Phu Quoc

November to April is the dry season and the best time. The sea is calm and the skies are clear. May to October is the wet season. Rain and storms are common, and the sea can be rough. Many boat tours stop in the worst weather.

Peak crowds come in December, January and around Tet. Book flights and rooms early for those weeks.

• Long Beach is the main beach on the west coast. It is long, with many resorts and good sunsets.
• Bãi Biển Sao is a white-sand beach in the south-east with clear water. It is quieter than the west coast.
• Coconut Tree Prison is a former prison where thousands of prisoners were held during the war. It is now a museum.
• Suối Tranh is a stream with small waterfalls in the forest. It is best in the rainy season.
• Bao Tang Phu Quoc explains the history and nature of the island.
• Ngoc Ha Pepper Farm shows how black pepper grows on the island.
• Trúc Lâm Hộ Quốc Zen Monastery is a hilltop Zen monastery with a view over the coast.
• The Dinh Cau temple stands on a rock by the sea in Duong Dong town. Fishermen pray here.

• Sunset at the west coast: Watch the sun go down from a beach bar on Long Beach.
• Night market: Eat grilled seafood and street snacks at the Duong Dong night market.
• Fish sauce or pepper farm visit: See how the island's famous products are made, and taste them.
• Snorkelling or a boat day: Calm seas in the dry season suit island-hopping trips.
• Squid fishing at night: Join a small boat for a short evening trip with lights on the water.

• Island boat tour in the south: Boats leave from An Thoi harbour for snorkelling and small islands. A full day is typical.
• Phu Quoc National Park: about 45 min north of Duong Dong. Phu Quoc National Park has forest trails and quiet beaches.
• Squid fishing and sunset cruise: A short evening trip from Duong Dong.
• Cable car to Hon Thom: A long sea cable car links the south of the island to a small island with a water park.
• Côn Đảo: far to the south-east. Reachable by flight from Ho Chi Minh City, not a day trip from here.

• On the island: Phu Quoc National Park covers the forested north of the island.
• Mainland: Mekong Delta is across the water and links well by ferry from Ha Tien or Rach Gia.
• Gateway: Ho Chi Minh City has the most flights to the island.

• By air: Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) is about 10 km from Duong Dong. A taxi takes 10 to 15 min to the town and 30 to 45 min to the southern resorts. Direct flights come from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other cities.
• By ferry: Fast ferries run from Ha Tien and Rach Gia on the mainland. The crossing takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Buy tickets from the ferry companies' offices or their online sites.
• By land plus ferry: Buses and cars from Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho go to Ha Tien or Rach Gia, then take the ferry.

• Taxi and Grab: Common in Duong Dong and for airport transfers. Distances on the island are long, so fares add up.
• Motorbike rental: Popular for visitors, but roads can be rough and wet. Wear a helmet and check that your licence is valid.
• Resort shuttles: Many resorts run buses to the town and night market.
• On foot: Walkable inside Duong Dong and along parts of Long Beach.

• Is a car worth it? Useful for reaching distant beaches and the north. Taxis and Grab are enough for short trips. Hire a car with a driver for a full day.
• Parking: Resorts and sights have free parking. Duong Dong is crowded at night.
• Restrictions: Roads can be narrow and wet. Take extra care on motorbikes.

Fresh seafood is the main attraction: grilled fish, crab, sea urchin and squid. Phu Quoc is also famous for its fish sauce and black pepper. Try bun quay, a noodle dish with fresh fish, and the local sea urchin with rice.

Eat at the night market in Duong Dong and at the seafood restaurants near the harbour. Check the price per kilo before you order fresh seafood.

Phu Quoc is generally safe. Most problems are petty theft and overcharging.

• Check prices before ordering seafood, taxis or boat trips.
• Do not leave valuables on the beach.
• Wear a helmet on a motorbike. Rented bikes cause many injuries.
• Jellyfish can appear in some months. Follow local advice at the beach.
• Use licensed boat operators and wear a life jacket.

Phu Quoc has long been a fishing island. It was part of the Khmer realm, and Vietnamese settlers came later. In the 19th century, the Nguyen lord Nguyen Anh took shelter on the island during his fight for the throne.

During the 20th century the island held many prisoners. Coconut Tree Prison remembers this period. Tourism started to grow only in the last decades. Bao Tang Phu Quoc shows more of the island's story.

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