About UsAbout Vietnam |
Phu Quoc, 45km from the coast of Vietnam, can be reached by a brief flight from Ho Chi Minh City or a much longer boat trip from Rach Gai, 250km from Ho Chi Minh City by road. It’s a large, teardrop shaped island, about 50km from top to bottom and around 30km across at its widest point, and a population of approximately 75,000. There is a sizeable military presence in the north of the island as it is claimed by Cambodia, only 15km away. Phu Quoc is part of an archipelago of 105 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, of which 13 are in close proximity to its shores. A land area of 1,320km makes it Vietnam’s largest island. It has some of the best beaches in Vietnam, a large forest area, and coral around the small islands to the south. Although comparatively underdeveloped, the island is becoming a tourist attraction. Phu Quoc Nature Reserve DUONG DONG MARKETS AND SHOPPING Duong Dong Markets, the largest markets on the island, are located in the middle of town. The markets are a fascinating place to visit during your stay. It offers the finest local produce; fresh seafood, a smorgasbord of locally grown fruit, vegetables, herbs and odd fishing tools……. While the local markets and stores stock many fascinating items most of the shops in Duong Dong cater mainly for the local market. So don’t expect to find all your favourite western products on the shelf. Alongside the markets moored in Duong Dong river are most of the islands sky-blue fishing fleet. Most of the islands cargo ships also dock in Duong Dong river. These boats constantly ferry local products such as black pepper, sea food and fish sauce to the mainland and return laden with rice, fruit and vegetables and building materials not available on the island. DINH CAU ( CAU TEMPLE ) The Dinh Cau temple was built in 1937 and was dedicated to “Cau”, the God of the Sea who protects fishermen and sailors from storms and other sea dangers. The temple not only offers a place for local Buddhists to pray and offer alms, but is also a fantastic vantage point to see Duong Dong and to watch the local fishing boats negotiate the narrow river mouth. This is no mean feat when the surf is up ! PHU QUOC FISH SAUCE Phu Quoc fish sauce, renowned as the best in the world, has been developed into a fine art over 200 years.Fish sauce or “ Nuoc Mâm” is included in practically every Vietnamese recipe. It is made from fresh anchovies and salt which are layered in huge wooden barrels. As well as being a source of pride, the manufacture of this sauce is one of the biggest industries on the island and makes a huge contribution to the local economy. Fermentation begins in huge barrels once a year with huge weights being placed on the fish stock. About 3 months later the precious liquid slowly drips from the tap, only to be poured back on top to continue the process. It takes around six months to achieve the final product. The first lighter coloured sauce drained from the barrels is the most sought after “A Class” Nuoc Mam used at the dinner table, while the remainder yields various grades of cooking sauce. AN THOI PORT A n Thoi township, situated on the southern tip of the island. The An Thoi district consists of 15 islands stretching to southwest form the town.An Thoi is home to the main ferry port for services from Rach Gia on the mainland, as well as the islands naval bases and the majority of the islands fish sauce factories. There are regular ferry services from Rach Gia but be careful to travel only when the seas are calm, (only a problem in the rainy season), to avoid an unpleasant trip alongside nauseous passengers. As a piece of trivia, it is alleged that U.S. Presidential hopeful, John Kerry, was actually serving in An Thoi when he was he was supposedly recovering from the injuries for which he later received the Purple Heart. CAY DUA PRISON Cay dua (or Coconut Tree) prison, about 5 km from An Thoi and covering an area of 40 ha was the largest prison of the U.S. forces that held tens of thousands Vietnamese soldiers and civilians. The prison was built by the French just before the World War II and during the Vietnam war became a notoriously vile detention camp spread over 40ha. It is now an official heritage site with a magnificent commemorative monument. Ganh Dau Beach Ganh Dau on the north-western tip of Phu Quoc lies just 4 kms from Cambodia which is clearly visible across the water. Despite reports in many guide books the beaches along the north of the island are no longer closed to tourist access. There are many scenic beaches dotted with fishing boats along the coastal road to Ganh Dau as well as a few places to stop for a cold drink and freshly caught seafood. The villages and rural lifestyle of the people in the north of the island provide a fascinating insight into the simple subsistence lifestyle that must have once been the norm on Phu Quoc SUOI DA BAN ( DA BAN STREAM ) S uoi Da Ban is situated about 6 kms due east of Duong Dong. It gets it’s name from the many table-like rock formations that make up the stream. (“da” meaning “rock” and “ban” meaning “table”). It is believed that many fairies come to this stream to play checkers on the many “tables’. There are many rock pools along it’s length with beautiful wild ginseng and orchids growing along it’s banks. BAI SAO ( SAO BEACH ) T he beaches on the south east coast of the island are widely regarded as the most beautiful in Phu Quoc, although getting there is not so straightforward. Bai Sao is about 5 kms. North of the southernmost town of An Thoi but the lack of road signs and the language barrier can make the trip a hit and miss affair. B ai Sao vies with Bai Khem for the title of the most beautiful. Both have white sandy beaches and clear blue calm waters and are spectacular places to spendy a lazy day or to take fishing or snorkeling tours.. SUOI TRANH ( TRANH STREAM ) S uoi Tranh is located 7 kms west of Duong Dong about halfway to Ham Ninh on the east coast. Just inside the entrance to Suoi Tranh are eden-like gardens adorned with large statues of figures from the ancient Chinese fable “Journey to the West”. Some of you may recall the TV series “Monkey”, which was based on the same story. Suoi Tranh is made up of a string of peaceful rock pools and waterfalls and the short trek to the larger waterfall at the top of the trail is well worth the effort When to visit Phu Quoc Island? Open year round with a peak season from November to March, Phu Quoc is becoming well known for stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, the easy going and relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals, and fantastic scuba diving and snorkelling. How to get to Phu Quoc Island? By Air: Flying to Phu Quoc is the most convenient way to get to the island, with at least 4 daily flights direct from Tan Son Nhat Airport – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Flight time is 50 minutes. By Sea: Services generally take around 2:30 hours from Rach Gia and 1:15 hours from Ha Tien, with most vessels docking at An Thoi Port, though some services also dock at Duong Dong port. Minibus and motorbike taxi connections are available on arrival in An Thoi, if travelling onto Duong dong, long beach or any of the resorts or hotels on the island. |
Vietnam Tours |
Vietnam Travel Guide |
Vietnam Tours By Destination |
Testimonials Dear Hai, ... This trip was indeed “the trip of our life” (and believe me Hai that we’ve traveled a LOT) thanks to your patient, understanding and continues effort to make absolutely the best for us, really beyond expectations and to a level of perfection that is difficult to describe! |