Tinh Wellness: A Luxury Spa Retreat for Ultimate Relaxation

From luxury beach resorts to no-frills guest houses, there’s a bed for every budget on Phu Quoc. Please note that hotels in Phu Quoc tend to be 10-20% more expensive than comparable stays on the mainland. LUXURY La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc – MGallery Designed as a French mansion from the 1920s, this award-winning 5-star Phu Quoc resort by the sea boasts of 70 intimate rooms set on a wide stretch of sandy beach. A member of the prestigious MGallery Hotel Collection, the resort features dark wood, period-inspired furnishings, high ceilings and mosaic tiles, along with a beautiful swimming pool with ocean views, and three restaurants and Bars. Price for one night in this posh resort is $295. Tips: There are a few works under construction nearby the resort. If you want to stay at La Veranda around this time, choose a villa situated near the reception or restaurant to stay away from noise. The JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa On Khem Beach on Phu Quoc’s southeastern coast, this Bill Bensley- designed resort offers 244 rooms and suites, most with bay views. The on-site restaurants serve up international and Chinese fare, as well as a beachside grill, French deli and American-style bar. The lowest price for one night at JW Marriott is $341. Tips: Higher floor is recommended for perfect sea view Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort and Golf Well-situated in Ganh Dau, Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort and Golf is an ideal point of departure for your excursions in this beautiful island. There are rooms for any types of tourists with 5 family suites, 170 deluxe rooms with stunning ocean view, 199 deluxe garden rooms, 16 senior suites with garden view and 12 senior rooms with ocean view. Each deluxe room is 42m2-sized, well furnitured and furnished. Suites are more spacious with 80-84m2 size. Price for one night at Vinpearl ranges from $115 to $1,075 depending on room types. Tips: Villas are ideal for anyone traveling with friends or family. Choose a villa facing the beach front to savour the beauty of sunrise and sunset. If you book a room, odd room numbers are rooms with oceanview. Salinda Resort With 121 rooms, suites and villas, each with private balcony, this resort on Long Beach features a spa managed by Guru Spa Thailand, outdoor infinity pool, karaoke rooms and a Kid’s Club. Tourists can book a room on common booking apps such as booking.com, agoda.com or directly on the website of Salinda Resort with the price of $222/night. Tips: There are connecting rooms option if you are traveling with kids and/or in groups. Higher-floor ocean-view rooms are highly recommended for best sea and sunset views. Novotel Phu Quoc Resort Located on Long Beach, this modern hotel has six room categories, three restaurants, two bars, two large swimming pools, two tennis courts, a fitness centre and a Kid’s Club. The lowest price for one night at Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is $111. Tips: Beachfront villas and bungalows are worth experiencing. The resort offers free pick up by bus at the airport, call the receptionist before your coming. BUDGET TO MID-RANGE Sol Beach House Phu Quoc With 284 rooms in three hotel buildings, this new hotel boasts a free-form pool with sea views, two restaurants, three bars and daily activities including jogging, yoga, swimming and cycling, all on Long Beach. The rate of staying starts from $94 Tips: tourists should choose rooms on the 3rd floor or above for full sea-view Daisy Resort A 6-minute walk from Duong Dong Beach, this 3-star hillside hotel offers good value for money. Guests enjoy simple, air-conditioned bungalow accommodations, free Wi-Fi access, an outdoor pool, fitness centre and free parking. Price for Daisy Resort is from $66 Tips: Higher rooms/villas/bungalows offer better views of ocean yet prepare to walk up a hill Bauhinia Resort Located 300 meters from Long Beach, this budget resort features air- conditioned rooms with flat-screen TV and pool or garden views, an outdoor pool, and free Wi-Fi. The price starts from $45/night Tips: Be aware of steps if you go out at night as the alley up to the resort is quite dark for night walks.

