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Find out what you can do on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam!
Are you planning a vacation to Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam soon? Your Little Black Book has just been there, and in this blog post, we'll list the unique and fun things to do on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. When we booked our tickets to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) fly to Phu Quoc to experience island life Vietnam To be honest, I didn't really have a good idea of what to expect.
Sure... I've seen beautiful photos online of pearly white beaches, palm trees, and azure water, but is there enough to do on the island to warrant a stay of more than five nights? If you want to alternate relaxing days at the beach with something active, you can easily spend a week on Phu Quoc. In this blog post, I've compiled a list of the best things to do on Phu Quoc, Vietnam!
TIP: also check out the Vietnam Travel Guide for more tips for the South of Vietnam >>
And before you leave, be sure to check out our travel vlog YOURLBB.TV!
What to do on Phu Quoc Island? 16 tips!
Dinh Cau Night Market Phu Quoc: Anyone who's ever been to Phu Quoc will tell you that you can't leave the island without visiting the famous Dinh Cau Night Market in the capital, Duong Dong. What can you expect? Seafood, tons of seafood restaurants where the fish, fresh from the fishing boats, arrives on your plate that very evening. Prices apparently aren't as low as they used to be, as the island becomes more popular every year and more tourists arrive, but you can still eat incredibly well and in large quantities for a reasonable price. Think clipper lobster, tiger prawn, blue crab, and every imaginable clam imaginable. You'll also find the famous souvenir stalls at the Phu Quoc night market, selling items like wicker bags, souvenirs with inlaid mother-of-pearl, Vietnamese hats, and jade jewelry.
A day at the spa: If you ask me, one of the best things about Asia is the sheer number of wonderful spas and wellness salons you can find. From local and affordable options to massages on the beach and highly professional salons in luxury hotels, you can find a good massage in Phu Quoc for every budget.
Waterfalls: If you rent a scooter for a day on Phu Quoc Island, one of the highlights you can visit is the Suoi Tranh Waterfall in the center of the island. The size of the waterfall varies depending on the season!
Relaxing on Sao Beach: There's quite a bit of debate about which beach is the most beautiful on the island, as it varies by season! During the wet season, Sao Beach is undoubtedly the most beautiful on the island. Here, you can rent wonderful sunbeds right on the azure water at Paradiso beach restaurant! At Paradiso, you can also get a wonderful massage for less than €15! During peak season, the most beautiful beach is at Long Beach, where the water is crystal clear and very calm. Great restaurants there include Pepper Tree restaurant and Rory's beach bar for a beautiful sunset.
Take a photo on a swing: Ever wanted to take a photo on a swing hanging from a palm tree? Then this is your chance, because Sao Beach has two of them! Go very early for the best photo without other people or beach chairs in it. Or go around sunset if you want a photo on the swing with a sea view. And one more tip: take it when the sun is shining! I thought... aah, I'll get there in the morning, but then it was cloudy and gray all day. BUMMER!
Swing at Sao Beach
Cuc Phuong National Park: In the north of Phu Quoc Island, you'll find Cuc Phuong National Park. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to trek there, but according to the locals we met, it's definitely worth it. The north of the island is still a true jungle, unspoiled compared to the south.
Visit a pepper farm: Do you enjoy cooking and are you interested in the spices found in other countries? Phu Quoc Island is known for its red pepper farms. You'll also see references to this spice in many restaurant and hotel names. If you're taking a tour, you can combine a visit to a farm with a visit to the day market, for example.
Visiting the local day market: When I'm abroad, I always enjoy visiting a local market. The "Day Market" on Phu Quoc Island is located under the bridge in the capital, Duong Dong. Right behind the market stalls, fishermen dock their boats to sell the fresh catch of the day. You'll also find plenty of vegetables and every imaginable type of fruit, butchers, and stalls where locals buy their clothes. It's fun to wander around and learn about the basics of Vietnamese cuisine. I went there with one of the chefs from the MGallery La Veranda resort, and that makes a visit to the local market extra special!
Take a cooking class: Want to visit the local market on Phu Quoc with a chef? Book a cooking class, and chances are you'll start at the local market, where you'll shop for ingredients for the Vietnamese recipes you'll be preparing. I really enjoyed taking a cooking class, and most luxury hotels, for example, offer them to their guests. In just a few hours, you'll learn how easy it is to make fresh spring rolls (summer rolls) at home, and you can reminisce about your trip back home!
