It is generally hard to find someone who doesn't feel excited when they hear about travelling because it offers the chance to explore new places and sites, try various cuisines, and experience new cultural vibes of those places. These are some of the best attributes of travel that can only be experienced by stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and attempting to explore one’s environment. Be it any experience of travel, people always have a natural fondness towards some type of terrain.
Some individuals like treks through the mountains; there are individuals who cherish spending time in the company of the ocean and beaches, and lastly, there are people who simply adore walking down the city streets.
In this blog, we have shared details about Phu Quoc, the largest island of Vietnam, known for its perfect mix of family vacations and peaceful private time.
Understanding Phu Quoc Island Before You Visit
The island is located 5000 km away from India and is situated in Vietnam. The beauty of the island and the presence of the sandy beaches attract numerous tourists each year.
This island possesses a great number of features which are associated with a beautiful landscape created by nature itself, as well as various tourism facilities created by people.
What all does this blog cover?
-
How to get there?
-
Where to visit and what all is there to do?
-
Where to stay? Accommodation and famous locations with view.
-
What to eat and what food items and drinks to try?
Where to Stay in Phu Quoc Island?
When you are travelling to a new place, you should ensure a few things, such as that the accommodation must be safe, comfortable and easily approachable. In addition to that, your location is said to be excellent if it’s closer to your favourite destination, such as near or by the beach, nightlife, and market.
Choosing the Right Beach Location
Popular beach locations
-
Long Beach: This place is one of Phu Quoc's most crowded and famous places. It has many good hotels, resorts and markets around.
-
Ong Lang: This beach is known for its peace and relaxing vibes.
-
Bai Sao Beach: This beach is famous for its clean & white sand.
-
Ganh Dau: This is situated in the north of the island. It is rather more secluded and less developed compared to other areas and beaches. It has some hidden beauties that offer scenic landforms.
Which beach site is good for you?
-
Night life lovers: Long Beach is your answer
-
For those looking for peace: Try out Ong Lang Beach
-
For beautiful beaches: Go for Bai Sao
-
For adventurous souls: Ganh Dau is ideal
Types of Accommodation Available
There are different types of accommodations available on the Island depending on your style, location, demand and budget.
-
Budget hotels: There are various hotels nearby every beach you refer to.
-
Boutique resorts: If you have a decent budget and wish to explore stylish, mid-range stays, then resorts can deliver the best to your experience.
-
Luxury beachfront resorts: If you are looking for premium experiences with private beaches and personal space at each, with your loved ones, then this is a good option for you.
-
Inland accommodations: If you are a solo traveller or a backpacker, then you can always go with cheaper options away from the coast that offer almost all your needs with a minimum of a 10-minute ride from the beach.
Best Things to See and Do in Phu Quoc
Visiting the largest island of another country can be truly exciting and adventurous on its own. However, you should always have a preplanned itinerary with you before you come to this island, as it is huge, and can be confusing because of its variety of options.
Explore Beaches and Natural Attractions
-
Enjoy clean and sandy beaches: Phu Quoc has many amazing beaches such as Ong Lang Beach and Long Beach and they provide relaxation opportunities.
-
Enjoy swimming or snorkelling: If you want to indulge yourself in the sea water then this destination has several places for you to swim or snorkel.
-
Take a hike through mountainous forests: As most of the area of the island is under forests, the latter provide many opportunities for fun activities.
-
Waterfall tours such as the Suoi Tranh waterfall: There are also several waterfalls with scenic locations.
Experience Local Culture and Markets
The island is not only confined to mere sandy beaches and forests, but it also has many other exciting and awesome things to offer, such as its nightlife, a mix of Vietnamese culture and its vibrant markets.
-
Visit Duong Dong town: This is the major town on the island that combines both local and tourists’ lifestyle. It has beautiful streets decorated in cultural colours that make it very picturesque.
-
Visit local temples: In case you are one of those people who like a lot of spirituality, peace and tranquillity in their environment, then you need to visit local temples in the area, as they offer you the chance to meditate.
-
Visit night markets: Not visiting the night market in Phu Quoc Island means that you have not visited the destination completely. Activities that you may do during your stay at the night market include shopping and eating at the street markets of the city.
-
Explore less-known areas: Besides visiting the main island and some tourist spots, as highlighted earlier, you may still be left with many areas of this island to tour and explore.
