Phu Quoc, the “Pearl Island,” is a perfect tropical destination for Indian tourists looking for a beautiful tropical getaway during their trip to Vietnam. This Vietnamese treasure not only has stunning white sand beaches and beautiful waters, but it also has a remarkable dedication to protecting its environment and cultural legacy.
With so much to offer, Phu Quoc is an unforgettable destination. Fishing and agriculture are the island of Phu Quoc’s main industry, and more than half of it is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, making it a paradise for environment enthusiasts. Take advantage of the opportunity to try the island’s renowned fish sauce, pepper, and pearls. Phu Quoc also offers the perfect blend of luxury and local life, with plenty of opportunities for both relaxation and adventure. Spend your days lounging on the beach or exploring the island’s natural beauty, and at night, marvel at the clear night sky. It’s truly heaven on Earth.
Phu Quoc weather
The ideal time to visit Pearl Island is from around November to April. This is the dry season in the south, with less rain, calm seas, gentle waves, and warm sun suitable for outdoor activities. This season is perfect for resort vacations but not recommended for backpackers or adventurers.
From around May to October is the rainy season, and there may be storms, but Phu Quoc still attracts many tourists during this time due to the summer break. If you plan to visit Phu Quoc during this season, it’s best to go in late April when the crowds are not yet too large, the weather is still beautiful, and the prices are not too high as during peak season. October is also a good time to visit as it is the transitional season with less rain.
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How to get to Phu Quoc from India
To reach Phu Quoc Island from India, visitors can take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi in Vietnam, and then take a domestic flight to Phu Quoc Island. There are several airlines that operate flights from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi to Phu Quoc Island, such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Jetstar Pacific. Besides that, there are also non-stop flights connecting big cities in India with Phu Quoc Island. However, you may need to check on them as they are not scheduled on a regular basis.
Another option is to take a bus or taxi from Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia or Ha Tien, which are coastal cities in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam, and then take a ferry to Phu Quoc Island. The ferry ride takes about 2-3 hours and operates daily from early morning to late afternoon.
Getting around Phu Quoc
Exploring Phu Quoc Island is easy and fun. Visitors have various options to get around the island, such as renting a motorbike for around 120,000-200,000 VND per day, taking a taxi, renting a bicycle for around 30,000-100,000 VND per day, or renting a private car with a driver for around 1,000,000 VND per day. However, public transportation is not as frequent, so it’s recommended to plan your transportation in advance to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip.
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Accommodation
Tourists can find a range of accommodations on Phu Quoc Island, from budget guesthouses to high-end international resorts. For those looking to save money, homestays are a good option, while those traveling with companies or families with young children may find it best to stay in hotels in the town of Duong Dong, which is convenient for sightseeing and shopping.
Some 5-star hotels like Saigon Phu Quoc Resort and Eden Resort typically have prices above 1,500,000 VND per room per day, while 3-4 star hotels range from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 VND. 2-star hotels such as Gold Hotel, Lavita Hotel, Sea Star resort, and Kim Hoa usually have prices of 600,000 to 800,000 VND.
Unlike Nha Trang with beaches easily accessible from main roads, visitors to Phu Quoc often have to travel far to reach the beaches. Therefore, if you want a peaceful and relaxing stay, it is recommended to stay in resorts, villas or bungalows close to the beach.
You can choose a beautiful accommodation location with room rates ranging from 1,800,000 to 7,000,000 VND per night. On the northern part of the island, there are Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort, Nam Nghi Coral Peninsula Phu Quoc, and Fusion Resort Phu Quoc. In the eastern part of the island, there is Rocks Beach Boutique Phu Quoc, which opened in early 2022 and is likened to a “mini Maldives” in Ham Ninh commune.
In the middle of the northern part of the island and the town center is Movenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc and Mango Bay Resort on Ong Lang beach. In the town of Duong Dong, there are Lahana Resort Phu Quoc, L’Azure Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, Anja Beach Resort, Pullman Phu Quoc, and InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort. JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay is located on Khem beach, and Premier Village Phu Quoc is a prominent accommodation option in the southern part of the island.
