Phu Quoc Travel Experience | News | Tips

If you are a travel enthusiast, it is certainly no stranger to the name Phu Quoc island - the largest island in Vietnam, located in the Gulf of Thailand and the territory of Kien Giang province with an area of about 589,23 km². This travel blog will help you get the most detailed information about Phu Quoc, the experiences of people living in Phu Quoc so that you can have a self-planned Phu Quoc trip at your fingertips.

Should you Visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc?

Depending on whether you’re hearing about Cat Ba or Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s two largest islands, in the north or the south of the country, you’ll probably hear that one is an absolute island paradise and the other is a gigantic floating garbage barge. In actual fact, both of these islands are some of the most beautiful in Asia, but the strength of the north/south divide is still very apparent in Vietnamese attitudes to their own country. [incredible_toc]Those in the south will sing the praises of Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam’s still-underrated beach destination, with over 10 stunning white sand beaches and a wealth of gorgeous jungle. Whereas, Vietnamese in the north like to talk about Cat Ba Island and the verdant tropical scenery that carpets the island and its soaring limestone mountains. Choose Cat Ba or Phu Quoc IslandThe merits of both are plain for all to see upon arrival, but if your Vietnam tours are shorter than you would like, and you only have the time to visit one of Vietnam’s idyllic islands, then this article will go some way to answering whether you should visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc.1. BeachesThe first aspect we will look at in this eternal question is both islands’ beach scenes. Vietnam is finally becoming recognised for its world-class beaches and many of these can be found on the islands of Cat Ba or Phu Quoc.1.1. Cat BaWith its largely mountainous coastline, Cat Ba Island is mainly buffered against the sea by undulating hills rather than flat stretches of sand. That is not to say that Cat Ba has nothing in the way of white-sand paradise, however, and visitors on a Vietnam family tour can find much in the way of family-friendly relaxation time on its small but beautiful beaches. The trio of Cat Co 1, 2 and 3 are the island’s most popular beaches, all located in the southeast of Cat Ba and all connected via a beautiful and simple cliff-top walkway. As of late 2018, Cat Co 1 is a gigantic construction site and Cat Co 2 is a tiny spit of sand not really worth a second glance. Cat Co 3 saves the day, however, as its small strip of sand opens up beautifully onto the karst-speckled ocean ahead of it. Its ease of access means that Cat Co 3 enjoys a lot of attention, but quieter and more beautiful beaches can be found just outside the main town at Tung Thu Beach and the hippy-inspired Woodstock Beach.The crystal sand of Cat Ba Beach1.2. Phu QuocIt’s hard to know where to start with Phu Quoc when it comes to beaches. A multitude of popular and utterly secluded sand covers the coastline, with more and more hotel and restaurant companies coming to grips with the island’s growing worldwide appeal. This means that while its beaches are gorgeous and contain the perfect ratio of bordering palm trees to the glittering ocean, many are earmarked for large-scale resorts, diminishing the true castaway atmosphere that Phu Quoc once boasted. Come there from November to April - best time to visit Phu Quoc to experience its most beauty!Nevertheless, the choice and quality of beaches here are stunning, and offerings like Ganh Dau, Rach Tram, Rach Vem and Thom beaches still contain the aura of a sleepy fishing village completely off the tourist trail. For convenience, Long Beach is the enormous 20km stretch that portions out much of its sands to private resorts, but still has many areas of quiet beauty open to the public, while Vung Bau also offers splendour in abundance but with a relatively high risk of crowding.Spend your leisure time at Phu Quoc BeachShould you visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc for the beaches?• Though both make for excellent stops on a Vietnam beach holiday, it’s impossible to refute that the quality and quantity of Phu Quoc’s beaches are superior to those of Cat Ba’s.2. MountainsTree-topped limestone mountains cover much of Vietnam and its two biggest island escapes aren’t excluded from that. This evocative type of scenery is found much more commonly in the north than in the south of the country, but southern Phu Quoc still has a beautifully verdant interior to rival that of northern Cat Ba’s.2.1. Cat BaOne glance at a map will show you that Cat Ba Island is situated right in the middle of Halong Bay. This should tell you all you need to know about the landscape to expect here, as Halong Bay is known throughout the world for its karst towers, clad in lush green trees and soaring high