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Boasting idyllic beaches, pristine waters, evergreen forests, romantic sunsets, and a peaceful ambiance, Phu Quoc is indeed an ideal holiday destination for those in search of a tranquil getaway from the hurried, modern lifestyle. Situated in the far south of the country, some 45 kilometres west of Ha Tien, Phu Quoc’s northern part holds a UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which allows it to be relatively untouched. However, you can also find a plethora of charming cafes, lively bars, and luxury resorts. Traditional fishing villages also dot the map, as are pristine beaches that offer visitors a unique opportunity to lay eyes on exquisite sea views. Between Buddhist pagodas, mighty temples, karst limestone formations inviting you to explore verdant mountaintops, and a dining scene that can cater to all budgets lies a wonderful world. Explore this paradisiac island with the following map tips. The Phu Quoc National Park More than half the island’s land is a park and contains impressive landscapes and various forest types, including rocky mountains, sparsely forested areas, wetlands, mangroves, and coastal vegetation. The rainforest occupies the majority of north Phu Quoc and is home to more than 200 animal species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, some rare species, such as the hornbill, silver langur, long-tailored macaque, and lorises, and species of globally endangered animals. The Ong Thay Mountain, Da Dan Stream, and Duong Dong Lake are all sights nearby worth visiting. Almost any drive to the north of the island will lead you through the National Park. Pepper Farms Phu Quoc is notorious for its fine-quality black peppers that are exported to the corners of the earth. Brought many centuries ago by the Chinese, peppers now contribute to the country’s output of up to 60% of the global pepper supply. You will find many pepper farms across the island, one being very close to the southern edge of the National Park, and you may have the chance to engage in a conversation with a local about how this succulent plant is grown and, why not, taste some right on the farm! Without a doubt, peppers have a leading role in Vietnamese cuisine, creating delicious dishes. Phu Quoc Safari Park Officially known as Vinpearl Safari Park, it is located on the north-west side of Phu Quoc and is the country’s first safari park built in 2015. The 380-hectare land hosts more than 2,000 animals, including rare species from all over the world, such as black/white ruffed lemurs and addax antelopes, as well as around 540 species of wildlife. The park is divided into several different areas, including the Night Safari, the Wild Africa, and the South America-Amazon. Nearby is also the Vinpearl Water park, with plenty of water slides, manmade beaches, arcade games, and many more for ideal family fun. Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Factories Besides scenic spots, Phu Quoc Island is also famous for its sea specialties, among which is the Phu Quoc fish sauce made from fermented, rich-in-protein anchovies. The island is home to more than 100 factories producing fish sauce, with the largest of the island’s fish-sauce maker being the distillery of Nuoc Mam Hung Thanh, just a short walk from the Duong Dong market. The second largest distilleries are found at An Thoi. At first glance, the giant crates give the impression that you have signed up for a wine tasting adventure but once you allow the festering nuoc mam essence kick in, you realise this is nowhere near a wine factory! What has made the local fish sauce so extraordinary is the nurturing waters around Phu Quoc, which retain a significant number of plankton and algae (anchovies’ best food). Also, the sea here contains several different categories of anchovy, which makes the sauce even tastier. The island produces hundreds and thousands of litres of fish sauce every year using only traditional methods as they have been passed from generation to generation. Let’s also note that the island’s Mam (sauce) quality is so high that the manufacturers here fought a persistent and lengthy legal battle to protect the name “Phu Quoc Fish Sauce”, which they eventually won. Coconut Prison & War Memorial Located in An Thoi village, Coconut Prison (Nha Lao Cay Dua), also known as Phu Quoc