phu quoc island city

Phu Quoc is a tropical paradise.

Pearl island, located in the Gulf of Thailand, is an archipelago with 22 large and small islands, of which the largest island has an area of ​​​​567km2, population of 200,000 people (2021), length from north to south the island is 49km, equivalent to the area of ​​Singapore State Island and larger than Cat Ba island in the north of Vietnam. The whole Phu Quoc archipelago has an area of ​​589.23 km², located 120 km from Rach Gia city and 45 km from Ha Tien city. Only a 60 minutes flight from Saigon to Phu Quoc, so this is the getaway of Saigonese for the weekend holidays.

Looking at the map, Phu Quoc is the center of Southeast Asia. Thanks to favorable natural conditions, with a mild climate, Phu Quoc is gradually becoming a new resort paradise of the world, attracting a large number of domestic and international investors. Phu Quoc is a year-round destination from October to May for international visitors, from June to September is the peak for Vietnamese summer vacationers. The stormy season falls in the summer months, with strong winds and big waves from July to October every year.

The North of the island has primeval forests, beautiful pristine sandy beaches, Ganh Dau, fishing villages Rach Vem, Rach Tram, Bai Thom, Hon Mot. Golf and safari areas are on this side. Phu Quoc International Airport is located in the center of the island, the East of Phu Quoc Island is less developed with Ham Ninh fishing village and beautiful beaches such as Bai Sao and Bai Khem. Ham Ninh fishing village is an ancient village that still exists to this day.

The West has the most infrastructure, international tourist seaports, and landscapes with the city’s administrative center being Duong Dong. Resorts are concentrated along this west, especially Bai Truong, with many new luxury resorts. To the south of Phu Quoc Island, there are 12 different large and small islands in the An Thoi archipelago, such as Hon Thom, Hon Mong Tay, Hon Gam Ghi, Hon May Rut, Hon Xuong, etc. The deepest strait reaches 60m. Mui Ong Dia or Ong Dia Cape is the only place in Vietnam that can see both sunrise and sunset at the same point. A cable car connecting the islands is located south of Phu Quoc Island.

This is an ideal place for nature exploration and sea activities such as yachting, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, and exploring the uninhabited Hon Xuong island like Robinson Crusoe in the islets in the southern part of this island. Cruises like Emperor Cruises Phu Quoc are the best means to explore the wildness of the blue sea, white sand and sunshine all year round, kayaking to discover the various rocky islands, snorkeling and watching coral reefs amazing marine life or simply relax or get lost on the pristine sands and the best sunset moments when you come to Phu Quoc pearl island.

Phu Quoc is famous for tourists from all over the country and internationally. This is not only because Phu Quoc is a beautiful island, but it also contains many mysteries waiting for travelers to discover, relax, enjoy, and immerse themselves in nature. In addition to the strong development of the confirmed resort tourism, Phu Quoc is also an ideal destination for activities to explore nature, exotic seas and islands that can distract visitors. Come to this beautiful island city and cruise artfully to touch the wildness and enjoy every single moment on our Emperor Cruises Phu Quoc.

According to statistics, the number of tourists welcomed to Phu Quoc in 2019 was more than 5 million, an increase of 26.9% compared to 2018, of which international visitors reached 772,000 arrivals, an increase of 15%. Compared with last year.

With the synchronous development of infrastructure, airports, seaports, tourist resorts, restaurants, hotels, entertainment areas and vibrant nightlife activities, Phu Quoc is a destination year-round, 24/7 sleepless.

As of September 2021, Phu Quoc has 16 5-star hotels, 7 4-star hotels, 7 3-star hotels and many other accommodation establishments; the total number of rooms is up to 20,000.

Many large-scale resorts are nearing completion, entertainment areas have been built on the island. The largest duty-free shopping mall in Vietnam is also planned near Phu Quoc airport.

35% growth in the annual number of customers, both international and domestic. It can be seen that, from 2014 to 2019, the average number of tourists in Phu Quoc increased by 35% each year. If calculated according to this growth rate, in 2025, Phu Quoc will welcome nearly 16 million visitors.

Looking back 10 years ago, Phu Quoc in the subconscious of tourists is just an island with wild and peaceful beauty that nature bestowed. Therefore, although it is considered as the Pearl Island of Vietnam, the number of visitors to Phu Quoc only reached just more than 300,000 in 2012. However, since 2014, this number has had spectacular growth.

In just 5 years from 2014, to the end of 2019 before the outbreak of Covid 19, Phu Quoc’s tourism growth rate has increased 10 fold. From less than 1 million visitors, by 2019, Phu Quoc has welcomed more than 5 million international and domestic visitors.

Even in 2020, when the Covid-19 epidemic had spread around the world, causing a heavy impact on the world tourism industry, Phu Quoc was still considered a safe land, and became a popular destination for many tourists. Domestic tourists chose to stay at the beach, explore, and experience.

By 2025, to become a leading destination in Southeast Asia such as PhuKet and Bali, the number of tourists must increase day by day, reaching 16-20 million visitors per year.

The potential for cruises and yachts is great to satisfy activities of relaxing, visiting the sea and islands to the South of the island, experiencing the sunset night tour, listening to music, enjoying cocktails, and having dinner floating in the middle of the sea.

High-class guests’ desire to stay overnight is increasing day by day and is a trend, creating a diverse and rich tourism product for Phu Quoc, attracting guests with high affordability, long stay, and finding new experiences.

Tourists can take a cruise from Ha Long or Hai Phong along the coast of Vietnam and end at the Vietnamese remote sensing voyage at Phu Quoc international passenger seaport. We plan to build a fleet of 10 cruises and yachts in Phu Quoc.

One step to everywhere

On the evening of January 8, 2021, fireworks burst into the sky of South Pearl Island. Phu Quoc officially became the first island city of Vietnam. Duong Dong is not only the administrative center of Phu Quoc island city, but also an attractive dining and entertainment destination for tourists of this Island. If you’ve ever been to Bali (Indonesia), the bustling Duong Dong area is like Kuta, or Patong Beach, Phu Ket (Thailand) can be imagined by foreigners and first-timers.

As the capital of Phu Quoc, Duong Dong center becomes a “must-visit” destination for tourists when traveling to Pearl Island. Duong Dong is located in the Northwest, is centrally positioned, and adjacent to many key areas of Phu Quoc. Duong Dong is 10km from Phu Quoc International Airport. The road from the airport to Duong Dong is named Tran Hung Dao. It is a sea road, so there are many restaurants, hotels, bars, cafes, markets, and shopping areas.

Duong Dong is about 30km from An Thoi town by road and 16km from Vingroup’s Vinpearl resort complex (Ganh Dau). Duong Dong town is about 30km from Bai Kem where the Sun Premier Village Kem Beach Resort is located. Duong Dong is also very convenient to get to famous attractions of Phu Quoc such as Ham Ninh Fishing Village, Phu Quoc National Park, or Da Ban Stream.

How to get to Duong Dong?

Currently, there are many direct flights to Phu Quoc airport. Phu Quoc Airport is located in the central area and only about 10km from Duong Dong town. After arriving at Phu Quoc airport, visitors can choose to take a taxi or bus to Duong Dong town easily.

If you take a speedboat from Ha Tien, you will dock at Phu Quoc port near Ham Ninh fishing village, about 14km from Duong Dong town. If you take a high-speed train from Rach Gia, you will dock at Phu Quoc port near An Thoi town, nearly 30km from Duong Dong. Phu Quoc passenger seaport has just been completed on the west coast, very central for pedestrians.

From downtown, there are 2 main directions to Bai Sao. The first direction is very convenient and fast, which is from the down town, take Tan Hung Dao street, turn into Phu Quoc airport (not entering the airport area) and go straight, then turn right onto provincial road 46 running about 17km to Cau Sau market, notice that on the top of the slope as soon as you cross the market, there is a signpost to Bai Sao.

The second direction is a bit farther but easier to go, it is from Duong Dong town, follow road 30 April past Suoi Tranh about 200m to a roundabout, then turn right at the first exit to go to provincial road 46. Continue straight. Go to Cau Sau Market, turn in and go about 2km to Sao beach.