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Top things to do
- Visit Turtle Island and Fingernail Island for snorkeling and sailing: Turtle Island is the smallest and most secluded of the 21 islands that comprise the Phu Quoc Islands and is perfect for snorkeling with its vast coral reefs. Fingernail Island and Thom Beach are also great spots for snorkeling and diving in the north, while Hon Thom Island, Dragon Rock…offer amazing experiences in the south.
- Explore VinPearl Safari Phu Quoc: the first and only open zoo in Vietnam built according to the international safari model, home to various species of wild animals from South Africa, Europe, India, Australia, and more. You can wander round the safari, go on a bus ride, interacting closely with elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions, rhinos, hippos… and others.
- Experience the Phu Quoc night markets: Visit Dinh Cau and Bach Dang night markets along Vo Thi Sau Street in Duong Dong Town for delicious seafood and to shop for souvenirs. The markets are lively and colorful, and bargaining is expected. They open at around 6:00 pm and close at about 10:30 pm, weather permitting.
- Watch the sunset with cocktails at a beach bar: After a day of exploring or relaxing on the beach, head to a trendy beach bar, order a cocktail, and watch the sunset on the beach. Popular beach bars include Rory’s Beach Bar, Sunset Sanato Beach Club, OCSEN Beach Bar & Club, Rock Sunset Island Bar, and The Rock Corner Beach Bar & Fast Food.
- Relax on Phu Quoc’s stunning beaches: Phu Quoc Island’s top attraction is its beautiful and isolated beaches, including Long Beach, Ong Lang Beach, Khem Beach, and Bai Sao Beach. Many other beaches on the island are not clearly marked on maps, so explore to find your own special spot to unwind.
- Ride the world’s longest cable car from Phu Quoc to Hon Thom Island: Take a ride on the world’s longest cable car, nearly 8 kilometers each way, from An Thoi Town to Hon Thom Island. Enjoy panoramic views high above the waters of the Gulf of Thailand during the fifteen-minute ride. Once on Hon Thom, there are plenty of activities to enjoy. The cable car operates from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm daily with a one and a half-hour lunch break.
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What to eat
As an island region, Phu Quoc is famous for its fresh seafood, particularly clams, abalone, mudskipper fish, sea cucumbers, and sea snails. Fishing villages like Ham Ninh, Cua Can, and Rach Vem are great places to enjoy cheap local-style fresh seafood.
One of the most famous seafood restaurants here is Ra Khoi (30/4 street, Duong Dong town), or Xin Chao (offering a sunset view at 66 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong town). The average price ranges from 400,000 to 600,000 VND per person.
Visitors should also try Bun Quay Kien Xay, located near Dinh Cau. This dish consists of fresh rice noodles served with squid, fish cake, and shrimp cake. The highlight of Phu Quoc’s Bun Quay is the “self-service” dipping sauce made of soup powder, sugar, seasoning, lime, and ground chili. Each bowl costs around 35,000 VND.
Phu Quoc has many other recommended local eateries, such as Ho Ky goat restaurant on 30/4 street, Bo To beef restaurant at 100 Tran Hung Dao, and Nha Xua rice pot restaurant at 68 Ly Thuong Kiet.
Gift ideas
Some famous specialties of Phu Quoc that you can buy as gifts are pearls, fish sauce, pepper, and sim wine:
- Phu Quoc pearls: relatively high price, depending on their quality, color, and size. Some reputable pearl shops to consider are Ngoc Hien and Quoc An.
- Phu Quoc fish sauce: famous for its delicious and pure flavor. Some reputable fish sauce manufacturers to consider are Phung Hung, Khai Hoan, Thinh Phat, and Hung Thinh.
- Phu Quoc pepper: has a spicy and strong aroma, with firm grains. You can buy pepper grains right at the Khu Tuong pepper garden or the Suoi Da pepper garden, which are well-known addresses.
- Sim wine: in Phu Quoc is traditionally fermented from rose myrtle and white sand sugar. This type of wine is good for digestion and relieving fatigue. Familiar places to buy sim wine are Sim Son and Bay Giao sim wine.
- Fresh seafood: Sea cucumbers, squid, and various types of dried fish. The night market in Duong Dong has many stores selling these products, with prices depending on the season and size.
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