Prison, was initially used to keep prisoners during the Indochina War. At that time, it is believed to have held over 14,000 inmates. But, after the war, the Geneva Accords enabled them to return to their families. The prison was re-used when the Vietnam War broke loose and the US troops rebuilt it into a new jail. They designed separate areas for the elder, the men, and the women and also added a new section in 1966 to incarcerate the increasing number of Vietnamese soldiers that had to be held in captivity. So, from a total of 4 parts, according to original plans, Coconut Prison ended up having 12 main areas, each guarded with strong army force. During those dark times, the convicts suffered horrendous atrocities and tortures. The prison is now the living evidence of the most brutal face of war. In 1996, Coconut Prison was recognized as a National Historical Heritage and is one of the most-visited sights not only on the island but also entire Vietnam with more than 10,000 visitors annually. Visiting it gives the opportunity to see exhibits, such as torture tools and the Catso Tiger Cage that used to contain prisoners while leaving them exposed to the scorching sun and the elements, and life-size mannequins depicting torture scenes and providing information about the inhuman activities that were taking place back then. Just opposite Coconut Prison is a commemorative monument called the War Memorial, which consists of three abstract wave forms, including a human shape that has been cut out. The landmark is in memory of the Vietnamese patriots that have lost their lives defending the country during the numerous wars the nation has been involved with over the years. Bee Farms Bee farms in Phu Quoc are popular eco-tourism destinations that also serve as educational facilities for those that wish to learn more about life-cycle, honeybee conservation, and the significance of bees to the environment, among others. On the island, there are two honey bee farms that tourists can visit, and come with no entrance fee. The first bee farm is located north of the island’s International Airport, which also hosts a fruit farm with rambutan fruit trees and more, while the other is in the Cua Can region. To experience everything this attraction has to offer, you will need a bit less than an hour. Sim Wine Factory Sim Wine or Rose Myrtle Wine or Ruou Sim is a type of wine with a 7.5% alcohol content and a flowery scent and a woody taste that is made with a local fruit from the Rose Myrtle Tree that grows wildly on Phu Quoc Island. Its origins are believed to be tied with the central highland’s ethnic minority groups, and is a popular drink among locals, who always drink a glass of Sim Wine when they eat seafood. Many people drink it for its alleged healing properties as it appears to aid in the reduction of joint pains, the relief of digestive problems, and to combat fatigue. However, there is no medical evidence yet. The Nguyen Trung Truc Temple Nguyen Trung Truc Temple is found in the Kien Giang province and occupies a tranquil spot opposite the river. In the total of 9 temples on the island that worship Nguyen Trung Truc, a Vietnamese legend, it is the largest one, surrounded by green Bodhi trees and verdant land. The temple was inaugurated in 1970, seven years after it had been built, and has a sanctum featuring a stone incense burner and a 3-gate entrance as a means to retain the appearance of Tam shape. The roof is adorned with the motifs of two imposing dragons with pearl embellishments while you may also find cement-made relics with colourful pottery shards and artifacts, memorabilia, and trophies of the famed victories of Nguyen Trung Truc. Due to its impressive design, the Nguyen Trung Truc Temple is considered one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Phu Quoc, recognised as National Cultural Historical Relic in 1989. If you happen to be around during the festivities that often take place here, you will notice people from every religion and ethnicity having fun and integrating into a spiritual atmosphere. Dinh Cau Temple Also known as Dinh Cau Castle, Dinh Cau Shrine, Dinh Cao Rock and several more, Dinh Cao Temple is one of the most-visited sight-seeing attractions on Phu Quoc. Situated at the mouth of Duong Dong River, it actually is an odd-shaped rock formation that served as both a place of worship and