fatal accident caused by a passenger driving an uncontrollable water motorbike and crashing into a boat.

Episode international music festival

The Episode Sea Festival is an international-level multicultural project that includes music and sports events. The main idea of ​​the festival is the combination of Vietnamese traditions and history with modern music and sports.

The Episode Sea Festival is a creative space with a series of architectural facilities and art installations,… This is the biggest marine music event in Phu Quoc for domestic and foreign tourists. It held annually at Sunset Santo Beach Club, attracting more than 10,000 visitors.

Tourist destinations in Phu Quoc

Taking Duong Dong Town as the boundary, Phu Quoc is divided into two separate regions that are the North of the island and the South of the island. On all sides, there are interesting tourist spots that you should not miss, for more convenience, you should arrange the time to go from each side and then invite to the other side. You can follow the tourist destinations of Phu Quoc through the Phu Quoc Tourist Map below!

NORTH ISLAND

Nose Ganh Dau

Ganh Dau is a cape lying jutting out into the sea in the northwest of Phu Quoc island, in Ganh Dau commune, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang province, about 1.3 km from the historic water line and from the Nung Ngoai island of Cambodia is about 2.5 km. This is a new land to be explored and put into service for tourism.

Long Beach

Bai Dai is located on the North Island tourist route, 15km long, running along the northwestern coast of the island from Ganh Dau to Cua Can. The white sand beach is extremely pristine, the old forest spreads close to the sea, the beautiful mangrove ecosystem at the small estuaries.

Phu Quoc Ridgeback Dog Farm

Along with the opening of tourist attractions for fish sauce production, pepper gardens, and pearl culture facilities, nowadays in Phu Quoc, there is also an entertainment destination that is conservation camp and Phu Quoc Thanh swirling racetrack. Nga, in Cay Thong Ngoai hamlet, Cua Duong commune owned by Mr. Le Quoc Tuan is also attracting many tourists to visit.

Phu Quoc Ridgeback Racecourse has helped many visitors to directly observe and learn the facts and gratitude for the instinct of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, especially for the Phu Quoc Ridgeback Racecourse that is considered an idea. Everyone when coming here feels it is very interesting.

Pepper Garden

Phu Quoc pepper is famous for its plump skin, strong seeds, spicy and fragrant, unmatched. The people of Phu Quoc preserve pepper growing not only for economic purposes but also have great value in culture and tourism. Pepper is a local specialty and a unique gift for tourists from near and far. Pepper gardens are always included in the list of destinations in Phu Quoc tours.

Workshop for processing wine sim

Sim wine is a specialty wine of Phu Quoc. Although myrtle is found in many places, sim in Phu Quoc has its own characteristics. There are 2 types of myrtle, which are persimmon and myrtle, both have white hairy underside leaves, purple-black fruit when ripe. Sim fruit used to make wine in Phu Quoc is mainly Hong Sim.

Dinh Cau

The palace is located 200m west of Duong Dong town, on a rocky cliff facing the sea, at the mouth of Duong Dong river. It is not clear what year Dinh Cau is from, only know that the present palace was built on July 14, 1937, and restored on July 14, 1997.

Before each trip out to sea or on holidays, Tet; Islanders come to burn incense to pray for peace. Every year on the full moon of October 16 in the lunar calendar, people hold a big festival at the temple. To the left of the temple is a lighthouse 11m high, guiding ships to enter Duong Dong. Dinh Cau not only attracts visitors from the crossroads with mysterious legends but also is an ideal place to enjoy the sunset on the sea.

Phu Quoc National Park

The park is located in the northeast of Phu Quoc Island. The park includes the nature reserve of North Island, Ham Rong, Ganh Dau, Cua Can, and a part of Cua Duong, Ham Duong, Duong To communes, and Duong Dong town. East and north are close to the coast. The highest point is Chua mountain (603m).

The park covers an area of ​​31,422 hectares, of which 12,794 hectares of forest, diverse in flora and fauna – 929 species have been recorded. According to statistics, the sea here has about 89 species of hard corals, 19 species of soft corals, 125 species of fish in coral reefs, 132 species of mollusks, 32 species of echinoderms, and 62 species of seaweed.

The flora and fauna here are very rich and diverse with 470 species of higher plants and 140 species of wildlife. Including many rare and special species of flora and fauna. With the advantage of concentrating the ecosystems of the whole country, including mangroves, melaleuca forests, thatched forests, lava forests, primeval forests,… Phu Quoc National Park is a rare flora and fauna museum of Vietnam. Male.

