Our Impressions Of Phu Quoc

In February 2019, we spent a couple of weeks in Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc, which is located off the south coast of this amazing country.This was part of our five-month trip to SE Asia, so we were interested in doing some sightseeing but also to have a comfortable base by the sea. The idea being we could work for a couple of hours a day, and go for a swim and relax on the beach for the rest of the time.Theoretically, Phu Quoc seemed to tick these boxes, especially according to everything we read. The reality was however a little different. So, we came up with the format we first used when talking about Chiang Mai in Thailand in order to reveal what we actually thought.In this Phu Quoc travel blog, you can read about our impressions of Phu Quoc island. We have given our personal views independently, so that you can get a better idea if you want to visit Phu Quoc.

Expectations Of Phu Quoc Before We Went There

Dave: Wow, Vietnam's got some islands? Let's go and check them out! I'm not sure what to expect, but Phu Quoc's got to have beaches to chill out on. The internet access also seems pretty good from what I've seen. Let's travel to Phu Quoc!Vanessa: I first read about Phu Quoc when we were still in Chiang Mai, in January 2019. It sounded like a great place to visit - warm weather, amazing beaches and a vibrant night food market.Compared to some other popular places on the coast of Vietnam, like Hoi An and Nha Trang, it sounded a lot more quiet, and that’s the main reason we went for it.I have to say, my expectations for Phu Quoc were pretty high, and after leaving land-locked Chiang Mai I was looking forward to spending a few days on the beach.

First Impressions Of Phu Quoc

Dave: I think it was dark when we arrived, so no real first impressions until we arrived at the accommodation. It was up a dirt road, and we were welcomed by the friendly lady who runs the place. The area seemed quiet with no pumping music. There were a few mosquitoes about.Vanessa: We landed in Phu Quoc airport, and we had a pick-up to our accommodation close to the island’s most famous beach, Long Beach. Although it was dark, we could see several tall buildings and beach resorts.This was really far from my idea of Phu Quoc, which I had thought was a largely unspoiled, tropical island similar to Koh Lanta in Thailand.I wasn’t thrilled, but knowing that the island is very big, I thought I’d wait until the morning to see what the place is really like.

What Was It Like To Stay In Phu Quoc

Dave: It was pretty obvious we'd need to get a moped to get around on from day one, so that's what we did. As a result, this gave us a lot of mobility and freedom to visit everywhere we might want to.The moped did break down one day, and we kind of cr...

What We Thought Of Things To Do In Phu Quoc

Dave: With the moped, it was easy just to hop on, and go and check out a new thing everyday. We certainly never got bored, and in two weeks, never saw everything. There's plenty of things to do in Phu Quoc!Our biggest disappointment however, were Phu Quoc's beaches. There was so much rubbish washed up, it made me embarrassed to be a human.

Sao Beach

This embarrassment turned to disgust on Sao Beach though. According to any Phu Quoc blog you read this is supposed to be one of the best beaches in Vietnam if not Asia, but it was simply terrible.Sure, there is a really pretty bit which EVERYONE takes the...

What Disappointed Us About Phu Quoc

Dave: The beaches were the main disappointment, closely followed by what can only be described as uncontrolled development. The two are probably closely related. I've travelled enough over the last 25 years to know that it's all going to end badly at ...

Why We Think Phu Quoc Is Popular With Foreign Visitors

Dave: It's obviously being marketed as a cheap winter sun destination for Europeans. Right now, I'd say Russians make up the largest proportion of package tourists, but I know they are also advertising to Brits.In all fairness, Phu Quoc in February is always going to be better than Grimsby in the winter, so I imagine the package tourists will think it's fantastic. For people knocking around Asia a bit longer though, it's likely to come as a bit of a disappointment.Vanessa: One of the things that make Phu Quoc popular with foreign visitors is that you don’t need a visa to go there. We already had our visa for Vietnam and our ticket for Phu Quoc before we realized this, but for other travelers it’s really easy to get there.At the same time, we heard that there are direct flights from Europe, so it’s easy and convenient to get to. Life there is fairly inexpensive, and the weather is great. I totally understand why some people would want to go there.