a lighthouse. That particularity is what makes it so special. The temple was built in 1937 to honour the goddess of the sea, Mazu or Thien Hau. Ever since, fishermen and locals come to the temple to light incense sticks and pray for calm seas and safe journeys before they set out to the sea. Every year, around mid-October, there is a festival with hundreds of attendees, who climb the 29 winding stone steps to reach the shrine at the top of the temple while praying along the way. If you go with them and make it to the top, a beautiful terrace will reward you with heart-stopping panoramas of the sea, the port, and Duong Dong Town. Ho Quoc Pagoda Ho Quoc Pagoda is located on a high mountain in the southern area of Phu Quoc and was opened in 2012. It impresses with its ancient architecture characterised by wooden doors, high thresholds, and wall tile and houses several Buddha statues, a giant bell, and a magnificent statue of the Goodness of Mercy. It is an excellent spot to watch the sunrise, take in unspoiled scenery, and see macaques that live in the lush mountains behind it. Phu Quoc Nightlife From tourists and locals looking for a fun night out to expats, Phu Quoc’s vibrant night scene is more than interesting. Don’t expect the vibrancy of the big cities of mainland Vietnam, though. People who come here prefer more laid-back experiences after sunset. However, you will be pleased with the many beachfront bars, nightclubs, late-night restaurants, and wine lounges available on the island offering a relaxed ambience, stylish interiors, and a wide range of strong cocktails. Be prepared for facilities hosting guest DJs from Europe and Vietnam, full-moon parties, dance performances, bonfires, even a night market (Dinh Cau market in Duong Dong) and many more. Some of the most favoured spots include the stylish Itaca Resto Lounge offering affluent dining, the quintessential Rory’s Beach Bar, the Coco Bar with the delicious homemade rums, the Lion Garden Beer Club, the island’s largest nightclub, the Paradiso Beach Club with mind-blowing sea views, and the Le Bar, La Veranda luxury resort’s elegant lounge bar with sweeping ocean panoramas and a charming colonial-style décor. An Thoi Port An Thoi is the busiest port on Phu Quoc located on the southern tip of the island. From there, many tourists visit the complex of 15 islets and reefs nearby and enjoy activities such as swimming and snorkelling while indulging in magnificent views that stretch all the way to Coconut beach. An Thoi is a much-photographed Phu Quoc sight that many travellers prefer to visit at sunset for the idyllic vistas. The Beaches Phu Quoc is home to dozens of excellent beaches, each mesmerising with crystalline waters, sandy shores, spellbinding views, and an utterly enchanting underwater world to explore. Considering that the island is currently in a state of transformation, chances are you will find a wide range of luxury accommodation options near the beaches. Nevertheless, there is something for every desire. If you want untouched and quiet sandy spots, head to the northeast coast, where beaches like Thom Beach and Bon Beach lie. For more touristy and developed shores, visit the south-west and the likes of Long Beach. Other beaches worth a visit are Rach Tram Beach, Ganh Dau Beach, Rach Vem Beach, Cua Can, Vong Beach, Sao Beach, Khem Beach, and Ong Lang. Note: An equally scenic setting is provided at Hon Gam Ghi island in the Kien Giang province and the 17 small islands it consists of. Surrounded by coral, it is a superb place to swim, enjoy the sun, dive or snorkel. Accommodation in Phu Quoc From luxury hotels and elegant colonial-style resorts to homestays, bungalows, and hostels, Phu Quoc has it all. Regardless of your budget, chances are you will find accommodation here quite affordable, even if that means you spend your holidays at a deluxe hotel. Given that the island’s transformation started only a few years ago, around 2015, everything is new, modern and fresh, lacking nothing of the 5-star amenities offered globally. You can expect meals prepared by award-winning chefs, upscale al fresco dining experiences, and exquisite spa treatments, including luxurious oil massages and traditional Vietnamese cupping that rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul, to name a few, which can be enjoyed at stylish resorts like La Veranda.

