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| Phu Quốc | ||
| province | Kien Giang | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 70.000 () | |
| height | 68 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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The island Phu Quốc (read roughly: Fú-gwock with a barely audible g) is located in the extreme southwest of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand, about 10 ° north of the equator. It is currently in a profound process of transformation from a formerly secluded idyllic tropical island to a top tourist destination for mass tourism. The origin of the tourists is currently predominantly Vietnam, China and Russia, while the number of individual tourists from the West has already declined slightly. Phu Quốc has the status of a large city (Tân Phú) within the province in 2015 Kien Giang (read roughly: kinn-yäng), all previous locations became districts afterwards. At the moment the island is in a sense a huge construction site with no grain of sand left on the other.
places
According to the administrative structure, the island, which has now received the status of an independent large city (TP), consists of the two cities (TT) and 7 districts (Xa), not including Xa Hòn Thom, the islands south of TT An Thoi includes.
Duong Dông
The main town on the island of Phú Quốc with its administrative headquarters, main post office, hospital, airport, market, shopping streets, restaurants and hotels is Duong Dông (pronounced about Yu-ong-dong), it is also the center of the tourist infrastructure Bai Truòng ("Chinese Beach", mostly confusingly called "Long Beach" by tourists). Here, parallel to the street D. Trân Hung Dâo (pronounced roughly: tschanhung-da-o), resorts of different categories are lined up on the west beach over a length of about 10 km. Typically they have a restaurant, some have a pool. Most of them can be found in (Duong = street) Trân Hung Dao, its side streets, e.g. No. 118, including smaller shops and travel agencies. There are also two German bakeries, several pearl and jewelry sales halls, a sports bar. A popular meeting place for locals and tourists, especially at sunset, is the lighthouse and rock temple Dinh Câu, which is located on a rocky promontory at the pier. There is also the night market every evening, where, in addition to numerous street restaurants with fresh seafood, all sorts of trinkets are for sale. Neither these products nor the food comes from the island.
To Thoi
Another city is An Thoi (read roughly: Ann-toi) in the south, an important fishing and marine port and starting point for snorkeling and diving tours to the smaller islands in the south. In the near future, international cruise ships are likely to dock in An Thoi, an immigration department is in preparation. Not far from An Thoi, on the east coast, is the Star Beach (Bai Sao), formerly a tropical idyll with turquoise water, fine white sand and palm trees . Today Bai Sao is built up with turbulent restaurants, which mainly meet the taste of local tour groups, hawkers, jet skis etc. ensure a fair atmosphere, the water and beach are littered, there are a few accommodations and no public transport.
The neighboring ice cream beach (Bai Kem), formerly inaccessible to foreigners, has had a completely new character since 2016: under the new name "Emerald Bay", the former Bai Kem is not only the end of the new four-lane expressway from Duong Dông, but also its location of the five-star hotel Marriot and a settlement of luxury condominiums for investors. Additional locations for such investment objects, shielded from the public, are being created on the former naval site on the southern tip of the island
To the north of the beaches is the new naval site and the museum prison. Even further north, the magnificent new temple Hô Quóc looks towards the sunrise. Inland, a completely new large housing estate is emerging from nowhere, Cho Suoi Lon.
Cua Láp
Cua Láp (roughly: Gua-lapp) south of Duong Dông, which was completely inconspicuous before 2010, has rapidly developed into a new pole of mass tourism due to its proximity to the international airport with hotel complexes and smaller resorts.
Cua Can
Cua Can (read roughly: Gua-kahn) is a fishing village, idyllically situated on the river of the same name, the largest on the island, and on the edge of the national park. Cua Can participates heavily in the development of tourism in the north and is currently growing very rapidly, especially through the construction of accommodation for workers and staff for the new major projects in the north.
Gành Dau
Gành Dau (read roughly: Gann-yau) is also a market and fishing village, it is located on a north-western tip of the island facing the Cambodian National Park. The market street leading along the shore is well worth seeing. From Gành Dáu (read roughly: Gann-Yau) you can take a look at the island of Cambodia, which is only 4 km away. Gánh Dáu is even dirtier than the other fishing villages on the island, but it's still worth a quick visit. The narrow market street along the bay offers an insight into the life of fishermen. An internet café on the water can be reached via a long, adventurous footbridge. On the main street is the old ice factory with the ice slide (the ice blocks made slide down on a wooden stand construction to the landing stage for the fishing boats) and the ostentatious memorial hall for the local hero Nguyen Trung Trùc. The view of the fishing fleet lying in the west bay at certain times and of the island of Cambodia (Ream Ntl. Park) only 4 km away can be spectacularly beautiful in the evening. Gành Dau is currently growing rapidly and numerous resorts are under construction. The 750-bed luxury hotel Vinpearl on Bai Dai ("Long Beach") south of Ganh Dau is setting a new focus. With its gigantic size (xxx ha) and infrastructure (new road, golf course, amusement & water park, casino, safari park, hospital ...), the north-west of Phú Quôc has been given a completely new character since 2014. More resorts in this category will soon be built south of the Vinpearl.