Phu Quoc is blessed with relatively constant temperatures between 24-31 Celcius, with an average daytime temperature of 28 Celcius, making the island an ideal year-round beach playground among top Vietnam destinations. Located in a sub-equatorial climate, Phu Quoc has two distinct seasons: dry and wet. The dry season is between November to April with January and February being the driest months of the year. The best time to visit, the weather in Phu Quoc during the dry season is perfect with sunny, blue skies and the availability of daily land and sea tours including snorkeling and diving with good visibility. Many festivals and events also take place during this time. The dry season corresponds to the High Season for tourism, so hotels in Phu Quoc may get booked out. Advanced booking is recommended. The wet season is between May to October with sometimes heavy rains and high humidity. The main activities affected are snorkeling and diving tours which usually do not operate because of poor water visibility. However, the island is still enjoyable, with many hitting the beaches in the mornings and on sunny days while finding respite in the cooler afternoon temperatures that come with the rains and opting for indoor activities like cooking classes or a long afternoon siesta. Rain or shine, Phu Quoc has many attractions to explore including pearl farms, fish sauce factories, temples and historical sites. Nature lovers will also like that the island takes on a more vibrant green during this time of year, including the national park and famed pepper plantations, and the island’s streams and waterfalls are at their peak. (dth.com) As a bonus, you’re likely to score excellent deals on Phu Quoc accommodation during the wet season.

Enjoy the green season! While the dry season of December to April offers the most ideal weather and sunny skies, many savvy travelers take advantage of the “green season”, dodging the brief showers and occasional storms with indoor activities like cooking classes and a soothing massage in exchange for steeply discounted accommodations. The rainy season also brings out the best in many of the island’s natural spots, including the Tranh Stream (“Suối Tranh”, pronounced “soo-ey tranh”) with rapids and several waterfalls where visitors can swim which makes for a great Phu Quoc day trip. Explore the island DIY If organized tours aren’t your thing, there are many places to visit on Phu Quoc which can be done on your own. Adventurous travelers can rent a scooter and explore the many beautiful beaches in Phu Quoc. Be aware that while scooter rentals are cheap at roughly USD 8 per day, technically you do need an International Driving Permit and if you get stopped by the police, expect to pay a hefty fine. On the plus side, most of the main roads around Phu Quoc are paved and without too much traffic, making driving quite easy for even the novice. Note that roads towards the north of the island and through the national park are mostly unpaved dirt roads which require some skill to navigate the sandy areas. Otherwise, taxis can be hired for half-day or full-day Phu Quoc island tours, usually either to the south or the north of the island. Negotiate with your driver exactly where you want to visit and the price beforehand. Otherwise, many of the organized Phu Quoc island tours are based on volume, which means if you don’t mind being on a boat with 30-40 other people, the costs are quite reasonable at around USD 20 for a full-day boat trip with lunch and snorkeling. Alternatively, many of the high-end resorts can put together an unforgettable Robinson Crusoe-like day with a picnic lunch on a deserted island beach all to yourself. Boats can also be hired out to visit the islands that make up the An Thoi archipelago in the south or the more sheltered islands in the northwest known for their shallow water and good macrodiving. Some islands that offer postcard-pretty beaches with few visitors include Fingernail Island, Coconut Island with its fish farms and the uninhabited Shadow Island in the south. Night market The night market in Duong Dong is mainly for tourists, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit. Cheap souvenir stands vie for space with pop-up restaurants where fresh seafood can be cooked any way you like. Shopping While all the usual beach souvenirs can be easily found around the island, why not take something home that’s truly representative of Phu Quoc? Cooks back home will enjoy a package of famous Phu Quoc black pepper or a bottle of sweet sim wine. Authentic Phu Quoc pearls in a dazzling array of colors and quality are sold directly from the pearl farms along Long Beach and make for a stylish gift. Skip the Phu Quoc fish sauce though, as many airlines don’t allow them on the planes, in case of breakage. If you’ve ever smelled fish sauce up close, you’ll know exactly why!