Three Days in Phu Quoc

Island Escapes on a Budget: Unveiling the Best Phu Quoc Deals and Discounts When we daydream of our perfect paradise island escape, we are often abruptly halted by thoughts of the cost or other implications standing in our way. However, we are here to tell you that these daydreams are far more within your grasp than you may think. If you want absolute luxury in a private and tranquil location steeped in history, you need to see what Vietnam hotel deals are available in Phu Quoc. At La Veranda, we have a selection of Phu Quoc vacation offers that promise to provide our guests with everything they need to create their dream getaway.   Unbeatable Phu Quoc Deals. One of the most wonderful things about the deals you come across at luxurious Phu Quoc resorts is that you will never compromise the quality, opulence, and blissfulness of your dream island escape. Our special offers are tailored to accommodate everyone who wants to bask in the tranquillity of this incredible island. From wellness and gastronomy packages to unbelievable deals on private beachfront villas, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for at our resort in Vietnam.  The Best Time to Find Phu Quoc Hotel Deals If you’re looking for the best possible Phu Quoc hotel deals, you can sometimes find offers that seem too good to believe by being mindful of the time you choose to visit. Phu Quoc’s high season is between December and April, but you’re highly likely to get brilliant weather either side of these months, too. If you’re looking for fantastic Phu Quoc vacation offers, feel free to chat with the team at La Veranda to find the perfect one for you. Finding the Perfect Phu Quoc Resort Phu Quoc is home to many resorts, so it is imperative to know you’re booking the right one for you. La Veranda offers a wide range of suites and villas, either nestled within the serenity of our diverse gardens or perched on the oceanfront for the most captivating sea views. We also have several restaurants and bars situated on the grounds of our 1920s French colonial-inspired mansion. To top it off, we have a wellness centre that allows our guests to truly unwind. Our Phu Quoc hotel deals are guaranteed to have a package for everyone. [ux_image id="9085" margin="20px 0px 20px 0px"] Affordable Activities in Phu Quoc for Travelers on a Budget Phu Quoc is quite possibly one of the most beautiful islands in the Thai Gulf, and what adds to its magnificence is its tremendous size. This glorious island boasts an enormous selection of activities, so you will never be stuck for something to do. We are home to the world's longest cable car and an awe-inspiring European-style town in the south where you can enjoy a day of diving and snorkelling. In the north of the island, we have beautiful beaches, seaside towns, theme parks, museums, and markets. If you’re looking for the perfect day out, there are some incredible Phu Quoc travel offers that can make every day of your vacation a day to remember. Savouring Phu Quoc's Culinary Delights Affordably If you want to experience the unique and delicious cuisine of Phu Quoc, you will be spoiled for choice. Endless bars and restaurants are dotted around Duong Dong and Truong Beach. Here, you will have a chance to enjoy some of Phu Quoc’s classics, such as bún quậy and grilled sea-urchin. Or, if you’re looking for a relaxing night at your resort, La Veranda has multiple deals, such as our gourmet Xin Chao or gastronomy package. You will be spoiled for choice in our bars and restaurants when you experience our Phu Quoc vacation offers. [ux_image id="9086" margin="20px 0px 20px 0px"] Phu Quoc Hotel Deals for Groups and Families If you are looking for Vietnam hotel deals to accommodate a group or family, Phu Quoc has you covered. At La Veranda, we have some fantastic comprehensive packages that are fit for all parties. Have a browse through our holiday saver or festive season deals that offer the perfect blend of culinary delights, luxurious rooms, spa treatments, and free drinks.  Why Choose La Veranda for Your Unforgettable Vacation La Veranda offers the perfect mixture of beautiful luxurious rooms and villas in a selection of private paradise locations throughout our Phu Quoc resort. Our onsite bars and restaurants provide the perfect atmosphere, whether you’re on a romantic getaway or a family vacation. We have what you need to create some of the most blissful and meaningful memories of your life.

