Things to Know When Traveling to Phu Quoc

• 30/11
• Nuly
• 02 Bình Luận

Phu Quoc is a beautiful archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand, Kien Giang province. This Pearl Island is famous for its stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters, making it a paradise for beach lovers.

The fishing villages of Ham Ninh, Ganh Dau, and the An Thoi archipelago are also must-visit spots here.

Best Time to Visit Phu Quoc

In general, you can comfortably travel to Phu Quoc at any time of the year thanks to its pleasant weather, with an average annual temperature of 28°C.

Here are some notes:

• From April to September is the peak season for domestic tourists in Phu Quoc.
• However, the dry season (October to March) is the best time to visit the island.

• Most importantly, keep an eye on the weather forecast to avoid rainy and stormy days.

Best Activities in Phu Quoc

Visit the Largest Pepper Garden in the Mekong Delta

Phu Quoc is recognized as Vietnam's "Kingdom of Pepper." It has contributed to the country's ranking as the "world's leading black pepper exporter." 

Phu Quoc pepper is famous for its aromatic, spicy, and rich flavor compared to peppers grown in other regions of the country.

Visit the Largest Pepper Garden in the Mekong Delta

Rent a motorbike or car to visit Khu Tuong Pepper Garden, the largest pepper-growing area in Phu Quoc. In the garden, you will be immersed in the endless green of the pepper plants. 

You can join the farmers in planting, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting the pepper. Dried pepper makes a unique gift for your loved ones.

Location: About 15 km north of Duong Dong town.

Explore the Untouched Beauty of Ganh Dau Cape

Ganh Dau is a headland jutting out into the sea in the northwest of the island, where the forest and sea remain pristine.

The tranquility here is great for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. There is a special charm and much to explore here.

To get to Ganh Dau from Duong Dong town, you take a motorbike ride up to the North Island. 

Leaving the town, you'll travel on red dirt roads shaded by pepper gardens and peaceful villages. You'll also pass through a pristine forest of Phu Quoc National Park.

Explore the Untouched Beauty of Ganh Dau Cape

Ganh Dau features a 500-meter-long crescent-shaped beach. The beach has many coconut trees and is sheltered by Bai Dai and Ham Rong mountains. Fine sand, clear water, and gentle warm waves make it a perfect beach for swimming.

Ganh Dau has a lot of coral surrounded by shallow coral reefs with abundant marine life, making it an ideal spot for snorkeling.

From the cape, you can see the border between Vietnam and Cambodia. Ganh Dau is also a seafood paradise where you can easily buy seafood like shrimp, fish, and squid from fishermen and pay a little extra for them to cook for you.

Location: Ganh Dau Commune, about 30 km north of Duong Dong town.

Watch the Sunset at Dinh Cau Cape

A 5-minute walk from Duong Dong market, you will find Dinh Cau Cape, a cultural and religious symbol of Phu Quoc.

Dinh Cau is a beautiful scenic spot that visitors cannot miss when visiting Phu Quoc. Dinh Cau Cape is a temple built to honor Thien Hau, the Goddess of the Sea. It also functions as a lighthouse.

Watch the Sunset at Dinh Cau Cape

There is a short stone staircase with 29 steps leading you to the temple, where you can enjoy the sea breeze and admire the wonderful sunset.

Explore Dinh Cau Night Market

Dinh Cau Night Market is a bustling market with over 100 stalls stretching over 200 meters on Vo Thi Sau Street. The market is next to the beach and about 100 meters from Dinh Cau Cape. 

                                                                                    Explore Dinh Cau Night Market

Open from 5 PM to 10 PM, Dinh Cau Night Market sells various souvenirs, handicrafts, cosmetics, jewelry, and pearls. 

The most attractive part is the food area serving seafood dishes. You can try crab, oysters, clams, squid, seafood porridge, seafood rice, and fish cake soup.

Explore Hon Thom Island

Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) is the largest island in the An Thoi archipelago south of Phu Quoc. It is also famous for the world's longest oversea cable car, an amusement park, and four beautiful beaches. 

Explore Hon Thom Island

Hon Thom has an underwater exploration area where you can snorkel or walk under the water to see the coral. The island presents itself as an eco-tourism destination with picturesque fish farms, pearl farms, several resorts, and accommodations.

Location: 30-minute boat ride from Phu Quoc pier.

Admire the Beauty of Phu Quoc's Waterfalls and Streams

Phu Quoc's forests are home to many waterfalls and streams, giving the area the name "Pearl Island." To explore this beauty, visit the four main streams with waterfalls: Tranh, Da Ban, Da Ngon, and Da Dau streams.

Tranh Stream: Formed by small streams meandering through the ravine forests, full of water from June to September. This beautiful natural landscape creates a perfect picnic spot.

Tranh Stream

Da Ban Stream: Consists of large flat rocks resembling tables. A quaint wooden suspension bridge along with harmonious nature makes Da Ban one of the must-visit attractions in Phu Quoc National Park.

Da Ban Stream

Da Ngon and Da Dau Streams: These are two majestic and enchanting streams with countless waterfalls. Located east of Duong Dong Lake, although the lake is considered a restricted military area, you can still hike to visit the streams.