Phu Quoc National Park is located right on the North Island tourist route, visitors can watch the forest in the forest car ride from Duong Dong to Ganh Dau or Bai Thom (about 40km). No outdoor tourist boat to visit the forest.

Suối Đá Bàn

Phu Quoc is famous for 99 mountains stretching from north to south, of which the Ham Ninh Mountain range is the longest and highest mountain range. Da Ban Spring originates here. This is the main water supply source for Duong Dong Lake with a circumference of more than 3.5km, a depth of 20m, with a water reserve of about 5.5 million m3. Currently, this amount of water only supplies domestic water for Duong Dong town. And An Thoi town and other communes mainly use water from drilled or dug wells. Starting from Duong Dong town, going back to the North of the Island, and then following the road with signposts on Da Ban stream. You must stop at the gate of the tourist park here and follow the cable-stayed bridge or the bridge where there are 2 bridges over the stream to enter the forest. Walk for about 15 minutes to reach the stream. Here in front of your eyes appear large rocks, flat as the ground, the sound of water pouring down is majestic. The scene is far from the gentle and gentle Stream of Tranh.

The road to Da Ban Stream is further and difficult to go to compared to Suoi Tranh. Therefore, fewer tourists come to Da Ban Stream, mainly from local people or people you know to go out. Coming to Da Ban Spring with large flat rocks, suitable for camping, food, and drinking. You can bathe under cool blue water under the rumbling waterfall is very interesting. Often visitors stop at the flat rocks to have fun, so few people bother to wade up to see the highest waterfall here, somewhat adventurous. Coming to Da Ban Spring in the rainy season, you must be very careful not to slip and fall very dangerous because the water here is very deep and swept very strongly.

IN THE SOUTH ISLAND

Ham Ninh Fishing Village

Ham Ninh commune is located on the coast of the East of the island, behind are mountains and forests, in front of it is the immense sea. Population concentrated along the banks of the Ham canal. Coming to Ham Ninh as a nostalgic person returning to the old village. Life here is almost intact with the makeshift bamboo-walled cottage. The main job is still pearl diving, catching sea cucumber (gossip), and netting crabs.

Ham Ninh beach is a few hundred yards away but still shallow. When the water is low, the vast sandy beach runs away, when the water rises, overflows the beach, to the edge of the forest. Standing on Ham Ninh beach, the islands of the Hai Tac archipelago (of Ha Tien) appear far away. Deviating to the Southeast, the island of Nghe is blurred in the blue water. To the south is Mr. Doi cape – the last cape of the island. If you have not enjoyed boiled crabs here, you are considered incomplete. Crab is a specialty of this region, almost always available. The crabs that have just been caught are boiled, the color is bright red, the meat is muscular, and the salt, pepper, and lemon salt are so sweet!

Suoi Tranh

About 9km south of Duong Dong center, Suoi Tranh is a gentle stream hidden under a dense forest canopy. Converged by countless small streams originating from the Ham Ninh range, the mainstream of Suoi Tranh is about 15km long with many rapids, large rocks, and small lakes in the stream bed.

From the foot of the stream, visitors follow a road paved bumpy to 300m source to explore the mysterious nature, camping, bathing streams – waterfall and relaxing between the scent of the forest. There is a stream running through the rocky rapids, creating soft, white waterfalls in the smooth green color of plants and flowers. The scene is like a beautiful natural painting, so it is called Suoi Tranh.

Bai Sao

Not yellow like Nha Trang beach or dark yellow to brown like Vung Tau, Sao beach’s sand is pure white and smooth like cream. Sao Beach is nestled in the affectionate embrace of two gentle mountain ranges providing a quiet space and a fresh climate. Not that, Bai Sao is a tourist destination where couples or families love private and quiet spaces to rest and relax.

Bai Truong

Bai Truong continues to be a place not to be missed in your Phu Quoc trip, just 7 minutes from the airport, in Duong To commune. The beach stretches smoothly for nearly 20km from Dinh Cau cape to Tau Ru, the beach is divided into many small sections connected by rocks, trees, and a fishing village. From October to April every year, Truong beach is the perfect choice because this is the most beautiful Truong beach season with a calm sea surface and rippling waves. In particular, this is the most beautiful sunset viewing spot on Phu Quoc Island, the yellow-orange color of the sun is mixed with the purple-blue sky, forming a multicolored sky that makes your soul pure and charming. get rid of all the troubles in life.