above the cruises that pass underneath it. With more space for foliage to grow, it could be said that Cat Ba’s mountains are even more beautiful than Halong Bay’s, as they soar higher and have the space to create vast valleys and majestic ridgelines, best viewable from a motorbike ride along its glorious inland road. One of the best ways to see the rolling green mountains of Cat Ba is to take a visit to the national park and the short trek up to Ngu Lam peak, a roughly 2-hour return trek that grants visitors outstanding views of the jagged mountaintops above.Cat Ba Island trekking2.2. Phu QuocAs part of the region comprising the largely flat Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc Island bucks the trend by containing marvellous mountain ranges, most of which are centred around the Phu Quoc National Park in the northeast of the island. Climbing the mountains here is one of the best things to do in Phu Quoc for people who need more stimulation than simply relaxing on the beach, but the wealth of choice here is not all that impressive. The island’s main hike leads to Chua Mountain, which is about 650m above sea level, providing decent views of a few other of Phu Quoc’s rising mountains, but not really enough to hold a candle to Cat Ba’s Ngu Lam peak, which stands about 350m taller.Should you visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc for the mountains?• This is a deal-breaker for many outdoor enthusiasts choosing between Cat Ba and Phu Quoc, but Cat Ba has to take the crown here for its consistently beautiful ranges.3. Island HoppingVisitors to either of Vietnam’s best islands might be surprised to discover that both are part of archipelagos, offering more gorgeous scenery amongst an incredibly quiet atmosphere across their ranges of smaller islands and islets. Many of these are available for visiting on either a charter boat or a public ferry.3.1. Cat BaIt is telling of Cat Ba’s chances in this category that it is actually the largest island out of 367 comprising the ‘Cat Ba Archipelago’. It also helps that the entire collection of islands was designated protective status by UNESCO in 2004, triggering a deeper urge in travellers to visit some of the accessible spits of land around its mainland. Mainly these islands comprise the stunning Lan Ha Bay, one of the two sister bays to the neighbouring Halong Bay, which tourists can visit on a day trip, 2-day or 3-day Lan Ha Bay Cruise. Lan Ha Bay Cruises are quieter than those in Halong Bay, as the destination has still not reached its full tourist potential, but when it does, visitors can take solace in the fact that Cat Ba’s other islands, such as Monkey Island, offer excellent and quiet alternatives. The rest of the archipelago is decked with the same mountain and beach scenery as Cat Ba’s main island, with much fewer tourists and minimal resorts in operation.Lan Ha Bay Sunset3.2. Phu QuocWhat is commonly referred to as the An Thoi Archipelago offers a wonderful escape from the occasionally congested beaches on Phu Quoc, all accessible across the splatter of its 14 islets lying in the Gulf of Thailand. These contain Vietnam’s quintessential paradise scenes, with all islands remaining completely uninhabited. The decision to stay in Cat Ba or Phu Quoc often hinges on the reclusive nature of such islands, so it is definitely worth noting that tours visiting the islands on any given day can sometimes spend hours at a time in the waters without seeing another tourist. Completely clear water, schools of colourful fish and nebulous clouds of vivid coral are very much on the agenda with a visit to the An Thoi Archipelago, all islands of which can be accessed on a charter boat cruise or a public tour.Should you visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc for the island-hopping?• Choosing between the gorgeous Lan Ha Bay and the idyllic An Thoi archipelago is incredibly difficult, but Phu Quoc should take this one for the true castaway feeling that island-hopping around its archipelago can bestow.4. HistoryThis may not be a consideration for many travellers wondering whether they should visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc, but the two islands’ historical sites offer a wealth of interesting alternative activities. As with much of the rest of Vietnam, Cat Ba and Phu Quoc were sleepy backwaters until the First Indochina and Vietnam wars, which catapulted them both into utility and meant that development across the islands spread quickly.4.1. Cat BaThe two historic sites of Cat Ba are set in gorgeously verdant surroundings, so even visitors not interested in the island’s modern history can appreciate the wealth of magnificent scenery that is available to view from it. This is mostly the case with Cannon Fort, an old French artillery station that was eventually seized by the Vietnamese and used to shell the French troops as they retreated from the island. The fort is placed high above the main town but is easily accessible from it, meaning it