Temples and pagodas: About 60% of Vietnam's population is Buddhist, and Phu Quoc boasts several colorful pagodas and temples to visit. The most famous temples and pagodas are Dinh Cau Rock, Ho Quoc Pagoda, Cao Dai Temple, and the Sung Hung Pagoda.
Snorkeling and diving: If you want to snorkel and dive on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam, be sure to check the season before you travel. During the rainy season, the water is likely too rough to navigate to the smaller An Thoi Islands off the coast of southern Phu Quoc. According to the locals we met, snorkeling and diving there is the MOST beautiful. If you book a snorkeling tour during the rainy season, you'll likely end up stuck in the bay off the coast, where there's less to see.
Get Up with Yoga: The most luxurious hotels, such as the JW Marriott resort and the MGallery LaVeranda resortWe offer morning yoga sessions to help you start your day in the best possible way. Weather permitting, you can wake up with a sun salutation and yoga on the beach or on a paddleboard!
Visit the prison: Opinions are somewhat divided on whether it's worth a visit. But... this blog wouldn't be complete without mentioning Coconut Tree Prison. Simply because this prison plays a significant role in the island's history (as do most other islands off the coast of Vietnam, for that matter). The horrors that unfolded inside are recreated using puppets, which look quite gruesome.
Seafood: I already mentioned it briefly in the tip about the Night Market on Phu Quoc Island, but you can't leave the island without enjoying the seafood on the menu in most restaurants. Phu Quoc is famous for its octopus and crab, which you'll also find explicitly on the menu in Saigon, for example. And let's be honest... they're delicious!
Watching the sunset at Long Beach: For the most beautiful sunset on Phu Quoc, head to Long Beach. If you want to enjoy the sunset with a cocktail and your toes in the sand, Rory's beach bar is highly recommended!
Long Beach Phu Quoc
Traveling on to Cambodia: If you've already googled Phu Quoc Island, you'll see that it's not actually off the coast of Vietnam at all, but practically bordering Cambodia. This makes it the perfect base for traveling on to Siem Reap and visiting Angkor Wat! At least... that's what I'll be doing when I return to Vietnam (hopefully next year!) for a longer tour.
More tips for Phu Quoc Island and Saigon
I've certainly seen that Vietnam is a fantastic country to travel around. During my recent trip to Vietnam, I focused primarily on Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and the southern island of Phu Quoc. But thanks to the enthusiastic stories of the locals I met, I can't wait to return to Vietnam and explore the central and northern parts of the country as well. The food, the people, the nature, and the history, with its numerous wars and French colonial influences, make it a special country that I want to see much more of.
Curious about other tips for Vietnam? Then check out the comprehensive Vietnam Travel Guide for the South below!
Vietnam Travel Tips for Phu Quoc Island
Are you planning a tour of Vietnam? Here are a few tips if you're starting your trip from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).
GETTING THERE: During my trip, I flew to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. Several flights a day depart from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam.
> Tip: For just €100, you can make a stopover in Hong Kong!
HOTEL TIPS SAIGON (HO CHI MINH CITY): You'll find plenty of good hotels in Saigon for every budget, but the three different hotels I've stayed in that I can recommend are:
– Hotel Des Arts (a beautiful boutique hotel in the city center with a fantastic rooftop bar!)
Pullman Saigon Centre (a little further from the center, but with a rooftop pool and a fantastic view over Saigon)
– Villa Song (a colonial villa on the water outside the city that has been transformed into an exclusive boutique hotel that is truly beautiful and where you can also eat well in the restaurant).
HOTEL TIPS PHU QUOC ISLAND: Three hotel tips on Phu Quoc Island that won't disappoint and within every budget!
9Station Hostel (budget): cool design hostel or poshtel with a pool, dorms or double rooms.
MGallery La Veranda Resort (boutique & luxury): beautiful boutique hotel on Long Beach, built in colonial style and offering the best sunset views.
JW Marriot Phu Quoc (luxury): a beautifully designed resort in the south of Phu Quoc, right next to Sao Beach, with several restaurants, activities such as yoga and paddle boarding, and a fantastic swimming pool in the shape of a shell.
I hope you find the tips in this Phu Quoc travel guide useful! Have a great time in Vietnam!
& HAPPY TRAVELS!
WITH LOVE,
ANNE
Discover more tips in the
Vietnam Little Black Book
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