What season is beautiful in Phu Quoc?
The ideal time to travel to Pearl Island is from around November to April next year. This is the dry season in the South, there is little rain, the sea is calm, the waves are calm and the sun is warm, suitable for outdoor tourism activities. This season is suitable for resort tours, not suitable for backpackers or backpackers.
From about May to October is the rainy season, sometimes there are storms, but Phu Quoc is still crowded due to falling during the summer vacation period. If you go to Phu Quoc this season, you should come around the end of April, at this time the tourists are still not crowded and the weather is still beautiful, the price does not increase too high as in the peak season. October is also the time of the change of season, so there is little rain.
Image: DeltaOFF/Shutterstock
Move
Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air provide direct flights to Phu Quoc from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Buon Ma Thuot, etc. The price of air tickets is also not too expensive, if you are lucky, you can hunt for cheap tickets above and below one million VND for both outbound and return directions.
Phu Quoc's airport is only 15 to 20 minutes away from the center of the island. Some high-end hotels and resorts often have a free shuttle service from the airport. You should ask more about this service when booking in Phu Quoc.
In addition to direct flights, visitors have more interesting options when traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc such as motorbikes, cars, buses, speedboats or ferries.
First-time visitors to Phu Quoc should take a high-speed boat to avoid seasickness. There are two routes to Phu Quoc, the journey from Rach Gia is about 120 km takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, and the journey from Ha Tien is about 50 km takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. You should depart from Ha Tien to shorten the travel time on the sea, and the ticket price is also cheaper. Please call the station in advance to buy tickets, make sure the schedule is as planned.
If you drive your own car, you should go at night to catch the ferry at around 4 am, experience the sunrise on the sea. The route lasts more than 6 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to the ferry terminal in Ha Tien. You need to prepare food, drinks, blankets, pillows... and it is best to have two people take turns driving so that the night bus is smooth and safe.
If you take a bus, you can depart from the center of Ho Chi Minh City. There are many high-quality trips to Ha Tien, the ticket price is about 150,000 VND to 230,000 VND per person, depending on the bus company. Some high-quality bus companies you can refer to are: Phuong Trang, Mai Linh, Kumho.
The most popular means of transportation on Phu Quoc Island are taxis and motorbikes. Usually, taxi companies and car rental services offer half-day or one-day packages to explore the South and North Islands for 500,000 - 700,000 VND. The driver will take you to the most popular attractions
In addition, you can rent a motorbike for 100,000 - 150,000 VND a day, not including gas. Visitors need to reset their ID card or citizen ID when renting. Before moving, you should carefully check the brakes, turn signals, and lights.
Here there are buses operating mostly on routes and attractions from the airport, to Duong Dong town, An Thoi port with ticket prices from 10,000 to 40,000 VND. However, tourist attractions are far from the main road, so traveling by bus will be inconvenient.
Hotels and resorts
Tourists can find in Phu Quoc budget motels to world-class luxury resorts. If you want to save money, you can stay in a homestay. If you are traveling with a company or a family with young children, the best choice for you is a hotel in Duong Dong town, convenient to attractions and shopping.
Some 5-star hotels such as Saigon Phu Quoc Resort, Eden Resort usually cost over 1,500,000 VND per room per day. 3-4 star hotels cost from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 VND. 2-star hotels such as Gold Hotel, Lavita Hotel, Sea Star resort, Kim Hoa usually cost 600,000 - 800,000 VND.
Unlike Nha Trang with beaches that are easy to visit from the main road, visitors to Phu Quoc often have to travel far to get to the beach. So if you want to be quiet and relax, you should stay in a resort, villa or bungalow near the beach.
You can choose a beautiful resort according to the location, room prices range from 1,800,000 to 7,000,000 VND per night. In the North Island, there are Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort, Nam Nghi Coral Peninsula Phu Quoc, Fusion Resort Phu Quoc. To the east of the island, there is Rocks Beach Boutique Phu Quoc, in Ham Ninh commune, which has just opened in early 2022 and is likened to a "miniature Maldives".
In the middle of the North Island and the center are Movenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc and Mango Bay Resort on Ong Lang beach. Lahana Resort Phu Quoc, L'Azure Resort & Spa Phu Quoc, Anja Beach Resort, Pullman Phu Quoc or InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort. JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay is located on Khem Beach or Premier Village Phu Quoc is a prominent place to stay in the South Island.
