How much is a taxi to bai sao beach. Bai Sao Beach, Phu Quoc, Vietnam

The first rainy days of November again made me dream of a bygone summer. In moments of such moods, I always do something extraordinary, for example, remind the management of the accumulated days off and demand to let me go to the land of the warm sun and gentle sea.

My work does not allow me to go on vacation in the summer, so my destiny is a beach holiday in the southern tropical countries. For the past few years, my friend and I have been basking in the sun in the hospitable and exotic Vietnam at the end of autumn. So why change your habits.

The bliss of fashionable and well-inhabited hotels has already been well studied by us. I wanted to add a couple of notes of extreme sports to the upcoming trip. Why not get acquainted with the still virgin corners of outlandish Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand region.

Our attention was drawn to one of the new areas of the tourism industry - the island of Phu Quoc. It is impossible to fully say about this southern territory of the country that a human foot has not set foot here yet. The enchanting tropical beauty of this corner attracts more and more tourists to their possessions. And yet the beaches of Fukuoka are still half empty, here you can spend a romantic vacation of a completely secluded nature.

Phu Quoc: which beach to choose?

We did not try our luck for serious strength and, for a start, we booked a hotel near the most popular beach of the southern island - the sandy kingdom of Long Beach. The desired Long Beach is currently the center of the Phu Quoc tourist universe and the corner with the most developed infrastructure on the island.

As soon as the first snow falls timidly on the ground in the winter latitudes of our planet, the first fans of the “eternal” summer begin to gather on the velvet sandy beach. Neighbors in comfort next to us turned out to be 2 Russian families with kids of about 5-6 years old. I must say right away that the optimal choice for families with children of this particular beach is quite obvious.

We were greeted on the very first day of rest by the warm sea and the gentle sun, the climatic conditions were very nice, and the gentle entry into the water towards the embrace of the sea gave bathing an additional charm.

The next day showed that the weather on the island has many faces. In the morning, the guide at the hotel was talking about the fact that the season of heavy rains and constant unrest at sea ended just a couple of weeks ago. The period of the year from May to mid-autumn is considered not quite a resort here. Often the shower from the rain streams is too dense, and the sea shows a recalcitrant character almost every day.

But today we were able to set a record for tanning, however, in the evening it became quite clear that it is better to earn a chocolate shade for the skin gradually. Henceforth, we stopped appearing in the sun after 11 am, and going to the beach after 2 pm only allowed ourselves in the company of sunburn remedies.

Long Beach Phu Quoc: opinions and doubts

After 3 days in Fukuoka, we summed up some preliminary results of our new discoveries:

Long Beach is not only the most important tourist beach in Fukuoka, but also the most equipped, and the longest, 20 km - this is no joke to you;
along the entire length of the territory, beach areas lie under the jurisdiction of the city administration, we managed to meet closed VIP zones only a couple of times;
the presence on different days of a completely different number of tourists on the beach turned out to be unpredictable, we decided to attribute this to the category of local mysteries;
Hiking trips along the beach area in both directions allowed us to find several completely deserted corners, which we took advantage of for skinny dipping;
framing the yellow silk of sand almost everywhere are sprawling coke palms, at the foot of which grows lush green grass;
reconnaissance of the northern part of the beach gave us wonderful finds in the form of a collection of Asian cafes and restaurants, here we paid unconditional tribute to the delights of hearty Vietnamese cuisine;
a densely populated network of mini-hotels, catering establishments, hotels and bars with soft drinks is located on the trajectory of the asphalt highway towards the city of Duong Dong.

Of the unpleasant discoveries, we noted the invasion of lazy, but rather annoying fleas. The occupation of the beaches of Vietnam is their favorite habitat. Ways to deal with impudent insects turned out to be unpretentious: beach fleas do not cross the boundaries of the mat, do not have time to attack while walking, and do not like wet sand. So we learned to deal with them pretty quickly.

Wai Bong Beach

One of the days of our stay in Vietnam, we decided to take a ride to Bai Vong Beach. We remember it because it was the first coastal zone of the island, to which we arrived on a passenger boat during the transfer from the mainland. Hotels in the Bai Wong beach area have not yet been built, but this area is predicted to be a tourist future. So far, the exotic corner is famous for its restaurants, which use fresh seafood to prepare culinary delights.

Marine lovers come to the beach to admire the riot of colors of jellyfish that abundantly populate shallow waters in calm weather. A close acquaintance with transparent creatures was not included in our plans, so we did not swim on Bai Wong Beach. But we paid tribute to a plentiful feast in one of the restaurants and we can respond with full responsibility to the skill of local culinary specialists.

The most beautiful beaches in Phu Quoc

If we make a conditional gradation of the numerous beaches of Fukuoka, then we recall the old story about a monkey that could not decide which relatives to join it: smart or beautiful. We do not undertake to call smart sandy estates of the island, we did not check them for this quality. But we will call some of them especially beautiful with complete confidence in our innocence. We visited some of these corners ourselves, others were told to us by the neighbors at the table in the restaurant of our hotel.

Bai Sao Phu Quoc Beach (aka Sao Beach or Bai Sao)

A haven of white sand, smoothly turning into small tropical groves. From the town of Zuong on the southeast coast of Phu Quoc, we traveled by taxi, briskly overtaking scooters and bikes of other tourists. The last 2 km of the total road of 25 km, we were glad more than once that we were going by car.

