Phu Quoc Island Special 2022

Kris Goetghebeur 

Email booking:kris@atravelmate.com .

Phu Quoc, the largest island in Vietnam, is regarded as the pearl island with pristine and wild natural beauties. With the advantage of 150 kilometers of coastal line, diverse forest ecosystems and marine resources, Phu Quoc has become one of the ideal destinations for a beach holiday in Vietnam. Phu Quoc is also an excellent place for those who would like to explore the charming nature and history of Vietnam.

Best time to visit :

Phu Quoc has the typical tropical monsoon climate with two distinct seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season starts on the island from October to July the next year, and the rainy seasons are between August and early October.

During the rainy season, the air humidity is high, and the rain is constant. Therefore, visiting Phu Quoc in the rainy season, there will be a limitation for water activities such as diving and snorkeling or exploring the National park and mangroves. However, this is the green season, and one can enjoy the low season rates.

On the contrary, in the dry season, when the rain stops, the sea is peaceful, and the waves are not strong. Therefore, this will be the best time to visit Phu Quoc. Choosing to travel to Phu Quoc this time, you will have the chance to discover the full beauty of Phu Quoc, from the mountains range connecting from the North to the South of the island, the national park with various types of flora and fauna, the sandy beaches, etc.

The easiest way to get around the island of Phu Quoc is via motorbike. You can rent one from most hotels on the island or from the many small rental shops around town. Prices range from 100,000 – 150,000 per day and the price of gas is nominal. Do not forget to check your inusrance and aplly for an international driving license !

The best thing to do in Phu Quoc is, of course, to lounge on the beach. You’ll likely hear many different responses when you inquire about the most beautiful beach in Phu Quoc. And that’s because there are so many to choose from, you really can’t go wrong!

Sao Beach is arguably the most picturesque on the island with powdery white sand and crystal clear water. There are plenty of umbrellas and lounge chairs that you can rent to spend the afternoon enjoying the beautiful calm water. Sao Beach is eastern facing so unfortunately you won’t get the best sunset here. But you can always head to the west side of the Phu Quoc in the afternoon to catch the sunset.

Long Beach is the most popular beach on the west side of Phu Quoc island. True to its name, the beach is incredibly long with over 12 miles of golden sand.

North Long Beach stretches for ~3 miles from the Trang An Phu Quoc Beach Resort on its northern end to the Song Tranh Canal at its southern end. This part of the long beach sits closer to the town of Duong Dong (Dương Đông). It is the main town on the island of Phu Quoc. It’s also more built up with a variety of bars, restaurants and hotels lining North Long Beach.

South Long Beach is about nine miles in length and is home to newly developed upscale resorts. It is separated from the north end by the Sông Tranh estuary. Luxury resorts own most of the beaches here but you can still find pockets of public beach access.

We love watching the sunset a bit further north on the island, at Bai Ong Lang Beach.

Just around the corner from Bai Ong Lang Beach is Mango Bay. It is technically a private beach and only accessible through Mango Bay Resort.

There are fewer nice beaches in the Northern half of Phu Quoc. The coastline is rockier with small sandy bays tucked here and there. These small beaches are more remote and you’ll likely have them to yourself. However, they are not as nice or well maintained as the beaches in the south. The exception is Bai Dai Beach in front of the Vinpearl Resort. Unfortunately, is next to impossible to visit unless you are staying at the resort.

Phu Quoc Prison (also known as Coconut Tree Prison) was built in 1949 by French colonists. There were as many as 40,000 Vietnamese soldiers and political figures imprisoned and tortured here during the American War (often called the “Vietnam War” when we refer to it in the USA).  The prison was declared a national historical site in 1995 and opened to the public to visit. For a small entrance fee, you can see exhibitions that depict the various types of torture individuals endured here. Some included electrocution, crucifixion, and food deprivation.  If you want to learn about Vietnam War history and intrigued by torture methods, this museum is one of the most interesting things to do on Phu Quoc island!

The Phu Quoc Cable Car is an oversea cable car. It is the longest and most continuous three-cable aerial car system in the world. It’s located on the southwestern tip of the island. Your journey will begin on Phu Quoc island at An Thoi. Your ride will last for about 15 minutes, ending at Hon Thom Island (also known as “Pineapple Island”), where you can enjoy the waterpark, food and drinks near the beach.

