Top 8 Unmissable Activities in Phu Quoc Island

With its fine white sandy beaches and delicious seafood, Phu Quoc Island is increasingly captivating travelers from all around. As the summer showers and winds are now behind, the island comes alive for the dry season from November to March when humidity drops, and the rainy season passes.

Phu Quoc Island can be said to have some truly fantastic beaches. The beaches boast fine white sand surrounded by vibrant green coconut trees - scenes often seen on postcards. Some beaches have warm, calm, and tranquil waters, while others feature gentle waves. Some beaches are secluded with no one else around!

Presently, the most beautiful beaches include Bai Dai and Ong Lang Beach - both very similar with calm ocean waters, resembling a warm swimming pool. The most famous beach on Phu Quoc is Bai Sao, where small waves and many starfish can be found, a favorite spot for young travelers to check in when visiting Phu Quoc.

Dubbed as the most beautiful beach in Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand. Bai Sao with its cool, clean water and smooth white sand stretches for 7km. Along Bai Sao are green coconut trees casting cool shade. The scenery here is peaceful, pristine, and if you've been to the Pearl Island without stepping foot on Bai Sao, it's the most regrettable thing in your journey.

The distinctive feature that Bai Dai Phu Quoc offers to tourists is its untouched nature, not yet affected by human impact, with few services around Bai Dai for people to use. The lack of infrastructure and services around Bai Dai is what makes tourists want to come and experience, explore.

The 'market' is perhaps the most familiar thing to everyone, expressing the character of the land it exists. The Phu Quoc Night Market is a unique feature of the Pearl Island of Phu Quoc. It has all the exotic flavors of this island region. Located right next to the picturesque Duong Dong River and near the Dinh Cau Temple, the Bach Dang Night Market is now a well-known destination for many domestic and international tourists.

Alongside resting at the hotels, visitors also have the chance to wander around the night market, savoring the delicious and enticing seafood. Currently, the market has about 100 stalls selling a variety of fresh seafood and delicious food that can impress any visitor who comes here. Most activities in the market take place at night, so visitors can enjoy exploring Phu Quoc all day without getting bored.

Especially on weekends, it is the time when the night market is most bustling and lively. Visitors will have to squeeze through the crowd to explore this night market area. Although there are quite a few tourists here, the awareness of maintaining cleanliness is very good, so the market is always clean. Unusual price haggling or price increases rarely occur because every stall owner wants to maintain their reputation to attract tourists.

Phu Quoc Prison is where Vietnamese soldiers were imprisoned during the Vietnam War. The prison is now a museum where you can see torture tools, photos of former prisoners, and exhibitions depicting scenes of imprisoned soldiers and the heinous actions of colonialists during the war.

Most visitors come to visit

Phu Quoc Prison for various reasons. Some out of curiosity about the brutal torture of prisoners, some to learn about a heroic period in the nation's history during the war, or simply because it's part of their Phu Quoc tour program.

However, the most touching are the women and relatives whose fathers, grandfathers, and even husbands were once held in Phu Quoc Prison. They come to find whatever remains, be it painful memories or just a name engraved in the memorial house. In addition, former prisoners lucky enough to escape or be released after the country was liberated also return to find the place where comrades sacrificed in this earthly hell.

They revisit Phu Quoc Prison with the hope of reconnecting with the comrades who once sacrificed in this earthly hell. Besides, there is information that Phu Quoc Prison was put into operation after Con Dao Prison was overloaded. Each place carries its own pain. Therefore, remember that in Phu Quoc, there is only Phu Quoc Prison, not Con Dao Prison!

Phu Quoc Prison serves as a way for tourists to learn more about history and serves as a reminder of the cruelty of war. The prison is open from 7:30 AM to 11 AM and from 1:30 PM to 5 PM daily, with free admission for tourists.

In recent years, the service of diving to watch coral has become very popular among tourists, offering a unique experience not found in many other tourist destinations. Beautiful coral-watching spots are scattered both in the northern and southern parts of the island, such as Hon Mong Tay, Mui Ky Lan, Hon Doi Moi, depending on the traveler's itinerary. If not on a guided tour, tourists can rent diving equipment in Duong Dong town, with basic diving gear costing around 200,000 VND and premium equipment around 600,000 VND.

Here are the main coral-watching services in Phu Quoc:

• Coral Watching with Breathing Tube: This is the most popular type in Phu Quoc and preferred by many tourists. The participation method is quite simple; you just need to wear a life jacket, snorkeling goggles, and breathe through the tube into the water. As soon as you dip your face into the water, you can see the coral. All the equipment is provided by the service provider, so you don't need to prepare anything.
• Coral Watching with Oxygen Cylinder: This is a bit more advanced as it uses an oxygen cylinder. You will have to wear specialized gear and an oxygen cylinder. This type of tour usually lasts for about 30 minutes, and the diving depth is no more than 5 meters. Many tourists say this tour is a bit expensive. However, don't rush to judge because this tour is often combined with snorkeling tours above, so after the oxygen cylinder dive, you can still use the breathing tube for further exploration. It may be a bit challenging to find a good deal for oxygen diving, but currently, the prices for this tour range from 910,000 to 1,400,000 VND per person. This includes lunch, transportation, and comfortable snorkeling.
• Underwater Walking: This type is quite new in Vietnam and Phu Quoc. And it must be said that it is quite 'unique,' so the price is quite high, equivalent to 1 kilogram of lobster. However, that doesn't mean tourists should overlook this tour. The special thing about this tour is the comfortable feeling it provides. You can walk on the seafloor, breathe normally as on land, and even your hair won't get wet. Moreover, the locations for this tour are well cared for and protected, so the coral is beautiful and vibrant. As mentioned, this tour is quite expensive, priced at 950,000 VND per person, lasting only 25-30 minutes, and only picking up at the port without hotel pick-up.

As the rumors say, Dinh Cau is located in a beautiful position on a rocky ledge with a strange shape extending into the sea. Dinh Cau stands tall and proud against the big waves and strong winds. The natural rocky ledge resembles a peculiar mountain, surrounded by rough waves and protruding rocks. The mountain top is adorned with an ancient temple, its moss-covered tiled roof, and ceramic prayers on the roof.

Dinh Cau lies beneath the canopy of an ancient banyan tree, over a century old, spreading its branches like a green cage in all four seasons. Dinh Cau appears mystical and impressive before the eyes of tourists. Perhaps due to this extraordinary feature, Dinh Cau is considered the distinctive symbol of Phu Quoc Island.

Dinh Cau is a simple ancient temple, and its current architecture is modern and has been renovated in recent years. Islanders often refer to it as the Dragon King Temple. Around the 17th century, it is rumored to have originated when the first settlers from the central region came to settle on the island. Many fishermen who went out to sea in rough waves never returned.

Suddenly, they saw a rocky outcrop gradually emerging at the sea entrance. The islanders believed that a mountain deity established the temple to pray for divine protection from the sea's calamities. They began to come here to worship and manage their sea journeys in calm waters. The good news spread gradually, forming the tradition of worshiping at this rock and naming it Dinh Cau. You can walk to the top of the temple to admire the magnificent view of Dinh Cau Beach and the fishing boats. The temple is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Ham Ninh Fishing Village is a picturesque fishing village and a wonderful place to get a glimpse into the daily life of local fishermen. For those who love fresh seafood, the village is an excellent place to enjoy some affordable seafood dishes.

Ham Ninh Fishing Village is an ancient village located on the eastern coast of the pearl island. The fishing village is known as the main source of seafood for Phu Quoc district and distributes to other provinces. The place has a pristine and peaceful beauty, and the people of Ham Ninh Fishing Village mainly rely on fishing for sea cucumber and cultivating pearls. In addition, Ham Ninh Fishing Village Phu Quoc also attracts tourists with its clean, beautiful beaches, and the famous Ham Ninh pier.

Based on the travel experience of many tourists, visiting Ham Ninh Fishing Village in Phu Quoc not only allows you to enjoy seafood but also offers some exciting activities to experience, such as:

• Swimming and snorkeling are interesting activities that every tourist must experience at the Bai Vong pier. The coastline of Ham Ninh is quite shallow and safe, so many tour operators have organized Phu Quoc tours with itineraries that include these activities for tourists to relax in the clear water at Ham Ninh.
• When you visit Ham Ninh, try to become a true fisherman by fishing or catching fish at sea. You can contact the boat owners to experience this activity, and make sure to ensure your safety with necessary equipment such as life jackets and swimming goggles.
• Watching the sunrise and sunset is the best thing in Ham Ninh Fishing Village. The fishing village still maintains a primitive and somewhat ancient appearance, not chasing modern development. Therefore, when you spend time watching the sunrise or sunset here, you will feel the peaceful and romantic moments that are hard to find in busy life.

After a day of exploring the island, find a seat on the beach, order yourself a cocktail, and admire the spectacular sunset. If you are with family and have young children, a beachside bar is an ideal spot; the kids can play and frolic in the sand while the adults relax with some drinks.

Rory's Beach Bar is a seaside bar that exudes romance. It's perfect for those who want to enjoy the sea and the evening sunset. As a bar, it mainly serves Western items such as wine, cocktails, hamburgers, etc. Most visitors here are foreigners. It's a self-service place; you go to the counter to order your drinks and find your own seating. According to many reviews from tourists, the quality of food and drinks here is excellent, commensurate with the price, and beautifully presented.

The bar counter has colorful lanterns, beach chairs, and tables right on the beach. When the sun sets, Rory’s has a bonfire on the beach and delicious meals. While it might be a bit pricey and attracts many foreign customers, it's still a delightful experience when exploring Phu Quoc.

Visit Vinpearl Safari on Phu Quoc Island, where you can witness hundreds of rare animal species or diverse plant systems from various biogeographical regions without the need for extensive time and foreign travel expenses.

No trip to Phu Quoc is complete without spending a day at Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc. This amusement park offers many adrenaline-pumping games. What's more exciting than letting yourself slide freely on the super steep water slide, 120 meters long, or literally 'soaring' with the Giant Boomerang giant swing.

If you're not thrilled with intense experiences, you can relax along the lazy river or enjoy the colorful fairy tale Mermaid show. Located in the Bai Dai area, northwest of Phu Quoc Island, Vinpearl Safari gathers over 2,000 individuals, representing more than 150 rare species from around the world. Free shuttle buses from various bus stops on the island will take visitors to Vinpearl Safari. The entrance fee is around 600,000 VND, and for families, it's an excellent choice that cannot be missed.