Things to do in Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s top island getaway

Vietnam is home to 2,030 miles of stunning shoreline and many islands. However, one is especially well-versed in contending with seashore giants, including Phuket or Bali. Phu Quoc, a 222-square-mile island within the Gulf of Thailand, has welcomed fast development and an ever-growing list of direct flight connections. Visitor numbers have grown in parallel, catapulting to a predicted 2.5 million in 2018 — a 25% jump compared to the previous years. Most come for the stunning beaches — Sao Beach, Long Beach, and Ong Lang Beach — however; there may be much more in this tour menu. Travelers can kayak through fishing villages, dine on sparkling seafood aboard a floating platoon, move squid fishing, or go to a pearl farm to see how “Pearl Island” got its nickname.

“I grew up on the island, and it’s changed loads inside the past ten years but has retained its herbal beauty,” Anna Nguyen, a neighborhood professional who works with travel enjoy platform Klook, tells CNN Travel. “Many people come for a weekend getaway since it is a quick flight from Ho Chi Minh City. However, there may be a lot to do; you may stay right here your whole lifestyle like me and still be exploring.” For some ideas, here are a few activities in Phu Quoc that you can feature in your itinerary.

Whether you’re keen to snorkel or scuba dive, the waters around Phu Quoc are teeming with marine lifestyles, the maximum of which is centered around the Phu Quoc Marine Park inside the south or the Ganh Dau Coral Gardens simply off the northwestern tip. In addition to crabs, squid, and masses of coral reef fish, you would be lucky enough to identify a hawksbill turtle or a green turtle — both of which can be endangered.
If you have your heart set on diving, the best time to go is during the dry season, from October to April, for the best visibility.

Ham Ninh Fishing Village guarantees a low-priced, convivial nighttime out, a mixture of an open-door eating place and a seafood marketplace. Located on the eastern coast, the town is set inland from the ocean alongside a canal where stilt houses, colorful boats, and floating restaurants hover above the water. “You can find so many sorts of seafood here, which include the well-known crabs, clams, oysters, and sea urchins — it is genuinely unique,” says Nguyen. “But if you like to fish, you should try cobia fish [also known as black kingfish] — it’s a tender, flaky white fish with black scales.”

For lunch or dinner, vacationers can choose from the daily seize and select a coaching method — grilled, steamed, warm pot fashion, or fried up with nearby pepper, garlic, and a mountain of Vietnamese herbs.
On the northern quit of Phu Quoc, the Cua Can River winds from the ocean into the island’s center. The 14-kilometer stretch of water is a perfect area to move kayaking, especially for beginners, to the calm currents and jungle surroundings.

“It’s hushed and nonviolent — it appears like a hidden gem because you can not get there by car,” says Nguyen. “You, in reality, must recognize where you’re going.” At the give up of the river, wherein the water feeds into the Gulf of Thailand, and white sandbanks glisten beneath the sun, a small fishing village of timber bridges and stilt homes offers a danger to forestall for an atmospheric lunch. If you are confident in the kayak, vacationers can paddle into the ocean and discover nearby coral reefs and isles.