In addition, from Duong Dong, follow TL47 to the South of the island, then continue to the east to reach Ham Ninh fishing village. Another way is to travel by speedboat Superdong from Rach Gia to Bai Vong port, then take a taxi or motorbike taxi to the fishing village only about 4km from the port.

Tourist attractions in Duong Dong

Duong Dong center is the most densely populated place of Phu Quoc, about 200,000 people. Coming to Duong Dong, visitors will learn about the culture, cuisine and life of the indigenous people.

Duong Dong Market – bustling every morning

Duong Dong Market is located right next to the sea mouth, right in the center of town, and is the largest market in Ngoc Island. In every season, all products of Phu Quoc can be found here. But the most impressive thing is the fresh seafood with extremely reasonable prices, and the honest, simple sales style of the people on the island. Many people have said that they do not know what to buy here because there are too many choices.

Seafood stalls are always crowded with buyers and sellers, packed in styrofoam boxes to bring back as gifts to the mainland. The market also sells pre-processed and dried seafood, so it is very convenient to buy as gifts.

Duong Dong Market – A must-visit destination for seafood lovers

In the morning, Duong Dong market focuses on selling specialty dishes of Phu Quoc. These dishes cannot be found at other restaurants on the island. Visitors can enjoy great dishes. Duong Dong Market will be the ideal place for visitors to discover and experience local cuisine.

Dinh Cau – spiritual symbol of local people

The people of Phu Quoc are mostly fishermen who cling to the sea day and night, always hoping for a peaceful sea for the full batch of fish and shrimp. Therefore, Dinh Cau became a symbol of indigenous beliefs, local people often come to burn incense and pray for peaceful sea trips.

Dinh Cau is located under a canopy of ancient trees at a cliff with a strange shape reaching out to the sea. This is a simple ancient shrine and quite small compared to the majestic surroundings, the current architecture has been renovated in the past few years. Visiting Dinh Cau, visitors will partly understand the spiritual life of sea fishermen.

Especially at sunset, the view from Dinh Cau will be a magnificent scene, the whole sea and sky will turn dark yellow and the waves will rush and sparkle with cool sea breezes…

Fish sauce production barrel house – Phu Quoc specialty not to be missed

In the center of Duong Dong, there are many establishments producing fish sauce – a specialty that cannot be ignored when coming to Phu Quoc. To serve the needs of tourism and promote local specialties, besides the production function, these barrel houses are also open to visitors. Visitors will be able to witness with their own eyes the production process of fish sauce and buy fish sauce as a gift at the place of production.

Night Market Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc Night Market serves mainly tourists with souvenirs and local cuisine. The night market starts operating from 15:00 to 23:00, on weekends, visitors have to jostle with each other to the point of “sweating” to be able to visit this night market.

Phu Quoc Night Market at Duong Dong Center – Food Heaven

Coming to Phu Quoc night market, visitors are spoiled for choice with their favorite dishes with a variety of fresh seafood. Many souvenirs are made from the creative marine products of islanders for visitors to visit here. The bustle at Phu Quoc night market is a symbol of the dynamic and joyful life of an island district located 120km away from Rach Gia city.

What to eat?

Duong Dong Phu Quoc is famous for delicious dishes and specialties with the breath of the island. A list of delicious dishes you should enjoy: crab cake soup, mackerel cake soup, seafood noodle soup, grilled squid, crab, sour soup cobia or vermicelli with chicken, grilled mackerel, grilled beef skin fish , grilled herring salad, grilled urchin and various kinds of delectable fried clams, oysters and sea snails.

Where to go in Duong Dong – Phu Quoc is always a question for many people before setting foot on Pearl Island. If you are also wondering, you can be completely assured because Duong Dong town is the capital of Phu Quoc, which has a high population density.

Therefore, in Duong Dong, there are many motels and hotels from affordable to high-class for tourists to choose from. However, there is also a note that in the high season, visitors should book early to avoid the no vacancy signs or not being able to choose the right room for their needs.

Looking at the tourist map of Phu Quoc, you can see that most motels and hotels in Duong Dong are mainly located near Tran Hung Dao street – a road close to the sea and connecting between Duong Dong and Phu Quoc airport. In Duong Dong, there are about 5 5-star standard hotels, all of which are located near Duong Dong beach, just a few minutes walk from the sea. In particular, Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel & Spa is the closest 5-star hotel to the center.

In Duong Dong, there are not only 5-star hotels but also budget hotels and lovely homestays. The majority of backpackers, experienced travelers, and people with average financial levels will choose accommodation facilities in Duong Dong. There are motels, 2-3 star hotels, lovely homestays with very affordable prices. From Duong Dong, it is also possible to “take a single step” to the famous attractions of Phu Quoc, so it is easy to understand why Duong Dong is the stopover choice for many people.

Entertainment services in Duong Dong

As an island district located far from the mainland, the pace of life in Duong Dong has many dynamic features. Duong Dong is not boring because there are many lively entertainment services. Tran Hung Dao Street, the street with the most hotels and resorts in Phu Quoc, is also a retail street for shopping lovers.

Street 30/4: It can be said that this is the eating street in Phu Quoc because there are many restaurants and eateries. This road goes to Sung Hung Co Tu pagoda, Tranh stream, Ham Ninh fishing village, Bai Vong wharf. Hung Vuong Street: This road creates a junction with road 30-4, passing Viet Xua restaurant, Khai Hoan fish sauce barrel house and raft shop (Hai Tram), Hung Vuong bridge, Clam restaurant.

In Duong Dong, there are many entertainment and nightlife spots such as bars, clubs, and KTV… or night squid fishing and walking on the beach are great options for a lovely evening. Traveling to Duong Dong center to discover the culture, cuisine, and indigenous people is only part of the Phu Quoc travel itinerary.

An isolated place to hideaway

If Phu Quoc is likened to a big fish wagging its tail, Ganh Dau’s nose is considered the mouth of a fish. The northern Ganh Dau cape is a quiet, primitive place and the population is quite sparse. This tourist destination possesses pristine beauty, it’s an idyllic and serene space.

There are many ways to get to Ganh Dau cape, visitors can go through Cua Duong, Cua Van, go more than 20km through the red dirt road between the mouth of Phu Quoc primeval forest in the northwest direction to Ganh Dau cape. In addition, you can also follow the western route, to Rach Tram to Ganh Dau by sea. Unlike famous beaches like Bai Sao, Bai Dai…of Phu Quoc, Ganh Dau cape is like an isolated sky.

Standing from above, looking down, visitors can see Ganh Dau cape bend as soft as a crescent moon half a kilometer long, it is surrounded by 2 protruding mountain mallets like the wings of a seagull bird. Also from Ganh Dau cape, visitors will see Koh Seh Island and Ta Lon mountain of Cambodia or Hon Bang, Hon Thay Boi in the west emerging in the middle of the sea.

The wild beauty of the North Island

Rach Vem is a quiet fishing village by the sea located in the north of Phu Quoc Island, which is famous for its docks reaching far into the sea and floating fish rafts. Rach Vem Beach is the only beach in Phu Quoc that still retains the pristine beauty that few places can match.

Coming to Rach Vem, visitors have the opportunity to experience the idyllic beauty of an old fishing village in Phu Quoc, enjoy fresh seafood caught right from the raft with all kinds of crabs, grouper, cobia, mantis shrimp, cap shrimp, … typical of Phu Quoc’s seas.

Not only that, if you like to immerse yourself in nature with white sand and clear blue sea, visitors can board a fisherman’s boat to come to Rach Vem Beach, a beach that still retains its rare wild beauty.

The Speciality of Phu Quoc and Acclaimed worldwide

Dubbed the “pepper kingdom” of Vietnam. After ripening, the peppers are harvested and separated, the red ripe peppers are dried separately called “Red pepper”, the remaining green seeds after drying are black, called “Black pepper”. Black pepper is peeled and only the core of the seed is left. It is called ” Tieu So”, named as it looks like a white human brain and skull. Tieu So is the most delicious and popular pepper today.