has become one of the top things to do on Cat Ba for anyone looking for panoramic views of the limestone seascape and the various contoured coves around it. Cat Ba’s other historical attraction, its Hospital Cave, offers more inland views from the cave mouth and exit, stretching over rolling jungle with quaint village houses dotted between. During the Vietnam War, a fortified hospital was built into this cave and attended by thousands of troops and staff, all completely unbeknownst to the Americans.Hospital Cave - An attraction with historical values4.2. Phu QuocRepresenting the losing side of the Vietnam War, Phu Quoc was an important penal colony for South Vietnam, where North Vietnamese troops and revolutionaries were imprisoned and treated horrendously badly. Phu Quoc Prison, at its height in 1973, housed 40,000 communist Vietnamese, and at some points, the security was so heavy that there was a guard for every two prisoners. The alternative name of the prison was Coconut Tree Prison, which quite effectively detracted from some of the brutal torturing taking place inside, the most infamous of which was time spent in the cramped ‘tiger cages’.Phu Quoc PrisonShould you visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc for the historical sites?• As the island with the markedly less depressing history, and the location of two historical sites that were crucial in repelling Vietnam’s enemies, Cat Ba Island takes this one.5. Ease of AccessDespite all of the natural splendour and history, a crucial factor to consider when deciding whether to visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc is how easy it is to reach either destination. Both islands have been somewhat thrust into the tourist limelight in the 21st century and many of the transport links between them and the mainland are still attempting to catch up with the new influx of visitors.5.1. Cat BaFor tourists from Hanoi, Cat Ba Island is the perfect weekend escape or a 2 to 3-day excursion on a northern Vietnam tour. The island is part of Hai Phong province, lying 150km away, reachable in about 3.5 to 4 hours from Hanoi with a bus and ferry combination ticket. From Hanoi, these tickets shouldn’t cost more than 300,000 VND ($13 USD) for a public transfer and 2,200,000 VND ($95 USD) for a 4-seater private transfer. This is by far the best way to get to Cat Ba from Hanoi, as the alternative transport such as the train and aeroplane takes longer, costs more and requires more hassle. Hai Phong’s Cat Bi airport does open up visits to Cat Ba from the rest of the country, but as most tourists will go to Hanoi anyway, it would make more sense just to travel on a bus from the capital.5.2. Phu QuocPhu Quoc’s touristic interest is ever-expanding, meaning it needs a transportation system to match. At the moment, an airport and a ferry are the two options to access this increasingly popular southern Vietnam tour destination, but construction to bring more tourists to the island is well underway. By far the most popular and easiest way to get to Phu Quoc is via plane, with the island’s international airport able to connect arriving tourists to most beachside resorts within an hour. One-way tickets from Ho Chi Minh City can be as cheap as 550,000 VND ($23 USD) to 1,300,000 VND ($51 USD), while one-way tickets from Hanoi can be 1,200,000 VND ($52 USD) to 2,200,000 ($86 USD), but both are subject to regular change depending on whether the time of your visit coincides with the peak season or the quiet season.Phu Quoc ferryFerries represent a cheaper but more labour-intensive journey, leaving from the Mekong Delta towns of Rach Gia or Ha Tien, available as a slow or fast option. Tickets for the slow ferry are a universal 185,000 VND ($8 USD), taking 3.5 hours from Ha Tien, while fast ferry tickets are around 350,000 VND ($16.50 USD) from Rach Gia and 230,000 VND ($10 USD) from Ha Tien. Neither Rach Gia nor Ha Tien is particularly easy to reach from Ho Chi Minh City, so most tourists opting for the ferry stay one night in the capital of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho, before their departure the following day.Should you visit Cat Ba or Phu Quoc for their ease of access?• Both destinations have constantly improving transport links and both will be very easily accessible in the future, but for now, Phu Quoc has the biggest range of interesting choices.6. OverallIt’s incredibly hard to pick an overall winner between Cat Ba and Phu Quoc islands; the right destination for you really depends on the style of your holiday. If travelling independently and looking for a more active time in the mountains and jungle, then Cat Ba is probably your best bet, but for those looking for a more relaxed time on the beach with many family-friendly destinations and the convenience of multiple resorts, then Phu Quoc will be your perfect Vietnamese island paradise.Whether you want to visit either Phu Quoc or Cat Ba or both, contact Incredible Asia Journeys to get detailed consultation!