Rach Vem
Rach Vem (pronounced roughly: Räd-wen) is a small village near Gàng Dau. In its remoteness and simplicity, it is the most original settlement on the island. The beautiful (but littered) beach and the monkey bridge on the other side of the river are well worth seeing. A large resort will be built on the site of the village, the residents have already been paid off and will be relocated, and mangroves cleared. At the moment the residents are renting out restaurants on the water that have been built without further ado and the fun of Asian tourists, as long as no location has yet been determined for their relocation. A huge "showroom" for pearl products was realized, but has not been put into operation.
Bai Thom
Bai Thom, (roughly: Bai-tomm) is the northernmost settlement on Phú Quốc, until the construction of the nearby ferry port Thanh Thoi and the partly four-lane "jungle highway" from Duong Dông connected to the mainland by fishing boats rather than to the rest of the island. Large resorts are also being built in Bai Thom, and the small settlement of Suoi Cai (read roughly: Su-i-kai), formerly just a small crossroads in the forest, is growing rapidly due to the construction of the large tar roads.
Rach Tram
Rach Trâm (roughly: Räd-dschamm). Fishing village at the mouth of the river of the same name. Very originally, only found connection to the power grid in 2016, a tar road is currently being built there, which should mean the end of the previous seclusion.
Ham Ninh
Ham Ninh (approximately: Hamm-ninn) with the outside ferry port Bai Vong (approximately Bai-wong), which connects with Rach Gia and with Ha Tien on the mainland. Originally the resident was in the center of the village, today Ham Ninh falls back into its old tranquility as a market town. It is planned to develop the coastal strip north of the village by a tar road.
Ông long
Since 2015, Ông Lang has quickly grown into a small village with a good tourist infrastructure thanks to new resorts in the middle and upper price category and a new concrete road.
Other goals
history
The story of Phu Quoc is short.
In the late 18th century, the island repeatedly served as a temporary refuge for the Catholic priest and later Bishop Pigneau de Behain and his protégé Nguyen Ành (Gia Long), ruler of the successful Nguyen dynasty in Cochinchine from 1802. De Behain cannot prevail with Louis XVI with his proposal to provide military support to the Nguyen in order to secure supremacy in the South China Sea for the French crown.
19th century
In the middle of the 19th century, the Cambodian king Ang Duong unsuccessfully suggested to Napoleon III that Phú Quôc (= Koh Trol) should be taken into possession. In 1861, the resister Nguyễn Trung Trực managed to sink a French frigate and raid a fort with a ruse . He also used Phu Quốc (in vain) as an escape destination and as a hiding place. Remains of his escape boat are kept at Cua Can, in Ganh Dau there is a memorial hall for the independence fighter.
20th century
As early as the 1930s, the French colonial government built a 996 m long runway and operated a military prison. After 1949, 33,000 soldiers of the defeated Kuomindang army fled Mao's troops from Hunan to Phú Quôc. During the Vietnam War, Phú Quôc is the largest prison camp for the US-supported South Vietnamese Army, which housed up to 40,000 prisoners here. "Coconut Prison" is still in operation today and is a tourist destination. On May 1, 1975, a squadron of the Khmer Rouge exploited the end of the war to invade the island temporarily, beginning a series of many clashes between the two countries, which ended in the defeat of the Pol Pot regime by Vietnam. Refugees from Cambodia establish their first fishing villages in the north. In 1975 commercial flights to the island begin. A 1982 agreement with Cambodia seals the kingdom's territorial claims to Phú Quốc. In 1983 the runway was extended to 1,496 m. Construction of fish sauce factories and plantation of pepper and fruit plantations. Beginning of a cautious development as a tourist destination and improvement of the infrastructure. In 2003 the government, with international help, placed a large part of the island and the adjacent waters under protection as a national park.
21st century
From 2010, the island will be accelerated to become a top tourist destination, with supply clearly ahead of demand. Road and canal construction, 2012 opening of a new international airport, power supply from the mainland via a cable. The massive influx of capital of presumably questionable origins is causing a construction boom with lasting destruction of natural resources, an overheated real estate market, the influx of tens of thousands of workers and employees from the mainland. The Vinpearl Hotel opened in 2013 with a golf course, casino, aqua amusement park and safari park as a harbinger of a new era without western tourists. The world's longest cable car to the neighboring island of Hon Thom, high-quality residential complexes, bungalow and hotel complexes are under construction.