Da Ngon Streams

Relax on Long Beach (Bai Dai) - The Most Beautiful Beach in Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc Island is home to many beautiful beaches with fine sand and clear, turquoise waters. Among them, Bai Dai stands out as the most beautiful beach on the island. 

Bai Dai

Bai Dai has been selected by the BBC as one of the 10 most pristine and beautiful beaches in the world. The beach has a coastline stretching 1500 meters with tall palm trees.

The weather here is always pleasant with sunshine and sea breezes, making it an ideal destination.

Location: Northwest of the island. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour by motorbike from Duong Dong town.

Visit the Largest Temple in the Province

Nguyen Trung Truc Temple is the largest temple in Kien Giang province, dedicated to Nguyen Trung Truc, a hero in the resistance against the French in the 1800s. The temple was built in 1993 and recognized as a cultural and historical site in 2011.

Nguyen Trung Truc Temple

This temple displays artifacts and relics related to the hero and local culture. Every year, on the 28th day of the lunar August, people from Phu Quoc gather here to commemorate his death anniversary. The scene of the L'Esperance ship burning and sinking is reenacted by locals.

Location: 25 km from Duong Dong town.

See the "Soul" of Phu Quoc at the Coi Nguon Museum

Head to Tran Hung Dao street in Duong Dong town, and you will find the Coi Nguon Museum standing on a small hill. The museum provides an overview of Phu Quoc through thousands of ancient artifacts.

All are collected by Huynh Phuoc Hue over more than 15 years. Over 3,000 items, including 300 bibliographies, will tell you stories about Phu Quoc Island. The museum also displays driftwood and sea shell handicrafts and sells souvenirs and pearls.

The Coi Nguon Museum

Outside, walk up the hill, and you will see the sea eagle sanctuary protecting many beautiful black and white birds. Along the path leading to the sanctuary are many romantic traditional stilt houses where you can rest for a while.

Explore the Beautiful Beaches on the East and South of Phu Quoc Island

Sao Beach (Bai Sao): Sao Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phu Quoc. Its fine white sand stretches over 7 km in gentle curves. Sao Beach also boasts clear water, calm waves, beautiful palm and forest scenery, and several bars to enjoy cocktails. The laid-back tropical lifestyle and easy access to the An Thoi archipelago make it ideal for a day trip.

Bai Sao Beach

Location: About 30 km from Duong Dong town.

Khem Beach (Bai Khem): Khem Beach attracts visitors with its pristine beauty, white sand, warm water, and gentle breezes. You can relax on the beach or admire the "Aquarium" underwater with colorful coral reefs. 

Bai Khem Beach

Don't miss tasting some seafood here. The area specializes in grilled fish dishes and herring salad at quite reasonable prices. You can visit Cuc Man Restaurant to try sea cucumber and relax in a hammock. Visiting Khem Beach, you should also explore the pearl farming area, which is very interesting.

Location: 25 km from Duong Dong town, 5 km from An Thoi port.

Long Beach (Bai Truong): Long Beach continues to be a must-visit spot on your Phu Quoc trip. Long Beach is most beautiful from October to April with calm sea and gentle waves. This beach is considered the best sunset viewing spot on the island. 

Bai Truong Beach

As the sun sets, the sky changes colors and is reflected on the sea, creating a very beautiful effect.

Location: Ap Duong Bao, Duong To, Phu Quoc

Check-in at "Selfie Paradise" Sunset Sanato Beach Club Phu Quoc

Sunset Sanato Beach Club Phu Quoc is an entertainment complex on a private 400m long beach. Designed by the talented architect Nikita Marshunok, Sunset Sanato is a perfect blend of traditional Vietnamese style and modern Western beauty. The complex is an ideal choice for your holiday with many interesting and grand activities in different entertainment areas.

Bãi biển Sunset Sanato Phú Quốc

Sunset Sanato Beach Club is one of the best places to watch the sunset on the island. Moreover, this club offers a series of super surreal scenes for you to capture unique photos.

Note: You need to pay an entrance fee to Sunset Sanato Beach Club.

Location: Long Beach, Phu Quoc.

Experience Peaceful Life in Ham Ninh Fishing Village

One of the oldest villages in Phu Quoc, Ham Ninh is an ideal place to experience the daily life of fishermen and enjoy authentic dishes. The life of Ham Ninh fishing village remains almost intact with temporary bamboo thatched houses.

Experience Peaceful Life in Ham Ninh Fishing Village

Their main income comes from diving for pearls, catching sea cucumbers, and fishing. In recent years, as tourism has begun to develop, they have earned money from selling handicraft souvenirs and seafood.

In the early morning, you will see boats loaded with goods bringing various daily necessities from the mainland to the dock. At sunset, colorful fishing boats stand on the shore, sparkling under the golden sun. It's a great time to enjoy the beauty of this place.

One of the specialties here is freshly caught crabs, boiled until bright red with firm meat. They are best eaten with salt mixed with lemon juice and pepper.

Location: On the east coast of the island, 20 km northeast of Duong Dong town.

