| Phu Quoc | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Area | 574 km² |
| Population | 70 000 hab. () |
| Density | 121,95 inhab./km² |
| Location | |
 10 ° 13 ′ 44 ″ N 103 ° 57 ′ 25 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
Phú Quốc is a large tropical island in Vietnam off the southwest coast of the country.
Understand
Phú Quốc is a very mountainous island covered with dense forest with an area of 600 km2. She does 58 km long from south to north and has a population of approximately 80,000 inhabitants. Located in the Gulf of Thailand at 45 km west of Hà Tiên (on the mainland of Vietnam) and 15 km in the south of the Cambodian coast, Phú Quốc is surrounded by the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam.
To go
Visitors from all countries arriving at Phú Quốc via cruise ship no longer need a visa for stays of less than 30 days. A passport valid for at least 45 days is still required.
Visitors arriving in Phú Quốc by other means (eg by plane) are still subject to normal visa rules
The visa waiver is applied to foreign visitors who stay on Phu Quoc Island within 30 days.
By plane
- 1 Phú Quốc International Airport (IATA : PQC, ICAO: VVPQ, Sân bay quốc tế Phú Quôc) (10 km south-east of Dương Đông)
Airlines serving Phú Quốc:
- Vietnam Airlines with 10 daily flights ofHo Chi Minh City or the 2 daily flights from Rach Gia.
- Air Mekong for fast service from Ho Chi Minh City. Air Mekong uses its new Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft.
- Jetstar Pacific Airlines has flights from Hanoi.
- VietJet Air with flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
- Nordwind Airlines with flights from Russia.
Do not hesitate to compare prices for the periods that suit you. There is sometimes a great variability in prices between successive dates. Air Mekong is most often the cheapest.
On a boat
Phú Quốc has two ports on the east coast: Bai Vong and Ham Ninh and a port south of An Thoi Island for connections with the mainland.
The port of An Thoi seems to be less and less used in favor of the port of Bai Vong, you should check your arrival / departure port on Phú Quốc in order to anticipate the transfer on site.
Depending on the season, you might not find a taxi when you arrive, but there should be a few motorcycles. Minibuses serve the two main cities but tickets are sold on the boat before arrival. The transfer can also be arranged through your hotel. The price of a taxi to Duong Dong should not exceed 100,000 dong. Some offer it to you for much more.
The companies that operate the connections (timetables and prices to be checked on the sites concerned)
- Dương Đông Express Phone. 077-3981648
From Rach Giá to Phú Quốc: departure 7 h 45 arrival 10 h 15; price 270,000 VND for an adult
From Phú Quốc to Rach Giá: departure 12 h 45 arrival 15 h 15
- Super Dong Hydrofoil Tel. 077-3877742
From Rạch Giá to Phú Quốc (An Thoi): Morning
From Phú Quốc (An Thoi) to Rach Giá: Afternoon
- Trameco Phone. 077-3878655
Crossing 250,000 đ / adult, 170,000 đ / child (6 to 12 years old).
From Rach Giá to Phú Quốc: departure 8 h 10 arrival 10 h 40
From Phú Quốcà Rach Giá: departure 13 h 10 arrival 15 h 40
- Hải Âu (Seagull) Tel. 84-77-3981000
A daily connection Rach Giá to Phú Quốc (An Thoi)
- Vinashin Rose Tel. 077-3949090
A connection Rạch Giá - Phú Quốc
- Biển Xanh Express Tel. 077-3983212
A daily connection Rach Gia to Phú Quốc (An Thoi)
- Cashin Tel: 077-3949090
A link Hà Tiên - Phú Quốc
- Vietrosko Hydrofoil (unreliable)
A link Hà Tiên - Phú Quốc
In the dry season, the sea is calmer than in the rainy season.
Circulate
Walking is definitely the best (and most accessible) way to browse Long Beach. Settle into the Mai House or the Tropicana and you can take beautiful walks of 3-4 h. If you settle in La Veranda you might never get out. If you are up for the adventure then go for it.
The motorcycles and scooters. There is no doubt, if you are young enough (at least at heart) you should try to see the island by scooter. They can be rented for 3 € per day at your hotel / resort. There is no formality, no insurance and no deposit. You will have to negotiate if you damage or lose your motorcycle. It is generally necessary to refuel before returning it. The roads are mostly red earth and full of potholes. If you embark on the adventure, it is not completely secure but it will give you a lot of fun. Note: do not panic if you run out of gas or if you blow a tire. You will be surprised how quickly the locals stop to help you or how many small stores easily sell a liter or two of gasoline. The island is full of little repairmen who will come to your aid for a little money. Identify them as everywhere in Vietnam by the tire wrapped in colored metallic film which serves as a sign.
In bike. More and more hotels and resorts are renting bicycles.
In Taxi. Reasonable prices but a little more expensive than in Sài Gòn bus.
See
- Its beaches: Long beach of course, but also the very beautiful and sparsely populated Dai beach in the northwest.
- The nature reserve (primary forest in the north of the island),
- The falls
- Coral reefs
- His production of the best nước mắm or fermented fish sauce in the world
- His local breed of superbly domesticated and docile dog.
Make
Go night squid fishing
Buy
Pepper, Nuoc mam (note: take only a small bottle, because it is forbidden to take it on the plane, even in the hold), pearl necklaces.
Eat
Seafood and other island specialties. For seafood, Deauville on the beach, inside the Kim Nam Phoung resort will help you have a good evening with your feet in the water and around it. a barbecue of local fish and shellfish. Olivier and his wife Thao will be very happy to serve you typical dishes from Phú Quốc. Romantic restaurant for a romantic dinner with one of the most beautiful sunsets on the island. The night market of Duong Dong will offer you a fairly wide choice of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. You will choose among the proposals your favorite preparation, grilled, steamed etc. "HIEU" is one of the oldest restaurants in Long Beach, for the moment it is located next to the Mai House. Madame Hieu serves home cooking there. Impeccable in terms of freshness, cleanliness and product quality. The welcome from the owners is very kind. It is on the beach and you will dine there with your feet in the sand.
Have a drink / Go out
In Phú Quốc there are many places to go out and have a drink (in the evening of course). I recommend La Casbah on Trang Hung Dao at about 1,5 km from the center of Duong Dong towards the Veranda. Night bar open from 18 h at 5 hBilliards and good music are waiting for you. The boss, Mike, will be happy to welcome you and guide you for a trip on the island. For the end of the day aperitif, the Terrace, in the center. town on Trang Hung Dao, tapas bar, will allow you to have a good time (on the 1st floor) with a very pleasant view of the sea.Another bar (open from 18 h until late at night) opened recently. This is the "D.S" Bar, for Diem and Stephane. Good music, good billiards, nice atmosphere ... and not expensive. Stéphane, a former guide on the island, can also provide good advice for getting off the beaten track. Located a little behind, you have to get to the "D.S" to get off on 50 meters the alley with the restaurant "Chez Carole" at the corner.
"AMIGOS" is a bar / dance hall / billiards table on the beach next to "the veranda", nice for a cocktail at sunset or later.
"LE LOUNGE" hotel / restaurant / bar / billiards is particularly welcoming. Mika, the boss, will be sure to give you all the information about the island and he is a well of science on Viet Nam in general since he has lived there for many years and loves it. Access by the same path as "the veranda" from the road and it is just to the right.