Snorkeling is a very popular activity on Phu Quoc Island because the sea is calm and quite warm. You can book a tour that will take you to Finger Island, Dam Ngang Island, and May Rut Island. You’ll spot colorful coral and some diverse marine life.  Scuba diving is less popular due to overfishing …

Suoi Tranh Waterfall is the perfect place to relax and breathe in fresh air while enjoying the surrounding nature. Just a short drive from Duong Dong, Suoi Tranh Waterfall is a popular place for locals and tourists alike. There are plenty of shady walking tours to explore and the waterfall is ideal for swimming.  The main attraction, Suoi Tranh Waterfall, is just a 20-minute walk from the entrance to the park. But you’ll find that the area also has several caves, rock pools, and streams to enjoy.

It would be virtually impossible to visit Vietnam without trying their beloved national cuisine – fish sauce (“nước mắm” in Vietnamese). Most Vietnamese dishes include fish sauce in some way – whether it’s on the side for dipping, used in a sauce or marinade, or added at the end for a little extra salty flavor.

There are two regions in Vietnam that are famous for fish sauce – one of those is Phu Quoc. The fish sauce produced on the island is exported worldwide. You’ll be lucky enough to take a tour of one of the factories here to see exactly how it’s made, fermented, and bottled.

Where to stay :

Pullman :

Pullman welcomes guests with the space they need to focus, work and play. Global nomads seek destinations that are as distinctive and open-minded as they are. That’s why they’re drawn to Phu Quoc, one of the best-kept secrets of Asia. This Vietnam’s largest island, offering pristine beaches, a primary national park, a 16-island archipelago, the world’s longest cable car and much more,  is a tropical paradise for inquisitive travelers in search of unique experiences. Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort offers globetrotters a seamless balance between peak performance and personal wellbeing. Tailor-made for those in search of serious play and a playful place to work, this Pullman’s flagship resort located on the island’s southwest coast just 10 minutes from the airport is the ideal playground for business travelers, couples, friends or families.

Along its private 170-meter private beach on Bai Truong, the resort infuses with the newest Pullman Resort DNA and a delicate touch of local art and culture. Inspired by the lively fishing villages on Phu Quoc’s shores, Spanish architect and urban planner Salvador Pérez Arroyo skillfully crafted the ingenious pieces of buildings and landscapes which, from the air, your imagination could guess the shape of a fish swimming towards the Gulf of Thailand. The Hub would be the head, the pool is its body, the side wings are the fins and the main building a fantail. This is no concrete jungle. Greenery or golden sand makes up 80% of the six-hectare resort.

The beach resort offers a variety of 331 stylish rooms in 8 categories, starting from the spacious 45-sqm Superior featuring a private balcony and the latest in connectivity & technology. For an enhanced experience, choices of suites offering separate living spaces and bedrooms are yours. Our tastefully designed Cabanas come with a semi-private pool and an in-room Jacuzzi bathtub is all the epitome of tropical living calls for. As a cut above, the Beachfront Pool Villa offers two separate bedrooms, ensuite Jacuzzi tubs, a sauna room, a private dining area, kitchenette facilities and personal butler service.

Dining at Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort is more than just table and bar service. It’s an ever-changing menu of open-air parties, theme nights, roving food carts, beach cookouts and pop-up eateries by our Chef and his team. Bespoke culinary options ranging from the all-day-dining restaurant with international and local dishes, Salt ‘n Pepper, premium fresh seafood grill at the al fresco Sea Stars to the damn-good cuts paired with a madly priced wine list at our signature rooftop steak house – Mad Cow Wine & Grill. To make the most of the well-known sunset of Phu Quoc, the Beach House offers a range of favorite snacks and hand-crafted cocktails. Always aglow in the center of the lobby, The Lighthouse Bar is open 24-hour to offer creative cocktails, light bites or a personalized cappuccino. The Coconutz Pool Bar is a chilly spot for a selection of exotic refreshments and treats. At Pullman, food and drink are synonymous with fun and spontaneity.