The picture of the beach that opens to the eye at the first moment plunges into complete shock from the magnificence seen. The turquoise bay contrasts with white sand, swings on palm trees bowed in a hospitable bow suggest oriental fairy tales.

Looking ahead, I can safely say that the photos from this place of riot of natural luxury turned out to be the most colorful. During the way back to our place of residence, we even argued that living on the island should have been chosen in this paradise oasis. The question is moot. Bai Sao is very popular with tourists from all over the world and you will definitely not find a quiet solitude there.

We can only report on the beauty of Bai Khem beach from hearsay. The Bai Khem region is under the control of the military units of Vietnam. Curious tourists are not favored here, few of the guests of Fukuoka can boast of a long stay in this area.

Ong Lang Phu Quoc Beach (Bai Ong Lang)

For tourists who prefer to stay in premium hotels, elite resorts near Ong Lang Beach are suitable. In the center of the western coast of the island, both fashionable accommodation facilities and their more modest ones gather around the shop.

The legendary Mango Bay Resort gathers on its territory lovers of tropical nature who appreciate a high level of service. Infrastructure is developed near the beach, similar in its content to Long Beach. Hotels and guest houses, bars, cafes and restaurants add to the charm of a tropical paradise and the overall package of beach pleasures.

Bai Bung Bao beach (Bai Vung Bau)

A nirvana for nudists and lovers of topless sunbathing has become a beach with an unusual shape, reminiscent of the half moon of Bai Bung Bao. Getting to the Bai Vung Bau property is not easy: a dirt road, 12 km on foot in the hot sun is not an option for this situation, the only salvation is local transport. The calm expanse of the sea surface, the high growth of thick grass, the pleasant velvet of snow-white sand grains are a gift to those who nevertheless decided to come here. There are many secluded glades on the beach, and cozy restaurants specializing in fish and seafood dishes are scattered along the territory.

Bai Dai Phu Quoc Beach, Vietnam (Bai Dai)

The neighbor of the previous beach from the north was Bai Dai beach. This section of the northwestern coast of the island is distinguished by a decent length, a special shade of turquoise sea waters, sandy shallow water - a safe area for those who are just learning to swim.

The road to the cult Vietnamese amusement park Vinperl became an important signpost for the road here. A little before reaching the legendary water park, we just ended up on the territory of Bai Dai Beach.

Having had plenty of fun in the shallow waters of Bai Dai Beach, we went to one of the nearest cafes and sat for a long time in the shady coolness of tropical plants with a cup of aromatic coffee and sandwiches with fish filling.

The beaches of Fukuoka, where there are the least people

Among the tourists there are many representatives who prefer to spend their holidays away from noisy entertainment and large crowds of people. Phu Quoc Island, like no other place on the planet, gives travelers interested in peace, such an opportunity. The island has a whole galaxy of deserted beaches that give shelter to lone travelers or small companies.

The Phu Quoc desert beach collection consists of several gems:

Bai Gan Dau Beach

Bai Gan Dau Beach is located at some distance from the main tourist trails in the north of the island. The prima facie of the area is the Peppercorn Beach Hotel. The magnificent Ganh Dau Beach hides its charms near one of the Vietnamese fishing villages. The easiest way to recognize the snow-white kingdom of sand on the shores of the blue sea possessions is by the accumulation of fishing equipment. In good weather, a series of Cambodian islands can be seen from the shore. In a remote region, there is a majestic temple built far from human eyes for solitary prayers to the Buddha.

Bai Rash Vem

Bai Rush Vem Beach is known in tourist circles as a habitat for colorful starfish. The appearance of the corner is similar to many other Phu Quoc beach spots, and only seasoned travelers know the secret of Bai Rach Vem Beach. Scientists from all over the world come here to study the habits and character of bizarre marine life.

Bai Thom

Cashew nut plantations frame a quiet place called Bai Thom Beach. You can drive here only along the country lanes of the island, and the lucky ones may have the opportunity to witness the ebb of the sea. As with the other remote beaches listed above, the path here lies from the city of Zuong Dong.

Bai Sao beach is the most beautiful beach in Phu Quoc and one of the best beaches in Vietnam. We tell about Bai Sao: what kind of beach and sea is there, what hotel to stay in, what to do, where to eat.

Sand on the beach

It is because of its sand that Sao Beach has become famous throughout Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The sand here is fine, light and white.- as in the pictures and famous photographs. It is believed that the whitest and cleanest sand can be found in the north of the beach, near the Paradiso restaurant.

In the southern part of Bai Sao, the sand becomes coarser and acquires a yellowish tint. For this reason, there are fewer tourists in the southern part of the beach, here you can find secluded corners to enjoy untouched nature.

Sea, bottom, descent into the water

Bai Sao Beach is known not only for its white sand, but also for its clean water of various turquoise shades. The further you go into the water, the darker it becomes.

The sea is calm and warm, the bottom is soft and sandy, the descent into the water is gentle, without stones. The depth of the sea along Sao beach is small, sometimes even 100 meters from the shore is shallow, which is ideal for families with children. The best photos are taken at low tide (in the morning).

