The pearl island of Phu Quoc, which is known for primitive white sandy beach filled up by turquoise water, is always celebrated as an ideal holiday destination for inland and abroad visitors.
• When to go Phu Quoc?
From the late October to March, Phu Quoc is quite touristic because this is the high season of Phu Quoc tourism. During this period, don’t bother finding a good hotel at reasonable price because all hotels’ price increases rapidly. Moreover, the peaceful atmosphere at bathing beaches is replaced by the astonishment of jostle. Last but not least, you may have to pay a big amount of money (more than usual) for less qualitative cuisines. Honestly, this mentioned time is only proper for those who are affordable for relaxation at desirable V.I.P resorts.
Phu Quoc Island with white sandy beach
The low season in Phu Quoc is from the late April to the beginning of October: a lot of rain and storms sometimes that cause the decreasing of tourists, so the services price is reasonable. For the best advice, it’s perfect if your visit in Phu Quoc is at beginning of April or the late of October, the commence and end of rain season respectively: reduced rainfall, picturesque landscape, inexpensive services and non-touristic spots.
• Self-travel or with a travel agents?
If you want a nice holiday at an ideal resort without worry, let a travel agent arrange for you. If not, a self-travel can help you save money and satisfy an adventurous spirit.
• How to arrive in Phu Quoc?
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From Ho Chi Minh City: You can arrive in Phu Quoc by coach (cheapest), motorbike (transit by ferry-boat) or flying. If your travel length is limited, however, just fly to this island to save time. Approaching Phu Quoc by motorbike is not highly recommended due to the long itinerary.
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From Hanoi: By plane.
1. By coach from Ho Chi Minh City
First, you have to catch a coach to Rach Gia. From here, take a speedboat to Phu Quoc island. Coach tickets are available at the West Coach Station or you can contact with coach management. In my point of view, Mai Linh and Phuong Trang coaches deserve to be your priorities. The departure at 11.00pm can save your time: overnight sleep on coach, wake up upon arrival for a full day of exploration.
Address of the West Coach Station: 395 Kinh Duong Vuong Street, An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City. Phone number: (08)38.752.953 – 38.776.594
The departure to Rach Gia takes about 6 hours with two stops: First stop is at area of Tien Giang (usually in Cai Be) for dining and freshen up. The other is at Vam Cong Ferry Terminal in Dong Thap Province; here you get out of coach to embark ferryboat. The pedestrians pass the ferry before vehicles, so you have to wait about 5-10 minutes. Remember the number of your coach! The driver will give tickets to you before embarkation.
Before arriving Rach Gia, don’t forget to ask the driver to know which “transit vehicle” to the pier (free charge). When embarking the coach, remind the driver to leave you at the Speedboat Pier. Don’t care about the recommendations of the motorbike taxi unless you want to waste your money.
2. Speedboat from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc
Speedboat (from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc) departs at 8.00am everyday; tickets are available at the Pier (about 15$/pax). Consider 3 carriers: Superdong (1-6 boats), Savanna and Duong Dong Express (1 boat only). The boat journey is about 2,5 hours. During the boat trip, air-conditioners are turned on always, LCD- 32inch screens showcase music performance to ensure that your boat trip is not boring. Additionally, the onboard staff are friendly and attentive to customers, creating the first impression for tourists once visiting Phu Quoc. Boats depart from Phu Quoc at 1.00pm to Rach Gia with the above price and lasting.
3. Speedboat from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc
Speed boat from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc
Savanna:
Address: 12 Tu Do Street; Vinh Thanh; Rach Gia (near the pier)
Phone number of ticket operator: 0773.692.888
Ticket price : 270.000VND/adult, 200.000VND/child (6-12)
Website: http://savannaexpress.com
Superdong:
Address: 14 Tu Do Street; Vinh Thanh; Rach Gia (near the pier)
Phone number of ticket operator: 077 877742 - 077 877 741
Ticket price : 270.000VND/adult.
Thach Thoi Ferry:
Address: Quarter 1, To Chau Ward, Ha Tien township, Kien Giang province.
Tel: 0773.957.239
Fax: 0773.957.238
Hotline 1: 0919-2222-53
Hotline 2: 0913-128-957
Email: phathanhthoi@yahoo.com
4. Arrive in Phu Quoc by plane
Currently, only Vietnam Airlines and VietjetAir offer flights to Phu Quoc. At the beginning 2013, Phu Quoc opened an international airport, so there are many direct flights to this island. Specially, VietjetAir offers round-trip flights to Phu Quoc at price of about 90$/pax.
Only Vietnam Airline offers direct flight from Hanoi to Phu Quoc. If you want to save money, you can fly from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City for a full exploration here, then take a flight of Vietjet Air to Phu Quoc. Round-trip flight of Hanoi-Phu Quoc is about 250$/pax.
