Summer calling from Phu Quoc Island

Foreign tourists relax on Phu Quoc beach.

This summer the number of tourists who booked tours to Phu Quoc Island at Ben Thanh Tourist is up 20% compared to last summer, and the company is expecting the number to increase again in September.

Booking receipts showed a strong growth due to the fact that tourists are increasingly interested in visiting the largest island in Vietnam to enjoy not only the beaches, but also the beautiful forests, mountains and islands as well. 

From HCMC there are flights to Phu Quoc Island from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, or, alternatively, the trip can be made by car from the city to Kien Giang’s Rach Gia City then on high speed boats to Phu Quoc.

Tourists could book a three-day and two-night tour by airplane to the famous tourist sites on the island such as Dinh Cau, or Cau Temple, with the lion stone statue, Kem Islet, Dua Islet and Kem beach offered by Ben Thanh Tourist. 

In Phu Quoc, wild animals and plants can be seen in the primeval forests, and Thom and Roi islets are ideal spots for diving to discover colorful coral reefs and thousands of fishes. Many foreign tourists enjoy walking and bathing there, and the more adventurous visit the islets to climb the slope of the mountain.

Around ten minutes by boat from Thom Islet, tourists could drop in at a local village where the many fishermen catch cuttlefish every night. Tourists could try their hand at fishing and any fish caught by an amateur fisherman will end up in the cooking pot, or grilled over a fire. Lunch will also be served on the boat, with many dishes made from fresh fish of the village.

If tourists want to make a trip to the forest, they could choose Tieu Khu Tuong forest where the tomentose rose myrtle, whose fruit is used to distil wines, grows.

Other tourist sites on the island are a  showroom exhibiting sea animals and flora, Ham Ninh fishing village, the factories which produce fish sauce, oysters farmed for pearls, and some vestiges of Vietnam’s heroes and famous kings of the past, such as Nguyen Trung Truc, Quang Trung and Gia Long, or Ha Tien’s founder Mac Cuu. 

Phu Quoc is well known for its high-quality fish sauce named Phu Quoc fish sauce.  It smells particularly good since it is made from a small fish with a high level of protein. However, tourists should not buy it there because it is not allowed on the plane.

Tourists could give their telephone number to fish sauce sellers, who will contact and give this special food to buyers when they arrive in HCMC. For souvenir and gift shoppers, Phu Quoc offers many products made from pearls, snail, and arca.

(Source: SGT)