- The best beaches on the island
- Marine entertainment
- Farms and plantations
- Natural beauty
- Traveling with children
Phu Quoc, the famous resort area of Vietnam, became an island about 10 thousand years ago, when the level of the world's oceans rose on the planet and cut off this piece of land from the Asian continent. Phu Quoc is part of an archipelago of 22 islands. It is located in the Gulf of Thailand, which communicates with the South China Sea. In the north of the island there is a ridge with 99 mountains. The highest peak of the island should be looked for among them - this is Mount Tya, located in the territory of a local reserve. Its height is 603 meters above sea level. The rest of the island is hilly. On the coast you can find gentle sandy beaches. Only in some places the coast is rocky and drops abruptly into the sea. The most popular holiday destinations are located on the west bank of Fukuoka. What to do for tourists on the island, where to go in Fukuoka, what to see, besides the beaches and the endless sea?
The island is small. On an area of less than 600 sq. Km. there are 10 settlements, however, there is only one city, it is also the capital of the island - Duong Dong. Another large village - An-Thoi - is located in the south of Fukuoka. Most tourists arrive on the island by plane, but it can also be reached by ferries from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.
The best beaches on the island
Phu Quoc Island has recently taken its place in the ranking of the best resorts in the world. Tourists are attracted by clean beaches, which in the world press are often called the most beautiful on the planet, and well-preserved natural attractions.
Phu Quoc is famous for its fine white sandy beaches, some of the best in Asia. Discovering new bathing spots is a favorite pastime for tourists on the island. On the southwest coast of Fukuoka, Bai Truong (aka Long Beach) is considered the best beach. The most popular hotels on the island are built next to it. The beach with a length of 7 km is considered common for all hotels, no one charges a fee for staying on it. The beach is located next to the main city of the island - Duong Dong. Among its attractions are several concrete sculptures. The beach is well-groomed, well-maintained, and will please even the most discerning guests.
The southeast coast is known for several beautiful beaches. The most famous of them are Bai Sao and Bai Wong. The first is recognized as the most picturesque on the island. Palm trees growing at the very edge of the water, turquoise sea, sand shining in the sun - and no one! The beach seems abandoned and forgotten by everyone: there are beach cafes, but they are located at a great distance from each other. Noisy parties never happen here. This is a great place to be alone with your thoughts.
Bai Wong Beach is located in the eastern part of the island near Duong Dong. It is as if it was created by nature itself for relaxation during the monsoons, which usually storm the island from the west. The sea on the east coast during this period remains calm and suitable for swimming. Gourmets who dream of trying Vietnamese cuisine also come to Bai Wong: several good restaurants are open here.
Lovers of peace and solitude should definitely find the most remote beach of Phu Quoc Island called Gan Dau, located in the north of the island.
Marine entertainment
Fukuoka residents recommend setting aside one day of their vacation for sea fishing. You can go to it on your own, having agreed with one of the islanders. But it would be best to take advantage of the offer of travel agencies (and there are many of them on the island) and go fishing in the company of professionals who provide fishing tackle and training in the peculiarities of catching tuna, barracuda, squid and other large marine life. You will only have to pay for the yacht rental. The catch is given to guests, who can take it to any restaurant, where they will be happy to cook an excellent fish dish.
Those who do not want to fish can simply take a boat trip to the nearby islands of the archipelago, which includes Phu Quoc. The pleasure boat stops on the high seas, next to coral reefs, for guests to scuba dive.
Fukuoka has several good diving training centers and diving equipment rental. Diving School "Rainbow Divers" invites you to visit interesting scuba diving points located at the northern island of Hon Doi Moi, also called Turtle, and at the southern small islands of the archipelago. The islands no longer have large sea turtles, but bright fish and colorful corals of various shapes are available. Sometimes jellyfish are found.
Good reviews are received by the diving center "Flipper", where Russian-speaking instructors work.
Farms and plantations
Tour agencies and private guides in Fukuoka offer interesting educational tours to the place where a product is created. What can you find on the island?