When is the Best Time to Visit Phu Quoc Island?

As one of forerunners in the race to become Vietnam’s top beach destination, Phu Quoc Island is pretty well-equipped to take the first prize. Over 10 pristine beaches offer dozens of kilometers of flawless white sand around the island, conveying the ultimate image of paradise that acts as a vital highlight to any Vietnam beach holiday.[incredible_toc]The question of when is the best time to visit Phu Quoc Island is not an easy one to answer, as Vietnam’s largest island sits relatively close to the equator, bestowing it with a fairly consistent climate year-round yet still the potential for vicious rainstorms and searing heat. As with all destinations in the south of Vietnam, Phu Quoc Island can be split into two seasons characterized by one big difference – the amount of rain it receives.Enjoy the sunshine in Phu Quoc beach1. Dry Season (December – May) in Phu Quoc IslandBook those plane tickets as quickly as possible, the dry season in Phu Quoc Island beckons travelers from far and wide to its immaculate beaches and placid waters, all lying under a light blue sky speckled with non-threatening white clouds. The dry season is undoubtedly the best time to visit Phu Quoc because of the resplendent natural show that the island puts on for its visitors. Combine Ho Chi Minh City & Phu Quoc Tour Beach Break to have the best Vietnam exploration!1.1. TemperatureIt’s unlikely you’ll feel a huge difference in temperature when stepping off the plane or boat onto Phu Quoc Island, considering that all transport here comes from very nearby sources. That is to say, you will still be sweating, as even the dry season in this part of the world can be a swelteringly hot affair. At Phu Quoc in December, you should be looking at a manageable 29°C, rising gradually to 32°C as the season begins to turn. This is just about in most tourists’ comfort zones, but it does mean that all-day beach visits might need to be accompanied by some portable shade, as the openness to Phu Quoc’s beaches makes it hard to find a cool shadow at times.Hoping for the minimum temperatures is what most tourists do during the dry season, as these can be a comfortable 26°C or 27°C throughout January and February. This is when the best time of year to visit Phu Quoc Island is on display, providing the opportunity of an ideal South Vietnam beach vacation for those struggling with the winter in the northern hemisphere and those sweating through a heat wave during the southern hemisphere summer. On the other hand, highs can reach up to 35°C as the dry season makes preparations for the wet, providing a scorching holiday for anyone lingering around at the end of May.Click now to hop on your Vietnam beach holidays1.2. RainfallAccording to the review Phu Quoc island, the idyllic pictures that tourists see of Phu Quoc Island were almost definitely taken during the dry season, when just a few white clouds dot the sky and the likelihood of them shedding any watery loads is pretty minimal. The season starts with a reasonable 120mm of rain, with a very reasonable 3 days in which it falls, dipping into February and then rising again in May as the dark clouds of the rainy season start to amass. The best time to visit Phu Quoc for dry weather is during the rainfall trough in February, where a paltry 30mm falls over 1 or 2 days, giving you little reason to move from the beach as the pitiful rainfall is accompanied by the island’s lowest, and therefore best, temperatures.1.3. Sunshine HoursThere’s a fairly steady climb between December and May, with the sun making itself known for about 6 hours per day in December, becoming more confident until an almighty showing in May blesses visitors with about 9 hours per day. These are the sunniest months in the Phu Quoc Islands, allowing tourists to soak up all of the verdant nature around the archipelago with a background of sunshine and blue skies. Outside time is highly prized, which is just as well, as outside time is really the only time worth staying on Phu Quoc Island.Make use of sunshine to join various activities in Phu Quoc Island1.4. Things to do in