What to see and do

On the best beach in Phu Quoc and all of Vietnam, you need to look first of all at the beach. We recommend walking along Bai Sao, looking for crabs, snails in the beach sand and admiring the stunning views.

Relax on the beach

Near the Paradiso restaurant on the beach there is loungers and comfortable chairs. You can use them if you buy a drink at the bar (beer prices start at 25,000 dong ($1.2), cocktail prices start at 50,000 ($2.5)). Relax on the best beach in Vietnam with a cool drink - what could be better? The restaurant also has a free shower.

Leisure

In all resorts and hotels on Bai Sao Beach you can rent jet skis. At Paradiso restaurant and My Lan resort you can rent kayaks for 100,000 VND ($5) per hour. You can also hire a speed boat with a driver, rent a wakeboard or surfboard. How much it costs - we did not have time to find out.

Excursions and tours

Hotels and resorts offer many excursions:

fishing (only small fish are caught here);
boat trip to Khem beach;
diving and snorkeling (near the town of An Toy and Cape Ong Lang);
Excursion to Ho Quoc Pagoda.

Photo: jet skis on Bai Sao beach

Where to eat - cafes and restaurants

Sao Beach has five main restaurants:

Gecko Jack's
Paradiso restaurant
Ai Si Bungalows
long beach restaurant
My Lan Resort

You can eat in almost all restaurants Russian, Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Several merchants usually walk along the shore, where you can buy coconut juice and various snacks.

How to get to Bai Sao Beach

The road to the south of the island is quite bad, so be careful on the way. The Phu Quoc Island authorities promised to build a good road, but this will not happen until new five-star resorts and hotels appear on the beach.

To better understand how to get to the right place, navigate the map at the end of this article.

On your own by bike or car

Sao Beach is located 25 kilometers from the main city of Phu Quoc Island - Duong Dong. To get there, you need to drive south from the city along Tran Hung Dao (towards the new airport). After the sign indicating the direction to the airport, you need to turn left, pass the toll booths and the roundabout. Soon you will find yourself at a major road - turn right.

This road leads to the south of Phu Quoc Island, to the city of An Toi. After 20-25 minutes you will cross the bridge over the river and find yourself in Bai Sao village. You need to drive along the main road for another three minutes, and after the 7UP billboard, turn left - this is the entrance to Sao Beach.

Ten minutes after the turn you will find yourself at a fork with three roads. One leads to the Long beach resort, another leads to Khong Sao beach bar, and the third leads to Gecko Jack's and My Lan resort. You can choose any road as they all lead to Bai Sao Beach.

By taxi and minibus

If you are unable to get there on your own, you can use a taxi or other means of transport. Price for the trip in Vietnamese dong:

taxi from the airport: VND 300,000
taxi from Duongdong: 400,000
micro bus: 40,000
motorcycle taxi from the city: 150,000

According to the reviews of other travelers, it is quite difficult to get on a mini-bus, it is easier to take a taxi.

Hotels on Bai Sao Beach

Despite the fact that the length of the beach line in this place is 7 kilometers, there are still few hotels on Bai Sao. Most hotels in Phu Quoc are located in Duong Dong or on the west coast where you can watch sunsets.

The main hotels in Bai Sao are listed below.

Low prices:

Mango Garden Resort (from $8)
Phu Quoc Melody Guest House (from $5)
Duc Phuong Hotel (from $8)

Average price range:

Phu Son Ha Noi Resort (from $22)
Ai Si Guesthouse (from $35)

Hotels on the coastline(high price):

Long Beach Club Bai Sao resort (from $50)
My Lan Guesthouse (from $40)
Gecko Jack's (from $80)

Most of these hotels are not found on booking sites (I only found My Lan Hotel), so if you are serious about staying at Bai Sao Beach, you will have to choose a hotel on the spot. Alternatively, you can book a room at My Lan Guesthouse for exploration, and then move to the hotel you like. In any case, when choosing a hotel, try to read reviews about it on the Internet beforehand.

Bai Sao Beach is one of the three most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, and the top beaches in Southeast Asia. It is located on the east coast of Phu Quoc in the southern part of the island. This respectable place seems to have stepped out of a picture of tropical bliss. An excellent location for a family vacation, relaxing lying in the shade of an umbrella and evenings with a glass of wine in the rays of the setting sun. The beach is fine as flour, white sand, and the water is so clear that even at a depth you can see everything that happens at the bottom.

Bai Sao has turquoise water, a slow gentle slope into the water, which will give a sense of security when relaxing with children, and allow the little ones to splash in the water without fear. To the south of the beach, the sand becomes coarser; this part of the beach is not so popular with conservative tourists, but it is great for lovers of solitude and silence.

Sun loungers cost from 100,000 dong, but if you come with your own blanket or towel, no one will drive you off the beach - in Vietnam, all beaches are public, and 15 meters to the water belong to everyone. Parking near the hotels is paid, keep in mind that it can cost 100,000 - 150,000 VND, this price includes an order at the bar. This is a reasonable price for a well maintained beach with good service and a superb view.

Also on the beach there is an opportunity to rent jet skis, kayaks and kayaks, ride a boat and SUP board. Fashionable resorts are located along the coast, and going to a restaurant in one of them will cost a pretty penny. A standard dinner with seafood and alcohol will cost about VND 1,000,000. But on the shore you can always meet local merchants selling juices and fruits for reasonable money.