Work rhymes with play, and fun is a natural by-product of doing business, especially when attendees approach our latest Meet/Play concept. Meetings flow seamlessly into creative coffee breaks to recharge your team. We offer many catering packages and chef’s set menus to choose from, or you can design your own. Team-building activities are optimized for collaboration and pleasure – and can take place almost anywhere in the resort. The function spaces at Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort range from the private dining room at Mad Cow Wine & Grill to the pillarless Grand Ballroom that hosts up to 500 people. The modular meeting rooms – Rock, Paper and Scissors – are as high-tech and flexible as they are playful, can open up to the expansive garden foyer ideal for cocktail parties and intimate celebrations. For a change of pace and scenery, set your event in a rooftop garden, at The Hub, on the beach, around a ping-pong table or alongside the central swimming pool. The vast Pool Villa sets the scene for an unforgettable private party.

At Pullman, an active lifestyle is a way of life. No one is left out. We offer a complete program for adults, kids and teens alike. The resort facilities include the first and only infinity mosaic pool on the island, tennis courts, an ultra-pampering and energising spa, a high-tech fitness center, beach sports and a complete line-up of lifestyle activities from dance, cardio and cooking classes. Family-friendly facilities offer little VIPs an indoor clubhouse, outdoor playground, splash pad and the shallow area of the immense pool. Teenagers can chill out and make friends during activities designed just for them – no parents allowed. Adults get to plan their own agenda.

Fusion resort Phu Quoc :

Nestled in a private bay on a lush tropical island, Fusion Resort Phu Quoc is an all-pool, all-spa inclusive resort with a unique rustic charm – a tropical island paradise where the river meets the sea and the sea meets the sky.

With private pools, monsoon showers, sunken bathtubs, and secluded gardens outside each and every one of the spacious thatched villas, plus stunning beach and riverfront views, kick back, relax, and enjoy ‘bed-to-beach’ living while soaking up direct views across the pool to the sand and the ocean beyond.

Set around a rich pepper garden in a nod to one of the island’s top exports, Maia Spa Phu Quoc is a true highlight of the resort.  Boasting 26 treatment rooms with outdoor shower facilities, the resort’s unique ‘all-spa-inclusive’ service at no extra cost is truly the ultimate indulgence for the weary traveller.

Dine on fresh seafood at one of the resort’s restaurants, or sink your toes in the sand while sipping on a signature cocktail at the beach bar.  And with Fusion’s unique ‘breakfast anywhere, anytime’ concept, guests can enjoy breakfast in any of the restaurants, in the privacy of their villa, by the pool, or even on the beach.

Sailing Club Signature Resort :

Located in Phu Quoc Marina, an entertainment complex next to the beautiful Bai Truong Beach, Sailing Club Signature Resort Phu Quoc is a resort that brings a new breeze to Phu Quoc pearl island. Offers 100 luxurious yet intimate and pet-friendly villas and resort’s architecture is inspired by the Scandinavian Style reflecting elements of minimalism, casual look, and art design.

At Sailing Club Signature Resort Phu Quoc, we have three types of villas with 2 bedrooms and 3 bedrooms, suitable for 4 to 6 adults and 2 children can relish their stay. The villas are named after stars in the galaxy like Castor, Sirius, and Polaris. All the spacious villas have a private swimming pool and greenery, and floor-to-ceiling windows create a limitless connection with nature by utilizing natural light during the day or starry night light. We invite you to bring your four-legged fur babies and relax in the villa’s comfortable backyard. Have lunch in our indoor-outdoor dining area or fill the fridge with the best market selections for meals that will exist in your memory for years to come. With a fully equipped kitchen, you can show off your cooking skills and prepare the most delicious dishes for your family. More than that, this is a place where you can soak up the sunshine, relax and have fun with your loved ones.

Sandals, The Market is more than a stop to buy groceries for your private villa. It is an extension of one of the best restaurants in Phu Quoc and lets your control your Phu Quoc dining experience and allow you to enjoy and create delicious meals and memorable moments with friends and family while taking advantage of the villa’s fully equipped kitchen. Unlike any other dining experience in Phu Quoc, Sandals, The Market gives you a chance to cook, dine, and learn about Vietnamese cooking with our signature flair. This is a truly unique gourmet experience where you truly open the kitchen doors to yourself and exceeds all boundaries with an extremely unique artisanal food and beverage concept that will cater to your culinary desire.