Phu Quoc pepper is grown mostly in Ganh Gio hamlet, Suoi Da hamlet, Suoi May hamlet and Khu Tuong hamlet, Phu Quoc pepper is not only famous in the country but also a famous brand in the world. In Phu Quoc, pepper not only brings great economic value but also attracts many tourists every time they visit Phu Quoc.

If Phu Quoc fish sauce is special because there are anchovies that are only available in Phu Quoc waters, then Phu Quoc pepper is famous for its soil, as well as the manual care process of the islanders. This brings out a special delicious pepper, fragrant and spicy enough to make you talk about Phu Quoc pepper forever.

Delicious taste from Pearl Island, the taste of traditional value for over 200 years

Having the name in most dictionaries English-Vietnamese, French-Vietnamese… without translation, acclaimed around the world. Nuoc Man or Fish Sauce is indispensable in Vietnamese cuisine and meals, but not all Vietnamese or foreigners like its strong smell.

In fact, Phu Quoc fish sauce is a kind of fish sauce that is not only famous in Vietnam but also known all over the world. The delicious taste from Pearl Island has created a cultural beauty in the cuisine that is extremely impressive in the eyes of tourists.

Coming to Phu Quoc, you can not only visit the beautiful island but also discover the traditional fish sauce village which is more than 200 years old. With a rich flavor, and the same red-brown color of cockroach wings, it has created a delicious fish sauce.

History of Phu Quoc fish sauce

The origin of Phu Quoc fish sauce is from the harvest of seafood and hunting wild animals. Some coastal people have chopped wood in the forest, forming rudimentary boats for fishing; Fresh fish is often used to serve the daily meals of fishermen.

Thanks to the abundant fish resources, fishing has also become convenient, helping to increase the catch but the low consumption caused the fish to become rotten and difficult to use. To overcome this problem, the local people here have devised a way to preserve fish by salting them in the crock pot to help them have a longer shelf life.

The fishing trips last from 2-3 months on the sea, so they have changed the taste of the fish marinated in the “am” or “pottery or ceramic vase”, the fish is fragrant and delicious to eat. From that experience, fishermen began to think about how to process fish into fish sauce to make a spice that adds flavor to Vietnamese family meals.

A special feature of Phu Quoc fish sauce is the abundant and fresh source of anchovies caught in the waters of Kien Giang and Ca Mau in the Gulf of Thailand. The salt used to marinate fish is Ba Ria-Vung Tau sea salt, with low impurity content, stored for at least 3 months to get an acrid taste at the tip of the tongue, then a sweet aftertaste in the throat.

Phu Quoc fish sauce barrel house

At first, people only kept fish sauce in small ponds, but then slowly formed wooden crates with a capacity of 7-13 tons of fish. The type of wood used to make the barrels is “lời bời” or “litsea cubeba” that are harvested from the local forest then the barrel is bound with rattan fibers.

Wood and rattan fiber are mainly on the island, fish for the sauce are anchovy, lead chalk, striped pepper, and are all caught year round. The best quality fish season is around 4 calendar months (starting January 5), because at that time the fish sauce has the best quality.

After catching, people will clean the anchovies and salt them right on the ship offshore to ensure freshness. Only when the ship is docked, this mixture (chượp) can be transferred into wooden crates made from Litsea cubeba, to be aged by the compression method.

After 9 to 15 months, the “chuop” will produce the finished fish sauce with the professional pulling method. Phu Quoc fish sauce has a characteristic and natural red-brown color of cockroach wings due to the way the fish is fresh then incubated so long in wooden barrels.

With the elaborate fish sauce production process, Phu Quoc people have created a fish sauce with a mild aroma, natural fatty taste, and a certain consistency which stimulates the appetite right after enjoying. Some nước mắm production factories in Phu Quoc are open for visitors to visit and buy this specialty.

Here visitors can enjoy the magical view of the sun and moon floating on the sea.

Ham Ninh fishing village is located on the east coast of the island, behind are mountains and forests, ahead is the immense sea. The local population is concentrated along the banks of Rạch Hàm. This ancient village of Phu Quoc has housed fishermen for many generations. When Duong Dong estuary echoes the sound of waves, Ham Ninh is a quiet and safe berth for boats. Sailing boats and gourds come from the mainland to dock here to load goods and then carry seafood back to the mainland.

Ham Ninh beach is a few hundred meters away but still dry. When the tide is low, the vast sandy beach runs far out to sea, when the water rises, it fills the beach and reaches the edge of the forest. Standing on Ham Ninh beach, the islands of the Hai Tac archipelago (of Ha Tien) are far away. To the southeast, we can see Hon Nghe on the immense blue water. To the south is Ong Doi cape – the furthest cape of the mainland Phu Quoc Island.

Visitors come here to enjoy seafood, the floating restaurants, and to admire the long docks reaching out to the sea, all worthy of instagram photos. The specialties of the fishing village are delicacies such as live walrus soaked in wine, deep-fried walrus, sea pineapple, and crow’s beak fruit soaked in medicinal wine. Crab is a specialty of this region, almost every season. Visit Ham Ninh in the very early morning or on moonlit nights to fully enjoy the beauty of this sea.

A spiritual destination not to be missed when traveling to Phu Quoc

Even if you are not interested in religion, come for the beautiful view that covers the entire turquoise sea. Peacefully located between the blue sea and the majestic green mountain is Ho Quoc Pagoda in the beautiful pearl island of Phu Quoc. Ho Quoc Pagoda was inaugurated in 2012 on an area of ​​about 12 hectares with feng shui terrain, “tựa sơn hướng thuỷ” in front is the uninterrupted blue sea, the back is leaning against the towering mountains, the buddhist shrine is close to other tourist attractions in south of Phu Quoc.

True to its name, “Ho Quoc Pagoda” is the defense of the border, protecting the integrity of the southernmost territory of the Vietnamese fatherland. The pagoda was built according to the architecture of the Ly – Tran dynasties 11th – 13th centuries, which are common temples of the Truc Lam Zen Monastery in the North. The pagoda is made of precious iron wood, so the height of the pavilions in the temple is also limited according to the height of the columns. The wood is ornately carved.

Ho Quoc Pagoda complex includes Tam Quan (three) gate, main hall, Thien Quang courtyard, drum tower, bell tower and ancestral worship temple. Existing in these buildings are the statues of 18 Arhats, the Emerald Buddha and many other structures. Ho Quoc Pagoda is located about 27km from the center of Duong Dong town, on the south of the island.

Locally and globally acclaimed, the Pearl island of Vietnam and Phu Quoc island city have quality pearls as their specialty. According to the evaluation of cultures by pearl specialists, Phu Quoc pearl is ranked the world’s best quality. Previously, it was reserved for the Emperor, lords and noble class in the society. However, it is today high-grade jewelry for the wealthy. It is said that sparkling pearls likely keep mysteries. Seemingly, that the best universal quintessence converge in Phu Quoc pearl.
Culturing oysters is not only for precious pearls but also for fine handicraft articles such as articles encrusted with mother-of-pearl, clothes buttons, and many other kinds of jewelry. Powder of pearls is used to make up medicines for treating many diseases of bone, joint, skin, etc. Cosmetic producers extol pearls as a magic remedy to lighten and beautify the face. In addition, the oyster’s meat is a delicious and nutritious specialty.
According to the researchers, the pearl farming industry in Phu Quoc began to develop strongly in the last 10 years, with the cooperation of Australia and Japan with domestic partners. Phu Quoc pearls can be priced quite high. Depending on different qualities, colors, and shapes, the price of each one can range from a few dozens to a few thousands of dollars.
Pearls are displayed in many shops selling souvenirs in Duong Dong market, Dinh Cau night market, An Thoi Port, and Bai Vong – Ham Ninh Port, etc. Currently, in Phu Quoc, there are many large pearl culture facilities such as Ngoc Hien pearl, Quoc An pearl shop, Japanese pearl farm, and Australian pearl farm.
On the tour of the South Island, there will be a stopover for tourists to see the famous cultured pearls in the island city. Visitors can choose the most beautiful pearls to buy as the best gifts for themselves or friends. However, the output of the Phu Quoc pearl is limited. Hence, travelers always want to buy the most genuine Phu Quoc pearls as souvenirs when they come to Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc International Airport

The new Phu Quoc International Airport opened in 2012. Airlines currently operating both domestic and international flights from Phu Quoc include Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, VietJet Air, and Pacific Airlines. Flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are operating several times per day.