How to get to Bai Sao Phu Quoc

It makes sense to go to the beach for the whole day with a big company. It will be cheaper this way, because you can rent a minibus for 1,000,000 - 1,200,000 VND for 10-12 people. A taxi ride from Zuong Duong will cost at least 250,000 VND, it is wiser to rent a bike if you are traveling alone or together.

Garbage for Vietnam - standard story

We drove for about 40 minutes. At first we drove along a flat road, then we turned off the road and then a surprise awaited us. The driver did not know where to go next, because the passage was blocked. For several minutes he sat in thought with a straight face, then turned around and we went a different route. The off-road route was very dusty, at which point I was especially happy about our decision to take a taxi.

So, in summary, you can get to the beach:

On a bike— heading south of the island. Using GPS it will not be difficult to get there.
Buy a sightseeing tour- spending only 20 dollars you will visit the beach.
By taxi- You can negotiate for 500-600 thousand dong, which we did.

Cafe prices are quite high.

Having passed among the trees along the path leading to the beach, we found ourselves on the territory of a summer cafe. It is very simple, plastic tables and chairs, and a thatched roof in the form of an umbrella for protection from the sun. There were crowds of tourists, almost all the tables were occupied, in general it was noisy and dirty. And I, naively, hoped that the beach would be wild and there would not be such a crowd of people. Prices in cafes, even for the simplest food, are very expensive.

Coming out to the sea, it became clear to us that we were in the center of Bai Sao beach. Most of the sun loungers with umbrellas are located on the left side of the beach and you can use them for a fee.

Bai Sao Beach at first glance seems like a great place

We decided to take a walk along the coast and look for a cozy place away from everyone. Alas, there was no such thing. The fact is that Bai Sao beach was so advertised that today there are a lot of tourists from different countries. On the left side of the beach there is another cafe, already more civilized than the previous one.

Review of Bai Sao Beach in Phu Quoc

What can I say about Bai Sao beach. Nature made him perfect.

Millet water is beautiful

Pros:

Beautiful birch water.
White sand.
Everywhere are chic palm trees and lush greenery.
The beach is surrounded by green mountains on both sides.
The greenery is juicy green, and the mountains seem to be velvety.
The peculiarity of the beach is that the sand crunches under your feet, you walk, and he seems to be talking to you.
The sand is very fine, like flour, and it is very pleasant to walk on this.
The landscapes here are very beautiful, but you need to choose the right angle.
Wonderful place for a photo shoot.
Calm sea with small waves and no plankton.
Nice warm water.

It's very cool to walk on white sand and listen to the sand creak

Mountain views can be admired and admired

And now I will talk about the cons. It is a pity that people have not yet learned to appreciate the gifts and beauties of nature.

Minuses:

There is rubbish everywhere on the beach, it is under your feet and in the water. And moving a little further away from the sun loungers, it’s generally a dump. In general, people spoiled everything they could with their presence. My disappointment knew no bounds. Such a mess beat off all the desire to swim, and we did not even want to go into the water. Well, is it really impossible to take and remove all this garbage and put bins and monitor cleanliness on an ongoing basis, I personally don’t understand. Apparently cleanliness will only be here when hotels are built. The Vietnamese do not want to clean up for free, but you can make the entrance to the beach paid, taking into account the number of visitors, the price can be made not high. Although in some places opposite their cafes, the Vietnamese are still cleaned.
From the entertainment on the beach, there are several scooters and a small wooden swing on a palm tree, on which you can ride with the breeze.

Rudely dirty

Full.opa

The right side of the beach - we were shocked!

Well, since we are already on the beach, we decided to walk and look around, and reach the part of the beach where the stones are. I still had a glimmer of hope that maybe it would be clean there and we could at least sit and breathe in the sea air. But no, it was even worse. Garbage dumps only got bigger and more frequent.

Real garbage dump

The beach itself is actually quite small, we went around it slowly on foot in 25-30 minutes.

There are also positive moments in the form of beautiful cameos, on which you can sit in thought looking at the sea.

And yet the view is beautiful, you just need to forget about the garbage

I was so struck by people who didn't care that they rest and swim, and some even with children, in such complete unsanitary conditions. How can you enjoy relaxing and swimming in such mud. The beach is gently sloping and very shallow, I saw how many moved much further from the coast to swim.

Thought it couldn't get worse

We spent a full seven days in Fukuoka. We drove across the island. We visited basically all the places that are mentioned in tourist booklets and not only. I decided to build this review according to the principle: place - description, abandoning the more familiar structure of the diary by day. Recommendations for choosing an area of the island for accommodation and our hotel will be at the end.

How to get to Fukuoka

In 2012, a new airport (PQC code) opened in Fukuoka, which receives regular flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Haiphong and Can Tho. In addition, hundreds of charters fly here from all over the world.

The most convenient way to get to this Vietnamese island is from Ho Chi Minh City. Depending on the season and day of the week, the number of flights per day from Saigon can reach 10 or more. The journey is only 1 hour. Flights are operated by: Vietnam airlines, VietJet Air, JetStar. Ticket prices range from 4,000 rubles. up to 20,000 rubles per round trip per person. We took tickets for New Year's dates 5 months before departure (in August). Low-cost airline - "JetStar", price - 4,300 rubles (round trip). I recommend booking tickets in advance if you want to save 10-15 thousand rubles. Aviasales to help.