The Sailing Club Phu Quoc is only a quick five minutes from Sailing Club Signature Resort Phu Quoc. You’ll find a public pool, a tropical beach, plus one of the best restaurants and entertainment venues on Phu Quoc! Spend the day relaxing with friends and meet other like-minded travelers, and then watch a glorious sunset before getting prepared to dance the night away. The Sailing Club Phu Quoc team consistently elevates the energy and atmosphere to the next level. The Sailing Club Phu Quoc is known to cater for parties that are unique and extravagant, just like our guests.

At Spa, we combine ancient and modern techniques and only use natural and organic products suited to your body and skin type. We are using only natural and organic products suited to your body and skin type, we combine the best of ancient and modern techniques for all our treatments. Book a customized deep cleaning or a berry plus antioxidant infusion treatment. Regardless of if you’re booking a refresher facial or a customized gua sha facial, each one of our signature services promises therapeutic and soothing results. Our treatments and therapy are designed to provide a unique and soothing experience only for you.

PHU QUOC UNITED CENTER – THE UNIVERSE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE THAT NEVER SLEEPS

Featuring nature’s breathtaking beauty in an area of over 1,000 hectares in the north of Phu Quoc – just 25 minutes from Duong Dong town and 50 minutes to Phu Quoc International Airport, Phu Quoc United Center (PQUC) is an emerging hot place in Vietnam for both local and foreign tourist. The journey here will take you into a Universe of Entertainment & Leisure that follows the “never sleeps” concept. Non-stop parties inspired by Las Vegas, seaside festivities just like in Ibiza, and top-tier resorts of international standards – all elevated by Phu Quoc’s very own characters, will bring you a vacation unlike any other.

The busy commercial center of Phu Quoc offers comprehensive experiences including stay, indulgence, entertainment, gastronomy & shopping for tourists mark the most memorable memories during their trip to The Pearl Island Phu Quoc. Here are 5 experiences you must try when coming with PQUC:

1. Stay in the top-rated resorts of Phu Quoc

• Located in the heart of PQUC, tourists visiting this super complex should not miss the experience of staying in 5 stars hotel & resort chain of well-known entertainment & hospitality brand in Vietnam – Vinpearl. All hotels & resorts are located along Long Beach – One of the TOP 100 World’s best beaches (voted by CNN, 2007). Visitors will immerse in the charming unspoiled Long Beach while easily enjoying all services within just a few steps. Here are two standout names you may be interested in:
• Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phú Quốc – The most beautiful sunset paradise on the pearl island

The resort welcomes guests with its bright red tiles, Indochine-style architecture and an outdoor swimming pool of nearly 5,000 square meters – the largest outdoor swimming pool in Phu Quoc. Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc offers an experience journey full of typical natural flavors of the pearl island. This resort was honored by the World Travel Awards 2019 as “the best family resort in Vietnam & Asia”.

Some of the unmissable experiences visitors can try here include: savoring a seafood buffet in Pepper Restaurant with live music and admiring “the most magnificent sunset of Vietnam” on Long Beach, sipping a tropical cocktail while enjoy the breathtaking sunset from Sim Bar, relaxing on a lazy chair to watch a family-favorite movie at the beach cinema or leisurely strolling by the private beach 3.5km long while watching the brilliant “party of lights” in the evening.

• Vinpearl Discovery Wonder World Phu Quoc – A green space filled with vitality

Vinpearl Discovery Wonderworld Phu Quoc features exclusively 2 to 4 bedrooms villas with a private pool that focuses on the privacy of all guests. If you are traveling as a big family or big group, this will be a worth-considered choice.

The resort impresses visitors with its intimate touch with nature, from lush gardens to private, expansive beaches. The resort is also within close vicinity of an international-standard golf course amid an old-growth forest, which brings a unique experience to anyone staying here.

2. Join an adventure in the entertainment world at Vietnam’s largest themed park VinWonders

With a scale of 46.7 hectares, VinWonders Phu Quoc is the largest theme park in Vietnam and the   leading entertainment complex in Asia. VinWonders features unique activities and experiences – all created by the world’s best consultants as Quantum, Legacy, Jora Vision, IRMS, Vekoma, Intamin, Triotech, Brogent,… Launched since summer 2020 with 06 subdivisions and 12 central themes, more than 100 world modern games and the most epic multimedia shows, this amusement park is currently the hotspot of Phu Quoc.