Sunset Santo Beach Club is located in Bai Truong, famous as the most unique beach in Phu Quoc with impressive artistic works, food services, and sea sports. Every year on the occasion of the New Year, this is also the place where the biggest music festival in Phu Quoc Epizode takes place.

Phu Quoc Prison

Located in the south of the island, 30km from Duong Dong market, this is a prison built by the French 20ha wide, to house anti-French patriots. In 1956, the Ngo Dinh Diem government renovated and established the “Coconut Tree Main Training Camp”. In 1967, the construction of the prison of communist prisoners of war. This place sometimes detained nearly 40,000 prisoners, about 4,000 martyrs died here.

During the Vietnam War, prisoners of war Phu Quoc Prisoner Prison were subjected to punishments, torture such as crucifixion to hands, feet, and head; burning red wire stabbed into flesh, chiseling teeth, covering the father, making boiling water, or pouring coal fire, throwing in a pan of boiling water, burning alive, burying it alive … For a period of fewer than 6 years (from June / 1967 to March 1973) Phu Quoc POW camp, more than 4,000 people died, tens of thousands were disabled and disabled.

Bai Khem (Bai Kem)

Khem Beach is located in the south of Phu Quoc Island, in An Thoi town, about 25 km from Duong Dong town. From Sao beach, there is a small path about 2 km long to go to Khem beach. As a beach still looks wild, quiet, and not noisy like other beaches on Phu Quoc Island.

Update: Currently, there have been projects to build resorts here, so in the future maybe Bai Khem will no longer exist.

Truc Lam Zen Monastery, Ho Quoc Pagoda

Ho Quoc Pagoda (or Truc Lam Ho Quoc Zen Monastery) is one of the works in the project of a spiritual tourism area with an area of ​​more than 110ha (the area of ​​the pagoda is about 12%) in Suoi Lon hamlet, Duong To commune, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang province.

Pearl Culture Area

When talking about Phu Quoc, people often think of wild, sunny beaches, primeval forests, specialties favored by nature that have become trademarks. Coming to Phu Quoc, visitors not only enjoy a comfortable vacation or specialties but also admire and own valuable items that have attached Phu Quoc’s identity to a brand name, which is pearl.

Phu Quoc pearls are famous for their luxurious, noble beauty but also full of natural beauty, giving users many good things. So it is very popular with tourists, especially women. Talking about Phu Quoc pearls, the Ngoc Hien Pearl brand name has become familiar to tourists from near and far and has become a “lying heart” address for the people on the island.

The Nail Island

Mong Tay Island is known by many people who love to travel as “A sleeping fairy that has not been awakened yet”. Indeed, if you ever come to this island once, you will surely fall in love with the surprisingly beautiful and wild natural space of this place.

In the past, when traveling conditions were difficult, Mong Tay Island did not have many people coming here to live and develop, so this island retains its natural beauty as in the beginning, without work. Any human action affects this natural, liberal, deeply beautiful, but no less mysterious and interesting feature.

Hòn Mây Rút Trong

Phu Quoc Island is a small pristine island located in the southwest and separates from Phu Quoc Island, possessing wild beauty, fresh air, cool and beautiful beaches. Not only that you can also feel the warmth of the human heart and the mind of a tourist, but you also will certainly not find any other place on the special Vietnam map like Hon May Rut Trong.

May Rut is a small, super-small island with two inner and outer islands, about 1 hour from An Thoi and Phu Quoc ports by wooden boat and about 25 minutes by the composite hull. Both places have super beautiful beaches, tall coconut, white sand, clean sea, clear water, and super desolate. The inner island is wilder, the outer one is more comfortable. There has only been one family on the island for generations, they have a well and raise chickens so you can order a chicken for food. This place is quite suitable for outdoor activities, overnight camping. Of course, if you intend to camp, remember not to leave any rubbish to preserve the beauty of the island for a long time.

Hon Dam Ngang

Dam Ngang is famous for its ravishing coral reefs. From a distance, Dam Ngang Islet has surrounding rocks with many strange shapes carved by wind and waves. This place is still very unspoiled and owns a few untapped beaches. Cool water will let you struggle.

The density of corals here is quite thick, to the point where you can see very clearly just face down. The coral ecosystem around Dam Ngang is ranked first in Vietnam in terms of abundance with 17 different types of hard and soft anemones. The colorful coral reefs are sure to impress first-time visitors.

