Hello, my name is Zuzia and I come from Poland. Welcome to my article on Phu Quoc! I work for a travel agency and, as you can probably guess, this is a dream job for someone who loves to travel. My travel inspirations vary: usually my trips are city breaks or short stays to experience the architecture, sights, local cuisine and culture of a city – but I also like to take vacations on the beach and enjoy the views. So why Vietnam this time?
One day at work I watched a webinar on Phu Quoc. That’s when I decided to visit. I had never been to the real Asia before and Phu Quoc was something new in the offers of Polish travel agencies. Because of my profession, I was curious about the resorts. It’s known that this island isn’t all-inclusive. The hotels are big, beautiful and well-maintained, but it’s worth venturing outside the resorts to see how the Vietnamese live.
Some said it’s better to fly to Thailand to experience Asia. But, despite being beautiful, it’s very touristy. We wanted to visit a place that was undiscovered. In Poland, lots of people go to Thailand and we wanted to do something different. Besides, it’s nice to feel like a millionaire (the Vietnamese currency is Dong, and you pay in thousands and even millions)!
So, at the start of November, we bought the tickets and together with my partner (Patryk) we embarked on a mini trip to this island. In total, we spent seven days there. It takes three days to go around it all, so after that we wanted to spend the rest of our time relaxing. We visited at the end of the rainy season but it only rained at night. We rented a scooter and went exploring, however the sun was so strong that it left us with sunburn.
We had to reschedule our plans which meant we toured around the island for a full week instead of three days. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to see everything we wanted. That’s why we think, even though the island is small, more time is needed. Perhaps 10-14 days would be good.
7 Best Things To Do in Phu Quoc
1. Take a Ride on the Hon Thom Cable Car
The first thing we wanted to do was to take a ride on the Hon Thom Cable Car. We love attractions like this and it was on the top of our list. Unluckily for us, a few days before our departure, the cable car closed due to technical work. It passes over the An Thoi archipelago and stops at Hon Thom Island, where a huge entertainment complex Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park and a huge aquapark Aquatopia Water Park are located.
2. Snap Photos of Italian Architecture at Sunset Town
The cable car takes off from Sunset Town. The town is in the south of Phu Quoc. It was built on the model of an Italian town and you can find a lot of Italian gems. Here you can see the Colosseum, the Amalfi Coast and and St Mark’s Bell Tower from Venice. There’s a beautiful white sand beach by the town, and plenty of restaurants and cafes with great views.
3. Venture on a Pepper Farm Tasting Tour
This is another interesting place. If you want to stay here, I recommend Pepper Farm Phu Quoc Bungalow – which is a farm + accommodation. Phu Quoc pepper is a true Vietnamese rarity, harvested by hand by farmers. We had never experienced a pepper tasting before, so for us it was a unique experience. At the beginning, you get a welcome drink made from the grown fruit. Later, you’re given several types of pepper to taste.
I didn’t know pepper could taste so good. Then there’s a guided tour around the farm. Not only are all varieties of pepper grown here, but also other fruits such as bananas and jackfruits. After a short tour of the farm there’s time for photos, a self-guided tour of the farm and shopping. You can buy different types of pepper which makes for a fantastic souvenir.
4. Bathe in the Beautiful Waters of Starfish Beach
Starfish Beach is a must-visit. But the road to get there is hard. There are potholes everywhere and it takes an hour to drive 10 kilometers. After reaching a certain point, you can take a five minute cruise to Starfish Beach or you can walk. Keep in mind that, in the heat, walking is terribly tiring.
At Starfish Beach, there’s a beach with loungers and even a changing room. At this point, I spotted a wild monkey. The Vietnamese locals were shocked that I managed to see one. As for the beach, it’s blessed with beautiful and transparent water. Sadly, many tourists pull the starfish out of the water which leads them to die. Therefore, many of the starfish are dead. Nevertheless, before I knew it, I was delighted with this part of Phu Quoc.
5. Enjoy a Venice Gondola Ride at Grand World
Another Italian town in Phu Quoc is Grand World. This one is built as Venice. You can take a gondola ride on the Venice River. Additionally, if you’re bothered by the heat or don’t like to walk, you can see Grand World on an electric vehicle for free. In the evenings, a show takes place. We also enjoyed watching the light illumination and seeing the fountains. A full day tour here can be combined with Vinpearl Safari and WinWonders.
6. See the Animals of Vinpearl Safari
Vinpearl Safari is a semi-open zoo. You can feed the animals at an appointed time which is a big attraction. There’s even a giraffe restaurant on the zoo grounds. It’s located on a terrace where the giraffes approach to sneak some food. Moreover, the final stage of the zoo is a safari.
It consists of riding an electric bus and observing the animals. It’s a cool experience when you’re sitting quietly on the bus and suddenly a group of lions draw near, and you’re only separated by a window. There’s also a show here with trained animals but this is something more suitable for children.
7. Visit VinWonders, Vietnam’s Disneyland
I would call VinWonders Vietnam’s Disneyland. The entrance looks like a fairytale. There’s a huge palace where a show is held every night. There’s also an amusement park, aquapark and oceanarium. Everything is arranged thematically with fairytale settings as well as platforms for various civilizations. If you want to have a break, you can swing by the restaurant at the oceanarium where you can have a coffee and watch the aquatic life.
The Highlight for Me in Phu Quoc
For me, every attraction in Phu Quoc was unique. But one of my highlights was riding a scooter around the island. Traffic regulations don’t really apply in Vietnam and everyone has to watch out for themselves. Although it’s chaotic, it works in practice. I have fond memories of discovering the island by scooter, getting to know the villages and having an adrenaline rush.
Where to Stay in Phu Quoc
We stayed at Sonaga Beach Resort & Villas. It’s a cool hotel with a delicious breakfast. The hotel is situated in the Long Beach region where the largest resorts are located. Depending on your preference, this place is a great choice as there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Long Beach is also a good starting point when searching for accommodation in Phu Quoc. The island is quite small and everything is close to this area.
Tips for Your Visit to Phu Quoc
We booked a direct charter flight to Phu Quoc from Poland and purchased our tickets through my travel agency. The journey there was about 10 hours. Once we landed, it took 10 minutes by taxi to get to Long Beach. You can fly to Phu Quoc from Ho Chi Minh City. This is definitely the best option.
Before you go, prepare your skin for the scorching sun by bringing the highest SPF sunscreen possible. For Europeans, the sun in Phu Quoc is extremely strong. If possible, wear long sleeved shirts for scooter travel to avoid sunburn. In addition to using a scooter, you can use Grab taxis in Phu Quoc. Grab is an app that works like Uber, Bolt, etc. It’s best to exchange dollars locally and know that euros can’t be exchanged everywhere.
The best time to visit Phu Quoc is in the dry season. There’s a rainy season in November but it’s not inconvenient at all. In truth, a bit of rain gives off a true Asian vibe. The tourist season and dry season begins in December, and lasts until March. That’s when I recommend booking your trip to Phu Quoc.
There are free buses that take tourists to the island’s biggest attractions. It’s hard to get the schedule but in the hotels the staff will help you read the timetable or find it for you on the Internet. If you’re seeking an all-inclusive package, it’s not worth doing it here since the island is cheap and the street food is nice. Besides, there’s no all-inclusive formula in Vietnam.
The biggest night market is in the town of Duong Dong. Here you can find souvenirs and street food, and the authentic Asian atmosphere. I think Phu Quoc is a great destination to begin your Southeast Asia adventure. This part of Vietnam is like candy: constructed and tourist-orientated. It doesn’t have spectacular sights but it’s still a place you will want to come back to.