5. Transport around the island
You can explore the island by taxi or hire motorbikes. You should hire motorbikes to save money and enjoy free excursion around this pearl island.
To hire motorbike here, you have to prepare deposit and know which are reliable motor-hiring services. You should also book in advance (about 3-5 days) to agree about price and place to receive vehicles (usually at Duong Dong Town). Besides, you can hire motorbike directly at your hotel, resort or have receptionists help you.
Price: About 6$/motorbike and 7.5$/scooter (without petrol). Many motor-hiring services are available at the area of Tran Hung Dao Street. For a complete island exploration, you need to pay around 8$ for gasoline.
Please note that you have to drive carefully in Phu Quoc, especially the road route of An Thoi – Ham Ninh – Duong Dong is asphalt road but very narrow and risky. When you face with big vehicles, you have no choice but driving next to curbside.
In Phu Quoc, not many places are available to entrust your motorbikes, so remember to park your bike at a place in your eye sight and lock it carefully. Do you know why motor-keeping areas are not available? Because people in Phu Quoc is not afraid of losing? As the travel information, actually, Phu Quoc island is so isolated that finding a lost motorbike is easy.
6. Accommodations in Phu Quoc
Duong Dong Town, the centre of Phu Quoc, is the concentration of hotels and resorts. The town is also an ideal starting place for an exploration on the island. Located at the west of Phu Quoc, Duong Dong offers a good view of sunset over the seacoast line. If you wish to contemplate the sunrise, just visit the fishing village of Ham Ninh (at the east) or Sao Beach (at the southeast).
Tran Hung Dao Street – also the road around where there are many hotels and resorts – lasts from the “Nga Nam Keo Dai”, along the Truong Beach, to An Thoi. The itinerary offers chance to visit the gallery of Coi Nguon, Ngoc Trai, the historic Phu Quoc Prison, Khem Beach (The local call it Bai Kem), Sao Beach and Yen Cave.
7. Consider some following local hotels and motels
Hotels on Phu Quoc Island
If you wish an accommodation near the sea, consider hotels around the seaside of Ba Keo (Truong Beach) situated in Tran Hung Dao Street, Phu Quoc.
8. Sea bathing: Phu Quoc offers many nice beach spots such as
Sao Beach
Located 28km from the Duong Dong Town, Sao Beach is considered as the most famous bathing beach in Phu Quoc. This 3-km-lasting beach is at its best from June to October, the rain season, although, hidden wind direction makes no influence on light wave (like a lake) and crystal water.
Relax on the beach under the shade of trees while reaching a book and enjoying the beach help you feel as you are in a paradise. You can hire chair by only 2.5$ (soft cushion with a free fresh-water bathing). Huts are free. Another choice is hammock (twice costly) but it’s not as comfortable as chair.
Ganh Dau Beach
Ganh Dau Beach
Located 30km from Duong Dong Town and inverse direction to Sao Beach, Ganh Dau is also a nice beach here (in the north of island, look at your map!). After visiting the temple of the historic hero of Nguyen Trung Truc and passing a primitive area, you reach Ganh Dau Beach. The sand beach is only 10m in area and 400m in length but so beautiful that you will be overwhelmed: the silent water without wave and so crystal that you can see the bottom.
Once in Ganh Dau, don’t forget to hire a canoe to visit surrounding stone rapids and fishing rafts, very interesting! If you want to drop off at a nice stone rapid for photos, don’t hesitate to ask the canoe driver to stop. Anglers here are very comfortable with visitors. You have to pay about 10$ for a 30-minute cruise here (depending on how well you can bargain).
Dai Beach
Dai Beach is charming with a 15km-lasting seacoast line, starting from the Ganh Dau Outcrop to Cua Can Canals. Dai Beach is celebrated as a paradise of sunshine, cool water as well as fascinating, peaceful and primitive ambiance.
Once in Dai Beach, you will be impressed by the immense and poetic space where the charming sceneries and human are mixed among nature. Surely you will find a little peace and forget all your daily stresses.
Khem Beach
Located 25km from Duong Dong Town and 5km from An Thoi Harbour, Khem Beach deserves to be King at the south of Phu Quoc. Here is the perfect natural combination of sands and undulating stone rapids protruding to the sea.
Khem Beach is in arc shape with white sand fringing stretching between green trees and magnificent sea. Visitors here can enjoy swimming, fishing, snail-catching and making campfire to enjoy these cuisines.
Additionally, you can consider the beaches of Ong Lang, Vung Bau and Da Trao.
9. Tourist attractions in Phu Quoc
• Fishing village of Ham Ninh: An ancient village on the island which has stood for centuries. Here, you can buy or enjoy fresh seafood, or even buy souvenirs and dried seafood.
