Explore Phu Quoc Island, a paradise in Vietnam known for its pristine beaches, lush forests, and vibrant culture. Indulge in fresh seafood at Cho Dem night market, visit ancient temples like Sung Hung Pagoda, and relax at Sao Beach’s white sands.
Discover local delicacies like Bun Ken and Ham Ninh Flower Crab. Perfect for both relaxation and adventure, Phu Quoc offers snorkeling, water sports, and scenic trails. Plan your trip with our guide to enjoy the best of this idyllic island.
Discovering Phu Quoc: Beaches, Temples, and Local Delights
Phu Quoc Island is a famous tourist spot because of its idyllic beaches, romantic sunsets, evergreen forests, and serene atmosphere. Here, you will find plenty of luxurious resorts, funky bars, and cafes along the southern coastline.
Along with beautiful beaches Phu Quoc also offers you traditional villages, nature parks, and Buddhist pagodas.
The fresh seafood and Vietnamese street food in the local market at an affordable price will appetize you for sure.
Things to do in Phu Quoc island:
1. Visit Sung Hung Pagoda:
This pagoda is a combination of two shrines, Sung Nghia and Hung Nhan Pagodas. Later it was merged and renamed as Sung Hung Pagoda.
This Pagoda is the oldest of its kind in Phu Quoc Island, it was built in the early 10th century. In the front courtyard, you will find plenty of Bodhi trees, a statue of Goddess of Mercy standing in the middle of a lotus pond, and a sanctum house housing a bronze bell, sculptures, and red lacquered boards with engraving writings.
The main prayer hall is three-story in height. In here, you will find Buddha statues and intricate paintings of Buddhist mythical creatures and legends.
The entry to this Pagoda is free. It is advised to dress conservatively out of respect for the monks and locals. The pagoda opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 6 in the evening.
2. Dinh Cau Rock:
This place is also known as “Cau Temple”. This temple was constructed in 1937 to commemorate Thien Hau, the Goddess of the Sea. This is an odd-shaped natural formation in Phu Quoc Island where local fishermen pray before going on fishing excursions.
It also features a brightly-colored lighthouse and a Buddhist shrine that makes it a popular photography spot. To reach the Cau temples’s rooftop terrace you have to climb 29 winding stone steps.
From the terrace, you can enjoy spectacular sunset views, traditional fishing boats, Duong Dong town, and neighboring islets. During the new year and Dinh Cau Festival, locals offer prayers and burn joss sticks at Thien Hau’s altar.
You will find a lot of food and beverage vendors selling fresh seafood and soft drinks at the base. The entry to this temple is free. The temple opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 6 in the evening.
3. Visit the Cho Dem night market:
This night market is located along Vo Thai Sau Street and about a five-minute walk from Dinh Cau Rock. This market offers you a wide range of dining and shopping opportunities until late.
Here you can try a lot of varieties of seafood including fishes of various kinds, crabs, and scallops.
The most popular and must-try dishes in the market are grilled scallops, steamed squid, boiled sea snails, flower crab with rice noodles, and deep-fried shrimps.
You will also get a good mix of fresh juices, smoothies, soft drinks, local wines, and beer. You will find hundreds of booths selling t-shirts, slippers, jewelry, and handicrafts.
The entry of motor vehicles in this market is closed from 5 pm onwards for the safety of its visitors, which makes it a perfect place to stroll and spend the evening. The market opens at 5 in the morning and closes at 12 in the midnight.
4. Sao Beach:
Sao beach is located about 25 km from Duong Dong and is 7 km long. This is one of the few white sand beaches in Phu Quoc with azure seawater with a backdrop of coconut trees and green hills.
In the ocean, you will find schools of small starfishes, needle nose fishes, and small squids. You can also go snorkeling at the very north and south end of the beach. During summers in May to October, this place is perfect for swimming.
In the winter from late October to early May you can enjoy many water sports including kitesurfing. You can also rent a jet ski that costs VND 450,000 for 10 minutes.
On the northern and southern tip of the beach, there are some small trails that are created by the locals to get into the pristine forest. Beside the beach, bars are made of palm leaves scattered on the beach.
You should also try the sugarcane juice “nuoc mia” for 10,000 VND for a glass.
Food to try in Phu Quoc Island:
1. Bun Ken (Ken Noodles):
It is a unique dish of Phu Quoc. The broth is made from dried shredded fish, fish broth, coconut milk, and added curry powder cooked until vicious.
The dish is served with thin noodles, fresh herbs such as basil, cilantro, sliced cucumber, bean sprouts, raw papaya, and sour fish sauce.
2. Ham Ninh Flower Crab:
Flower crab is the specialty of this island. The fresh flower crabs have an amazing taste and texture.
They are first boiled and then dipped in the sauce made from black pepper, salt, lime juice. At some restaurants, you are allowed to pick up a crab from the tank and as the waiter to get it cooked for you.
If you want meaty ones always choose small male crabs. If you like crab-roe, then choose female crabs.
How to reach in Phu Quoc Island:
1. By flight:
This is the most comfortable and fastest way to reach Phu Quoc from Ho Chi Minh city.
Get a flight from Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Ming to Duong Dang Airport in Phu Quoc. The tickets will cost you $25-$130/ person according to the airlines.
2. By bus:
This is the cheapest way to reach Phu Quoc.
You can reach Phu Quoc by bus from two different ways. In both the ways you have to change from bus to ferry to reach Phu Quoc.
First is to get a bus from Ho Chi Minh and reach Rach Gia. All the buses on the route to Rach Gia from Ho Chi Minh City departs at night only.
The journey will take 6-7 hours. From Rich Gia take a ferry or boat to reach Phu Quoc island. It will take 3-4 hours.
Another way to reach Phu Quoc by bus from Saigon in Ho Chi Minh to Ha Tien. The journey will take 8-9 hours and cost you 170,000-200,000 VND.
Now from Ha Tien take a ferry or boat to Phu Quoc island. It will take 1.5 hours to reach. The ticket of the ferry will cost you about 230,000-400,000 VND.