Learn the Process of Making Phu Quoc Fish Sauce

Vietnamese people use fish sauce for most dishes in daily meals. For Vietnamese, fish sauce is as important as olive oil is for Italians. Fish sauce is found all over the country, but the fish sauce made in Phu Quoc is considered the best. Phu Quoc fish sauce is not only famous in Vietnam but also in many countries worldwide.

Learn the Process of Making Phu Quoc Fish Sauce

Part of what makes Phu Quoc fish sauce special is that it is made from anchovies of the region. These small fish feed on smaller plankton that the coastal waters of Phu Quoc have in abundance. This particular type of fish makes it a perfect place to produce fish sauce.

Phu Quoc fish sauce is made using a traditional process that has been passed down through generations for over 200 years. If you visit the island, visit a factory to learn about the traditional process of creating this rich-flavored fish sauce. Try authentic Phu Quoc fish sauce from the producer and buy some as souvenirs.

Suggested Address: Phung Hung Fish Sauce Factory - An Thoi road, opposite Phu Quoc Prison.

Explore An Thoi Archipelago

An Thoi Archipelago consists of 15 large and small islands lying along the southwest direction. The sea here is very clear and deep, with some places nearly 30 meters deep. Visitors will find this place suitable for activities like sightseeing, fishing, swimming, and diving. Here are the 3 most famous islands in the An Thoi Archipelago you should spend time visiting:

Mong Tay Island

Mong Tay Island is an isolated island with no residents and no mainland facilities. Mong Tay Island is ideal for outdoor activities like camping, swimming, or exploring the wild nature.

Mong Tay Island

Another interesting activity you can't miss here is diving to see the rich coral reef ecosystem. The underwater world here is home to 17 types of hard and soft animals and many colorful sea anemones. The coral reefs in various shapes, sizes, and colors will leave an incredible impression on you.

Gam Ghi Island

At the southernmost point of the An Thoi Archipelago, you will find Gam Ghi Island. This island attracts visitors with its natural beach, uniquely shaped rocky shores, and fine white sand.

Gam Ghi Island

Under the surface is an ocean world with thick and wide coral reefs extending far from the shore. The density of corals here is so thick that you just need to dip your face in the water to see them.

May Rut Island

May Rut is located south of Phu Quoc Island, about 3 nautical miles from An Thoi town center. May Rut Beach stretches with white sand and clear water reflecting rows of swaying palm trees.

May Rut Island

May Rut has a diverse ecosystem with over 100 species of hard and soft corals, 125 species of fish, 150 species of mollusks, and many precious marine species.

Snorkeling tours are offered by hotels and resorts in Phu Quoc, priced from 350,000 - 500,000 VND per person.

Go Fishing and Explore Deserted Islands

This tour will take you to an island or coastline with abundant fish. The catch will be prepared on the boat. After some time trying your hand at fishing, your group can set up camp on the beach and explore the surrounding areas.

Go Fishing and Explore Deserted Islands

When night falls, you can enjoy fun moments with night squid fishing. Whether you catch many squids or fish, it will be a great time with your family and dear friends.

Visit the Significant Historical Site of Coconut Prison

Phu Quoc is not only a relaxing destination with beaches, resorts, and clubs but also an island of meaningful historical sites. One of them is Coconut Prison, a symbol of the indomitable spirit of Vietnamese soldiers. It would be a big miss to visit Phu Quoc without seeing this special national relic.

Visit the Significant Historical Site of Coconut Prison

Coconut Prison, also known as Phu Quoc Prison, is located in An Thoi Town. The prison closed in 1975 when Vietnam gained independence from the US. It was recognized as a National Historical Site in 1993 and opened to the public in 1996.

At Phu Quoc Prison, you have the chance to witness war crimes. The prison recalls the brutal torture that Vietnamese prisoners suffered 50 years ago. You will see tiger cages, electric chairs, hammers, and many other tools used to torture prisoners.

Location: Cay Dua Hamlet, An Thoi.

Have Fun at Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc Amusement Park

Vinpearl Land is a family-friendly entertainment center on Phu Quoc Island. Here, you will have the opportunity to experience many interesting and unique recreational activities.

Vinpearl Safari

Vinpearl Safari is the largest open zoo model in Vietnam, covering an area of ~500 ha. It is home to about 130 species with more than 2,200 rare animals. Visitors can explore the park on specialized vehicles, enjoy exciting animal performances, play, and take pictures with the animals.

Vinpearl Safari

Vinwonders

Covering an area of 170,000 m², VinWonders offers spectacular light, music, and water shows. Its indoor play center has 120 games such as motor racing, horse racing, and shooting. The water park is the most popular area with an artificial beach, fun rides, family area, and kids' area. A variety of dining options, including Western dishes, Vietnamese cuisine, and fast food stalls, are scattered throughout the park. 

Vinwonders

From 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM is the time for daily street performances, mermaid shows, water music shows, and dancing.

Overall, with picturesque natural scenery, exciting water activities, excellent cuisine, and historical sites, Phu Quoc will undoubtedly leave a strong impression when you visit. So don't hesitate to add this magnificent island to your travel list when visiting Vietnam.