• Tranh Stream: The stream originates from the Ham Ninh mountain range and creates 3-floor waterfall that attracts visitors to discover the mystery of nature. Tranh Stream is known as a large eco-tourist region in Phu Quoc where visitors can explore, climb mountains or take a bath at 3-floor waterfall.
• Phu Quoc National Park: Is a primeval forest and home of 929 species of plants, 144 species of animals in the area of 370 square kilometers. Visitors have chance to explore the most primitive natural ecosystem in the temperature climate zone of 24-27°C, fantastic for discovery and relaxation. The 565m peak of Chua mountain offer the good view to the immense mountain range around Phu Quoc.
• Phu Quoc Pearl Farm: Established in 1994 by Mr. Grant Jonhanston, Phu Quoc Pearl Farm is currently a famous brand for its reputation, quality as well as being an interesting tourist destination for visitors.
Pearl farm on Phu Quoc Island
• Phu Quoc fish sauce factory: Phu Quoc fish sauce, which is nationally and internationally famous, is made from the fresh anchovies. Don’t miss the chance to visit some Phu Quoc fish sauce factories to see the pride of the island. Consider some factories: Thanh Ha, Quoc Hung, Sasco, …
• An Thoi archipelago: An Thoi archipelago includes 12 primitive islands in the south, which are primitive islands with white sandy beach, deserved to be the ideal private ambiance for romantic couples or groups to immerse in the turquoise seas or nature.
• Phu Quoc Prison: Constructed in the period of Dong Duong war, Phụ Quoc prison was used to keep and torture Vietnamese guerillas. Now, it becomes a delightful tourist destination to learn about a part of magnanimous Vietnam’s history.
10. Night activities in Phu Quoc
Night squid-hunting: Fee is about 10$ (including guide, vehicle, porridge, fishing implements). You can contact hotel receptionist for ticket; please note that the fee is not constant, depending on how many people in your group. Squid-hunting should be at night (when the Moon had gone to sleep).
Visit Dinh Cau night-market and enjoy seafood: Enjoying snail at a small restaurant (seems like a tavern) near the Phu Quoc high school and coffee at Hai Tram, a floating small restaurant on Hung Vuong Street is wonderful. Or you should try goat hot pot at Mum or 7 Tau situated on 30/04 Road (near Zen restaurant).
11. Dining in Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc is most famous for fresh seafood. If you want to enjoy seafood at its best, just visit the Ham Ninh fishing village (14km from Duong Dong Town – 25 minute driving). Two highlight small restaurants are Song Le and Hanh Dung (free cooking).
Consider some following cuisines:
- Grilled scallop.
- Grilled squid.
- Spoiled snail.
- Sentinel-crab in Ham Ninh.
- Salt-fried shrimp.
- Grilled fish with herbs in Khem beach (cheap and delicious).
- Raw herring with coconut + herbs with sauce --> Amazing! (Don’t miss!). This cuisine is at its best in Khem beach while contemplating the sea.
Some recommended restaurant:
Trung Duong (30/04 Road) and Song Xanh (30/04 Road).
If you expect some snacks, they are available from the five-junction (post office) to 200m along Nguyen Trai street with: Banh cat (Sai Gon wet cake), Hot Vit Lon, Bun Cha Gio, Banh Khot. This area also offers some standard restaurant for meals:
Le Giang restaurant: Near the night market, a familiar place for breakfast.
Quoc Anh restaurant: Many locals like this restaurant. Situated on 30/04 Road, near Thang Long hotel.
Banh canh cha ca Booth: A standard dining booth at roadside and next to Thang Long hotel offers good view of street and local flavours.
Buffet breakfast at the Huong Bien Hotel: You can contact this hotel for a nice buffet breakfast although you don’t stay here.
For dinner
- Banh canh: 30/04 Road, near Than Duong Dong Communal House.
- Bun rieu: 30/04 Road, opposite Zen restaurant.
- Some other spots at Dinh Cau night market.
- Che is available at some booths around five-junction on Tran Hung Dao Street.
- Dumplings, milk cake, sweet cake ... (number 1 of Phu Quoc): near Nguyen Trung Truc bridge, Bach Dang Street - You can ask the local for the way to the cake store of Ms.Si.
12. What present to buy for back home?
Pepper, Sim wine, Fish sauce … can be bought at Duong Dong market.
CONCLUSION:
The people in Phu Quoc are gentle and hospitable. Visiting here, you don’t need to worry about costly problem like other destination.
Burglary is nothing here. You can hire motorbike without deposit.
The local are enthusiastic to help you with no hidden agenda.
Phu Quoc is a land worth living and visiting. Remember to preserve the environmental sanitation on this island.
(Collection)
