Phu Quoc Island is the biggest island in Vietnam, located on the Rach Gia Gulf between Vietnam and Cambodia. Phu Quoc is known for pristine beaches, untouched primeval forest, and abundant seafood.
Weather and Climate, Best Time to Visit
The Phu Quoc Island has a tropical monsoon climate and the monsoons have great impacts on the island’s weather as well as travel and holidays on the island.
There are two seasons on the Phu Quoc Island:
- Dry season: From November through April. During this period the Northeasterly Monsoon is strong in the period from November through March which makes the sea rough and not good for water sports mostly. Boat trips between the Phu Quoc Island and the inland may be canceled when the winds are too strong. Still, you can have calm sea on the western side of the island.
- Rainy season: May through October. It rains a lot in September – October and sometimes into November. During these high rainy times, travel activities on the Phu Quoc Island are limited. The period from May through August is often full of sunshine with daily short-lived rain; this is a good time to travel to Phu Quoc notwithstanding beach holidays or active vacations...
Tourist Attractions, What to see
1/ Bai Sao Beach
2/ Bai Dai Beach
3/ Bai Truong Beach
4/ Bai Sao Beach
5/ Bai Khem Beach
6/ Hon Thom Island
7/ Night Market
8/ Ham Ninh Fishing Village
9/ Fish sauce brewing village
10/ An Thoi Islands
Adventure Travel, Things to do
There are plenty of adventure activities to do on Phu Quoc Island that active travelers should never be bored with even for those who plan a long vacation on the island. Some recommendations for adventure activities are as below:
1/ Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Phu Quoc Island has some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in Vietnam, with crystal clear waters and colorful marine life. The tours for exploring underwater world and marine life in Phu Quoc take either half a day or a full day. Some best sites for these tours include:
- Marine life at Ganh Dau to the north of the island;
- Around the An Thoi Islands to the south of Phu Quoc: the group of 18 islands with crystal clear water and amazing marine life won’t fail to make your day great;
- Bai Thom Beach to the northeast of Phu Quoc;
2/ Trekking and Hiking
Phu Quoc has a variety of nature trails that offer scenic views of the island's lush forests and mountain peaks. We can go hiking on the waterfront trail at Ganh Dau (to the northwest) on the edge of an untouched forest. Alternatively we can go hiking around the Suoi Da Ban Stream which is west of the Duong Dong Town.
But the best trails for hiking at Phu Quoc are in Phu Quoc National Park, to the northwest (Ganh Dau) and northeast (Bai Thom, Cua Duong, Ham Ninh) of the island. The trails here go through primeval forest on a flat terrain or on mountain slopes to the highest peak of over 600m above sea level. The three mountains at Phu Quoc National Park are Ganh Dau, Ham Ninh and Ham Rong. For those who love leisurely hike, then you can try those waterfront trails with great sea views all the way.
3/ Sea Kayaking, River Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
Rent a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard and explore the island's hidden coves and beaches, mangrove forests, and rivers (Cua Can, Trem...).
4/ Fishing Tours
Take a fishing tour and try your hand at catching some of the local fish species such as barracuda, grouper, and snapper.
5/ Water Sports
There are also many water sports to enjoy on the island, such as jet skiing, parasailing, catamaran sailing, and windsurfing.
AdventureGreen organizes family adventure tours, hiking tours, water sports tour, and adventure beach holidays to Phu Quoc Islands.
Accommodation, Where to stay
Phu Quoc Island has a wide range of accommodation options to suit every budget, from luxury beach resorts to budget guesthouses. Some of the most popular areas to stay on the island are Long Beach, Ong Lang Beach, and Duong Dong Town.
Food and Drink
Phu Quoc Island is known for its fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and local specialties such as fish sauce and pepper. Some of the must-try dishes on the island include grilled seafood, seafood hotpot, and banh mi Phu Quoc (a local version of the Vietnamese sandwich), stewed caramelized fish in a clay pot sprinkled with Phu Quoc Black pepper.
There are also many beach-side bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a cocktail or a cold beer while watching the sunset.
How to get there and way
Phu Quoc Island is 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and 2-hour flight from Hanoi. There are several daily flights between these cities and Phu Quoc Island. Also, it is possible to take direct flights between Singapore, Malaysia and India.. and the Phu Quoc Island.
There are daily speed boat service between Ha Tien – Phu Quoc and Rach Gia – Phu Quoc. The boat trip takes 2-3 hours respectively. The speedboats are as follows:
+ Ha Tien – Phu Quoc which takes 1.5 hour each way, several boat trips per day;
+ Rach Gia – Phu Quoc which takes 2.5 hours each way, several boat trips per day.
Also, it is possible to take a ferry trip to the island from Ha Tien which takes 3 hours and which is cheaper.
Phu Quoc Average Monthly Rainfalls and Temperatures