Enjoy Outdoor Adventures
-
Rent a motorbike and explore the island: There are many places where it is not so convenient for cars and other big vehicles to go; plus it also takes longer to get through the traffic, therefore, a motorbike is the best way to cover the place, as many of the destinations are adjacent to one another.
-
Camp around the beach: As far as the beach is concerned, camping around it is the best thing one could do, if you have visited with your friends and family. You can make a bonfire to add light to your camping.
-
Enjoy the island: Take a walk at the beach, swim in the ocean and have dinner with sunset.
-
Engage in water sports and diving: There are numerous water-based sports and diving opportunities at the beach in the water.
What to Eat and Drink in Phu Quoc?
The joy of travelling lies in the fact that you get to experience the enjoyment of tasting various dishes. Phu Quoc has plenty of choices from street foods to restaurants.
Street Food Joints and Local Restaurants
They include:
-
Local seafood vendors
-
Snacks at night markets
-
Family-owned restaurants
Top Spots for Drinks and Sunset Views
-
Beachside bars to enjoy sunset drinks
-
Cafes with a view of the sea
-
Rooftop restaurants in Duong Dong
How to Get to Phu Quoc Island?
There is no direct way to get to Phu Quoc. You have to take a flight from India to the capital city of Vietnam, and then from there you have to take either a flight or a ferry to travel to the island.
Travelling by Air
One of the most convenient ways to travel from India to Phu Quoc is through a plane journey since there are two international cities from where one can board his plane. These cities can include New Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai.
Two major Vietnamese cities, Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi, are major points of arrival for the traveller after they leave from India. These cities are located in southern and northern Vietnam.
Travelling by Ferry
-
You cannot possibly travel directly from India to Phu Quoc by ferry due to its long distance.
-
But if you wish to have an exciting ferry experience during your visit to Phu Quoc Island, then that can be made possible when you arrive in Vietnam first. You can travel to Vietnam by flight and proceed to reach its coastal cities, such as Rach Gia or Ha Tien, from where you can travel to the island by taking a ferry.
Getting Around Phu Quoc Island
The island is large and quite spacious with a lot of different places to explore and each of the locations are at some distance from one another. To travel hassle-free, you have to have a convenient vehicle that lets to cover these places without any wastage of time and being stuck in traffic.
Following are the options of vehicles you can choose to roam around the city.
-
Motorbike rentals: Most flexible and popular
-
Taxis: Convenient but costlier
-
Public buses: It is cheap and accessible but is limited.
-
You can also opt for a bicycle.
Best Time to Visit Phu Quoc Island
Weather and time in a year impact your travelling experience as it determines crowd, sites that are at their best during a few months of the year and so on.
Weather and Seasonal Travel Tips
Understanding Phu Quoc weather is key:
-
Dry Season (November – April): Ideal time to Visit Phu Quoc with sunny skies.
-
Rainy Season (May – October): No Crowds, yet some heavy rains sometimes.
-
Peak season: This is when the tourists are in high numbers, and the prices are inflated.
-
Off-season: This is when the tourist is not as many as peak season. It is a good time for budget travellers.
Useful Advice to Explore Phu Quoc
One should select a location based on their preference and liking. There are several tips that will enhance your enjoyment during the travel.
Refrain from going to places that are mostly crowded during peak hours, plan for a rather peaceful place instead to enjoy.
Look for natural attractions to relax and detox.
As said before, planning is key. Plan early to save more time and maximise your fun and experience.
Finding Balance in Tourist Locations and Local Sites
What makes the perfect tourist is not only a person who visits the location that other people visit; it’s someone who gets to know all about the surrounding areas that not many other tourists visit.
-
Ensure that you maximise your opportunity to visit all the places available.
-
One can be able to balance visiting known sites and discovering the less-known ones.
-
Roam in the town and meet locals to know their story and culture.
Sample Itinerary to Enjoy Phu Quoc Island
3-Day Phu Quoc Travel Plan
Day 1: Beaches and Relaxation
-
Arrive and check into your hotel
-
Relax at Long Beach
-
Enjoying a meal by the beach with a sunset
Day 2: Discovery and Adventure
-
Go to Phu Quoc National Park
-
Hike and see waterfalls
-
Snorkel and explore islands
Day 3: Cultural & Food Adventures
-
Visit markets & temples
-
Go to Duong Dong town
-
Trying street food and local cuisine from night market