The modern terminal building offers many dining and shopping venues. There are several hotels and resorts located within 10 minutes drive of the airport. There is a wide variety of transport options available on arrival at Phu Quoc Airport.

Many Phu Quoc hotels and resorts offer airport pick up service. Check with your hotel for the availability of this service. Car and

minivan taxis are available for short distances, daily rental, or longer periods. Taxi counters are located outside of the terminal on the Arrivals level. Book pick up and drop off services in advance with Emperor Cruises Phu Quoc pre and post cruise at a fair price!

Phu Quoc international passenger seaport

Phu Quoc international passenger seaport was started in 2015 and is expected to be completed in 2021 on an area of ​​179.3 hectares, in Duong Dong town. Many items were built including: the main dock at 240m long and 35m wide for two ships to dock on both sides of the bridge at the same time. A breakwater of 850m long is being built to facilitate the arrival of ships to pick up and drop off passengers.

A 1,004m-long dock with stairs is being built to get on and off the cruises, the construction of the station has a land area of ​​4.78 ha (in which the station area and ancillary works are 1,950m2). By design, the port is capable of receiving international passenger ships with a capacity of 5,000-6,000 passengers. In addition, the port can also combine to receive cargo ships or ships for security and defense purposes. The project has a total investment capital of 1,645 billion VND, built in the form of BOT (build – operate – transfer).

Previously, evaluating the investment in the construction of Phu Quoc international passenger port, the Vietnam Maritime Administration said that Phu Quoc has many alluring attractions, located on an active tourist route of 19 shipping lines by sea. Singapore – Thailand – Vietnam – Northeast Asian countries have 34 ships offering 113 tours around the region. Lux Cruises’ projects will bring Vietnamese on Vietnamese built ships, cruise along the coastline of Vietnam and dock at Phu Quoc and other Asian countries.

Not to be missed when traveling to Phu Quoc

With a wild but equally charming look, Phu Quoc has always been a source of creative inspiration for many photographers. It’s a unique experience for repeat travelers and holidaymakers to rest and relax, then explore the emerald sea, wild islands, and beautiful sandy beaches at different hours of the day. Sunrise, sunset, and every time in between on Phu Quoc are magic, every moment counts. This is a truly memorable experience and a wonderful thing to do in Phu Quoc.

The main island of Phu Quoc is 578 km2 wide, 49 km long, 150 km of coastline and has 22 different large and small islands, focusing on 12 islands south of Phu Quoc. This place forms a verdant, poetic island complex right in the middle of the ocean, convenient for marine tourism activities like diving to see coral, fishing, yachting, and cruises… explore the islands, beaches, and unspoiled sand, be like Robinson Crusoe on a deserted island for a day.

Phu Quoc’s blue strait is likened to the famous lyrical Hawaiian Bay of America. Now, when it comes to Phu Quoc, it means the sea, islands, international brand resorts, yachts, sunsets and blue, white and golden beaches. Let’s explore five beautiful beaches together. Not to be missed when coming to the island city of Phu Quoc.

Top 5 beautiful beaches on the East, West, South and North coasts of Phu Quoc

Bai Sao:

Bai Sao in An Thoi town has many wild pineapple and sea buckthorn trees. With smooth white sand like cream and more than 7 km long it is soft with gentle curves like a half moon.

Explaining the name “Star Beach” in Phu Quoc, locals say that every time sunset falls, the sky becomes dark, on this white sandy beach there are thousands of starfish moving on the shore and in the water. People here find it strange and think that this is the nocturnal residence of starfish, so the people here have named this beach Bai Sao, which means “Star Beach”. At present, there are still a few Sea Stars that come ashore in the evening.

Bai Sao is an attractive tourist destination in Phu Quoc. The sea sand at Bai Sao is not yellow like Nha Trang beach, or dark yellow turned brown like Vung Tau beach. It is pure white and smooth like cream. Bai Sao is also likened to a giant swimming pool for children and holidaymakers.

Khem Beach:

Located on the east side of Phu Quoc island, Bai Khem is about 25 km from Duong Dong town, so you can get to the place in many extremely easy ways.

Khem beach is located next to star beach. If you go by sea, it is 1 km from star beach. If you go to the people’s road, you have to go up Nguyen Van Cu road. Then turn to Bai Sao for about 2.5 km. Khem beach has a beauty not inferior to Sao beach with clear sea water and white sand.

At the end of Bai Khem there is also Gieng Tien (Fairy Pond), although it is close to the sea, the well is still not contaminated with salt. The strange thing is that even at high tide, this place is still not salty or dry, so there are many stories about this well and the historical site of Emperor Gia Long – Nguyen Anh who escaped Tay Son troops. He came here and the freshwater well saved his life and he lived on to become first king of the Nguyen dynasty in 1802 in Hue.

Bai Truong or Long Beach:

Bai Truong is located on the west coast of Phu Quoc Island, as the name suggests, Bai Truong extends from Duong Dong to An Thoi about 20km.

This is the busiest and longest beach in Vietnam, this is the only place in Vietnam where you can watch the sun go down into the sea all year round. Bai Truong is the place where most hotels and beach resorts from low-end to high-class with international branded hotels are gathered. Thanks to the system of resorts close to each other on a long beach, there’s an ideal space for travelers to enjoy, explore, dream, relax, and immerse themselves in nature.

Watching the sunset is one of the best things you can do when you have the opportunity to visit this island city. Guests can also take a walk to watch the sunset every evening and relax in the bright bars and restaurants here. Phu Quoc is a space that is not too deserted, not too crowded.

Bai Dai Beach:

Bai Dai is located on the north shore of the main island of Phu Quoc. This is an indispensable factor when it comes to Phu Quoc tourism because of its wild beauty, the beach is about 15km long.

The place embraces the most beautiful seascape in Phu Quoc. The name Bai Dai originates from the length of this beach, 15km of coastline stretching from Ganh Dau Cape to Cua Can river estuary.

Dubbed the paradise of golden sunshine, it sits on cool water with big blue poplar trees whispering in the wind. Bai Dai was also honored to be ranked number one in the list of the most beautiful unspoiled beaches in the world compiled by ABC News in 2008.

Thom Beach:

Hon Thom is located in the south and belongs to the An Thoi Archipelago. It not only has white sand and blue sea with soaring coconut trees, this place is also a marine ecological reserve with rich and diverse marine flora and fauna. The coral species especially are diverse and rich in color.

Bai Thom is a beach that has not been put into operation, so it is still very wild and quiet. This place is suitable for those who want to really relax. In addition, Phu Quoc also has other beautiful and attractive beaches around the islands such as May Rut, Hon Xuong, Hon Gam Gi, Hon Mong Tay… waiting for holidaymakers to come back, revisit and discover them all.

Experiencing our cruises to enjoy the South Phu Quoc sea can bring visitors the most comfortable moments of fun and relaxation amidst the wild beauty, fresh climate, and rare peace. Just like the British Telegraph wrote “Come to discover the secret of paradise island before everyone else does.”

Enjoy the quintessence of royal cuisine on a historic cruise in the sea of ​​Phu Quoc to awaken the senses.

Coming to Phu Quoc, holidaymakers not only enjoy sea and island tourism but also enjoy unique and rich Phu Quoc cuisine. It’s at once pleasing to the eye and delicious, as well as nutritious, fresh, rich in ingredients, and interesting for the way people cook it.