Transfer from/to Fukuoka Airport

If I'm not mistaken, there is no public transport on the island. You need to get from the airport to the hotel by taxi or by a previously booked transfer at the hotel. Taxi stands are at the exit, also in the baggage claim area. Everything is simple here, we show the hotel reservation with the address, pay for the fare at the counter, get a voucher, go out into the street. We fall into the hands of the driver, who, according to the voucher, takes us to the hotel without any problems and questions. The island itself is not small, so the price of a taxi will be from 100,000 dong to 300,000 - 400,000 dong, depending on the location of the hotel.

Phu Quoc beaches

The map below shows all the places we visited in Fukuoka:

Perhaps you need to start with the reason why people fly here for 10-15 hours - the beaches. The climate features in Fukuoka are such that:

From November to March is the dry season, the wind blows from east to west;
From April to October is the rainy season, the wind blows from west to east.

Accordingly, all hotels and resorts are located on the western coast, since in winter, during the season, this coast is quiet, closed from the winds. On the east coast in the winter months there are waves and a huge amount of mud and household garbage washed in from all over the Gulf of Thailand.

Bai Sao Beach is the pearl of the island. Phu Quoc and Vietnam in general

The place is very beautiful. The beach is located in a small bay surrounded by hills covered with tropical vegetation. White sand.

During low tide (after lunch) the coastline increases greatly. The beach, especially in the photo, looks heavenly.

We did not manage to enjoy this natural beauty, relax, swim in the sea. There is so much dirt and garbage here that there are simply no words. Wild thrash. The entire coast is strewn with packages, bottles and other muck. The desire to swim here immediately disappears when a pack of condoms floats next to you and a meter long snag is pulled along the bottom.

Infrastructure: along the beach there are several cafes in the traditional Vietnamese style - dirty tables, dishes, waiters sleeping on the go. I didn’t have any particular complaints about this, since this is Vietnam.

Each institution diligently “cleans” its coastline from dirt and debris. It happens like this: a Vietnamese rakes garbage into a bucket, moves beyond the territory of the restaurant's shore and pours it out where the beach area does not belong to anyone. The sea again takes all this garbage in a wave and eventually nails it. Such is the cycle of idiocy.

One of our compatriots, who has been living on the island for more than 5 years, assured me that after a change in the wind, the beach would be removed and it would be exemplary. The locals have this mentality: why clean up today if tomorrow the sea will again bring all sorts of rubbish.

I don’t post photos of the dirt so as not to spoil the impression of this place, because it is actually amazing. I hope that the local authorities will pay attention and put this beach in order, it has no equal in beauty on the island.

The beach is an extension of Bai Sao

If you face the sea on Sao Beach, then there is another beach on the right, which differs in the color of the sand, it is yellow.

Huge boulders are found in the water and on the shore. The coastline is slightly narrower than that of Bai Sao. There are no restaurants or sunbeds here. In its own way, this is a plus, since there are almost no people, you can throw a towel and lie down in solitude.

The main problem is, again, garbage, but oddly enough it is much less here, there is almost none in the water, although it is no more than 1 km from Bai Sao. Apparently the features of the tide.

Ong Lang Beach

The most well-kept and clean beach in Fukuoka. The sand is fine and golden. There are many decent hotels and restaurants on the first coastline, hence the impeccable cleanliness, the adjacent territory is regularly cleaned. The sea is very calm and warm.

In places there are areas with stone banks.

Large areas of this beach are occupied by hotels, mostly of the "bungalow" type. Since all the beaches in Fukuoka are public, this is not a problem. You can swim and relax along the entire coastline. Restrictions only on the use of sun loungers and other beach equipment that belongs to the hotel.

Ganh Gio Beach

Ganh Gio Beach - located south of Ong Lang beach on the western part of the island. In fact, it is no different from Ong Lang. Unless access to the beach is possible only through the territory of the Shells Resort hotel (one of the most expensive in Fukuoka). It can be said that the beach is private.

They may not be allowed into the hotel territory, therefore, if you have not stayed at this hotel, then there is nothing to do on Ganh Gio Beach.

Other beaches in Fukuoka

The above are places that I have studied well. We spent enough time on these beaches to form a concrete opinion about them. In addition to these places, during our stay on the island we were brought to several more beaches, I will say a few words about them.

Long Beach is the center of all Phu Quoc beach holidays. Its length is about 20 km. Probably 90-95% of all hotels and resorts are located on this beach and its environs. I try to avoid such crowded places, so I will not give recommendations.

Duong Dong Beach - garbage dump, not suitable for swimming or relaxing

Thom Beach - garbage dump, not suitable for swimming or recreation

Other things to do in Fukuoka

Judging by the tourist booklets and notes, Phu Quoc is not only famous for its beaches. We had enough time to carefully familiarize ourselves with the life of the island and all the entertainment for tourists. In addition to a beach holiday, Phu Quoc offers activities for guests for every taste:

hiking trails in the rainforest;
one-day snorkeling / diving excursions to coral reefs and islands;
modern amusement park with water slides and attractions;
safari zoo;
rich tour. Pepper factory, pearl factory, local fish sauce production
Acquaintance with the traditions and lifestyle of the locals (markets, street food, etc.)

