In recent years, Phu Quoc has emerged as one of the most talked-about destinations for travelers from all around the world, thanks to its breathtaking natural beauty, iconic landmarks, and unparalleled luxury travel experiences. Sleeping beauty Once a sleepy fishing island with minimal tourism developments, Phu Quoc has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing and most acclaimed destinations in global tourism. Its remarkable rise has caught the attention of the world's media. The tear-drop-shaped island – located off the southern coast of Vietnam in the gulf of Thailand – has been lauded by some of the world's most prestigious travel magazines and industry observers in recent years. Admiring coral reefs in Phu Quoc, Vietnam In 2021, Time Magazine honored Phu Quoc as one of the 'World’s Greatest Places.’ In October 2022, Conde Nast Traveller voted the 'pearl island' – as it's known in Vietnam – as one of ‘Asia's 10 Most Favorite Resort Islands.’ The … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc – A new global destination in Vietnam
Phu quoc express ferry
Taxi commissions raise Phu Quoc restaurant prices
Nguyen Cam Loan in Ho Chi Minh City was frustrated after her recent trip to Phu Quoc for the Reunification Day and May Day (April 30-May 1) holidays. When using a taxi to take her family to a local restaurant, she was enthusiastically introduced by the driver to a rice pot restaurant. However, a meal for four people with regular dishes, including rice, boiled vegetables, braised fish and braised meat, cost nearly VND1.3 million ($55.39). She then complained to the taxi driver who took her family to the restaurant to no avail. Incensed, Loan said drivers should only recommend eateries based on quality, otherwise both drivers and restaurants "will lose customers in the future." Once a popular tourist hotspot for its famed pearls and scenery, Phu Quoc has been shunned by travelers recently. In addition to high airfares, exorbitant service prices have made the island lose much of its charm in the eyes of many tourists. Phu Quoc officials have said that food services in Phu Quoc … [Read more...] about Taxi commissions raise Phu Quoc restaurant prices
Vietnam’s Phu Quoc welcomes over 2,600 int’l cruise guests
The Italian-flagged passenger cruise vessel Costa Serena brought more than 2,600 international guests to Phu Quoc, a popular island destination in southern Vietnam, on Sunday morning. This is the first five-star cruise to return to Phu Quoc City, which is an island off Kien Giang Province, after a long suspension induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also the first voyage by the Costa Serena to Phu Quoc City post-pandemic, said Le Thi Minh Thu, an advisor at Thien Y Marine Transport Services Company. The passengers on the ship, which carried a crew of over 1,000, are citizens of Thailand, Cuba, and some other countries. International cruise guests pose for a photo with a Vietnamese woman in 'ao dai' (Vietnamese traditional costume). Photo: Tuoi Tre The ship was scheduled to conduct a five-day and four-night voyage from Thailand to Cambodia’s Sihanoukville before heading to Phu Quoc, where the passengers will learn about the local culture and visit popular … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Phu Quoc welcomes over 2,600 int’l cruise guests
Family on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc earns big by farming crabs in plastic boxes
Nguyen Buu Loc, residing in Phu Quoc City of Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, and his wife started raising crabs in plastic boxes due to exhausted seafood resources at sea and have generated high returns. Loc said the Rach Tram River in the namesake hamlet of Bai Thom Commune, Phu Quoc City is some seven kilometers long. Along the banks of the river, there are a lot of melaleuca and mangrove trees, among others. Crabs in the river have black bodies, red pincers, and tough meat. They also grow fast and hold high economic values. Loc used nets to fence around mangroves on the bank of the river, erected more wooden poles to fix the nets, and dropped plastic boxes of crabs into the river. The crabs’ food is small fish. Loc feeds them twice a week. Crabs in the Rach Tram River in Phu Quoc with black bodies, red pincers, and tough meat are preferred in the local market. Photo : Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre “There are crabs in the Rach Tram River, so my wife and I … [Read more...] about Family on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc earns big by farming crabs in plastic boxes
First cruise ship arrives in Phu Quoc post-Covid with 2,600 passengers