background
The necessary infrastructure is still largely inadequate. The power supply is not guaranteed, despite a new submarine cable from the mainland. Power outages are common. Most resorts, the airport, the hospital, etc. make do with generators. The water supply is insufficient and can hardly keep up with the rapidly increasing demand. The public hospital, despite the new extension, does not meet Western standards in any way. A private hospital is operated by the Vinpearl Hotel. The garbage disposal is completely inadequate. The situation is getting worse from year to year. The island, its beaches and rivers, the roadsides and villages are terribly littered, even compared to other provinces of Vietnam. There is no wastewater treatment anywhere, the first sewer pipes are currently being laid.
language
Vietnamese is spoken in Phú Quôc. You will be able to communicate in English around the hotel and catering industry. Otherwise, one must assume that the Vietnamese are very difficult to learn other languages. As the distance from the tourist poles increases, communication quickly becomes difficult or even impossible. Nevertheless, the short-term tourist cannot be recommended to familiarize himself with the basics of the Vietnamese language. On the one hand, Vietnamese is extremely difficult to pronounce correctly; on the other hand, Vietnamese people usually refuse to understand the tourist even if he emphasizes correctly.
getting there
By plane
Phu Quoc is very well connected to the mainland through its airport. The international airport, which opened in 2012, is located near Cua Lap, approx. 10 km south of Duong Dông. From there you can reach your destination by taxi (approx. 6-10 €), with the Xe Om (motorcycle taxi, speak roughly ßäa-omm). However, most hotels and resorts offer a pick-up service.
Phú Quôc is mainly served by Vietnam Airlines (http://www.vietnamairlines.com). The state-owned company flies Ho Chi Minh City - Phú Quôc and back at least 6 times a day. In the high season (November to April) the number of flights increases, as does the price level. The flight prices fluctuate a lot, depending on the time of day, the season and the competitive situation. A one-way flight costs around € 30-80. Vietjetair (http://www.vietjetair.com/Sites/Web/en-US/Home) and Jetstar Airlines (http://www.jetstar.com/us/en/home) both fly to Ho Chi Minh City at least twice a day. As low-cost airlines, they have different baggage conditions than Vietnam Airlines.
Vietnam Airlines connects in direct flights with Hanoi, Rạch Giá and with Cần Thơ in the Mekong Delta. International flights are currently (March 2017) to Guangchou (China Eastern) and Stockholm (TUI Charter).
Since 2017 there are flights from Bangkok (Bangkok Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Jatayu Airlines)
The flights are often fully booked early, especially at the time of the Têt festival (Jan./Feb.), When the local population is also on vacation.
By boat
Of Rạch Giá Several ships depart daily (e.g. "Superdong", "Savannah" or "Duong Dông Express") to the port of Bai Vong on the east side of the island. Typical departure times are 8:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in both directions. These are air-conditioned fast ferries. The 2 1/2-hour crossing is often uncomfortable due to rough seas, and for this reason the ships sometimes don't go at all. It also happens that delays occur when the ships get entangled in fishing nets. After leaving the port, you can take a seat on the aft deck and thus avoid air conditioning and action films. On arrival you change to a bus to Duong Dông, approx. 15 km. From there you will take a taxi to your accommodation. When departing from Phú Quôc, it is advisable to purchase a combination ticket at the travel agency, the price then includes pick-up at the hotel. The fare is around € 9 each way (Oct. 2012), plus the bus transfer between Bai Vong and Duong Dông (€ 2). If you want to get to Phu Quoc from Cambodia by land, use the (Cambodian) border crossing at Prek Chak and arrives at the large Vietnamese city of Hà Tiên (countless hotels and guest houses), which is 5 km away. A visa for Vietnam at the border is not available, but for Cambodia (25 USD, 1 USD for health check, bring passport photo). In the morning at 8:20 am the big car ferry "Thriving 2" (approx. 6 €) leaves every day in 3 hours to the remote port of Au Đa Chong (near Bai Thom) on the northeast coast of Phú Quôc. There is no public transport from there. Tickets are available at the hotel or at the departure point on the east side of the river right next to the bridge. A reservation is not necessary, motorcycles can be taken along without any problems. Another passenger ship goes to Bai Vong.
An internet booking or other kind of advance booking of the ferries does not take place. Anyone with the bus out Châu Đốc (Border with Cambodia), the delta or from HCMC in Rạch Giá arrives, the ticket can only be bought there in the port. Some bus lines offer night connections that have a direct connection to the 8 o'clock departure of the boats. There are no passenger ships calling at the port of Duong Dông. In the future, after the completion of the international port of An Thoi, cross-border shipping (e.g. with Sihanoukville) should be possible.
mobility
Public transport
There are 3 regular buses on the island:
Bus 27: Cua Can - Ganh Dau - Rach Vem - Rach Tram
Bus 28: An Thoi - Ham Ninh
Bus 29: Duong Dong - Northern Island
taxi
A now large fleet of taxis takes tourists everywhere where roads and paths are passable. A drive from the airport to “Nhât Lan” will cost just under 5 €, to Cua Can around 20 €. The little Kia from "Affordable Taxis" are a little cheaper than the seven-seat Toyota Innova from the market leader Sasco
Xe Om
"Xe om" (pronounced roughly ßea-omm) are motorcycle taxis that carry a passenger and luggage. You can recognize the gentlemen, who like to hang around in small groups at crossroads, by their second hard hat. Individuals who want to take the Xe Om from the airport should watch out for men in blue shirts to the right of the exit.