Hon Thom

Belonging to the An Thoi archipelago, Thom island has an area of ​​5.7 km², though not too large, it possesses a wonderful natural beauty with potential for tourism services and aquaculture. Today, Hon Thom has electricity and water, schools, clinics,… to meet the needs of the fishermen and the development of the island commune. The unique point on Thom island is that every resident has 2 houses, one in the west and one in the east to move according to the monsoon season to avoid storms and strong winds.

Hon Thom has 4 big beaches including Chuong beach, Nam beach, Nom beach, Chao beach. Bai Chao is located in the northwest of Thom island, the most beautiful from March to December with the scenery of straight rows of coconut trees running along with 2 majestic and mysterious rocky rapids creating a natural landscape. same wonder. Not far away, the Ky Lan Cape is a diving spot to watch coral that cannot be missed and is also a wonderful landscape made of rock with many fancy shapes that you will definitely watch forever if you get lost here.

Guide to Mong Tay, May Draw, and Dam Ngang islands

There are 3 starting point options to go to these islands.

Canoe rental in Duong Dong

You can start from the center of Duong Dong town by renting a canoe running straight from the town along the beach to these islands.

• Advantage: You will not have to drive down to the An Thoi port area, which is nearly 30km from Duong Dong. You have more opportunities to enjoy the scenery along with the beautiful and unspoiled Bai Truong, in addition to watching the beautiful sunset from canoes and ships on the way back.
• Disadvantage: The cost is quite high compared to the ability to pay for many people.

Rent a Ship in An Thoi

Ships departing from An Thoi port, there will be a lot of boats and canoes you can rent right there, but you should call to book in advance in case of out of ships or canoes. If you are in the Duong Dong area, you can rent a motorbike to go to the port which takes about 40 minutes, to the port with a parking area takes about 10,000 VND. In case you do not want to ride a motorbike, rent a taxi to choose a return date for about VND 600k for a 4-seat car and VND 700,000 for a 7-seat car.

Advantages: You will be proactive about travel time, time to play on islands, have the opportunity to stop, watch selfies anywhere, but go on tour is quite difficult. Note to save the most costs, you should take a blue composite train costing about 1 million – 1 million 300 thousand, depending on the number of people. As for canoes, the price is about 2 million / 5 people for 1 day.

Cons: There are many free boats, you will be confused about who to ride and who to trust because you have no information about these people.

Buy a package tour

Take a tour – large boat – in groups, if you go on tour, there will be a free shuttle in Duong Dong town (around 9:30 am) to An Thoi port and take you on a large boat that will depart from the area An Thoi port toward Hon Tay – Hon May Rut – Hon Dam Ngang. The price is about 500,000 VND / person. Tour starts around 10:30 – 16:30 and ends.

Pros: It Will be very suitable for family groups with small children or the elderly. Everything was planned clearly, remember how to eat lunch.

Disadvantages: However, if you go on these tours, you will have limited time to play on the islands, large boats will not reach the shore so that you can play comfortably on the island, usually you have to swim to the shore from the boat not far.

What to eat when traveling to Phu Quoc?

Phu Quoc has countless places to eat for you, if you can discover the ones that are both delicious and suitable for your taste, it is definitely very interesting, right? If you just like to lie in your room every morning or after each outing session. We believe that the dishes prepared at your hotel are also quite delicious for you to enjoy.

When traveling to Phu Quoc and want to find affordable seafood restaurants, you can refer to Quan Viet at 261 Nguyen Trung Truc, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc. Previously in Bai Khem, which was a place to buy delicious and cheap seafood, the quality of the restaurant’s seafood was quite good. In addition to herring salad, which is a specialty, the shop is also famous for its melaleuca mushroom soup and fried rice with crabs.

The restaurant has a family space with spacious, air-conditioned, and fresh seafood tubs for guests to choose from. Especially on rainy days, if your family has children, you can ask the shop for a FREE shuttle bus. Only a few hundred meters from Phu Quoc night market, after dinner, is complete, you can visit the night market to visit or have fun.

Quan Viet is open from 10 am every day. If you go with many people, you can call to reserve a table at the phone number 0932 620 779 so that the restaurant can arrange seats and prepare more thoughtfully.