Would We Go Back To Phu Quoc

Dave: You know, despite my feelings that Phu Quoc isn't the greatest place on earth, I would actually go back. The reason being, is that it ticks certain boxes for being able to work on the road, it does have affordable accommodation if you look, and it's easy to get around by hiring a moped.So, if I found myself in Asia with a month to fill in, I could easily see that Phu Quoc would be a place I would consider. And now I know what it's actually like, the feeling of disappointment wouldn't be there.Vanessa: By now it’s clear that Phu Quoc was far from my favourite place in SE Asia, as I found it fairly touristy and was very disappointed in terms of the infrastructure and the massive resorts.I personally wouldn’t go back, as we had enough time to explore the island and see what it’s about. There are hundreds of islands in SE Asia that I’d like to visit when we go back!

Cost Of Living In Phu Quoc - More Or Less Than We Thought

Dave: My memories of the cost of living, seem to be that prices for food in restaurants were higher than we knew was the ‘real' Vietnamese price. The thing is, we weren't exactly in the ‘real' Vietnam, so what did we expect!With that said, it wasn't too outrageous, and as I don't drink or smoke, my basic living needs are just accommodation and 3 (or 4 or 5) meals a day.Where we stayed was a real bonus as it was cheap at around 20 euro per night, and also had a kitchen where we could prepare some meals ourselves.Vanessa: The cost of staying in Phu Quoc for a couple of weeks was really quite low compared to other places we visited in SE Asia.Although I am sure that Phu Quoc is more expensive than other popular places in Vietnam, there were plenty of rooms for under 20 euro / night.Where to stay in Phu Quoc: We stayed at a place called Bamboo Resort, with spacious rooms and communal kitchens, and I would recommend it unless you dislike cats and dogs.

Is Phu Quoc An “Authentic Asia Experience”?

Dave: Haha - no!Vanessa: After spending a few months in Asia, defining “an Authentic Asia Experience” has become rather complicated.There are places like Koh Jum, which attracts relatively few foreign tourists, and places like Bangkok where pretty much anything goes.However, I don’t think I would call Phu Quoc an authentic Asia experience, given that it seems to be geared towards European tourists.I would definitely not suggest Phu Quoc to people looking for unspoilt beaches and genuine local culture. In retrospect, I would have preferred to stay longer in Con Dao instead of Phu Quoc.

Would You Recommend Phu Quoc As A Destination?

Dave: If you are travelling through Asia on a long trip, and want to check it out then sure, go for it. If you are looking for a unique one-off destination, then no. There is no way I would recommend Phu Quoc as a stand-alone holiday destination - Unless you have just endured the British winter in Grimsby of course!Vanessa: A friend of mine was recently asking if they should go to Phu Quoc, and my immediate answer was “I wouldn’t suggest it”.Obviously, this depends on everyone’s style and preferences when they travel. Without having explored the island fully, I couldn’t say what the other beaches are like, or whether other parts of the island are less affected by tourism.But my first impression was actually my last - too much infrastructure, and therefore not my cup of tea. However, for some people this is attractive, so it really depends on who is asking.

FAQ About Vietnam Phu Quoc

Here are some commonly asked questions by people planning to travel Phu Quoc:

Is it worth visiting Phu Quoc?

It depends what you are looking for. This is no longer an ‘authentic' Vietnamese island destination, but a rapidly developing resort destination with casinos and amusement parks. Europeans might find it a pleasant winter sun destination.

Is Phu Quoc island safe?

The crime rates in Phu Quoc are very low. Tourists should be aware of the usual scams though, such as bait and switch products, counterfeit goods, and the like.

How many days should I spend in Phu Quoc?

Phu Quoc is a popular winter sun destination, so people tend to spend a week or more there. Long term travelers in the region might spend 3 or 4 days there before moving on, or spend a month there if they feel it is a good place to be based as a digital nomad.

How do you get around in Phu Quoc?

By far the easiest way to get around Phu Quoc is by scooter. They are available to rent either through your accommodation or at local rental places, and cost very little per day.

Our Impressions Of Phu Quoc

As you see, our impressions in this Phu Quoc travel guide are not exactly identical, which only proves that everyone is different. Have you been to Phu Quoc? What did you think to it? Let us know in the comments!Related: