Buzz
Arrived in Bangkok after a smooth journey from Saigon. Quickly headed to the serene resort on the southeastern side of the island, just an hour's drive from the airport. In the evening, wandered through the charming Old Town before indulging in a feast at Naka Night Market, all for less than 300 baht.
Day 2:
Embarked on a boat excursion to Koh Hey, stopping by the picturesque Banana Beach along the way.
Day 3:
Morning: revisited Old Town to explore its treasures in daylight, then ventured to some of Phuket's most renowned cafes. Afternoon: headed to the western coast of the island for a delectable Pad Thai at The Pad Thai Shop, renowned for serving some of the best in the land. Retreated to the resort as night fell.
Day 4:
Day 4:
Explored the hidden nooks and crannies of Amanpuri Resort, my home for days 3, 4, and 5. In the afternoon, frolicked along Patong Beach. Evening of day 4, attended the mesmerizing Simon Cabaret show, a spectacle to behold. Note: No filming or photography allowed during the show.
Day 5:
Strolled along the beach, observing how the Thai people excel in hospitality despite the bustling crowd. Despite the crowds, the sea is cleaner and more beautiful than Vietnam's. Noon: headed to the airport to return to Bangkok and then back to Vietnam.
Traveling to Phuket:
There are two ways to fly to Phuket: direct and connecting flights. Each method has its own pros and cons.
Direct flights: Currently, there's only one budget airline flying from Vietnam to Phuket. The flight is relatively short due to the proximity, but there's a risk of delays or even cancellations if there aren't enough passengers.
Connecting flights: You can fly to Bangkok and then onward to Phuket, booking with the same or different airlines. We flew to Bangkok with Vietnam Airlines, then from Bangkok to Phuket with Thai Smile, the mid-range airline of Thai Airways. It might sound hectic, but once aboard, you're well taken care of with continuous meals. With a 2 - 3 hour layover, you can comfortably enjoy the journey.
Dos: Find flights that suit your goals (time, layover preferences, and the chance to visit Bangkok; on weekends, you can even squeeze in a trip to Chatuchak Market). Book tickets early, ideally 2 weeks to a month in advance, for better prices and to ensure your itinerary.
Don'ts: Overspend in this area or be overly frugal, risking spoiling your travel plans.
Getting around Phuket
Hailing a taxi in Phuket isn't straightforward and can be expensive. However, you still have options: air-conditioned taxis/private cars and lively tuk-tuks with booming sound systems. Air-conditioned taxis/private cars offer the benefit of cool comfort, anytime travel, privacy, and quick transport, but can be tricky to flag down and negotiate fares. For example, from the airport to Patong area, don't pay more than 600 baht, or from Naka Night Market to a resort about 12 km away, a flat rate of 600 baht for the whole vehicle is reasonable for larger groups.
Tuk-tuks have the advantage of being fun when traveling in a group, accommodating multiple passengers, easy to find, and cheaper than taxis/private cars. However, they can be chilly at night but hot in the mornings. Furthermore, if sharing a ride with other passengers, you may have to wait until the vehicle fills up before departure.
Another option is renting a motorbike, with various types and prices available, giving you control over your time and route. However, in Thailand, vehicles drive on the left side of the road, and in Phuket (especially in rural areas), the roads may not be well-marked. Consider carefully before renting, especially if traveling in a group.
The most convenient and time-saving option is renting a private tour service (8 hours/day), allowing you to go anywhere you wish. Simply search for 'Day Tour In Phuket' for numerous options. The drivers are friendly, speak good English, and you can provide them with a list of places you want to visit, and they will plan the most convenient route. They'll pick you up from the airport and provide transportation throughout your stay.
Dos: Plan ahead the places you want to visit to avoid wasting time and enduring the heat.
Don'ts: Step out without a plan as you might end up not knowing where to go. In reality, there are famous attractions like the tiger sanctuary, and animal circus shows...