Some other eateries in Phu Quoc

• Le Giang Restaurant – Located right around the night market rotation, Le Giang eatery is a familiar breakfast place for tourists traveling in groups. The price is about 25,000 VND
• Quoc Anh Restaurant – Food here is praised by many customers, priced at 30,000 VND / bowl. 30/4 Street Phu Quoc, near Thang Long Hotel.
• Fish cake soup shop – A popular restaurant located on the side of the road, right next to Thang Long Hotel, if you like to sit and watch the street scene and enjoy the local taste, come here to try. 20,000 VND / bowl.
• Buffet breakfast at Hotel Huong Bien – You can call the hotel to order a breakfast buffet at this restaurant even if you do not rent a room here.

Ham Ninh crab 

Ham Ninh crabs cost from 100,000 VND – 150,000 VND / 1kg depending on the small size. But big crabs in Phu Quoc are only equal to new ones in the Central region. Big crabs are too small to eat whereas too small crabs do not have meat. If you like to eat tomalley, choose female crabs. And if you eat more meat, you should eat males crabs. Coming here without enjoying boiled crabs is considered incomplete.

Crab is a specialty of Phu Quoc, almost always available. The crabs that have just been caught are boiled, the color is bright red, the meat is firm, and the salt is dipped in lemon and pepper. To eat the best crabs, you must go to Ham Ninh Fishing Village or you can also come here to play and buy crabs to bring back to your hotel.

Herring salad

Herring Salad is one of the most famous dishes that you need try in Phu Quoc. Not picky in the way of processing herring requires a lot of meticulous steps: from choosing fresh herring, shiny white scales; The crust must be made of pure rice flour and dipped in thin coconut milk to soften the raw vegetables to converge all forest vegetables and grown vegetables such as pineapple, lettuce, spicy basil, fish lettuce,…

Roll the vegetables into the rice paper, add a few strands of grated coconut, pick up the fresh red herring with Phu Quoc fish sauce, slowly put it in your mouth. The taste is soft, crispy, sweet, sour, fatty of coconut, and roasted peanuts mixed in the spicy, fragrant taste of wild vegetables that gradually melted in their mouth. Making anyone who has the opportunity to enjoy the first time will find it strange, taste good for the second time, and then become addicted to this dish if try more.

The special feature of the residents of Phu Quoc is that when eating herring, you must drink a little bit of sim wine. Because herring has a lot of protein and is still fresh. When eating fish salad, should use a little yeast for good digestion. 

Snail Jump (Ốc Nhảy)

There are many types of jump snails but the most common of which are white jump snails and red jump snails. The reason for this distinction is due to the color of the shell. The white jump snail has a thick shell, the meat is fragrant and fatter than the red snail. Perhaps thanks to the better quality of meat, the price of white snails is also higher (1kg of red snail is about 110,000 VND – 120,000 VND / kg (30 – 35 pieces/kg), while 1kg of the white snail of the same type is 180,000 VND / kg).

The best snail dish is boiled with lemongrass, but sometimes local people also cook dishes such as grilled jump snail, processing with satay sauce,…

Grilled squid

Egg squid is a squid larger than an adult thumb, almost as long as gloves. It is found in the Central Coast but concentrated mostly in the coastal areas of Phu Quoc. The period from February to May of the lunar calendar is the most abundant season of squid eggs. Processing this dish is not difficult, the first condition is that you must choose the fresh squid eggs when eaten to have the sweetness of the meat and the fat of the egg.

Wash egg squid, marinate with salt and chili, cooking oil for about 15 minutes to soak the spices. Then place the marinated squid on the grill and bake on the charcoal stove. Grilled evenly on both sides, when you see the squid’s body is tight, stretched, yellow, and the aroma radiates out that the squid is ripe. Serve hot with fish sauce or lime pepper salt, accompanied by a little cucumber and laksa leaves.

Grilled Pawn

Grilled Pawn is a rustic dish but has a bold Vietnamese identity, especially for people in coastal areas. Pawns are washed, marinated for a bit, and then put into a grill over red embers.

Babylonia Areolata (Ốc Hương)

Phu Quoc Babylonia Areolata, as its name implies, has a distinctive aroma. Some people say the smell of snails is like pineapple leaves, but in fact, only when eating you can feel it clearly. This scent whether boiled, grilled, or fried are outstanding and different from other types of sea snails.