Cycles
Bicycles (MTB and tandems) can be rented in Duong Dông. There are no bike paths on the island. The approach to the scenic points in the south leads over 20 km of shadowless expressway, in the north over at least 12 km of shadowless and busy roads.
Rental motorcycles
Motorcycles are therefore the means of transport of choice for individual tourists. The rental is unproblematic, you get the motorcycle freshly washed with an empty tank and without insurance cover (simple rule: an accident damage is always paid by the foreigner). Driving licenses and helmets are compulsory in Vietnam. The international or even German driving license is not recognized. The police are aware of the problem and have been instructed not to check tourists as long as there are no problems. You can choose either semi-automatic (100-125 ccm, 4 gears, centrifugal clutch) or fully automatic. The latter is a little more motorized and more expensive. Inexperienced tourists occasionally fall with automatic motorcycles because they tend to overbrake the front wheel. Motorcycles cost 5 - 8 € / day.
Phú Quôc has 4 paved roads outside the two cities, as well as some concrete paths. All other roads (except the city streets) are unpaved and in some cases only motorbikes can drive on. Heavy dust development must be expected in the dry season, floods, deep mud holes and even impassability in the rainy season. The connection Bai Thom - An Thoi along the east coast is only accessible by motorbikes and is reserved for adventurers.
Rental car
There are no car rental companies based on the western model on the island. A company at the exit of the airport offers 4-, 7- and 16-seat cars, probably more for locals, for self-driving. The rental car price for a car plus gasoline is a bit higher than the cost of a taxi with a driver. If you are not in bad taste driving a US jeep over the former prison and torture island, you will find a rental company in the tourist center Duong Dôngs.
Tourist Attractions
Phú Quôc is rather poor in outstanding sights. Most tourists are satisfied with lying on the beach, enjoying cool drinks and massages, watching the (often spectacularly beautiful) sunset and eating fresh seafood grilled on the beach.
Nuoc mam
Phú Quôc has a particularly good reputation in Vietnam as the production site of what is said to be the world's best fish sauce (nuoc mam). The fishing vessels travel upriver to the fish processing factories every day. The factories are well worth a visit, easy to find by following their pungent smell.
Night market
The evening attraction is the beautifully situated rock Mui Dinh Cau in Duong Dông with a Buddhist temple and lighthouse, with a view of the estuary and the harbor. In addition, the popular night market extends every evening with small seafood restaurants and souvenir stands. There is no further nightlife on the island. Tourists are offered BBQ on the beach in the season.
Bai Sao
Bai Sao is a popular destination. This palm beach on the east side was once the pattern of a South Pacific idyll. It offers fine white sand and turquoise blue water. Unfortunately, Bai Sao is no longer an insider tip, new large restaurants block the view, jet skies are noisy and tourist boats are occasionally by the dozen in the bay. The nearby Bai Kem is a military reserve and inaccessible to us.
activities
Diving, snorkeling and fishing
Especially in the south and north-west there are offshore islands and islets that invite you to dive and snorkel. Diving tours are offered by various diving centers located at Trân Hung Dao. Snorkeling tours can be booked at your resort or at a travel agency, this business is well organized. A minibus picks you up at your accommodation, you first have to stop at a pearl farm and then go on a boat in An Thoi. Food and drinks are offered. The small stone reefs are well worth a visit, but cannot stand comparison with famous diving destinations. Most day trips of this type end with a boat trip to Bai Sao. Other boat tours, which are arranged by the travel agencies, are fishing or night catching squid.
- Flipper Diving Club, 42 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong (Trân Hung Dao). Tel.: 84 93 940 2872. The English Wikivoyage writes: "The newest dive shop on the island and also a fast growing one. The only dive company on Phu Quoc that is a PADI resort and also a SSI center. Staffed by instructors from both organizations, they can provide training from Beginner level to all the way up to divemaster. They are also environmentally aware and organize clean up days, actively try to raise awareness of divers and enforce a "no-touch" policy while diving.Open: Daily, 09: 00-20: 00.Prize: Fun Dives, PADI & SSI.
- John's tour. Tel.: 84 91 910 7086. Snorkeling.
- Rainbow Divers, 11a Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong (Opposite the night market). Tel.: 84 91 340 0964. From the Engl. Wikivoyage: "The longest established dive center on Phu Quoc and the island's only PADI five star dive center. Staffed by divemasters and instructors from around the globe. PADI courses are available in most European languages and in Vietnamese. Friendly staff and great trips. Works closely with local businesses in organizing local charity events and beach and sea clean-ups. They have an eco-friendly policy with regard to looking after the reefs and in training new divers.Open: Daily, 08: 00-21: 00.
- Sunny Boat Trip. Snorkeling.
- X-Dive, Duong Dong. No PADI courses.
hike
Hiking is not provided on the island and is practically impossible due to the lack of suitable maps.
Kayak
Canoe and kayak rentals are available in Cua Can (Yen Hà, 1 km east of the bridge).
kitchen
Phú Quôc is not a gourmet destination for international tourists, but is highly valued by locals for its fish sauce (considered the world's best), nuoc mam, which is produced here in several factories. Nevertheless, it is popular with us because of the possibility of eating fresh seafood (almost all beach restaurants host evening BBQs in season) or on the daily
- Chợ đêm Dinh Cậu (night market) (south of the river). Open: after 4 p.m.- Popular open air gastronomy and souvenir trade, large selection, Phú Quôc's huge fleet of small fish and squid fishing boats ensures freshly caught and inexpensive meals. Lately, animals from other origins have been grilling, even those that we only know from the Red Species Protection Lists and whose consumption is prohibited even in Vietnam.
You can eat more authentically in the (somewhat) more upscale, nevertheless inexpensive, restaurants:
- Zen (near the hospital).
- Trung Duong (near the hospital).
If you don't want it to be quite so formal:
- Sakura (in Ông Lang).- The old Kiêm not only cooks with a lot of love and skill, but also speaks good English
If the Vietnamese food is too Vietnamese for you, you will find pizza, ice cream, burgers and co. In numerous places, e.g .:
- Chéz Carole (south of the hotel "Saigon-PhuQuoc", Duong Trân Hung Dao).- Restaurant under French Management with good, cheap food and thoughtful service.
- Mondo (south of the hotel "Saigon-PhuQuoc", Duong Trân Hung Dao).- Restaurant under Swedish. Guide. Wines, pumpernickel, porridge.
- Pepper's (south of the hotel "Saigon-PhuQuoc", Duong Trân Hung Dao).- German Italian. Pizza and pasta.
- Buddy's (now opposite the Marina DD).- Australian management. Restaurant and information center, meeting point for travelers. New Zealand ice cream.
- Dúc (south of Duong Dong on the Duong Trân Hung Dao).- Restaurant under German management.
- German Beergarden (Long Beach, south of the hotel "Saigon-PhuQuoc", Duong Trân Hung Dao).
nightlife
Vietnamese go to bed early and get up very early. There is no nightlife in our sense, not even in the tourist strongholds. From 10 p.m. it will be quiet almost everywhere. The few exceptions include the bars and restaurants on the beach run by foreigners, e.g. "Rory's", "D.S" or "Moe's". The "Sunmoon Bar" closes after the Vietnamese have finished their morning exercise.
nature
water falls
There are two major waterfalls on the island. Suói Tranh is clearly on the left of the road to Hàm Ninh. Surrounded by dense tropical forest, the water falls down in several cascades (especially in the rainy season!). The locals like to use the area for picnics, but do not think about taking their leftovers with them, so that the waterfalls, like the rest of the island, are hopelessly littered. The other waterfall, Suói Dá Ban, is located near the water reservoir and is similar to the first.
National park
The national park forms the largest part of the north and the adjacent sea in the east of the island. It is a protected primary forest, which is only cut through by a few roads that - with one exception - are allowed to be driven. The area is otherwise inaccessible, but driving on the streets and paths is worthwhile. Apparently there is no other concept for the park than to protect the forest from slash and burn, pepper cultivation and settlement building. Accordingly, there are no entrances, ticket booths, explanations, display boards, guided tours, rangers or exhibitions. Motorcyclists will appreciate the route from Suoi Cai to Gành Dau, which is not yet paved and leads through very dense jungle. There is a "Jungle Walkway" between bridges 10 and 11; the entrance is recognizable by a green sign. The "Walkway" is worth seeing for the first hundred meters and then merges into the cultural landscape again. The Vietnamese government made the protection of the 31 hectare area with wise foresight, but today no longer stands by its concept, such as the construction of the "Vinpearl" and its 18-hole golf course shows (see Gành Dau). Provided that the entries in Google Maps are correct (in fact, they are occasionally more up-to-date than the actual construction progress), from 2015 the western part of the national park area, namely EVERYTHING west of the Duong Dông - Bai Thom - highway, is again excluded from the protection status and thus abandoned the construction of resorts.
Cua Can river
The upper reaches of the Cua Can River are still largely natural. There is a boat rental company in the district 2 (Áp 2) of Cua Can.
accommodation
There are now more than 1000 accommodations on Phú Quôc. It is therefore difficult to give recommendations at this point. The following entries are neither exhaustive nor insider tips, they only appear because individual authors insist on their being mentioned. In the high season (December to March) it is advisable to make reservations
Cheap
Those who want or have to get by on a very tight budget will find a huge range in the price range below € 20. Dormitory accommodation starts at $ 6 (Cua Lap). Hundreds of “Nha Tro” or “Nha Nghi” (guest houses) are primarily aimed at local workers and employees. They offer a small, mostly clean and windowless room with a wet corner, but no food and no service whatsoever. You can find them in the city, but especially along the main streets.