Cuisine is what makes a place much more appealing to visitors. You should not leave the  beautiful island of Phu Quoc without trying Phu Quoc Cuisine once. Goi Ca Trich (Raw Herring Salad) Herring Salad is one of the must-tries in Phu Quoc Island. The unique flavour of the dish is from white meaty herring fish meticulously prepared and marinated to its perfection. “Goi Ca Trich” is made by mixing chopped filet herrings with onion, lime juice, chilies, and pepper. The dish is served with rolled rice paper, fresh lettuce and herbs, and dipping sauce. A herring salad roll which is dip into Phu Quoc special fish sauce is heavenly tasty. Local people in Phu Quoc often drink “Sim” wine (Rose myrtle wine) when eating herring salad to accelerate mouthful flavour of the salad and help better digestion. Ghe Ham Ninh (Ham Ninh Sea Crab) No one should leave out this delicacy when paying a visit to Ham Ninh Fishing Village. “Ghe” is a Vietnamese word for sea crab. Ham Ninh crabs are quite small, but firmer and tastier than other kinds of sea crabs. The price for 1 kilogram ranges from 200,000VND ($9) to 500,000VND ($25) depending on the size of crabs. You should choose the medium size (6-7 crabs/kg) as crabs in this size offer best tastes. Ask the fishermen to cook the crabs for you in their traditional way and savour the taste from the sea while sipping “Sim” wine to the best. Grilled “Coi Bien Mai” (Grilled Scallops) The dish is made from a kind of sea scallop that has a triangle-shaped shell and hides deeply under the ocean floor. Travelers can experience collecting scallops on their own after watching how fishermen do the job. “Coi bien mai” can be cooked into different delicious dishes, but the most recommended dish is the crunchy and chewy grilled one to sample. Tourist can try this specialty at any seafood shacks along the beaches in Phu Quoc. Fish Sauce Like champagne in France and olive oil in Greece, fish sauce is the prized staple of Vietnam, as it is a must-have ingredient that finds its way into almost every Vietnamese dish from spring rolls to noodles. The island of Phu Quoc has been famous for producing some of Vietnam’s finest fish sauce, a pungent liquid extracted from fermented and salted fish of the island. Phu Quoc fish sauce is world-renowned for its premium quality, thanks to the abundant seaweed and plankton around the island that feeds the anchovies needed for the dark golden colored sauce. In fact, fish sauce made elsewhere often falsely uses the Phu Quoc brand! That’s the reason why local producers have been working with the WTO to protect its appellation of origin. Phu Quoc attractions include visiting a fish sauce factory where you’ll find larger-than- life wooden vats up to 4 meters high containing up to 13 tons of deliciously pungent fish sauce. Tourists can visit the distillery but should not buy any bottles as carrying fish sauce on the airplane is not allowed. Some of famous fish sauce distilleries that allow visitors (with no fees) are Hung Thanh (Road 30/4, Duong Dong Town), Red Boat (11 Cau hung Vuong, Duong Dong Town), Thinh Phat (Road 30, Duong Dong Town) and Nam Huong (near Sao Beach, An Thoi Town). However, it is recommended for foreigners to hire a tour guide for better understanding of the product. Tours to fish sauce factories are available on any apps for travelers such as Tripadvisor and Airbnb with the price of about $50 for a half-day trip to 3 places including a fish sauce distillery. Sim Wine Also known as “Ruou Sim” in Vietnamese, Sim Wine is made from the Rose Myrtle, a local fruit. Fishermen often drink Sim Wine when eating seafood to get the best taste of the dishes. Vietnamese also believe that Sim Wine can help with fatigue, aide digestion and ease pain. Its taste is like a fermented blackcurrant alcoholic beverage mixed with a uniquely flowery scent that you can never find in any Western wine. Sim Wine can be the best alternative to French wine for parties on the beach so people cannot be hammered but a little bit tipsy to feel good.