Ốc Hương has many different ways of processing. Some people like to boil, some like to grill (grill naturally or roast with chili salt), some like to steam, deep-fried, others like to make a salad or spicy tamarind sauce. Popular in Phu Quoc is the grilled snail dish with chili salt, salt, lemon pepper, or chili sauce. The most attractive thing is that when we cook it nearly nine times, we put a little onion fat or cooking oil in the mouth of the snail and then continue to grill it, the meat of the snail will become golden yellow and smelly fragrant.

Grilled Mu Ni Shrimp

Mu Ni shrimp have 10 legs, divers can easily be identified by a large tactile like a large plate in front of the head, reminiscent of the image of “hat covering the ears”, so it is named as the plastic prawn. The meat is tender, sweet, delicious, and exceptionally nutritious.

Cobia (Cá Bớp)

Cobia often lives on muddy and sandy beaches in the saltwater tidal zone. This fish has the characteristic of burrowing with two or more holes for shelter and spawning. During low tide, they leave their burrows and surf in the mud or rocks to eat algae, their favorite food is diatoms. An adult goby has an average weight of 5 – 15 kg/fish.

Cobia is one of the premia and special seafood of Phu Quoc Island to make delicious Phu Quoc dishes. Fish is processed into many attractive and delicious dishes.

Phu Quoc prickly snail

This type of snail has a slightly fancy shape, the shell consists of many spikes, so it is called the spiny snail – usually living around the southwestern seas. Seafood connoisseurs love this type of snail thanks to its rich, fatty, and sweetmeat. Snail has many different ways of processing such as grilled, boiled, sautéed garlic, steamed ginger, mixed salad, but most commonly eaten grilled or boiled, both delicious, convenient and safe food hygiene. Snails caught only need to be washed and ready to be processed. If you want to eat boiled, it is very simple, just put all the snails in the pot, pour a little water, a little salt and add a few lemongrass shrimp and then cover, boil for 15 minutes to cook.

Grilled prickly snails have a unique and delicious taste. Before eating, you should choose the ones that have just been baked and then use a sharp bamboo toothpick to cut the meat, the aroma going up to the nose is enough to stimulate the taste buds, making people eager to join. Snail meat is milky white, full round, chewing slowly into your mouth will feel both fat, chewy, crispy, rich in flavor different from the taste of fat snail, cramps, or clams.

Phu Quoc Nhum

Nhum often lives in groups in the sea areas of our country, especially in Ca Na, Ninh Thuan, and Phu Quoc, Kien Giang. They often gather in places where there are many coral reefs, reefs, and caves to eat algae, seagrass, especially chives. Its appearance is round like a small ball, with many bristly spines like a porcupine, so it is also known as sea urchin or sea urchin. Processing incense, perhaps the most strenuous step is to cut all the surrounding thorns. After being “cleared” of spines, only around, a rough ball is about the size of a tennis ball. Using a knife to split, remove all the stunned most inside, you will see the opaque yellow flesh sticking along the side of the “sphere”, which is the precious part of the num.

Phu Quoc people have three ways of processing Nhum. The most sophisticated is to scrape off the inner layer of meat, fry it with garlic fat, and put it in a boiling porridge pot. Porridge with a fatty taste, rich and special has a very distinctive aroma, is considered a nutritious food, helping to quickly regain strength after traveling on the beach, when traveling long distances are tiring.

However, the most popular way to eat Nhum sticks in Phu Quoc is to cut the Nhum in half and bake them around a persimmon fire. On the pink stove, the grilled joss sticks quickly smelled. Just grilling, using a spoon to scrape the meat with salt and pepper, lemon,… Those who prefer to be more succinct put lemon and mustard in half of the “sphere”. These dishes are more suitable if there is a little wine on the table.

Phu Quoc Nhum

Must be fresh mackerel (just netted, even alive, the better), if the fish is about to spoil, it will not taste. Before enjoying this wonderful grilled fish, one should get a little decent preparation. Very dry charcoal, griddle, medium heat, lemon, salt, chili, thin rice paper, and a plate of raw vegetables to serve. Fish caught without hook-carry intestinal hook, wash briefly through seawater, put on the basket for a while to drain. The fire was burning with embers, set a grill, and then arranged a few mackerel fish, and wait for the fish to ripen.