Phu Quoc cuisine is a powerful magnet that makes seafood lovers sing its praises forever. Truth be told, Phu Quoc cuisine is so diverse and rich that it is impossible to list. Many travelers make a top 32 delicious dishes that must be enjoyed when they have the opportunity to come to the island city of Phu Quoc. From high-end restaurant dishes to street stall food at Duong Dong market, you will not be disappointed.

As a famous land called Pearl Island, dishes made from products of Phu Quoc’s sea are valuable culinary tourism resources. Phu Quoc is surrounded by ocean currents from the Gulf of Thailand, with favorable natural conditions for aquatic resources and seafood. Phu Quoc is famous for its fresh seafood specialties such as crab, squid, anchovies, tiger shrimp, mackerel, herring, sea cucumber, walrus… fresh seafood prepared with locally available ingredients. All are more blended and rich thanks to the typical regional cuisine style suitable for both international and Vietnamese guests.

Most of the dishes on the island are prepared with local ingredients from seafood and typical spices such as fish sauce and Phu Quoc pepper, making a very typical dish of the region and receiving the culinary quintessence to create a unique taste with a delicate blend. In the process of acculturation, the people of Phu Quoc have distilled and kept for themselves the unique culinary flavors that are hard to be confused with other lands. This is the difference that tourists want to find when coming to Phu Quoc.

When researching food and culinary culture with leading culinary experts in Vietnam, we found that Phu Quoc’s sea cuisine has remarkable features such as fresh and healthy ingredients, delicious recipes, fast processing, and reasonable price. Due to the delicate processing and fresh local ingredients, Phu Quoc’s sea cuisine has an unmistakable taste. That is not to mention the personality of coastal residents with a simple, healthy and pure lifestyle, full of personality, which has created the characteristics of the coastal cuisine of Phu Quoc’s people.

This warm sea has many specialties, many dishes of the type were the 8 most delicious and rare dishes to advance to the Emperor such as abalone or sea cucumber. Phu Quoc has dishes and drinks made from the products of Phu Quoc’s sea so visitors can’t forget to enjoy them when coming here, dishes such as herring salad, mackerel cake soup, grilled shell còi biên mai etc. Stir-fried sea cucumber with vegetables, crab rice, grilled abalone with ginger garlic sauce, steamed scallop with ginger and lemongrass, sea-horse alcohol, sea cucumber wine.  Scallop

Preserve the culinary culture of Phu Quoc’s sea and restore the unique cultural imprint in sophisticated old processing methods, techniques for mixing sauces and spices, and the art of food presentation. We raise the bar for cuisine, turning local cuisine into fine dining, choosing delicious dishes and bowls, the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine. You see art, we see life.

We named it after the historic Can Chanh Palace where Emperor Bao Dai held a banquet to receive great guests in the ancient Forbidden City. Can Chanh Royal Palace aboard Emperor Cruises Legend Phu Quoc is for culinary connoisseurs to enjoy, in a cozy space of light, fine wine, and music that blends like a royal banquet. You are like distinguished guests, ambassadors, royal family members, and nobles at Can Chanh Palace, Hue citadel in Annam in the 1930s. A top-notch culinary experience floating on the sea. Enjoy every moment on this exclusive cruise in the sea of ​​Phu Quoc, a culinary experience to remember!

Geography

Vietnam has more than 3260km of coastline running from Mong Cai to Ha Tien, nature has endowed this S-shaped strip of land with many beautiful bays from the North to the South such as Lan Ha, Ha Long, Bai Tu Long, Lang Co, Nha Trang, Van Phong or Phu Quoc Archipelago. Phu Quoc archipelago, with 22 islands, with the largest island being Phu Quoc island, is located in the Gulf of Thailand, southwest of Vietnam. Phu Quoc stretches from latitude: 9°53′ to 10°28′ north and longitude: 103°49′ to 104°05′ east.

Phu Quoc’s sea area has 22 large and small islands, of which the largest island has an area of ​​567 km², the length of the island is 49 km. The natural terrain is low and gentle, running from north to south with 99 mountains and hills. However, the cluster of 12 small islands of An Thoi port is completely separate from the southern tip of the island where the strait has a depth of more than 60 m. International ships can dock at this port. The new international seaport is located at Duong Dong City Center on the West side of Phu Quoc Island City.

Climate

Due to the characteristic location of Phu Quoc Island located at low latitudes and deep into the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by the sea, the weather is cool with a tropical monsoon character. The climate is divided into two distinct seasons, the dry season starts from October to May the next year and the rainy season is from June to September.

Dry season (October to May)

Phu Quoc Island is affected by the northeast monsoon with relatively strong intensity, the average wind speed is 3.2 m/s. When the northeast wind is strong, the speed reaches from 20 to 24 m/s. The dry season has an average humidity of 78%. The highest temperature is 35 degrees Celsius in April and May. The average temperature is about 27 – 28 degrees Celsius.

Rainy season (June to September)

Phu Quoc Island in this area is the gateway to welcome the West – Southwest monsoon, the average wind speed is 4.5 m/s. The rainy season is cloudy, high humidity, from 85 to 90%. The average rainfall is 414 mm/month. (The whole year average is 3000 mm). In the North Island area, it can reach 4000 mm/year; there is a rainy month lasting 20 consecutive days.

So what is the best time to travel?

Traveling to Phu Quoc, the most beautiful time is the dry season from October to May. However, summer, from June to September, is also a good time to come to Phu Quoc due to the natural conditions of the beautiful island. This beautiful place is covered by terrain stretching 49 km from the north to the south, so if the west side is stormy, the east sea surface will always be calm or vice versa.

Therefore, it can be said that Phu Quoc tourism can be done all year round while still experiencing the attractions without any impact from weather changes over time or according to the season of the year.

A few notes

Traveling to Phu Quoc from October to May is the winter time for international visitors. Room rates at branded hotels will have higher room rates because it is the peak season and low-end prices are stable all year round. Phu Quoc summer tourism from June to the end of September is the domestic tourism season.

4-star and 5-star hotels and resorts have attractive prices for Vietnamese tourists, so at this time you can choose to stay in luxury hotels or resorts without having to worry too much about the cost when having a summer holiday in Phu Quoc. Emperor Cruises Phu Quoc has reasonable and stable prices all year-round for both market sources.

Phu Quoc

The richest and most prosperous land

The name has been given since 1671 when a Chinese Mac Cuu, on his expedition into the Gulf of Thailand, found this archipelago as the richest and most prosperous land to settle down in. Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam, with an extremely interesting history, associated with the Mac family in the early days of reclaiming this land nearly 400 years ago. The Lords Nguyen and then Nguyen Dynasty had the merit of maintaining peace and stability and developing this land before the six provinces including (Phu Quoc) Ha Tien Province fell into the hands of the French Colonists on June 24, 1867.

According to the wikiwand.com website, in 1671, a Chinese named Mac Cuu (Moc Kinh Cuu), a native of Leizhou, Guangdong province, brought his family, soldiers, and some scholars (about 400 people) on a boat to leave from Fujian to the South Sea. After many days at sea, Mac Cuu’s group set foot on a wasteland in the Gulf of Thailand. After investigating and knowing that this land was under Chenla’s influence, the delegation immediately found a way to Oudong to seek asylum, but at that time there was chaos within Chenla. Mac Cuu met Nac Ong Thu (Ang Sur – Jayajettha III) and stayed together until 1681.

In 1680, Mac Cuu established a number of hamlets scattered from Vung Thom, Trong Ke, Can Vot, Rach Gia, Ha Tien, and Ca Mau which quickly became an important trading port. There were settlement villages located close to the sea, quite convenient for boats to come and go, there were also hamlets on high ground along Giang Thanh, Cai Lon, Ganh Hao and Ong Doc rivers for farming.

Returning to the process of expanding the new land of Mac Cuu, he established 7 casinos along the coast such as Man Kham (Peam), Long Ky (Ream), Can Bot (Kampot), Huong Uc (Kompong Som), Sai Mat (Cheal Meas), Linh Quynh (Rach Gia) and Phu Quoc (Koh Tral). The capital was located at Man Kham (the port of the Man, i.e. the Khmer), later changed to Can Khau (Can Khao or Can Cao). Rumors about this prosperous land spread further and further, so Chinese immigrants from all over the Gulf of Thailand asked to come here to settle down.