Where to play
Tourist attractions on Phu Quoc are divided into 4 main areas: Central area in Duong Dong town, South Island, North Island and East Island. Depending on your schedule, you should spend at least two days if you want to explore all the attractions on the island.
The north of Phu Quoc Island is rich in beauty with primeval forests. There are also pristine beaches and fishing villages here, which have not been greatly affected by trade. Here are some of the attractions.
Coming to Phu Quoc, one of the most attractive experiences is visiting islands such as Hon Thom, Nail Tay, Gam Gi, May Rut.
Hon Thom is the most visited island, with beautiful beaches, snorkeling, fishing, squid fishing, kayaking, jet skiing. In particular, there is a water park with 20 thrilling games Aquatopia Water Park for visitors to have fun with their families.
If you love scuba diving, you can go to ECO Beach on the island. Here there is a package of 950,000 VND per person, experience for 20 minutes with a closed hat. If you choose a gas cylinder like a diver, the service price is 650,000 VND per person. Some other services that visitors can register for are underwater video recording for 600,000 VND, photography for 300,000 VND.
In addition, visitors can book Island Tour to visit Hon Thom and the rest of the islands. In which, the tour of 4 islands: May Inner Island, May Outer Island, Gam Ghi and Mong Tay Island in An Thoi archipelago is a popular choice.
Image: Khuong Nha
Image: Yen Nhi
Where to eat
As an island area, Phu Quoc is famous for its fresh seafood dishes, notably crabs, nhum, herring, abalone, and snails. Fishing villages such as Ham Ninh, Cua Can and Rach Vem is also a suggested destination to enjoy fresh, cheap seafood in local style
One of the most famous seafood restaurants here is Ra Khai restaurant, 30/4 street, Duong Dong town or Hello restaurant, with a sunset view, at 66 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong town. The average price is from 400,000 to 600,000 VND per person. Some other addresses are restaurants Northern Rice 123 on 30/4 street), Quoc Anh restaurant on Bach Dang Street, Phung fish cake soup near Dinh Cau.
Coming here, visitors should also enjoy Vermicelli Disturbing Kien Che, near Dinh Cau. This is a fresh vermicelli, served with squid, fish cakes and shrimp cakes. The highlight of Phu Quoc vermicelli is the "self-serving" bowl of dipping sauce from soup powder, sugar, main noodles, kumquat (clog), ground chili. Each bowl costs from 35,000 VND.
Phu Quoc also has many delicious restaurants that are recommended by locals and tourists as Ho Ky goat shop, 30/4 street; Beef Shop 100 Tran Hung Dao, shop Old House Rice, 68 Ly Thuong Kiet.
Photo: Huynh Nhi/Nguyen Thanh Luan
What to buy as a gift
Some of the famous specialties of Phu Quoc that you can buy as gifts are pearls, fish sauce, pepper, sim wine...
Phu Quoc pearls are quite expensive, depending on the quality, color and size. The prestigious pearl shopping address is the pearl culture facility Ngoc Hien and Quoc An.
Phu Quoc fish sauce is famous for its delicious, pure taste. Some reputable production facilities you can refer to are: Phung Hung fish sauce barrel house, Khai Hoan, Thinh Phat, Hung Thinh production facilities.
Phu Quoc pepper has a spicy and fragrant taste, strong seeds. You can buy pepper right at Khu Tuong pepper garden or Suoi Da pepper garden, which are famous addresses.
Phu Quoc Sim wine is produced in a traditional way fermented from sim red and white granulated sugar. This wine has a good effect on digestion and healing aches and pains. Familiar addresses to buy sim wine are Sim Son and Bay Giao sim wine.
Seafood tourists often buy as gifts are sea cucumbers, squid and dried fish. Duong Dong Night Market has many shops selling these products, the price depends on each season and size.
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Note
It is not recommended to go to Phu Quoc in the rainy and stormy season.
Hotels and motels in the peak season are often sold out, you should book about a month in advance.
Some places on Phu Quoc do not allow tourists to visit, you need to absolutely comply with them, do not enter the prohibited area.
Ferries and speedboats in and out of the island usually run at fixed hours. You should ask carefully about the operating time so as not to miss the train or car.
If you have seasickness, you should prepare some anti-motion sickness medication because you have to move a lot on the sea.
If you ride a motorbike through the forest, you should find a map of Phu Quoc in case you get lost.
According to VnE