Dipping a rice paper roll consisting of a mixture of vegetables and grilled mackerel in a cup of salt and lemon chili (a lot of lemon juice, a lot of chilies, a little more water, a little bit of monosodium glutamate – do not use fish sauce) and then bring it to your mouth to chew gently and see, the scent of the forest The taste of the sea just stopped on the tip of the tongue, then melted, soaked in the sweet taste thorns. Sipping a little wine soaked in wild sim fruit on the island, then adding a little fish with little vegetables, space suddenly stopped drifting, the day seemed to melt with small waves. Frequently come back to the fish to cook evenly, when we see the two sides of the goldfish fillet in a well-groomed, fragrant nose, the fish is overcooked. Gently lift the fish out of the grill, gently place the fish on a plate and also gently remove each strand of veggie sandwich to enjoy.

Grilled Cá Da Bò

Cowskin fish has a very bad shape but the meat is white and very fragrant. The taste is chewy and delicious like chicken. This grilled fish is better if the fish is about 2 kg large. Chefs clean the fish, clean the intestines, marinate the fish with spices, and can be baked directly on embers or baked foil packs. From the cleaning, the marinade to the grill, the cowfish did not fall in love with anyone, but when it was done, waiting for the fish to drain, then the flesh to taste its delicious taste. Grilled beef fish can be eaten with salt, salt, lemon pepper, or chili-like delicious chicken.

Steamed chicken with green pepper in Phu Quoc

After long days of enjoying seafood to the point of getting tired, you can exchange a little taste with this dish. Phu Quoc pepper is famous for its fragrant flavor, which will make this steamed chicken with pepper sauce much better.

Travel schedule in Phu Quoc

Let’s share with you a few simple itineraries so that you can arrange to go to all the tourist destinations in Phu Quoc in the shortest time.

Day 1

• Go to Phu Quoc airport, take a taxi to the hotel, usually, if you are absent, they will let you check in early, otherwise, we just send your stuff to the hotel and go out.
• First, I can go to An Thoi, this side has a few small islands like Hon Mong Tay, May Rut, you can rent a boat to go to the island to snorkel.
• In- Afternoon, return to the hotel to check in and rest.
• Dinner to have BBQ seafood grilled at a certain beach.

Day 2

• Get up for breakfast, around 8 am, pick up and go to Truc Lam Phu Quoc Monastery, continue to Sao Beach for bathing (shallow water, no waves suitable for your baby), noon I can stay here. Lunch at a restaurant and then rest here.
• In the early afternoon (or any time I take the initiative) I go to Phu Quoc prison (babies should be kept outside your house) and visit the house with fish sauce. I can order it here, they will move to their own place outside of Hanoi
• Done here, we got in the car back to Duong Dong, went to Dinh Cau to play and watch the sunset a bit, and then went back to the hotel
• At night, I go out to the night market, can eat here or continue a BBQ

Day 3

• Going to the North of the Island, I in turn visit places such as Phu Quoc swirling dog farm, Sim winery, Le Kim Dinh’s grave, Nguyen Trung Truc temple, Ganh Dau (this place is just a restaurant. close to the sea, overlooking Cambodia, I can rest for lunch here.
• In the afternoon, you can go to Suoi Tranh, Ham Ninh fishing village, stay here until sunset and eat seafood at a restaurant right there.
• Evening back to town to rest.

Day 4

• If you want, you can go to Vinpearl and Vin Safari for a whole day.
• If not, you can choose to go to Safari and then return to the hotel to rest in the afternoon

A few more information

• Rent a car and order BBQ grilled seafood (delicious and very quality). You can contact Mr. Minh 0937 006886 who is living outside Phu Quoc. Anh Minh’s barbecue is unique, picking seafood from the market by himself and holding a barbecue party wherever you like (I think the sea is the best). When you contact, just say, the admin of Cungphuot.info will introduce free drinks at the BBQ party;)
• Phu Quoc is divided into 2 sides: North and South Island, usually in a day the car will only go to one side and visit the points on that side so that sometimes there are thick schedules and there are schedule sections. Again, pay attention to this.
• During your free time, you should arrange your stay at the hotel (for example, you can freely eat breakfast, coffee until 9 am), if you travel, you should enjoy time for a little rest.

Certain items should be brought with you during your days in Phu Quoc

• Towels and swimsuits to swim anywhere
• Sunscreen and sunglasses (the sun in the sea is always more intense)
• Masks and long sleeves (Phu Quoc is a great construction site so it is very dusty)
• Thin windbreaker (in the evening if riding a motorbike, it is still quite cold because of the dew)

Related Article: Traveling experience in Ban Gioc Waterfall that tourist should know

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