Next, in 1724, Mac Cuu once again offered all of his land and was appointed admiral to guard this territory by Lord Nguyen, and at the same time changed the name of Can Khau area to Long Ho palace. Until 1729, Long Ho Dinh was famous as the richest land in the Gulf of Thailand.

In 1735 Mac Cuu died, his son Mac Si Lan (later renamed Mac Thien Tu) was appointed admiral, succeeding his father to rule Long Ho palace. Because of the dedication of the Mac family, Ninh Vuong Nguyen Phuc Tru raised the Mac family to the rank of king. Long Ho Dinh at that time was renamed Ha Tien town.

In 1739, Mac Thien Tu established four more districts: Long Xuyen (Ca Mau), Kien Giang (Rach Gia), Tran Giang (Can Tho) and Tran Di (Northern Bac Lieu). In 1755, Nac Nguyen asked Mac Thien Tu to offer the Nguyen Lord the territory including Tam Bon (in Can Tho) and Loi Lap (Long Xuyen) to be ruled by Nam Vang.

In 1758, Lord Nguyen made Nac Ton (Ang Ton II) king and was given additional territory of Tam Phong Long (Chau Doc and Sa Dec). Nac Ton personally gave Mac Thien Tu the territory of 5 provinces in the Southwest-Southern Chan Lap region, including Huong Uc (Kompong Som), Can Bot (Kampot), Truc Sam (Chung Rum), Sai Mat (Cheal Meas) and Linh Quynh (coastal region), and the sea ​​from the commune of Sré Ambel (to the village of Peam).

In general, it was the entire coastal area surrounding Phu Quoc Island. After that, Mac Thien Tu gave it all to King Nguyen Phuc Khoat. These were just wastelands, no Khmer people lived here because of the swamps and floods all year round. The Martial King merged all new lands into Ha Tien town, then assigned Mac Thien Tu to rule.

In the year of Dinh Mui (1787), Lord Nguyen Anh regained the land of Ha Tien from the Siamese. In 1788, Nguyen Anh brought the two regions Kien Giang and Long Xuyen into Vinh Tran (later Vinh Long). It was this Phu Quoc Island that brought him back so that he later returned to the mainland to collect troops, defeat Tay Son, found the Nguyen Dynasty in 1802, and ascend the throne, with the alias Gia Long. But in the Nguyen Dynasty, Gia Long (Nguyen Anh) separated these two regions and returned them to Ha Tien town as before.

During the reign of King Tu Duc until the French occupied Ha Tien (1847-1867), Ha Tien province consisted of 1 government (An Bien government) with 3 districts: Ha Chau, Kien Giang and Long Xuyen. The former districts belonging to the Quang Bien government (Can Bot land (Kampot), Vung Thom) returned to Cambodia.

Thus, Ha Tien province of the Nguyen Dynasty stretched along the Gulf of Thailand (West Sea), from Ca Mau to Ha Tien, sometimes to Kampot province and Sihanoukville city (Kompong Som) of Cambodia, bordered to the West by Cambodia, with An Giang province of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Northwest, North, and Northeast adjacent to Cambodia.

On June 24, 1867, Ha Tien province was occupied by the French colonialists. After many years, the Ha Tien area was divided into complex administrative units, from time to time. The French built the hardest prison in Phu Quoc to retain the nationalists. The Vietnamese Republic took control of Phu Quoc and continued this prison until 1975. After the reunification of North and South Vietnam, Phu Quoc became a quaint fishing village and famous for pepper and Nuoc Man or Phu Quoc Fish Sauce in Vietnam and around the world.

After many historical events, Phu Quoc Island has been a part of Vietnam’s flesh and blood. This land, rich in culture and history of the Vietnamese people, is located in the Gulf of Thailand, close to Cambodia. The island city of Phu Quoc today has many tourist resources waiting for visitors to explore, discover and experience.

Imprint of the first Nguyen Emperor in Phu Quoc

In the middle of 1783, the Tay Son army continued to attack Nguyen Nguyen Anh (1762-1820). In a desperate situation, Nguyen Anh and the remnants of his army had to flee to Phu Quoc island. It was this island that brought him back so that he could later return to the mainland to collect troops, defeat Tay Son, establish the Nguyen Dynasty in 1802 and ascend to the throne, named Gia Long.

It is said that, during a run from the Tay Son insurgents, Nguyen Anh, his wife, children, and soldiers had to flee to the area of ​​Ong Doi Cape, An Thoi archipelago, Phu Quoc. This is a large mountain range running to the sea, the tip is facing east, the terrain is quite dangerous. However, upon coming here, the food was exhausted, and the vegetables picked in the forest were not enough to feed the army.

When the army’s heart sank, Nguyen Anh’s mind was confused. He stomped his feet, slammed his sword into the ground, raised his face to the sky and exclaimed: “If heaven allows me to be king, he will give me fresh water and food. “. After the groan, fresh water suddenly poured out from the point of the sword that had just been inserted. Then fish from the open sea suddenly swarmed around Ong Doi Cape. Fresh water and fish helped Lord Nguyen and his soldiers overcome this harrowing situation. This fish has since been named the Anchovy.

Ong Doi Cape is now in An Thoi town, located near the naval base of Region 5. It has a beautiful strait, clear sea water, and smooth sand. Currently, there are many large tourism projects under construction. Tourists come to Ong Doi Cape to take pictures of the place where Nguyen Anh set foot and drink the strange freshwater of Gieng Tien or Fairy Well. Many superstitious people also believe that well water has healing powers.

There is also a stone “Throne” weighing tons, looking east. The temple has the words “Cao Hoang De Gia Long” and still smells of smoke day and night. Ong Doi cape sea area is also a place where visitors enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and fishing…

The battle of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc

Another famous historical figure – National hero Nguyen Trung Truc (1838 -1868), leader of the anti-French movement in the second half of the 19th century in the South, had to flee to Phu Quoc island when in danger.

At dawn on June 16, 1868, Nguyen Trung Truc’s insurgent army suddenly attacked Kien Giang fort (now the area where the People’s Committee of Kien Giang province is located), killing 5 French officers, 67 soldiers, and collecting many guns and ammunition. However, after this victory, a few days later the French command in My Tho mobilized counterattack forces. Because the enemy army was too strong, Nguyen Trung Truc had to withdraw to Hon Chong (Kien Luong) and then cross the sea to Phu Quoc island, stationed in the forest in Cua Can commune.

In September 1868, the French continued to mobilize powerful forces to Phu Quoc Island to pursue the Nguyen Trung Truc insurgent army. The insurgents fought fiercely for months on the island. After arresting Nguyen Trung Truc, on October 27, 1868, the French authorities brought him to be executed at Rach Gia market. Before his death, he wrote a poem and affirmatively declared: “Bao giờ người Tây nhổ hết cỏ nước Nam thì mới hết người Nam đánh Tây” “When the westerner pulls up all our roots, only then will we fight him.”

After Nguyen Trung Truc’s death, temples worshiping this brave national hero sprang up in most of the western provinces. At the communal house in the forest in Hamlet 2, Cua Can Commune (Phu Quoc), people also built a longhouse to store the battle boat of the insurgent Nguyen Trung Truc. The artifacts of the insurgents are displayed in solemn positions by the Coi Nguon museum on Phu Quoc Island. 

Near the mouth of Cua Can river is the tomb of General Ba Lon – the wife of General Nguyen Trung Truc, which is also embellished and looked after by the people day and night. People on Phu Quoc island still circulate the story that: Nguyen Trung Truc’s wife gave birth to a child but lacked milk to breastfeed.

Knowing this, the French army ordered that whoever breastfed Nguyen Trung Truc’s child would die for three generations. Villagers in Cua Can were afraid to give milk. Going to beg for milk in the whole village, no one fed him. Nguyen Trung Truc’s wife got on a boat to cross the sea to the mainland to save her child, but the boat ran aground and the mother and child died. The place Cua Can was born from there.