Night market

Before going to the island, I read a lot of comments and reviews about the night market. People have described this place as a paradise for seafood and street food lovers in general.

The market consists of several streets, which are lined with street cafes, shops with nuts, souvenirs and other junk. Every reputable establishment has aquariums and stalls with fresh catch.

There are really no questions about the products, everything is fresh. Wide selection of shellfish, fish. There are exotics - for example, sharks and other unknown creatures. It is interesting to look at the marine life and tap the glass with your finger. Such, in its own way, a miniature aquarium.

Guests are invited to choose their own dinner. They cook, without exception, according to three recipes: grilled, boiled, boiled / stewed with local spices.

I can’t stand intrusiveness, so walking around the market was not very comfortable for me. The Vietnamese are overpowering from all sides, everyone offers to sit down in his institution. Cherkizovsky market in Moscow in the nineties, one to one. Only instead of sneakers and tracksuits, they sell shrimp and squid here.

All eateries, but there is no other way to call them, are the same. Therefore, we sat down where there were people and the most decent tables and tablecloths.

I don’t consider myself a squeamish person, but the mud here is excellent everywhere. You can stick to the table. I had to drink beer from a bottle, I did not dare to pour it into a glass. Seafood is fresh, and you can be patient, went to choose your dinner. They took: shrimp, squid, sea urchins, oysters and some other shells. They didn’t manage to spoil the shrimp, but what the hell were the rest of the dishes, for me there was a big question.

With a clear conscience, I tried everything. Then my stomach ached wildly and we got away from the Night Market.

Outcome. Such a feeling, resentment for a wasted evening on the island, besides pain in the stomach after the "delicious" seafood. In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing to do here. In extreme cases, if you are completely tired of sitting in a cozy restaurant on the coast with a glass of beer or wine, enjoying delicious and most importantly safe food, then go here to look at the bizarre creatures in the aquarium, but in no case eat anything here. Not tasty and not safe.

Phu Quoc Pepper Farm in Phu Quoc

There are several pepper factories, or rather, pepper farms in Fukuoka. You can find at least five marks on the mapsme map. We visited the most "tourist" of them. It is located a couple of kilometers from the city of Duong Dong. See map above.

At first, I did not understand whether we had arrived correctly or not, since there were practically no identification marks of the factory, not counting the signs on the road. Anyway, the place was more like an ordinary farmhouse. There is also a shop near the road that sells pepper and coffee. The guy showed us how to get to the farm.

The place is a plantation where pepper is grown - strict rows of climbing plants.

There is a small orchard.

In the shop you can buy many different options for ready-made seasoning. Pepper black and white, peas and ground, ground with garlic and soy sauce.

Perhaps that's all.

We stopped by the farm on our way from Bai Sao. You won’t be able to stay here for more than half an hour, since, in fact, there is nothing to see and do.

My opinion is that if you pass by, you must definitely stop in order to stock up on pepper for the year ahead and then distribute it to all friends and relatives as a souvenir. I see no point in coming here purposefully to see the farm.

Fish sauce factory, pearl factory

Both of these establishments are a common ploy by locals to attract the attention of tourists. You arrive there and find only a shop where you can buy pearls or fish sauce. There is nothing more to tell. not worth going.

Trekking in Fukuoka (Ganh Dau trail)

Tracking routes, in the usual sense of the word for me, are not in Fukuoka. Let me explain a little: the island has a huge national park - a tropical forest, where monkeys, parrots and many others live in their natural environment. There are lakes, waterfalls, rivers, hills. Only there is no infrastructure and access to these natural reserves. Solid impenetrable jungle.

In total, we had three trips to different parts of the island, in order to see wild monkeys, listen to cicadas, and generally get acquainted with the local flora and fauna.

In the north (map above) there is a route that is marked on tourist maps - Ganh Dau trail.

It is a path, about 2 km long through the forest. The route is a dead end. Got to the end and back.

A couple of times there were such trees

On the trail you feel that the forest is simply teeming with insects, snakes and other creatures. We were already closer to sunset and completely alone. Feeling creepy, I'm happy.

It's all. There are no more equipped tourist routes in Fukuoka. Once we turned off the road and went along a path not marked on the tourist map (on my map "Forest")

After 15 minutes, we went to a clearing, where the Vietnamese were diligently sawing out the jungle. Looks like it's under construction for a hotel or something. They looked at us wildly, apparently it was unusual for them to see white people in the forest, and not on the beach.

A couple of times we tried to find a more or less sane road / trail that could be walked through the Phu Quoc National Park. Judging by the maps, there is a path that crosses the entire park, but we did not manage to get to it. The locals looked at us like we were the plague, waved their hands and sent us away from the forest.

Road DT973 (Duong Dong - Bai Thom) runs along the jungle. On it you can comfortably ride a scooter to the north and back to look at the local landscape. We happened to meet wild monkeys along the way.

In general, as I understand it, the national park is a wild and undeveloped place. Even the locals don't go there. According to verified information, there are more than 61 species of reptiles here alone. You can read about the park here.