Phu Quoc during the Dry SeasonYou are spoiled for choice during the peak season in Phu Quoc. The island explodes into life with the arrival of many tourists seeking the perfect Vietnam beach retreat, and finding it with ease on the golden shores. The 20km white-sand stretch of Long Beach becomes the hub of the island, with most of the activity revolving around the coastline next to the hotels. • Go on a safari – The Vinpearl Safari and Conservation Park is situated north of the island, comprised of a zoo and an open-terrain safari. The animals here are well looked after, having free space to roam around their semi-natural habitats. This is especially the case with the safari, which houses lions, giraffes, elephants, and many more, making it one of the ideal family activities in Phu Quoc Island.• Take a hike – Just to the east of the safari is Phu Quoc National Park, which makes up a large portion of the Ken Giang Biosphere Reserve. This UNESCO-designated park is teeming with endemic wildlife, both in its waters and around the tall trees that comprise its forests. Hikes through the woodland can reveal some of Phu Quoc’s most amazing nature, including waterfalls, mangrove forests, vast seas of coral, and the wealth of interesting monkeys, hornbills, and manatees that call it all home.• Nothing – Simply retiring to the beach to relax for the day is certainly the most popular of Phu Quoc’s highlights. The best time to visit Phu Quoc is when its beaches are sparkling, pellucid waters are shimmering and the palm trees are dancing beneath a cloudless sky. Paradise indeed.• Go island-hopping – If one island isn’t quite enough, Phu Quoc has a host of smaller islands to its south where the same resplendent beauty is exhibited proudly, and yet to no one. The 13 uninhabited landmasses around the archipelago are what real Vietnam island retreat dreams are made of and can be visited via a charter boat cruise, which delivers customers to heavenly scenes straight out of a movie.2.5. What are the Pros and Cons of Visiting Phu Quoc during the Dry Season?ProsConsBest year-round temperaturesVery little rainLong, sunny daysPlenty of activities to engage inPicture-perfect sceneryTrue island escape atmosphereMore crowded beachesHigher prices for accommodationHigher prices for tours2. Rainy Season (May – November) in Phu Quoc IslandMay covers both seasons here because of its tumultuous nature, occasionally dry season but occasionally wet, separating the two halves to Phu Quoc’s weather that is so wildly different. The rainy season kicks the island to the next level, with scorching temperatures, fervent rainfall, and days when you’ll wonder if the sun still exists behind all that cloud. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the best time to travel to Phu Quoc Vietnam is certainly not the wet season. There is still plenty of beauty to be found, regardless of the weather, so don’t be too dispirited if you have to travel during this time.2.1. TemperatureDepending on where you are from, the wet season temperatures in Phu Quoc may or may not present a problem. A fairly flat rate of 31°C is certainly not the worst heat to be felt in the country, but it is the unrelenting consistency that usually gets to tourists in the end, with many consecutive months presenting a high, stagnant temperature with very little reprise. Entire days can still be spent on the beach, as long as minimal movement is involved, or at least a sizeable chunk of time dedicated to swimming in the cooling sea.If avoiding the wet season is not an option, then visiting Phu Quoc in November might be your best bet, as temperatures here dip slightly when the dry season begins to take the reins. 29°C is expected at this time of the year, creating much-improved conditions for the island’s outdoor activities.2.2. RainfallIt may not shock you to hear that rainfall during Phu Quoc’s wet season is pretty substantial. If you arrive in Ho Chi Minh City before heading to Phu Quoc, then you very well see the extent of what you should expect on the island. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact month when the clouds of Phu Quoc unleash their watery fury the most, as their levels fluctuate greatly year-on-year, but any visits between July and September are likely to receive the biggest soaking. July illustrates this well, as 180mm in 2016 became a torrential 790mm in 2018, a staggering jump and one that left tourists wringing their clothes out from the unexpected storms. It’s best to play it safe and avoid visiting Phu Quoc between July and September if you can. So, be careful to decide how long to spend in Phu Quoc during this period!2.3. Sunshine Hours The dip in sunshine hours during Phu Quoc’s wet season is not as pronounced as it is in other parts of Vietnam. Its proximity to the equator gives it a fairly stable length of day that doesn’t fluctuate much throughout the year. The sunniest months in Phu Quoc Island can even be found in the wet season on the odd occasion, and about 9 hours of sunshine per day have been recorded before over the hump of July to September. May is typically the sunniest month in South Vietnam and this is reflected on Phu Quoc, where clouds are sometimes absent for entire days at a time. Overly relaxed visitors should be careful though, as dark clouds can congregate in the blink of an eye and release a torrent of rain in a short amount of time, creating a welcome break from the heat but putting a bit of a dampener on lazy afternoons by the beach. As with most of Vietnam though, life is still exciting during these months, and the potential for a deluge should not stop you from going to Phu Quoc in the wet season.Sunbathing is a great activity in Phu Quoc2.4. Things to do in Phu Quoc during the Wet SeasonThe wet season in island Phu Quoc seriously limits your options in terms of viable activities as the vast majority of things to do involve being outside. However, plenty of Phu Quoc’s best attractions still remain open if you don’t mind taking the chance of an afternoon deluge disrupting your holiday in one of Vietnam’s top beach destinations.• Take a cautious trip to the beach – It would be outrageous to visit Phu Quoc Island and not enjoy the wealth of beautiful beaches on offer here. The wet season can indeed make beach visits a bit more of a tentative affair, as tourists should be ready to pack up and run as soon as the rain starts falling, but this shouldn’t get in the way of your good time. Bring some rain-protective essentials and try your luck!• Visit Phu Quoc Prison – It might not promote the same tropical holiday atmosphere as the many natural attractions in Phu Quoc, but the island’s prison is a worthy and educational stop that encapsulates some of the dark history that the island went through during the Vietnam War. The prison’s nickname of ‘coconut tree prison’ masks a lot of the horrors that took place here, where as many as 40,000 captured North Vietnamese troops and idealists were imprisoned and brutally tortured.• Sip on a coffee in Duong Dong – Phu Quoc’s largest town is Duong Dong, but the term ‘largest’ should really come with an asterisk in this case. The tiny town offers a smattering of cafes and opportunities for people-watching, but not a whole lot more. Sitting down for a coffee is a good idea before going shopping for tours throughout the town• Recline in your room – It’s not all about being outside in Phu Quoc Vietnam. Usually, beach resorts around the island are of high quality and are located right on the beachfront, giving you a fantastic view of the potentially stormy nature outside from the security of your room. Hotels in Phu Quoc are always improving and many already contain a wealth of indoor activities to keep visitors entertained during the rainy season.2.5. What are the Pros and Cons of Visiting Phu Quoc during the Wet Season?ProsConsLower prices for accommodationLower prices for toursAcceptable weather at timesGreat sunshine hoursLargely tumultuous rainfallConsistent, scorching heatInability to visit main attractionsSo, that is all the information Incredible Asia Journeys wants to provide for tourists who are planning a trip to Phu Quoc, hope that you can find the necessary insight and then contact us to assist you in creating your Vietnam