PHU QUOC ISLAND
I feel cut off from the Western world; there isn’t a fast food restaurant in sight, a barber is cutting a man’s hair out on the pavement under the blazing sun, and the shouts from the kids playing in the nearby harbour proclaim their love for life.
Lost in it all, I snap back to coherence. I notice a set of eyes peering up at me from underneath a conical hat; the adjoining lips offer a greeting of: ‘Sing Chào.’
I’m on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc island, a destination that may have more modern amenities if it were attached to the mainland but it doesn’t, and for that I am grateful.
The pace of life on Phu Quoc island is blissfully dull, something that is increasingly hard to find in Vietnam. The distance between Phu Quoc and Vietnamese mainland is a mere 12km, astonishingly preserving the Vietnamese charm that has been attracting tourists, both foreign and local, for decades.
Where to Stay on Phu Quoc Island?
The breadth of lodgings on Phu Quoc island is quite varied. Seasonal prices and the number of current visitors can drastically ebb and flow the per-night price.
By Vietnamese standards, the prices may be a bit higher (mainly when compared to the larger urban cities Saigon and Hanoi) but you’ll be getting a grand trip out of the experience.
The three main areas are Ving Bau Beach, Ong Lang Beach and Long Beach. Long Beach seems to have the most variety of resorts.
I chose Cassia Cottages, solely because the staff harvests their own cinnamon then use it for cinnamon ice cream and cinnamon lattes.
Things to do in Phu Quoc Island
Visiting Bai Sao (South Beach) on the southern tip of the island should be ticked off the list first.
The arduous dirt-road route deters hordes of tourists from the area, which makes for a mix of foreign and domestic vacationers soaking up the sun and listening to the waves.
The water is so clear in this area you’ll want to take a boat trip to the nearby An Thoi Islands for a day of snorkelling.
I found the market in Duong Dong (the islands biggest town) to be quite fascinating.
If you like old world markets this will be a huge highlight for you.
I tried to count on my hands how many food items which I could not identify, and I ran out of fingers.
Don’t make any sudden movements as motor bikes intertwine with the sea of people walking about.
The Dinh Cau Temple also in Duong Dong is a nice place to visit. This temple/lighthouse is an odd combination but the views of sea are top-notch.
The restaurant just down the beach from Dinh Cau Temple serves phenomenal iced Vietnamese coffee, so grab one and head to the second-floor terrace to catch the sun setting over the harbour.
I actually found the night market to be less interesting than Duong Dong’s daytime market but there are still some fun things to do at it.
Looking at dehydrated bats to crush up into tea or playing carnival style gambling games sure beat sitting in your hotel room.
RELAX! – This island was meant to be taken in through sun shades while reclining on a beach chair. Large beers at the small makeshift bars along Long Beach are about 60 cents.
How to get to Phu Quoc Island
By Plane – Vietnamese Airlines offers flights from Saigon for under $100.00. The flight takes less than an hour.
By Boat – Three ports on the east side of the island are linked to Ha Tien on the Vietnamese/Cambodian Border and ferry trips between are made twice daily.
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