Escaping to Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
TripBlogs
It’s a well-known fact that Southeast Asia’s coastlines are dotted with postcard-worthy tropical islands. However, in recent years, these castaway spots have become so popular that finding a peaceful escape with a real sense of place can be tricky.
Compared to the palm-fringed islands of Thailand, Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island flies under the radar, which sets it apart and makes it special. It has everything you need for an island retreat, with some real added quirks!
I’ve just returned from a fantastic trip to Vietnam, where I spent three full days exploring the best of Phu Quoc Island, including visits to some incredible golden-sand beaches. Translated as ‘Pearl Island’, it’s ideal for taking some time out at the end of your Vietnam trip, especially if you’ve been busy hopping between frenetic cities and temples earlier in your journey.
How to get to Phu Quoc Island
It’s easy to reach Phu Quoc by flying directly from Vietnam’s three major city airports in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City. For my trip, I was lucky enough to fly business class on Vietnam Airlines from London to Ho Chi Minh, before hopping on the short transfer flight to Phu Quoc Island.
I absolutely loved flying business class on Vietnam Airlines, and I would highly recommend upgrading. The fares are incredibly competitive, the premium service is fantastic, the fully flat bed is comfy, and the dining experience is extra special. On top of that, you get to cut the queues in the airport. It’s absolutely worth it if you can afford it – treat yourself!
Where to stay on Phu Quoc Island
For my visit, I stayed at the Best Western Premier Sonasea Resort on Phu Quoc’s west coast. This has an excellent location right on Long Beach (Bai Truong), a gorgeous 20-kilometre stretch of golden sand. It’s also close to a local night market, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops nearby for an evening stroll.
The resort is massive, so I would recommend this for families who want a lot of onsite facilities, such as a long swimming pool to splash around in, playground facilities, an excellent, safe beach and good restaurant options.
For couples, I would instead suggest the Soul Boutique Hotel, a smaller boutique hotel on Long Beach, with an excellent Sailing Club Beach Bar, an infinity pool, an ice cream bar, and a lovely spa. With just 58 rooms, this resort feels more personal, and there are all kinds of activities available for guests.
Alternatively, La Veranda is another great option for couples, with a definite French romantic charm. A member of the MGallery Hotel Collection, this five-star resort feels very elegant and exclusive. The stylish rooms are hidden amongst beautiful tropical gardens and come complete with romantic four-poster beds. The main restaurant mixes local Vietnamese cuisine with French fine-dining, while the breezy beach bar serves al fresco food all day, and the spa offers a range of top-notch treatments.
The Regent and the Intercontinental are the two best 5-star options for those seeking a traditional luxury resort with multiple pools, restaurants, room types, and treatments. Both of these resorts are also set on Long Beach, with golden sands and spectacular sunsets. Wherever you decide to stay, you’re in for a treat.
What to do on Phu Quoc Island
For me, there were four main activities on Phu Quoc, and all of these things are best at sunset. This means that you can spend your mornings relaxing by the pool or beach without worrying that you’re missing out. Enjoy lazy days in the sunshine and set out to explore in the late afternoon. Perfect!
Phu Quoc Night Market
There are several night markets around the island, but the biggest one is Duong Dong. This has rows upon rows of local stalls and restaurants selling souvenirs and trinkets to take home, as well as Vietnamese street food stands.
Many seafood restaurants have their live catches displayed out front for you to try – not for the faint-hearted! I decided to give this a miss, but the market is fun and vibrant. You can easily stop for a beer on your way around and do some serious people-watching, which I enjoyed very much.
Sunset Town
Sunset Town is a village on the west coast of Phu Quoc Island, designed in the style of a Mediterranean hillside town. It sounds terrible in theory, but it is truly excellent in practice! All the streets are clean, tidy, and safe, and you’ll see truly unbeatable sunsets.
Don’t miss the “Kissing Bridge” at Sunset Town, which is a stunning piece of architecture. It’s designed so that partners can walk towards each other from either side of the bridge and then meet and kiss in the middle. I watched this a few times from my vantage point on the lower side and thought it was quite cute.
The “Kiss of the Sea” show
The other must-see at Sunset Town is the “Kiss of the Sea” show (which we can prebook). One thing I learned from my visit to Vietnam is that they LOVE a sound and light show – and this one was by far the best I saw! It really was incredible, combining music and lighting reflected onto a waterfall of seawater. This created a mist that got you a bit wet. Next, some incredible dancers and acrobats performed. To cap it all off, the show ended with the best fireworks display that I had ever seen!
Grand World
This is another Italian-style village, this time modelled after Venice, complete with light-up gondolas that you can take around the “canal”, complete with gondoliers. Again, it sounds absolutely terrible on paper, but it really works! Yes, there is a huge hit of novelty, but it’s actually a great spot for shopping, eating, and relaxing in the evenings.
GrandWorld also has its own sound, light, and dance show. While not as exciting as the Kiss of Sea Show, it was entirely free, and we could watch it while having our evening meal on the side of the canal. It was a really memorable experience in a very quirky spot.
My advice here is to come earlier for sunset and watch it from the beach about 500m away, where you can sit with a cocktail and relax looking across to Cambodia in the distance as the sun dips into the sea. It was lovely to see so close and a wonderful way to end the day.
My thoughts about Phu Quoc Island
I highly recommend adding Phu Quoc Island to any Vietnam itinerary. Yes, it has excellent beaches, but it also has superb accommodation options, lots of places to explore, amazing restaurants and a very unique personality! It’s also incredibly easy to reach, with just a short 30-minute flight with Vietnam Airlines from Ho Chi Minh City.
If you do decide to visit Phu Quoc, be sure to book early. Many accommodation options get fully booked in high season, so don’t risk disappointment by leaving it too late. It’s a wonderful island with loads to offer and a brilliant way to end any trip to Vietnam.
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About the author Gray Baker
Senior Travel Consultant
After uni, Graham left the UK armed with his round the world ticket and headed off for his first big adventure. He spent an unforgettable year discovering the USA, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Asia including a spell working in Sydney and training as a massage therapist in Byron Bay. His journeys have taken him to Africa, across Canada on the Rocky Mountaineer train and to Japan where he enjoyed the freshest sushi. Already with six and a half years industry experience behind him, Graham joined Travel Nation in 2014 as an experienced round the world specialist and is also a member of our Business Class team.