- Soy sauce factory. Before becoming a popular resort, Phu Quoc lived in fishing and agriculture. Until now, hundreds of islanders go to sea here to fish. She is brought ashore in wicker baskets. Large sea creatures are sent to restaurants, and small ones are taken to factories where Nuoc Mam fish sauce is made, which is in great demand in Vietnam and the countries of Southeast Asia. The fish, and these are mainly anchovies, are poured into wooden barrels, after mixing with salt. Oppression is put on top and left for a while. Then they open the tap at the bottom and decant the most expensive reddish sauce. The subsequent liquid from the barrel will be yellow. It is a little less valued, but it is also used in the preparation of a wide variety of dishes. You can look at the production of sauce at the factory, but you cannot buy a bottle as a gift for your friends. They will not be allowed on the plane with it, because the sauce has a sharp, unpleasant smell.
- Red pepper plantation. Peppers brought from China were cultivated on the island by the French in the 19th century. Nowadays, 471 hectares of the island's area are allotted for plantations of hot spices. And this is very little how the islanders lament. At the end of the last century, 2.5 times more spices were grown here. During a tour of the pepper plantation, you need to be very careful, as snakes are found in the thickets. After examining the garden with orderly rows of green bushes, it is worth going to the local store, where the best red Fukuoka peppers are sold by weight.
- Pearl farm. The sea off the coast of Fukuoka warms up well and is ideal for growing excellent pearls. There are two oyster farms on the island. One is owned by the Japanese and the other by the Australians. Both are open to the public. You need to look for them a few kilometers from the capital of Fukuoka - the city of Duong Dong. Each farm has a store that sells both the pearl itself and its products.
Natural beauty
Lovers of hiking and beautiful photographs can climb Mount Ham Nin, the second name of which is Heavenly. Its height is only 400 meters, but some difficulties may arise during the ascent. The way up - a simple path - goes through a virgin forest where you need to beware of insects, such as wild bees, and tree roots that block the path in the most unexpected places. From the height of the Heavenly Mountain, there is an excellent view of the eastern part of Phu Quoc Island.
You can have a great free time by going to the only national park on the island. It was founded in 2001 and at that time covered more than 50% of the island's area. It also included a part of the coastal sea area. Currently, the area of the park has been reduced to 31 hectares. On the territory of the park, there are tropical forests, ringing streams with crystal clear water, impetuous rivers carrying their waters into the sea, low but picturesque waterfalls. In the reserve, you can simply walk or ride a bike, enjoying the beauty of one of the most amazing untouched corners of the planet. Kayaking and rafting trips are also possible.
Traveling with children
Kids will surely love Phu Quoc Island. It offers children clean beaches, shallow sea, gentle descent into the water and warm weather. You can diversify your vacation with a trip to the amusement park and the local zoo. Both of these attractions are located in one of the five five-star hotels on the island called Vinpearl. It is located 25 km from the capital. The Vinperl Land amusement park, in addition to various slides and carousels, also includes a water park and an oceanarium. You do not need to additionally buy a ticket for each attraction: it is enough to pay for the entrance to the territory of "Vinperl Land".
The Vinpearl Safari Zoo is located next to the amusement park. He has been working since 2015. Animals are kept in large enclosures. Any visitor can enter the bird pavilion, which is a huge mesh cage. The birds live together, and are not kept in separate cages. Particularly sociable parrots, hoping for a treat, can even sit on their hands.
After a walk around the zoo, guests are offered to go on a safari on a special transport. The walk lasts about half an hour. During this time, the closed bus will travel through an area resembling a savannah, where zebras, tigers, antelopes, lions, giraffes, etc. live in the wild.
Another interesting place on the island is the kennel where hunting dogs of the local breed are raised. Large and small guests visit the farm, get acquainted with the puppies, visit the thematic museum and have the opportunity to watch the dog races. The four-legged are faced with the task of overcoming a strip of different obstacles, with which smart animals cope perfectly well.
A child of any age will also enjoy the puppet show that takes place on the water. Similar theaters can be found in different parts of Vietnam. The actors are made of wood and painted in vibrant colors.