Vietnam’s tropical monsoon climate plays a significant role in determining the best time to visit the country.  From May to September, the south and south-western monsoons lash the region, bringing rain to the west-facing slopes and the two deltas, while the northern monsoon picks up moisture over the Tonkin Gulf and carries it along the eastern side of the central highlands, between October and April. Given the variations that could take place due to differences in latitude and altitude, one can only feel puzzled as to which season is best to travel to Vietnam. This guide will provide an in-depth overview of the weather in the country, as well as provide information about the high-tourist and off-seasons, so you can make an informed decision, whether you are coming here to spend some quality time with the family or your partner or have fun and party with your friends. The Climate Per Region Southern Vietnam The dry season here lasts from December through late April or early May. Then, it starts to rain, which is dosed as brief downpours in the afternoon hours; and rain continues to be a familiar pattern until November, sometimes cutting off remote villages and making transport more complicated. However, this is hardly off-putting as the temperatures seldom drop below 20oC, so it is quite pleasurable being around and exploring the southern areas at this time of the year. For maximum sunshine and warm weather, coming between March and May will give you up to 40oC to enjoy the sun, the seas, and the sugary sandy shores. As for the central highlands, they also follow the same climate conditions, but do expect cooler temperatures, especially after sunset and deep into the night. Central Coast The northeast monsoon reverses the rainfall patterns along the central coast. In the far northern part of the central coast (around Had Nang and Hue), the rains last from September to February but if you move more towards the heart of the coast you skip a good 2-month rainfall (around Nha Trang) as the wet season usually starts in November and lasts about 2 months until December. So spring is probably the best season to visit these areas. Now, the northern stretches of the central coast have relatively shorter rainy seasons while their summers are dry and hot. Again, the temperatures are close to 30oC (or even higher) from June to August, which makes a trip to the surrounding hills and mountains a pleasant escape. Northern Vietnam If you visit the northern part of the country, expect sunny and warm weather from October to December. Afterward, the landscape changes, bringing cold and persistent mist that can linger on for several days. From March and onwards the temperatures start rising again, peaking between May and August, when they can climb to 40oC. For less heat and more comfortable days and nights, Hanoi is an excellent option as the temps there range in the 30oC neighbourhood. For even cooler experiences, the northern mountains comprise a superb getaway (during the winter, it may snow a bit here too, which is pleasant enough for a winter vacation). Note, though, that the summer in the northern parts of the country also comes with heavy downpours that often cause the delta area to flood. So, if one had to make a decision based solely on the weather conditions in Vietnam, they would probably choose to visit the country either during spring or autumn, when the seasons are more favourable. However, the complicated weather picture does not leave much room for sound recommendations. At the end of the day, it is what you want to experience coming here. Beaches in Vietnam One of the reasons travellers, families, couples, students, and groups of friends alike, choose Vietnam for their holidays is the beautiful beaches with the sandy shores and crystal clear waters. The great thing about Vietnam is that there are beaches for every season, from Southern to Central Vietnam down to the east coast. When exactly you visit the country (if coming here to enjoy the shores, of course) basically depends on which beach(es) you want to visit. The beaches of the south do boast warm temps year-round (about 30oC) but if you had to pick a season, better steer clear from September-January (monsoon season) visits because occasional typhoons hit the southern regions. Phu Quoc, on the other hand, experiences wet season from June to September so any time before or after that is ideal for a relaxing time by the beach. Most of the tourists prefer to fly to Pearl Island around February, though, when they admit enjoying the shores much more than any other season due to the great weather. The same applies to Mui Ne in regards to the wet season, although its microclimate includes less rain. Autumn and winter is an excellent time to savour kitesurfing and other water sports.  Finally, Con Dao is humid and hot almost throughout the year, with a wet season that stretches from the month of May to late autumn (November). Lastly, the central coastline around Hoi An and Danang is a much welcoming place with year-round warm weather and temps peaking at 38oC between July and August. If you like it hot, go towards the end of the dry season. For milder temps, better visit around January. Rainfall increases after August and until November while there are high chances an occasional typhoon hits the area during this season. Tourist Seasons Tourism-wise, the high-season is between October and April, roughly speaking, while the summertime is mostly a rainy season (from May to September). Nevertheless, there are different low and high seasons for different travellers, depending on their country of origin. For example, the majority of western visitors prefer to fly to the country outside the low season months, which, by the way, is high-season for short-haul and domestic Asian and Vietnamese visitors. But, if you are after the most cost-effective accommodation rates and a chance away from rubbing shoulders with flocks of tourists, the low season will serve you well, provided you are okay with the sticky hot weather and rainfall. At this time of the year, travel agencies and hotels offer, probably, their lowest rates and also launch special promotional campaign perks that you could benefit from. Besides, most