Accommodation
During this Phuket trip, for the first 2 days, Sơn and Tuấn stayed at Amatara Wellness Resort on the southeast side of Phuket island. If you want to adjust your accommodation to fit your budget and schedule, simply visit hotel booking websites, enter your destination and check-in/check-out dates, and you can see the prices in advance and find a suitable place within your budget.
Dos: Book in advance for easier budget planning, and you can check in upon arrival.
Don'ts: Arrive without a reservation or book at hotels with unclear prices.
On the 3rd day of the trip, Sơn and Tuấn changed accommodations, moving from the southeast to the west side of the island and spent the remaining time at Amanpuri resort. Here, they enjoyed a beautiful private beach. Despite being built 30 years ago, everything is still very fresh and special. Amanpuri's beach is also outstanding.
Food and Drink
The food options in Phuket are endless, with a rich variety and many choices. From grilled skewers, seafood, fried rice, papaya salad, pomelo salad, mango sticky rice, grilled tuna, fresh fruits, tom yum, Pad Thai, to fish cakes... Fish cakes are one of the most popular street foods in Thailand. They are seasoned with various herbs and spices, incredibly tasty. For just 300 baht at Naka Night Market, around 200,000 Vietnamese dong, you'll be completely satisfied.
Apart from the dishes in the central area of the two islands, there's one place you must visit, and that's The Pad Thai Shop, serving one of the best pad Thais in Thailand. Situated on the road connecting the two islands of Phuket, nestled amidst hills, The Pad Thai Shop may be small but is always bustling with Phuket tourists. Customers have to queue up to order because it's always crowded. Here, everyone serves themselves, sets their own tables, grabs their utensils, napkins, and drinks. The owner and her family are very friendly.
Address: The Pad Thai Shop (Karon Road, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket Island). Everyone knows it, just ask the taxi drivers, and they'll take you there. The busiest spot is the place! This is one of the best pad Thai dishes I've ever had.
Attractions
Patong Beach
This is the bustling entertainment area of Phuket, from street food to merry tourists, to the most bizarre 'entertainment' shows in the world. When in Patong, you must visit Simon Cabaret, a spectacular performance by transgender artists.
Dos: Support shows like Simon Cabaret, which provide wholesome employment opportunities and showcase the intricate and heartfelt organization of your country's entertainment.
Don'ts: Avoid spending money on tours to Tiger Kingdom, bird and animal circuses, which involve animal abuse and are being condemned worldwide.
However, if you love dogs and cats, you can visit the Soi Dog Foundation. This is where stray dogs and cats of Phuket, abandoned or homeless, are cared for. You can volunteer to care for the animals or contribute to help sustain the organization. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to visit this time, and we regret it.
Patong Beach, despite being crowded with tourists, remains very clean. Moreover, tourists can use parasailing services, taking off and landing at the same spot.
Island Excursions
A boat picked up a group of 7 people from Cape Panwa Beach (southeast of Phuket) for a full-day tour, visiting Banana Beach on Koh Hey and stopping by Koh Lone on the way back, costing 2,500 baht (around 1.8 million Vietnamese dong). The whole group had a blast on the boat. We booked this boat a day in advance and negotiated the price. If you want to go, you can go to the nearest pier and negotiate the price, set a date and time for departure.
Dos: Find a boat in advance to have more price options.
Don'ts: Avoid setting out without plans, as it can lead to price pressure and spoil the fun.
Banana Beach
Located on Koh Hey, you just need to tell the boat owner to take you there as it's quite famous. When we arrived, we were amazed by Thailand's commitment to sustainable tourism. Despite hosting thousands of visitors daily, the beach remains clean and pristine. Even though it's close to the mainland and crowded with tourists, the water is crystal clear, allowing you to walk straight into the sea to observe fish and coral. If an island becomes overly crowded and uncontrollable, the government will decide to temporarily halt activities to preserve resources.
Banana Beach has a charming pier, a bit rustic but quickly grows on you. There are many activities available on the beach such as parasailing, snorkeling... Just stepping into the sea, colorful fish immediately surround you. If you visit, don't forget to bring sunscreen.
By Adrian Anh Tuấn/Ngôi sao
***
Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourApril 18, 2018