If you want to spend less than € 50, it will be difficult to find a bungalow on the beach in the high season, or only with compromises in facilities and service. In this price range you live well in the second or third row or away from the beach. You can expect a small bungalow with a small balcony and hammock, a simple bathroom, some service, a well-kept environment, e.g. a garden, a small restaurant.
- Lien Hiep Thành (also "Family Hotel", 188 / xx D. Trân Hung Dao (on this path).- well-kept, particularly friendly operator. Cheaper rooms for a long stay in the house.
- Nhât Lan, 188/20 D. Trân Hung Dao (at the very end of the road).Bungalows in beautiful surroundings, inexpensive restaurant, always a good choice.
- Viêt Thành, 188/18 D. Trân Hung Dao (almost at the end of the road).- Problems with incorrect tenants and administrators have occasionally been reported. Rooms in the main building are particularly cheap. Guests with Vietnamese friends are welcome.
- Amigos (formerly Eden), 188 / xx D. Trân Hung Dao (behind "La Veranda").Unter australischer Führung mit großer Bar ist das Nightlife-Zentrum an diesem Strandabschnitt. Haben einige Bungalows, direkter Bar-Zugang!
- Thanh Kim Nga, 188/xx D. Trân Hung Dao (vor dem "La Veranda" rechts abbiegen). Tel.: 84-773848845, Mobile: 84-908084357, Email: [email protected].Etwas zurückgelegen in schöner Gartenumgebung. Australisch/vietnamesisches Management.
- Beach Club, Long Beach (Cua Lap, 15 Min. vom Flughafen). Tel.: (0)77-980998, Mobile: (0)91-8484951, Email: [email protected]. Preis: Bungalow 10-20$, Zimmer 7-15$ (saisonabhängig).- ruhige, nicht allzugroße, direkt am Strand gelegene Clubunterkunft mit Bungalows, Zimmern, kleinem Strandrestaurant, Motorradverleih usw.
medium
Zwischen 50 und 100 € liegt die Mehrzahl der von europäischen Touristen gebuchten Unterkünfte. In dieser Preislage erhält man einen gepflegten geräumigen Bungalow in Strandnähe mit guter, manchmal stilvoller Einrichtung, A/C, ein funktionierendes Restaurant, englischsprachiges Personal, Motorradverleih, Touren. Typische Lagen sind der Strandabschnitt zwischen Nhat Lan und dem Saigon-Phu Quoc (Bai Trung) und die Resorts am Ong Lang Strand.
Upscale
Eher selten ist die Preisklasse zwischen 100 und 200 €. Diese Preislage ist gekennzeichnet durch eine außergewöhnliche Lage, geräumige und luxuriös ausgestattete Bungalows, ein gutes Restaurant, Swimming Pool und (gelegentlich) guten Service.
Oberhalb von 200 € ist das Angebot gering. Man sollte Fünf-Sterne-Service und -ausstattung und eine erstklassige Lage erwarten dürfen, z.B. mit kolonialem Flair (Bai Trung) oder in zeitgenössischem Design (Ong Lang).
Nach Lage
Bai Truong („Long Beach“)
Touristisches Zentrum ist der Bai Trung südlich von Duong Dong. Bai Truong bedeutet Chinesischer Strand, wird von den Touristen aber Long Beach genannt. Der westlich orientierte (Sonnenuntergänge!) Sandstrand ist kilometerlang und resortübergreifend. Er ist leicht über die lange Straße Tran Hung Dao (THD) erreichbar, die in einigen Hundert Metern Entfernung parallel zum Strand verläuft und auf der sich zahlreiche preiswerte Restaurants reihen, auch solche mit deutscher Küche. 118/... Tran Hung Dao kennzeichnet dann eine Adresse, die über eine Stichstraße erreichbar ist, welche bei Hausnummer 118 beginnt. Wer 118/... THD eine Unterkunft bucht, kann damit rechnen, dass er außer einem tollen Strand eine gute touristische Infrastruktur vorfindet. Bars und kleine Läden, Motorradvermieter, Reiseagenturen konzentrieren sich auf engstem Raum. Der Weg in die Stadt und zum Nachtmarkt kann ggf. zu Fuß erledigt werden, zum Flughafen sind es weniger als 10 Minuten und auch die Fähre ist nicht so weit. Wer ohne Buchung auf der Insel ankommt und am Bai Truong suchen möchte, sagt zum Taxifahrer „La Veranda“ und wird in der Umgebung sicher fündig.*
- gepflegt, besonders freundliche Betreiber. Preiswertere Räume für long-stay im Haus.