My opinion:

As a wildlife lover, it was simply necessary for me to try to climb into the jungle, to see wild monkeys. I was pleased that I saw the nature of this region. Since the infrastructure for such a vacation on the island is completely unfavorable, not everyone will like this entertainment. For those who are bored of lying on the beach all day, I can advise the following:

Ganh Dau Trail walking route - takes 1 - 2 hours, you can "feel" the jungle a little, especially closer to sunset;
Ride a scooter along the Duong Dong - Bai Thom road along the National Park. It will take about 1.5 - 2 hours round trip. You can meet wild monkeys.

Snorkeling/diving in Phu Quoc

There are no living creatures and corals on the beaches of Fukuoka. Travel agencies offer day trips to the small islands north or south of Phu Quoc. We took an excursion to the northern islands, as the southern ones had unfavorable conditions due to the wind. There is no difference which islands to go to, the program is the same everywhere and includes:

Transfer from the hotel to Duong Dong Pier where the boat is waiting
Road to the islands by boat 1-1.5 hours
Fishing for about an hour on the bottom
Snorkeling near the islands, about 2 hours
Lunch after snorkeling
free time on one of the beaches of Fukuoka, which brings the boat

The price per person for a group tour is about 20-30 dollars, depending on the travel agency. We took a private trip for $120 at Phu Quoc Beach Travel, in an office located in the Ong Lang beach area. In appearance, this agency was the most decent, you can pay by card, there were even brochures in Russian with a description. Additionally, they offered to take a Russian-speaking guide for $ 20, we refused. As a result, the guide was our Russian former pilot, who settled on the island in retirement.

We went to several other agencies: in one, the Vietnamese did not understand what a Private tour was and only pointed her finger at the brochure, in the other there was no one at all.

Since we had a private tour, we did not have to go to Duong Dong to the pier. The boat itself sailed to us on Ong Lang beach, next to which we lived.

The purpose of the tour is small islands: Fingernail Island (Little Finger Island) and Turtle Island (Turtle Island). The journey is about an hour in total. Near them you can go fishing from a boat to the bottom, swim with fins and a mask.

It is difficult to call them islands. Small patches of land that can be reached by swimming.

We tried fishing and decided not to waste time on it. firstly, it didn’t bite very much, and secondly, catching fish from the palm of your hand does not cause much interest.

We spent all the allotted time in the water on a coral reef.

You can get out on land, get some rest. On the island there is garbage that brings from the sea, and there is quite a lot of it. Some bottles, flasks have been lying here for years. Since tourists are brought here, why not collect all the dirt. The area of the island is only 100 square meters. But this is Vietnam, no one cleans up the garbage here.

Two hours is enough to swim over corals and look at small fish.

On the way back from the islands, lunch is offered, which is represented by local dishes: Pho soup, rice, chicken. The dishes are simple and tasty, especially after 2 hours on the water. From the exotic, for an additional fee, you can try sea urchins.

By 15:00 we were brought back to Ong Lang beach.

General impressions: If in your life you have not seen anything under water except sand and stones, then you must take an excursion. For beginners, snorkeling in Fukuoka will delight. It so happened that I first got acquainted with the underwater world while scuba diving in the Red Sea and now snorkeling or diving in other places does not cause me strong emotions. The local underwater world is scarce and not so colorful and colorful, but it is here. I like active rest, I would rather swim for 3 hours and look at corals than lie on the beach, so I recommend it.

Phu Quoc Safari Zoo (Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc) + Vinpearlland Amusement Park

Since we had plenty of time on the island, we decided not to bypass the recently opened Vinpearlland amusement park and the Safari Zoo. They are located in the north of the island. We traveled around the island for seven days on a rented scooter, so we didn’t encounter a problem getting to one or another part of the island, but it seems that free buses also run from Duong Dong several times a day.

General tickets for 1 day (Vinperalland+Vinpearl Safari) were purchased at the Zoo ticket office at the price of VND 850,000 per person. It was decided to start from the zoo, since its opening hours are shorter, from 09:00 to 16:00. The park is divided into 2 zones:

Animals in cages;
Safari Park.

The zoo is very good. The territory is well-groomed, everything is thought out and worked out to the smallest detail.

The animals are nice to look at. Clean, well-fed. Their cages are very large, there is where to roam.

The second zone is a safari zoo. Tourists are transported by bus from one zone to another. In each zone, certain animals are located. The downside is that this bus is ordinary, the same as on the city route to MSC. You have to look at the animals through the glass. Here you need a tall double-decker bus with an open second floor.

We could not stay here for more than two hours, the scorching sun is simply unbearable. Moreover, we got here at the very peak of the heat, arrived at 12 and went until 2.

More about Vinpearlland. It's a 10 minute ride from the zoo by scooter. The park is divided into several zones and offers the following entertainment: water slides, rides, an aquarium, a show of dancing fountains, etc. In a word, we have collected everything that is possible. We went here on a previously purchased single ticket at the zoo. I’ll make a reservation right away that we were only interested in a park with water slides, we didn’t go anywhere else, we didn’t watch anything. So here they are on a solid 4ku. There are no queues. There are enough slides, there is a place for a child and an adult to ride. You can read more about the park.

General impression of Vinpearlland + Zoo.