Here, who love to explore the diversity of the deep sea must go to Neptune Palace – home of 255,000 sea creatures, walk along the under-the-ocean tunnel, or see close-up of various fish species through a giant, transparent acrylic glass panel up to 200m2. This aquarium was built to resemble a unique tortoiseshell architecture and is now TOP 5 largest aquarium tanks in the world By Worldkings Association of World Records in 2022.

3. Discover the lifestyle of rare and precious species locally and around the world in Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc

Recognized as the largest semi-wild animal conservation park in Vietnam, Vinpearl Safari stretches over an area of 380 hectares in lush green forests. With the residency of more than 3,000 individuals of 150 species from around the world, Vinpearl Safari is honored to be the first zoo in Vietnam to receive the certification of the SEAZA Association for conservation and animal welfare.

Here is the home of endangered species such as white lions, square-lipped rhinoceros, lemur cattas and many other wild animals from regions in the world such as the South African Rhinoceros, Kangaroos, Indian Tigers, Kenya Zebras. Coming to Vinpearl Safari, tourists will get to see animals in their natural habitat, at the same time giving their children opportunities of becoming an “animal care expert”. The highlight of the park is the ‘lords of the skies’ unique bird shows.

4. Elevate challenge in a cluster of 18-hole courses of international standards, unique position “face to the sea, back to the forest” – Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc.

If you are a golf lover, you must not miss out on Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc. With its wilderness and classic beauty, Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc is the only international-standard, 18-hole golf course on the paradise Pearl Island. Situated in a primeval forest, with its fresh and pleasant air, the course will bring a sense of relaxation and excitement to visitors. There are lovely animal friends like monkeys, deer, peacocks and birds who will accompany and cheer for the golfers.

This Phu Quoc golf course is built according to a unique island golf course model and offers many great experiences with its diverse arrangement of obstacles and different difficulties. Golfers can easily feel the beauty of the fairways undulating in the sunshine amidst the green patches of forests facing the sea. Vinpearl Golf Phu Quoc has won many prestigious awards:

• “Asia’s Most Memorable Golf Course 2019” from Destination Golf magazine;
• “Golf course with the most beautiful natural scenery & Golf course with the most beautiful Par 4 hole in Vietnam” from Vietnam Golf Association and Vietnam Golf magazine;
• “Top 18 best golf resorts in Asia” voted by Golf Digest magazine.

5. Immerse yourself in the world of shopping, dining, recreating “city” – Grand World Phu Quoc

Grand World Phu Quoc is an entertainment and shopping complex belonging to PQUC. This complex is known as “The sleepless city” because it has non-stop vibrant festivals and parties 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This feature creates an endless entertainment circle for you to enjoy every moment in Phu Quoc Island as if you are traveling to many famous sleepless cities around the world:

Capture memorable photos when strolling along themed shopping streets of Shanghai, Venice, Indochina,… visit Urban Park,  Teddy Bear museum, Lake of Love. Especially, you won’t want to miss Vietnam’s largest bamboo construction – Bamboo Legend, a masterpiece that represents the unique cultural symbols of Vietnam.

Embrace the vibrance of festive seasons with regular activities and 3 million-dollar show: ONCE, The Colour of Venice, and, above all, “The Quintessence of Vietnam” – a water show extravaganza with epic performances on moving stages scale of up to 11,200 m2. The show captures the cultural quintessence of Vietnamese in a thousand years.

Shop around over 1000 bustling shophouses on commercial streets for exquisite handicraft products and treat your taste well with fresh seafood in Phu Quoc and traditional Vietnamese cuisine at night markets.

Also, you can find indulgence experiences in AKOYA Spa, a world-class brand that provides the best beauty & health treatments from the spiritual island of Bali, Indonesia, try your luck in Corona casino or organize events and conferences in Vinpearl Convention Center Phu Quoc,…

Exploring PQUC will take you on a journey of joy and surprises with its all-inclusive services and facilities. This super complex is still planning to be upgraded to many new recreation categories and is continuing to be a top leading popular destination on Pearl Island Phu Quoc.