After Ba Lon passed away, in Cua Can commune, anyone who gave birth to a child could not take care of it. People said that the Great General hated people, so whoever gave birth to a child was taken away. If people in Cua Can want to raise their children, they have to go to another place to give birth, and after the breastfeeding period, they dare to bring them home. General Lon’s grave was found on April 27, 1963, in Dong Ba area, hamlet 3, Cua Can commune. Every year on the 18th and 19th day of the 8th lunar month, people hold a ceremony to worship her.

Phu Quoc Prison Relic

Phu Quoc Prison is likened to “Hell on Earth”, built during the French period, about 40 hectares wide, called “Coconut Camp”, holding nearly 14,000 people.

At the end of 1955, President Ngo Dinh Diem, of the Government of the Republic of Vietnam, built a prison at the old Coconut Tree Campsite with an area of ​​4 hectares, dividing the prison into zones: Male prison area, residential area, prison for women, and prison for the elderly, named “Coconut Training Camp”.

History books record that, in 1966, the war escalated, leading to an increase in the number of prisoners. The government of the Republic of Vietnam built an additional prison of more than 400 hectares, 2 km from the old Coconut Tree camp. There are 12 areas, numbered from 1 to 12. Each zone had 4 subdivisions A, B, C, D.

Each division had 9 rooms for prisoners to live in, 2 rooms for interviews, fines, or solitary confinement. Each detention area had an area of ​​100 m2, holding from 70 to 120 people. The solitary confinement areas were only 30m2, but at peak times, they held up to 180 people or more. Around each subdivision, there were 4 sentry points that were guarded 24h with 10 mobile sentries.

The prison was surrounded by 10 layers of barbed wire, surrounded by non-residents, and completely isolated from the outside. Every day, there were 2 vehicles patrolling continuously around the detention area, at night there were also teams entering the fence to control the movement.

Phu Quoc prison became the largest prisoner detention center of the Republic of Vietnam, holding up to 40,000 prisoners of which 4,000 soldiers were killed by brutal torture.

Coming to Phu Quoc prison, through the introduction of the guides and fact-finding, we can feel the barbarism of the prison’s terrible torture punishments through the reconstructed model. One of the most savage beatings was crucifixion.

They used old, rusty nails 3-7cm long to hammer into their fingers, neck joints, knees, etc., after being nailed, the prisoners’ bones would crumble. They also used high-pressure lamps to shine in prisoners’ eyes to fry their pupils.

The barbed-wire cage kept prisoners outdoors day and night. In the narrow cage one could neither stand nor sit, the sand below was burning, and the barbed wire above was eviscerating. In addition, they also forced prisoners to turn their heads into iron plates to scratch their skin and bleed…

Many soldiers could not stand those barbaric tortures and died here. It is estimated that about 4,000 soldiers lost their lives and tens of thousands of soldiers carried injuries and disabilities for life.

Painful and indignant at their cruelty, the soldiers repeatedly organized prison escapes. The most famous is the miraculous escape of more than 20 soldiers by tunnel (120m long, 0.6m wide) dug by themselves with spoons and iron pieces for many months.

In 1995, the historical site of Phu Quoc Prison was recognized as a national relic. This is the most realistic depiction of the brutality and barbarism of the enemy. Now, the war has passed, but Phu Quoc prison is still the haunt of revolutionary soldiers and tourists.

5 myths about Phu Quoc prison: 1. Phu Quoc prison is not Con Dao prison 2. Phu Quoc prison is a historical relic, and has been discontinued, not a prison anymore 3. Phu Quoc prison was built by the French – the US used it, but the Vietnamese ruled it 4. The current Phu Quoc prison monument is not the original but is restored 5. In Phu Quoc prison, prisoners were only held but not buried.

Topography of Phu Quoc Island

When we research and develop the project of building the Emperor Cruises Phu Quoc, we did not find much information about the geology and geomorphology of this sea, we would like to synthesize it from different sources for you to have a panoramic view of the island city of Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc Island consists of many mountains and is known as the “Island of 99 mountains”, with successive mountains stretching from North to South, the highest is Mount Chua (603m).

Mountains

Phu Quoc is the Vietnam’s largest island and the biggest island among 22 islands of Phu Quoc Archipelago, with many overlapping hills and mountains. It can be said that the mountains are the first feature of the island, also one of the beauties of Phu Quoc.

Due to the geological structure and the volcanic eruption, the hills and mountains of Phu Quoc are mostly red soil mountains combined with granite. The mountains of Phu Quoc are parallel ranges from north to south, the north is higher and lower down to the south is mountainous terrain interspersed with narrow plains with an average slope of 15 degrees, and there are branches the longest is Ham Ninh mountain range (30km), followed by Ham Rong mountain range (10km) and Bai Dai mountain range.

In addition, the northeast of the island is an area with high terrain, the highest peak is Chua mountain (603m), followed by Vo Quao mountain (478m), Ong Thay mountain (438m), Da Bac mountain (448m). Although the mountain is not very high, it is big and wide enough; the combination of geomorphology and vegetation is enough to store water to create springs in the forest that flow all year round.

Mostly, the area of ​​hills and forests accounts for 75% of the island’s area. Forest trees on the island are a large flora with about 900 species, 600 genera, 200 families. Moreover, on the mountain ranges is a very rich flora and fauna system; ancient forests, primeval forests with many precious woods.

Big wood has up to 150 species, 100 genera and about 40 families; especially, there is a type of wood that is specialized in making fish sauce containers, building boats, etc. Medicinal plants have about 60 species, 60 genera, over 40 families… have contributed to creating the majesty and uniqueness of the island.

In addition, Phu Quoc forest is also a breeding place for wild animals about 150 species, 100 genera, nearly 70 families (of which 23 species are recorded in the Red Book). Besides, there are three flora systems (Malaysia, Burma and Himalayas), creating a very rich plant genetic resource… In general, it can be said that Phu Quoc forest is creating a distinct rich nuance of the island.

Phu Quoc National Park

Phu Quoc National Park covers more than a half of Phu Quoc’s northern area. It is well known as an unmissable place on the island for nature lovers.

Spanning 340.000 square meters, the national park is home to various kinds of wildlife, including unique flora and fauna, evergreen forest, and lush mountain ranges. It offers visitors plenty of things to do like hiking, camping, photography, and bird watching.

For those who are deeply interested in nature, you may spot some rare species here like silver langurs, otters, slow lories, long-tailed macaques, and hornbills. On the other hand, if you are a more adventurous person, let’s try to test your endurance by a four-hour trek through the dense forest.

System of rivers and lakes

Phu Quoc has a very diverse system of rivers, streams and canals, which is very convenient for waterway traffic and makes the environment and landscape greener, cleaner and more beautiful, and its becomes more more attractive for tourism activities and responsible travelers. Phu Quoc has two big rivers: Duong Dong River and Cua Can River.

Duong Dong River

Duong Dong River is the largest river on Phu Quoc island, originating from the Ong Thay mountain range (in the Ham Ninh range) from the east, running around an altitude of 15km to the west at Duong Dong town next to Dinh Cau.

The river is fed by many streams in the mountains, so even though it is located in the middle of the sea, it is still a freshwater river for many months, only the estuary is affected by salt water according to the tide.

Like other rivers, there are freshwater aquatic species, especially in the upstream, of which the eel is a special fish of Phu Quoc. The Duong Dong River has no main function as traffic because the island’s inhabitants now travel mostly by road.

There is a large dune at the mouth of the river, in the winter wind season, sand is often deposited in the creek bed, so it is more difficult for boats to get in and out.

However, it is the anchorage to avoid the wind of ships. In the past, the river was also the way for residents to go deep into the island to make a living. There are fish sauce barrel houses on both sides. Going deep inside is just a dense forest, there are no houses, but the scenery is very poetic for people who enjoy the scenery.

Duong Dong is the center of Phu Quoc island city located on the banks of this river. This place was once just a residential hamlet, now it has grown quite widely and encroached on inland.

