Life in Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc, Long Beach sun set

Phu Quoc Long Beach is the only beach from where you can see the sun sets in Vietnam.

Thanks to the island's warm weather, you can swim all day (and all night) long. Specially recommended is a swim during sun set. Can you imagine what it is like to swim in these golden waters?

Although tourism is developing fast, this is still a fishing island. Every day you see fishermen going to the sea first thing in the morning. In the afternoon, they come back. Most of the times with their nets full.

If you click on the picture you will see a beautiful panorama shot in front of one of the best resorts on the island of Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc Island is also known as the Emerald Island because of its tourism potential. In the last 25 years the population has increased more than ten times. In 1975 no more than 5,000 people inhabited the island. Currently, more than 70,000 people live here. Forecasts say that tourism will still draw more people to the island.

Phu Quoc, Long Beach, after sunset

The first inhabitants of Phu Quoc were Chinese and Vietnamese who earned their living with the sea cucumbers. In the 19th century the French set up some rubber and coconut plantations in the island. During the Vietnam-American War a big POW detention camp was built in the South of the island.

In 1975 the island was liberated. Since then, tourism has developed fast. Mainly during the last decade.

If you want to visit the island, you can ask your hotel for an island tour, or you can rent a motorbike. There is almost no traffic on the island. If you have ridden a motorbike (a scooter, actually) before, I recommend the motorbike tour. The island is too big to be visited on a bicycle -- 30 miles from North to South (50 Km) -- , but you can do some nice excursions pedaling.

If you want to visit the entire island, you will need two or three days. Ask your hotel for a road map of the island. Although most of the roads have not been paved, they are in good condition. If you are going on a motorbike, wear dark clothes. If it has not rained for a while, all your clothes will look sand red by the end of your tour.

Phu Quoc, Long Beach, view from the bungalow

Phu Quoc Island is still a well kept secret. This crystal clear water island is one of the less spoiled areas in the Southeast Asiaregion.

Massive tourism has yet not arrived here. The Vietnamese government has plans to develop foreign investments and foreign tourism to this paradisiacal island, but at the same time they have a special interest to keep it as it is.

Some years ago, some Vietnamese politicians wanted to make of this island a second Singapore (both islands are the same size). They even sold some plots of land to foreign companies. Thank God, all these plans were stopped some years ago.

Phu Quoc, Long Beach, fishermen

Phu Quoc Island has two main seasons, the rainy and the dry season.

The rainy season lasts from April to November. The dry season goes from December to March. It is better to come during the dry season, but the rainy season is not that bad. In June, July and August it rains, almost, everyday. But rains are strong showers that refresh the air. In a few minutes the sun shines back.

Temperatures do not vary much year round. the average temperature is 80 Fahrenheit degrees (27 Celsius). I was here during the dry season, and it was never too hot. By the way, I think that I have never had so many sunny days in a raw in my life!