With the mood of the country revolutionized the heat begins to tighten, raise your hand if you are not already planning to go on a trip. If possible, a place that is away from our day to day, with secluded beaches, exotic culture and delicious cuisine.

Photography by ZoeShuttleworth

These haunting images sinful head, the impulse to turn to buy a ticket to the beautiful island of Phu Quoc in Vietnam is hard to resist. Located on the Gulf of Siam near the Cambodian border, this piece of paradise still not too exploited for mass tourism, it retains the rural charm that is often difficult to find in the continental Vietnam.

Phu Quoc was for me the icing on the turquoise waters and secluded beaches to an intense month of travel in Vietnam. Compared to the rest of the country, the island still has not shot the coast with concrete buildings, cows still graze the grass that grows along the beach and palm trees are taller than buildings. Even in Duong Dong, the largest population, the rural environment is still breathing from the output port of the schools, through its vibrant market, where fish sauce permeates the senses and the economy of the island.

The largest beach of the island and also where they concentrate most tourist accommodation is Bai Truong, popularly known as Long Beach. When we say that here are almost all «resorts» we must measure the size and imagination. Given that the road running along the beach on the inside is not paved and can be counted on the fingers of one hand the resorts that you can really call it that, is more appropriate to speak of family catering business. The accommodations consist of a dozen bungalows or two camouflaged with nature plants and palm trees. Most also have a restaurant on the sand beach where sea breakfast with the brightness and dinner in the light of torches barbecue fish of the day.

Phu Quoc is difficult to separate the pleasures that we can put a price of no. Enjoy all that the island offers is really so cheap that happiness can be felt from the delicious mangos purchased on the beach for $ 1 two pieces, a beer while watching sunset from Hanoi the same beach chairs.

And if we tear ourselves a charm of the beach chosen to spend these holidays and pleasure (careful, you can go for 4 days and stay 8!), The best option is to rent a motorbike to tour the interior of the island and other beautiful beaches like Bai Sao. Renting a motorcycle on the island, the most common method of transport after cycling d on the island cost around $ 3 per day if negotiated.

Photography by dms_303

There is only one paved road across the island and in some areas the red dirt, bumps and «particular» way of driving Vietnamese make it a true test of endurance and skill. To avoid accidents or at least reduce the damage from a fall, it is advisable not to push too hard on the accelerator, watch and enjoy the scenery.
Diving in Phu Quoc:

Phu Quoc But not only offers these and many other worldly pleasures, if we dare to plunge into its depths, diving is also one of its attractions. Although not far from one of the best places I have dived, perhaps because the dive after a storm and visibility was not very good, always interesting to meet other seabed.

The dive center offers diving XDive not very economical in the price range of Vietnam, but they are professionals, the material is in very good condition and you get to eat. A package of 2 dives with all equipment, more food on board and a morning of sailing costs about $ 65.

Getting to Phu Quoc? By plane from Ho Chi Ming. Flights are cheap cost about 30 €, so it’s worth buying a ticket if you intend to visit the Mekong Delta, or are short of time.

Our arrival on the island may be by sea, boarded the ferry that connects to Phu Quoc Gia Ra. The journey takes about 3 hours and the boat is comfortable, but you have to have the trip from Ho Chi Minh road, which almost forces a night in Gia Ra.

Precisely because of the ease of arriving by plane to the island, barely Gia Ra foreign tourists, and managers of businesses and shops in the city barely speak a word of English, making the experience a total immersion in the Vietnamese local life and all a test of patience and good humor whenever you need to rent a hotel room, ask for something to eat or buy at market stalls.

Where to stay in Phu Quoc? Without being excessive, the hotels on the island is large and you can choose from a section housing a remote beach in the north to the Long Beach hotels, where the sense of isolation may not be much, but we have more supply and also more economical for both the accommodation and the choice of place to eat dinner.

For anyone thinking of escaping to an island a few days really nice and relaxing after touring Vietnam, we recommend for quality / price the Hiep Thanh Liên Family Hotel. Also, after trying many of the restaurants in Long Beach, the largest barbecue night price and atmosphere.

Photography by Laure Wayaffe

Have a good trip to the island of Phu Quoc!