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Phu Quoc is an island covering an area of 574 square kilometers.2Located in the Gulf of Thailand, this area welcomed approximately 2.5 million tourists in 2018, a 25% increase compared to 2017. Most visitors flock to beautiful beaches like Sao Beach, Long Beach, or Ong Lang Beach, but this paradise on earth still has much more to discover.
One of the most popular activities for tourists visiting here is kayaking through fishing villages or enjoying fresh seafood on a floating raft, squid fishing, or visiting a pearl farm – which is why Phu Quoc is nicknamed "Pearl Island."
Anna Nguyen, a local travel expert, shared: "I grew up on this island, and although it has changed a lot in the last 10 years, its natural beauty remains intact. Many people come here for weekend getaways because it's quick to fly from Ho Chi Minh City, and there's so much to experience. You could live here your whole life, like me, and still not have explored everything."
Here are some experiences you shouldn't miss when visiting Phu Quoc:
go scuba diving
The waters surrounding Phu Quoc are home to a diverse array of marine life, mostly concentrated around Phu Quoc Marine Park in the south or Ganh Dau Coral Reef just off the northwest cape. Therefore, these areas are ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Besides crabs, squid, and hundreds of reef fish species, you might also be lucky enough to spot a hawksbill turtle or olive ridley turtle – two endangered species of sea turtle. The advice is to go diving during the dry season, from October to April, for the best visibility.
Having a meal at Ham Ninh fishing village.
Combining open-air restaurants and a seafood market, Ham Ninh fishing village promises a fun and affordable night out. Located on the eastern coast, the village is notable for its stilt houses, colorful boats, and restaurants floating on the water.
Seafood here is abundant; you can find crab, clams, mussels, and even sea urchins. But if you like fish, be sure to try cobia (also known as grouper) – a type of fish with soft, white flesh and black scales. For lunch or dinner, tourists can simply choose from a variety of fresh seafood caught daily by fishermen, along with cooking methods such as grilling, steaming, hot pot, or stir-frying with local peppers, garlic, and Vietnamese herbs.
kayaking
In the north of Phu Quoc lies the 14km-long Cua Can River, gently winding from the sea into the heart of the island. It's nestled like a tranquil and peaceful gem. Thanks to its calm waters and surrounding lush forest, it's an ideal location for kayaking, especially for beginners.
At the end of the river, where white sands glisten in the sun, lies a small fishing village with simple wooden bridges and stilt houses – an ideal stop for rest and lunch. If confident in their kayaking skills, visitors can paddle out to sea and explore the coral reefs and small islands nearby.
hiking
As part of the UNESCO-recognized Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, the island boasts incredibly diverse flora and fauna. In fact, approximately 70% of the island is covered by pristine forests and mountains. Phu Quoc National Park offers excellent hiking trails, trees that look as if they have been growing since the Jurassic period, over 200 species of wildlife, and rare birds, such as the hornbill.
Tranh Stream, Phu Quoc
For a truly immersive hiking experience, you should head up into the mountains. However, extreme caution is necessary as these trails often lack official signage and guidance.
One of the best trails starts right from Suoi Tranh Waterfall in the south-central part of the island. First, you'll have to hike for about 30 minutes through a peaceful forest to reach the waterfall. From there, continue on a small trail leading up the mountain for about 2 hours. Once you reach the top, you'll be able to admire the panoramic beauty of nature with lush green trees below and the vast ocean in the distance.
farm tour
Despite its thriving tourism industry, Phu Quoc remains a highly agricultural society. The island produces a variety of valuable souvenirs, from pepper and honey to pearls. For food lovers, the Khai Hoan fish sauce factory is considered to produce some of the best fish sauce in the country. This is because Phu Quoc consistently has fresh fish, along with excellent weather and sunshine. All of these factors combine to create a product of exceptionally high quality.
The Khai Hoan factory's ships go out to sea to catch fish for fish sauce production.
If you have the chance to visit a bee farm in Phu Quoc, you can learn about the essential role of honey bees in the ecosystem. After the tour, enjoy some lemongrass honey tea to recharge your energy before visiting Ngoc Hien Pearl Farm, where you can learn about the history and process of pearl farming in Phu Quoc, and then shop at the adjacent market for high-quality souvenirs. The company uses whole oyster shells to create boxes, buttons, furniture, and impressive art products.
Pearls from the island are usually white, but you can also find some in black, gray, and yellow. Of these, yellow and gray are the rarest and most expensive.
Finally, don't miss the chance to grab a few bags of Phu Quoc sun-dried peppercorns – considered one of the finest peppercorns in the world. At the pepper farm, you can enjoy the rustic life through a farm tour, a cooking class, craft beer making, or tasting the famous sim wine (made from the fruit of the sim tree).
watching the sunset
Phu Quoc's sunsets are famous throughout Vietnam – not only for their warm hues but also for their diversity.
Sunsets on Phu Quoc Island are considered one-of-a-kind. Some days the sky appears purple, other days it glows orange or yellow. You'll never get tired of watching sunsets in Phu Quoc, even if you stay for a month, because each day is different and incredibly dramatic.
And to fully immerse yourself in the sunset, head to Bai Dai Beach to enjoy live music and sip on some chilled beer in a romantic setting. Alternatively, you can visit Chuon Chuon Bistro & Sky Bar – the highest restaurant on the island – to watch the sunset in the most perfect way, as well as admire the entire landscape from the vast jungle to the deep ocean and the boundless sky.
night squid fishing
After sunset, try squid fishing. Squid fishing trips depart from various locations on the island, but they all follow a similar routine: After about 30 minutes at sea, the fishermen stop their boats and turn on bright lights to attract squid, then catch them with nets. After the catch, the fishermen will hold a BBQ party on the boat, under the romantic starry sky.
Visiting the night market
Visiting Dinh Cau Night Market in the western coastal town of Duong Dong (Phu Quoc's largest urban center) is an unmissable experience. It can be considered a culinary paradise for food lovers, with dozens of stalls. Besides that, the market also sells a wide variety of black pepper, coffee, tea leaves, peanuts, chocolate, and many other items that tourists can buy as souvenirs. In addition, a series of small bars along the riverbank are ideal stops to enjoy a cold beer or coconut ice cream after a satisfying meal at the market.
While taking the cable car might be considered somewhat of a commercial tourist attraction, it would be a shame to visit Phu Quoc Island without admiring it from above. Operational since last year, the Hon Thom cable car uses modern and safe 3-wire cable car technology with a total length of 8km. The cable car will take you from a station on Phu Quoc Island to admire the beautiful islands and magnificent coral reefs beneath the sea.
After about 15 minutes, you can disembark at Hon Thom Island, south of Phu Quoc, to explore Hon Thom Nature Park and relax on the beach.
