Situated 45 kilometers off Vietnam’s southern coast in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is the country’s largest island and a popular getaway with white-sand beaches. No longer a quiet retreat for the lucky few, the island is undergoing extensive development but at 48 km in length south to north, it is big enough to accommodate all traveling styles.
Other than with palms, the beaches of Phu Quoc are now lined with luxurious resorts and high-rise buildings, especially along the southern and western coast. Elsewhere on the island, however, things look radically different with hills covered in tropical jungle and many parts only accessible via dirt tracks. Serene fishing villages and graceful Buddhist pagodas are dotted around the island, which due to its size is best explored on a motorbike.
Throughout Vietnam, Phu Quoc is famous as a producer of high-quality black pepper as well as fish sauce (nuoc mam). Ask anyone on the island and they’ll also tell you that Phu Quoc offers the best seafood in the country – but don’t just take their word for it!