There are two ways to get to Phu Quoc: by sea and by air. Domestically, flights to Phu Quoc are available from many cities in Vietnam including Ho Chi Minh City (45-minute flight), Hanoi, Rach Gia and Can Tho via Vietnam Airlines (the national carrier) and several budget airlines: Jetstar Pacific, Vietjet air and Vasco (a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines). In peak season, there can be as many as 15-20 daily domestic flights to Phu Quoc, but it is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment as flights to Phu Quoc can sell out during the high season of December to April. From Phu Quoc International Airport, visitors can travel the 9 km to the main town of Duong Dong by taxi, motorbike or hotel transfer. Internationally, there are direct flights to and from Phu Quoc from Siem Reap, Cambodia and Singapore via Vietnam Airlines with more routes being added all the time. Best of all, because Phu Quoc is classified as a Special Economic Zone, visitors of all nationalities flying in / out of Phu Quoc only (and not visiting the Vietnamese mainland) are granted a visa exemption to stay up to 30 days. Please check with the Vietnamese embassy or consulate in your country for additional requirements including having a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay and a round-trip ticket to / from Phu Quoc. Alternately, getting to Phu Quoc by ferry is cheap and easy. Ferries leave from the coastal towns of Rach Gia or Ha Tien on the Vietnamese mainland. If traveling from Cambodia, Ha Tien is easily accessible from the seaside resort towns of Kep (25 km) and Kampot (66 km). There are a few ferry companies including Superdong, Duong Dong Express and Ngoc Thanh, with Superdong offering the most reliable service, providing  one morning and one afternoon departure from Rach Gia for the 2.5 hour journey and four daily departures from Ha Tien for the 1.5 hour trip. There is also a slow ferry from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc operated by Thanh Thoi for those traveling with cars. Ferry tickets can be easily bought through your hotel, at travel agencies or at the ferry dock. The best time to travel by ferry is from late October to May when the weather in Phu Quoc is dry and the seas are calmer. During the wet / monsoon season (June to September), ferries are still scheduled to run daily but inclement weather may make for rough seas or cancellations. Most fast and slow ferries will take you to Bai Vong Port on Phu Quoc, close to Long Beach. From there to the main town of Duong Dong, there are multiple transportation options, including motorcycle taxis (each able to carry one passenger with minimal luggage), taxis and shared mini-buses.

1. MUST-TRY DISHES IN VIETNAM Along with the breath-taking landscapes and valuable heritage sites, the cuisine is a distinctive feature of Vietnam. Followings are some distinctive delicacies of Vietnam that visitors should try. Pho, Bun Obviously, no one can ignore that famous dish when visiting Vietnam. “Pho” has been widely known as Vietnamese specialty. There are many of kinds of “Pho”, depending on which ingredients are added into. Travelers can find “Pho” anywhere, from street vendors to luxury restaurants. Just a small tip, the ones where locals gather the most are the places to sit down and take a try. The three most famous regions for “Pho” and “Bun” are Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Hue, and Saigon. The dishes from these places have different tastes, which will leave the customers in awe! Bun Cha This is absolutely a must-eat dish when taking a Vietnam street food tour. “Bun Cha” is the Vietnamese name of “grilled pork”, which contains two types of meat: minced pork patties and strips of meat. They are soaked into dipping soup made from fish sauce, lemon juice, garlic, and chilies. You can dress it up by adding whatever you want. There are also rice vermicelli and fresh herbs. The best way to eat is to dip all these things into the soup and take a full mouth of it. You can order some more spring rolls to make the dish better. “Bun Cha” is even more delicious when you eat at restaurants along the streets. Do not try to find a luxury restaurant, just stop where you can smell the smoky hazes from the grilling. The place with the best “Bun Cha” is Hanoi Old Quarter, where you can get a heavenly tasty dish with a reasonable price. Banh Cuon “Banh Cuon” is popular as a dish for breakfast and a midday snack. The dish is made of an exceptionally thin rolled rice sheet, filled with minced mushroom and ground pork meat. Fried onion and cilantro are added as toppings. Dipping