Cua Can River

The Cua Can River originates from the Cau Trang Cai River and other small canals flowing into the Ham Ninh mountain range, flows in the southwest direction, through the Forbidden forest and Cay Sao and Ba fields, and then flows into the Gulf of Thailand at Cua Can commune, with a total length of 25km. The river is so named because during the north wind season, sand often fills up and causes the river to dry up, so people call it Cua Can river.

The potentiality of maritime tourism

Phu Quoc has few strong winds and storms, the sea is relatively calm, and is one of the richest fishing grounds in the region in terms of seafood… From those conditions, Phu Quoc has long become a ” rendez-vous point” for people around the country to come here for economic – cultural – social exchange activities, contributing to promoting the development of Phu Quoc as it is today.

Beach on Phu Quoc Island

Located in the middle of a sea rich in mineral resources with a 150km long coastline surrounding it, Phu Quoc’s main economic activity is also associated with the sea.

Phu Quoc sea is a warm, shallow sea with abundant food sources, so there are many marine species and the richest seafood species in Vietnam.

Streams on Phu Quoc Island

The topography of Phu Quoc island is quite complex and is divided by many rivers, streams, hills and beaches. This feature makes it difficult to organize the transport system and technical infrastructure, but it creates a lively, beautiful and attractive landscape with areas that can be exploited for tourism.

Coastal white sand beaches around the island such as Dai beach, Sao beach, Kem beach, rocky islands and sandy beaches in the South of the island, hilly areas create landscape conditions for sports tourism development, visiting areas rare plants and animals. Attractive landscapes such as streams and waterfalls such as Tranh stream, Da Ban stream, Tien stream which are more beautiful in the raining seasons from July to September because they have more waters.

And some areas can exploit the construction of seaports to serve the transport of goods and passengers. In addition, with the existing natural mountain position, it is possible to build artificial reservoirs to provide water for agricultural production, services, urban areas and residents, and to add new landscapes for recreational and tourism activities.

Hon Thom

Hon Thom, also known as Pineapple Island, is the largest island in the An Thoi archipelago, located about 5 km south of the mainland as the bird flies. Hon Thom has an area of ​​​​about 3 km², belonging to the An Thoi archipelago with a total area of ​​​​about 5.7 km². Hon Thom Island is also likened to a precious gem because of its wonderful beauty with long fine white sand beaches, clear and cool blue sea water along with unspoiled old forests, creating a harmonious beauty between the forest and the surrounding area. The sea attracts tourists all year-rounds.

Hon Thom is the largest island in the group of 12 islands south of Phu Quoc, surrounded by islands: Hon Dam Trong, Hon Dau, Hon Dua, Hon Gam Ghi, Hon Kho, Hon Kim Quy, Hon May Rut Ngoai, Hon Mong Tay, Hon Roi, Hon Trang, Hon Vang, Hon Vong, Hon Xuong (Robinson Island) with the system deep, blue water, many beautiful and fancy rapids, marine life is extremely diverse and colorful. Besides, you can swim at beaches such as: Bai Nom, Bai Nam, Bai Chuong, Bai Trao, … This is also a place for aquaculture and pearl farming, which is also the reason many people so called Pearl Phu Quoc Island.

Located in the heart of the vast sea, Hon Thom island not only attracts visitors by the scenery of coconut trees casting shadows on the fine sand, embracing the dreamy, blue sea but also by its attractive beauty right from the first touching eye and all in love at the first sight. For those who love adventure, they can participate in exciting activities to conquer rocky slopes. Guests who like to have fun have cable cars and Sun World entertainment complex.

Hon Dam Ngang / Hon Gam Ghi

Each island has its own charming beauty, nowhere else is the same in the South Island of Phu Quoc. In addition to the name Dam Ngang islet, this place is also known by the locals with many other names such as Dam Ngang or Gam Ghi Island.

Hon Dam Ngang is located in the middle of the vast sea, about 20km from An Thoi port. Hon Dam horizontal has long been recognized by humans as one of the places with the most diverse coral and anemone ecosystems in Vietnam.

The sea here is extremely clear and quite shallow, visitors can see the creatures at the bottom of the sea. In particular, the coral reefs are close to the shore, no need to go far by boat, but just leave the white sand a bit to be able to dive and admire the colorful coral reefs. The sunset on Dam Ngang island is breathtakingly beautiful and unbelievable.

May Rut Island

One of the beautiful islands in the beautiful islands of An Thoi archipelago is often visited such as Hon Xuong, Hon Mong Tay, Hon Gam Gi.

In fact, there are 2 May Rut islands in the South of Phu Quoc Island, May Rut Trong (Inside) and May Rut Ngoai (Outside), but the most beautiful, and also the island I mentioned in this article, is May Rut Trong.

This is one of the 5 most beautiful and unspoiled small islands on Phu Quoc island and is extremely loved by tourists and is part of the Emperor Cruises excursion program for passengers s to explore, discover and experience.

Hon Mong Tay

This place attracts travel connoisseurs who like to experience the wildness, authenticity and uniqueness of a destination. Travelers who love sea activities, great moments for Instagram frames.

Mong Tay Island is one of 5 small, beautiful and lovely islands in the South of Phu Quoc Island. Nail Island is located between Gam Ghi Island and Xuong Islet. In the past, on the island, there were many nail trees, also known as gardenia trees. That is why this place is called Mong Tay island.

The island has no inhabitants, so the island still retains the wild and liberal beauty that mother nature bestows. Visitors will feel lost in the paradise of coconut trees, blue sea, white sand, golden sunshine, making visitors fall in love at first sight.

Hon Xuong

Phu Quoc best’s best kept secret

This is the opinion of international press such as Fobres, CNN (USA), Telegraph and Standard (UK), Star2 (Malaysia) about Hon Xuong, Phu Quoc.

Located the farthest south of Phu Quoc, Xuong islet is small and pretty as a “longest kept secret paradise of Phu Quoc island that you should visit this secret paradise island (before everyone else does)” as the title of the Telegraph article. In addition to the name Xuong island, this small island is also called An Tay island by the locals.

Hon Xuong, Phu Quoc is a very beautiful place for Instagramers and visitors can go here by yacht and cruises. The sea surrounding and embracing Hon Xuong and the tropical nature at Hon Xuong is as beautiful as in the pictures. The beach, the forest on the island still retains the wild natural beauty.

Previously, this small island was considered as a secret kept by Phu Quoc, because of its remote location, poetic beauty from clear sea color and long white sand beach attracting tourists. If you want to explore this small island of Phu Quoc, you can only go and return by boat during the day, because there is no accommodation here.

Locals also call this island Robinson Island. Based on the famous but fictional novel “Robinson’s Adventures” (Robinson Crusoe). The island, beach and coastal waters of Phu Quoc Island are protected because it is located in the Kien Giang marine biosphere reserve.

Indeed, this Hon Xuong is one of the islands with the best and cleanest beaches in Phu Quoc. The sea water in Xuong islet is very clear and the sea is also very deep, bathing is cool, if you want to discover all the beauty, you have to look from above. When diving, you should pay attention that there are a few species of hard corals and rocks scattered.

Hon Xuong is a great place for diving enthusiasts to see the colorful coral reefs stretching like a carpet, with many more precious and beautiful coral species than the coral reefs in May Rut Ngoai Island. The sand here is also very beautiful, pure white and smooth as powder, so the beach at Xuong Islet is as beautiful as the paradise on earth.

A special thing is that there is a very interesting and large cave on Xuong island, you can fully remote sensing this cave and admire the poetic, very special sea view from the cave. Just anchor the speedboat on the rocky shore, “camp” in the cave, burn coal, grill shrimp, grill squid, make cold cocktails and drink at the mouth of the big cave overlooking the sea.

The sea here has an extremely rich and rich ecosystem. You will be immersed in a large cave with towering cliffs. Or dive into the sea and see your hands touching the coral reefs, catching crabs, fish, urchins, purple fishes… explore, dream, discover, enjoy, relax and immerse yourself in the wild nature, see Why do Westerners whisper to each other here when they come to Phu Quoc.