I can advise spending a day on Vinpearl only if you have visited all the other places from the list above, and there is still time on the island. Also, such parks will probably be of interest to tourists with children. You can spend the whole day here. It is better to start in the morning (from 9 o'clock) from the zoo, while the heat can still allow you to walk in the open air. There are few shadows in the zoo. After 12 you can move to Vinpearlland to water slides and attractions.

Asia is famous for its sunsets, Phu Quoc is no exception in this regard. You can watch a beautiful sunset on the entire western coast of the island. The spectacle is truly impressive. Every day we planned to be at Ong Lang Beach at 17:30 with a bottle of Tiger. Comments are unnecessary here.

By 18:00, the sun sets in Fukuoka, people begin to disperse to hotels, and by 18:30 - 19:00 decent restaurants are full. It will be possible to sit down, but not always at a comfortable table.

Where to stay in Fukuoka

When choosing a hotel in Fukuoka, the east coast of the island must be swept aside immediately. There is no infrastructure here, the coast is one big garbage dump.

95% of hotels are located on the west coast. For myself, conditionally, I divided all the hotels into 4 zones (from north to south):

1st zone: Northwest of the island. Vicinity of Vinpearl

At the time of our trip, this area was actively developed. Huge high-rise premium chain hotels were built here. In addition to Vinpearl amusement parks, a casino is due to open here in the near future. For whom all this is being built and who will live here, I have no idea. Europeans and Americans will not come here when they have Las Vegas, Miami, Ibiza, Nice at home. Especially considering the mentality and service of local residents. I do not recommend this area of the island. Those who want luxury should go to Dubai, and in no case to Phu Quoc.

Zone 2: Hotels located along Ong Lang Beach

We lived in this area and I can safely say that this is the best place to stay in Fukuoka. Long Beach is the cleanest on the island. Local hotels have large green areas, almost all accommodation in "bungalows" and houses. This allows you to be closer to nature. Locals do not live here, peace and quiet. This area is located in the very center of the island, so it is very convenient to make trips to other parts of Fukuoka from here.

Zone 3: Hotels in and around Duong Dong

I won't pay much attention. Suitable only for backpackers, and even then you can find more impressive options in other parts of the island for little money.

Zone 4: Hotels located along Long Beach

Long Beach is not much inferior to Ong Lang. There is also a very clean coast, a large number of hotels for every taste and budget. The difference from the Ong Lang area is that here the concentration of tourists is several times higher. Hence the fuss, the constant movement.

For those who appreciate peace and privacy, I would advise you to stay in the Ong Lang beach area, for everyone else - Long Beach.

We stayed at the Palm hill resort. Place of average price category, about 60 dollars per night. The hotel is not located on the first coastline, walk to Ong Lang beach for about 10 minutes. There is a green area, a small pool. Accommodation exclusively in bungalows. The cuisine at the local restaurant is about nothing, the only thing I can recommend is fruit milk shakes, very tasty. In general, the place is cozy and worth the money.

For myself, I have noted the two most attractive hotels where it is best to stay in Fukuoka in the Ong Lang beach area:

Coco Palm Beach Resort & Spa - the same price category, about $ 60 per night. The hotel is located on the first coastline. Excellent green area, 20 meters from the sea. There is a restaurant, the main feature of which is again the location, it essentially stands on the beach. We dined here most of the time. It is better to come early, from one to three it is unlikely that you will be able to sit down. All the people from the beach are drawn here. Kitchen on a solid four. For the money this hotel can be called one of the best on the island. There are only 4 bungalows on the territory, the demand is huge. To get here in the season, you need to book 6 months in advance.

Mango Bay Phu Quoc Resort is the best hotel in Phu Quoc. If I go back to the island, I will definitely come here. The hotel has a huge green area. The beach in front of the hotel is quiet and secluded. Lots of sunbeds and hammocks. The Mango Bay restaurant is another reason to scatter compliments. Located, of course, on the coast. There is a veranda, sitting at a table you can watch stunning pictures of the sunset. Menu, service, food - everything is in the best European traditions. In season, a night in this hotel starts from $ 200. The price is high, but it's worth it. You need to book a room, probably, a year in advance. There were no available rooms 7 months prior to our travel date.

How to get around Fukuoka

There is no public transport on the island. You cannot rent a car, as it is illegal for tourists to drive in Fukuoka.

In my opinion, the most convenient way to get around the island is by scooter. You can rent it at any hotel. Price 150,000 dong per day. No documents, contracts, insurance. It's simple, take the bike and go. The traffic on the island is not as crazy as in Ho Chi Minh City or any other metropolis, so you can move around safely and without fear.

If for some reason the option with a scooter is not suitable, then the only thing left is a taxi. You can call at the reception of any hotel. Taxi rides on the meter.

General impression of Fukuoka

Should you visit Phu Quoc? Most likely my answer will be no. In Southeast Asia, there are much more beautiful and interesting places where you can spend your holidays: Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia.

If you still decide to visit this Vietnamese island, then I would recommend giving it no more than 5 days. This will be enough to relax on the beach and see Phu Quoc. My recommendations:

Hotel: Mango Bay or Coco Palm
Beach: Ong Lang
Excursions: Snorkeling to the islands
What to see: Bai Sao Beach, Pepper Farm, Hiking Trail, Vinpearl Zoo