it into light fish sauce can make it much tastier. “Banh Cuon” restaurants are easily found in every street or market in different parts of the country. Find where steams are coming up to get the fresh and hot dish, as the chefs usually make it right in front of the restaurants. Banh Mi Voted as one of the most delicious sandwiches in the world, “Banh Mi” is absolutely a cannot-miss dish for Vietnam Food Tour. “Banh Mi” first appeared during the French colonization. The French people made baguette and sandwiches for their own uses, then the Vietnamese created a new variant. It is a cluster of traditional and Western culture. “Banh Mi” is actually the baguette combined with pork, pate, and various vegetables. These things are put together, then creating a great flavor. Each region has its variant of Banh Mi. The two most famous ones are “Banh Mi Ha Noi” and “Banh Mi Hoi An”. In addition to the distinct flavor in each region, travelers can also vary their “banh mi” by adding different toppings. I’m sure that you cannot stand yourself from eating once you have tried it. Banh Xeo “Banh Xeo” is a crispy cake made of rice flour, coconut milk, and turmeric. The cake is pan-fried with several ingredients such as pork slices, shrimps, sliced onions, bean sprouts, and mushrooms. The best taste can be achieved when you eat it with lettuce, herbs and sweet fermented peanut butter sauce. Sometimes people use rice paper to wrap “banh xeo” and all other additional ingredients to make it easier to eat. (http://armstrongpharmacy.com) It is absolutely a great appetizer that visitors should try when having food tours in Vietnam. Xoi Xeo “Xoi Xeo” is a mouth-watering street food that can be easily found in outdoor markets. The dish includes sticky rice and toppings of fried onion and “mung” bean. There are also other ingredients you can add to your dish such as “Cha Lua”, steamed chicken, “ruoc” – smashed and fried salted pork, eggs, and pork belly. It is not only a dish to eat at the restaurant but travelers can also take it away for their long journey. Almost every region has “Xoi Xeo”. It is a popular breakfast for all ages, hence the price is very cheap. You can buy one with only 5,000 VND. For the dishes with more toppings and ingredients, it may cost you about 15,000 – 25,000 VND. So cheap for a good dish, right? 2. VIETNAM SPECIALTIES AND PRODUCTS. In addition to the unique cuisine, Vietnam is also well-known as a country with lots of specialties and export products. Followings are some outstanding products of the S-shaped country. Rice Vietnam is an agricultural country with more than 70% of its people making their living by growing rice. The Red River Delta in the North and the Mekong Delta in the South is considered the two rice baskets placed at two ends of a pole. Not only growing rice for daily uses, Vietnamese farmers also export rice to other countries. Following Thailand, Vietnam is the 2nd largest rice-exporting country in the world. Coffee First introduced by the French in 1857, the coffee industry has increasingly developed and become a major economic product in Vietnam. Vietnam is the second largest producer in the world after Brazil, and most of the coffee comes from the plantations in Highland regions of Central Vietnam. Vietnamese coffee are renowned for its high-end quality. Two most famous brands of Vietnamese coffee are Trung Nguyen Coffee and VinaCafe. Pepper Vietnam is the World’s largest producer and exporter of peppers. Introduced by the French in the 17th century, pepper trees have now been planted in large scale in the South, especially in Central Highland provinces. Phu Quoc Island is another famous plantation of black pepper. Pepper is regarded as the “King of Spices” and used in daily dishes worldwide. Tea Northern Vietnam is home to the famous brand of tea: Thai Nguyen Tea. Enormous tea plantations are found in the northwest regions, mostly concentrating in Thai Nguyen and Moc Chau. Not only do tea plantations bring about a high volume of products, these are also interesting tourist attractions. Fish Seafood industry plays an important role in Vietnam’s economy. Fisheries exports account for a large proportion of the overall revenue. The main markets of Vietnam fish are the United States and Western countries. Textile Textile is a key economic sector of Vietnam. Though a small country, Vietnam is a big player in the textile industry. This sector provides jobs to more than 2 million employees. As Vietnam’s labor is very cheap, the textile products are also affordable, thus enabling the industry to gradually continue even in the struggling economic situation.