- Nhât Lan, 188/20 D. Trân Hung Dao (ganz am Ende des Wegs).Bungalows in schöner Umgebung, preiswertes Restaurant, immer eine gute Wahl.
- Viêt Thành, 188/18 D. Trân Hung Dao (fast am Ende des Wegs).- Es wurden gelegentlich Probleme mit unkorrekten Pächtern und Verwaltern berichtet. Zimmer im Haupthaus sind besonders billig. Gäste mit vietnamesischen Freundinnen sind willkommen. Deutsch geführtes Strandrestaurant „May“ unter deutscher Führung und gutem Essen.
- Amigos (ehem. Eden), 188/xx D. Trân Hung Dao (hinter "La Veranda").Unter australischer Führung mit großer Bar ist das Nightlife-Zentrum an diesem Strandabschnitt. Haben einige Bungalows, direkter Bar-Zugang!
- Thanh Kim Nga, 188/xx D. Trân Hung Dao (vor dem "La Veranda" rechts abbiegen). Tel.: 84-773848845, Mobile: 84-908084357, Email: [email protected].Etwas zurückgelegen in schöner Gartenumgebung. Australisch/vietnamesisches Management.
- Beach Club, Long Beach (Cua Lap, 15 Min. vom Flughafen). Tel.: (0)77-980998, Mobile: (0)91-8484951, Email: [email protected]. Preis: Bungalow 10-20$, Zimmer 7-15$ (saisonabhängig).- ruhige, nicht allzugroße, direkt am Strand gelegene Clubunterkunft mit Bungalows, Zimmern, kleinem Strandrestaurant, Motorradverleih usw.
Cua Lap
Cua Lap liegt, vom Bai Truong durch einen Fels getrennt, noch weiter südlich, also näher am Flughafen. Hier gibt es neben riesigen Hotelburgen eine Reihe neuer kleiner Resorts. Sehr guter Sandstrand. Außerdem zahlreiche preiswerte Unterkünfte oberhalb der THD.
Ông Lang
Mit Ông Lang wird ein Gebiet bezeichnet, das abseits der Straße Duong Dông - Cua Can gelegen ist. Auf einem niedrigen Berg wächst dichter Urwald, westlich davor liegen die meist kleineren und nicht miteinander verbundenen Felsstrände der Resorts.
- http://mangobayphuquoc.com/ Empfehlenswerte Bungalows mit einem hervorragenden Restaurant (den Oktopussalat probieren!), super Strand, auch der Service ist perfekt. Die Anlage ist sehr gross und dementsprechend ruhig gelegen direkt am Strand.
Cua Can
Cua Can ist ein aufstrebendes Fischerdorf am gleichnamigen Fluss, an dem es bisher nur wenige Unterkünfte gibt.Nördlich von Cua Can entstehen derzeit zahlreiche neue Resort-Anlagen. Ihre Strände werden z.T. dem steinigen Ufer abgetrotzt. Südlich vom Fluss dürfte 2019 das edle Mövenpick fertiggestellt sein. Dazwischen gibt es auch wenige fertige Anlagen im mittleren Preissegment.
Bai Dai
Bai Dai (ausgesprochen ungefähr Bai Yai) bedeutet Langer Strand. Er ist aber nicht identisch mit dem gern so genannten Long Beach (Bai Truong, ausgesprochen etwa Bai-tschuhng) weiter südlich. Der Bai Dai erstreckt sich über viele Kilometer von Cua Can bis hinauf nach Gang Dau. Der Bai Dai ist derzeit Großbaustelle, hier entstehen im Moment riesige Hotelkomplexe der Oberklasse wie das bereits fertig gestellte Vinpearl mit Golfplatz, Wasser-Erlebnispark, Safaripark etc.
Ganh Dau
Nur wenige Strandresorts gibt es in Ganh Dau. Wer Ruhe und Abgeschiedenheit schätzt, ist an diesen Stränden mit ihrem türkisgrünen flachen Wasser richtig.
Bai Thom
Bai Thom ist bisher nicht im Fokus westlicher Touristen. Hier entstehen derzeit mehrere, vor allem größere Anlagen.
Ham Ninh
Ham Ninh ist kein vorrangig touristischer Ort. Nördlich davon finden ruheliebende Urlauber aber saubere und sehr abgeschiedene Unterkünfte am Oststrand mit sehr flachem Wasser.