places are not that busy during low-season, which can be a deal maker or breaker, depending on whether you are after a vibrant night scene or more relaxed holidays. Finally, the heat is manageable and the rare (usually short-lived) afternoon rainstorms may even feel romantic. For more “noise” and a party feel (also more crowds), the high season (for Westerners, that is) will please you much if you are ready to pay the heftier price tag. Important Dates to Bear in Mind During festivities, holidays, and other important dates in the Vietnamese calendar, things could change significantly around here and create an unexpected high season, which will demand more organising and pre-booking on your side. Some of these holidays to take note of are: Tet – It marks the beginning of the New Year in Vietnam (usually falls between January and mid-February) and is, as one would expect, one of the most important celebrations of the nation. Expect large crowds flooding the streets and having fun, and a wide range of local festivities to take place at this time. The celebrations could last up to 7 days! Hung Kings Temple Festival – Celebrated on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month or early April, it sees crowds gathering at the Hung Temple to honour the first emperors and the traditional founders of the country. Processions start at the foot of the Nghia Lin Mountain and continue until people reach the Hung Temple, some 150 steps to the top of the hill while stopping at every temple along their way. If you fancy the idea of becoming part of a local spiritual ritual, this is an excellent time to visit Vietnam. Vietnam’s National Day – This celebration takes place on the 2nd of September and signifies the Vietnamese’s independence from France. You will see it celebrated with grandeur, including parades (the Ba Dinh Square march in Hanoi is the most significant one), fireworks, and many more activities. Reunification Day (Ngay Thong Nhat) – This national holiday (aka Liberation Day or Victory Day) is typically commemorated on the 30th of every April (if it falls on a weekend, it is transferred on the Monday after it) and is a remembrance of the 1975 fall of Saigon and marks the end of the Vietnam war. You will most likely see many Vietnamese visiting attractions and beaches at this time, as it is either preceded or followed by May Day, which allows for extended holidays for the locals. May Day or International Labour Day – A public holiday falling on the 1st of May, as in many countries over the globe, and is usually combined with Reunification Day, creating further day offs for the Vietnamese; hence, increasing traffic volume and crowds in popular hot spots. What to Consider About the Festivities During the celebrations mentioned above, there may be a shortage in international and/or domestic train and plane tickets, as well as limited availability in hotel rooms, especially in luxury resorts, and reduced food supplies at shores. Therefore, if you wish to live the thrill and immense in the local flair of national traditions and celebration, better come prepared (i.e., pre-book your plane tickets and hotel room). Best Time to Visit Popular Vietnam Hubs If you are planning to see the whole country, you will need to take into consideration its huge regional diversity (it is over 1,000km in length, after all), which will probably complicate things. But, deciding on the most suitable time to visit Vietnam is much less complicated if you know which cities or villages you want to include in your itinerary. Vietnam is an exceptional year-round tourist destination for those that make the right calls! Here is a small guide to help you be prepared as to what to expect, when, and where. Sapa Sapa’s climate is quite seasonal as is the weather in the mountains of northern Vietnam. The temps do not usually go above 30oC in the summertime (humidity between 75%-90% peaking July-August), but it could be freezing in winter. The best time to come here is May and April to have nice, warm and dry weather of, for cooler climes, October and November. Hanoi Humidity and heat distinguish summer in Hanoi (May to September) while the average temperature is around 32oC, which is manageable, especially considering the rejuvenating short downpours of heavy rain, which generally come in the evenings. Nevertheless, this is the time of the year with the most sunshine hours. Winters bring clouds, fog and cold (17oC average) so better come October or November when it is much warmer (around 21oC) with lots of sunshine and little rain. Halong Bay The visibility here is often reduced due to the mist but definitely adds a mystical ambiance. The skies are blue, and the weather is warm from March to May. It gets even more temperate (and wetter, at the same time) from May to November, with some light afternoon showers that are more than welcome. The winters are rather cold so better not visit from December to February if you are not a fan of wintry weather. Therefore, autumn and spring are definitely the best picks. Saigon The closer we move to the equator, the warmer the temperatures throughout the year. Saigon offers balmy days and a pleasant tropical climate marked by dry and wet season (May-November). However, it is highly unlikely travel will ever be affected by the afternoon downpours here. Phu Quoc Island Most of the rainfall comes between July and September in Phu Quoc Island and the clearer, sunnier skies are most often viewed between November and March. Consistent warm temperatures and a low humidity level (average at 27.5oC) are what you can expect during the dry season when you can freely enjoy the sub, swim, snorkel or go sightseeing, bird-watching or camping. Just make sure you pre-book your hotel, as the island gets packed with tourists and locals, especially the luxury resorts at Duong Dong, such as La Veranda, during public holidays, national celebrations, and not only. Traveling to Vietnam is an adventure on its own. Once you have decided how you want to experience it, things will find their way when the time comes to determine when is the best time to travel here. Soon, you will join the millions of travellers who say that any time is a good time to visit Vietnam!