White-sand islands and the Con Dao archipelago, far from the crowds.
Phu Quoc is the island that the south of Vietnam is made of: white-sand beaches, fishing villages and quiet bays, set in the Gulf of Thailand, far from the crowds of the mainland. A little farther out, the Con Dao archipelago offers a wilder, quieter alternative for those who want to push further off the beaten path.
Top attractions
Phu Quoc is a string of beaches along the western shore: Bai Dai, the longest and the most famous, is the classic long-sand beach, and the smaller bays to the north and south of the town are the calmest. The town of Duong Dong, with its night market and its fishing harbour, is the island's food centre, and the best seafood on the island is served there.
The west coast's coconuts and pepper are the island's food signature, and the small orchards and fishing villages are where the island really lives.
The Con Dao archipelago, a separate island group further out at sea, is the quiet escape: a chain of small islands with a historic prison and the quiet reefs and turtle-nesting bays that have made the archipelago known for its diving and its past.
Must-visit spots
Start with Duong Dong: the night market, the fishing harbour and the small lanes of the old town. For a beach, Bai Dai is the classic, and the bays to the south of the town are the calmest.
For the wild side, the small islands to the south are the best: a short boat ride, a quiet beach, and a small fishing village for lunch. The Phu Quoc nature reserve is the island's green heart, and a short hike through it is a good way to spend a morning.
For Con Dao, the historic prison and the quiet reef bays are the stops that every visitor makes, and the best meals are the ones you find at the village stalls.
Signature experiences
The most Phu Quoc moment is dawn at the fishing harbour: a boat unloading the day's catch, a fresh coconut, and a bowl of seafood from the market. A cooking class in the town, with a family who cook the local dishes, is the most hands-on way to understand the food of the island.
For a quiet day, a hammock on the beach, a walk along one of the small, untouched islands, and a swim in a bay where the water is so clear you can see the sand from the surface.
Things to do
Eat the island. Phu Quoc's street food is the single best introduction to the food of the south, and the best meals are the ones you find at the stalls. A long walk through the old town, stopping at each café, is the classic way to understand the island.
Swim a bay. From Bai Dai to the small bays to the north, the water is the best way to play, and the best thing to do is to sit on the sand and let the sea take you.