Bai Sao und Bai Khem (Emerald Beach)
Der traumhaft schöne Bai Sao mit seinem feinen weißen Sand hat jetzt einige einfachere Unterkünfte abseits des Strandes, die vor allem von Einheimischen aufgesucht werden. Die Infrastruktur dort ist eher schlecht. Bai Khem, ehemals abgeschiedenes Gelände der Marine existiert als solcher nicht mehr. Dorf und Einrichtungen, Müll und Vegetation wurden entfernt, neuer Sand und Palmen angefahren, Bai Khem in Emerald Beach umbenannt und riesige Hotels und Wohnkomplexe mit Eigentumswohnungen errichtet. Für Touristen uninteressant.
security
Vietnam ist generell ein sehr sicheres Reiseland, das gilt auch für Phú Quôc. Generell gibt es auch keine Einschränkungen für alleinreisende Frauen. Kleinere Diebstähle kommen vor, wenn Touristen dazu animieren (z.B. wenn das Handy nachts hinter dem geöffneten Fenster liegt). In jüngster Zeit werden allerdings auch Überfälle auf Touristen in den abgelegenen nördlichen Gegenden berichtet, welche auf offener Straße unter Androhung von Gewalt um Geld angegangen werden.
Medizin
Phú Quôc ist nach vorliegendem Wissen malariafrei. Der Verdacht auf Dengue in zwei Fällen wurde 2014 berichtet. Schlangenbisse sind häufig.
Es gibt ein Krankenhaus in Duong Dông, das man bei ernsthaften Erkrankungen besser meiden sollte. Ausstattung und Ausbildung der Ärzte sind unzureichend. Es gibt dort ein Labor und eine Röntgenstation.
"Vinmec" bei Ganh Dau ist ein empfehlenswertes privates Krankenhaus mit westlichem Standard (Röntgen, MRT etc.). Die Ärzte sprechen nicht immer Englisch, aber es gibt einen Übersetzungsservice für die Konsultationen, außerdem großzügige saubere Krankenzimmer, Apotheke im Haus. Kreditkartenzahlung ist üblich. Die nächsterreichbaren Hospitäler auf dem Festland mit westlichem Standard sind in Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt, Bangkok oder in Singapur und ggf. in Direktflügen erreichbar.
Auch das leichter erreichbare Bezirkskrankenhaus in Rach Gia könnte Anlaufstelle für weniger ernste Erkrankungen sein, z.B. für preiswerte Tropenimpfungen.
climate
In Phú Quôc ist es ganzjährig tropisch heiß. Dadurch dass die meisten Touristenunterkünfte an der Westküste liegen, bleibt das Wetter für den Europäer dann erträglich, wenn eine Brise von Westen weht oder wenn er Motorrad fährt. Ansonsten ist der Tourist gut beraten, sich bei den Einheimischen abzuschauen, zu welcher Tageszeit man arbeitet und zu welcher man abhängt. Typische Tagestemperaturen liegen bei 30-33 °C. In der Nacht können die Werte bis 27 °C fallen, selten bis auf kühle 25 °C. Die Luftfeuchtigkeit liegt (außer im Dezember) über 75 %.Es gibt zwei Jahreszeiten. Die Trockenzeit, fast niederschlagslos, beginnt typischerweise Ende Oktober. Im Jahr 2012 war die Regenzeit erst mit Beginn der zweiten Dezemberwoche zu Ende, 2013 war es Mitte November, 2014 fiel am 6. Dezember der letzte Regen. Erst nach März wird es leicht heißer, im Juni setzen dann zum Teil heftige Regenfälle ein. In die Trockenzeit fällt die touristische Hochsaison, vor allem rund um Weihnachten und um Têt (Jan./Feb.), dem Neujahrsfest nach dem Mondkalender.Die Regenzeit ist durch sehr häufige und zum Teil heftige Niederschläge gekennzeichnet, außerdem durch starken Wind. Höhepunkt (und damit schlechtester Monat für einen Inselbesuch) ist meist September. In dieser Zeit fallen bis zu 480 mm Niederschlag pro Monat (Vergleich: Jahresniederschlag Berlin 613 mm). Trotzdem klart es zwischen den Regenfällen rasch wieder auf und es herrscht dann schönstes Wetter.Eine detailierte Wetterprognose gibt diese Website: http://www.zoover.de/vietnam/vietnam/phu-quoc/wetter, ebenfalls interessant: http://de.windfinder.com/forecast/duong_dong_phu_quoc.
trips
Die meisten Touristen sind gut damit beraten, eine der von den Touristenbüros angebotenen Tauch-, Schnorchel- oder Angeltouren zu buchen. Dieses Gewerbe ist gut organisiert, mafiöse Strukturen halten die Anzahl der Anbieter klein.Unterschiedliche Rückmeldungen werden von John's Tours gegeben, die mehrere Büros südlich von Duong Dông betreiben.Individuelle Bootstouren auf dem Cua Can Fluss sind möglich bei Yen Hà, 2 km östlich der Betonbrücke.Wer ganz auf eigene Faust mit dem Motorrad die Insel erkunden möchte, muss sich auf eine wenig hilfreiche Karte verlassen, die auf der Insel kursiert. Man sieht Motorradtouristen allerorten damit hilflos herumstehen, weil die Karte dem rasanten Wandel nicht standhalten kann, nie aktuell ist und weil Beschilderungen weitgehend fehlen oder sogar irreführend sind.