Due to its size, the ship anchored a kilometer from shore and the passengers were transported to shore in boats. They visited some popular attractions on the island and did shopping before leaving at 7 p.m. the same day. Bui Quoc Thai, director of the Department of Tourism of Kien Giang Province, home to Phu Quoc, said most of the visitors were from Thailand, Malaysia, Cuba, and European countries. It had made a five-day voyage from Thailand to Cambodia’s Sihanoukville before heading to Phu Quoc. The Costa Serena ship is 290 meters long and can carry a maximum of 3,700 passengers. Well known for its sandy beaches, turquoise waters and forests, Phu Quoc has for years been a popular holiday destination for both Vietnamese and foreign tourists. It allows 30-day visa-free entry for foreigners. … [Read more...] about First cruise ship arrives in Phu Quoc post-Covid with 2,600 passengers
Phu Quoc welcomes first international cruise ship after COVID-19
Italy ’s cruise ship COSTA SERENA (Photo: VNA) Kien Giang (VNA) – Italy’s cruise ship COSTA SERENA on May 21 docked at Duong Dong wharf, Phu Quoc city, Kien Giang province, after departing from Thailand. This was the first international cruise ship returning to Phu Quoc city after the COVID-19 pandemic. The 5-star ship carries 3,500 tourists from 18 countries, mainly from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and some European countries, along with 1,056 crew members. Cruise ship COSTA SERENA (Photo: VNA) During their stay, visitors went sightseeing and shopping at tourist attractions on Phu Quoc island. At 5pm the same day, they left Phu Quoc, continuing their journey. After a long hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phu Quoc tourism sector is stepping up promotion activities, building quality products, and focusing on training high-quality human resources to better serve visitors./. VNA … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc welcomes first international cruise ship after COVID-19
Demolition ordered for illegally-built 12-story building on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc
The administration of Phu Quoc City, a popular island destination in Vietnam’s southern Kien Giang Province, has forced a developer to demolish an illegally-built 12-story building located in Duong To Commune. Huynh Quang Hung, chairman of the Phu Quoc People’s Committee, passed a decision ordering the demolition of the building on Thursday afternoon. The developer was found to have built the building against an earlier approved plan with an area of 2,746 square meters and converted a 473-square-meter plot of land for perennial crops into non-agricultural land in the rural area. Hence, the Phu Quoc administration forced the developer to pull down the illegally-built building and restore the original status of the 473-square-meter plot of land within 90 days after the issuance date of the demolition order. The building had only six floors before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Later, the developer constructed another six floors. In August last year, the Phu Quoc … [Read more...] about Demolition ordered for illegally-built 12-story building on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc
Illegal 12-floor Phu Quoc hotel to be dismantled within next three months
Authorities in the southern island city of Phu Quoc have just asked the investor of a 12-storey hotel building that has been illegally built in Duong To Commune to dismantle their construction within three months. The 12-storey hotel building in Phu Quoc is illegally built on agricultural land. Photo by Tienphong. A source told the Tien Phong Newspaper that Chairman of the Phu Quoc City People's Committee, Huynh Quang Hung, had signed a decision to request the building's investor, Vu Manh Hung, 54, from Hanoi to remove his illegal construction. According to a report from the committee, the 12-storey hotel was built on a total area of over 2,700 square metres with some works lying on an area of 473 square metres agricultural land on Tran Hung Dao Street in Duong To Commune. The construction, which was built without approved planning, is located along one of the routes leading to the centre of Phu Quoc Island. In August, 2022, the Phu Quoc People’s Committee … [Read more...] about Illegal 12-floor Phu Quoc hotel to be dismantled within next three months
Vietnam News Highlights for May 22, 2023
Keep up with the most recent developments in Vietnam. First five-star cruise ship arrives in post-pandemic Phu Quoc International tourists taken from Costa Serena to the coast of Phu Quoc Island. Photo: Huu Tuan/The Hanoi Times The Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Serena returned to the popular island of Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang on May 21, carrying more than 2,600 international tourists and becoming the first five-star cruise ship to visit the island since the Covid-19 outbreak. The arrival of Costa Serena signals the recovery of the local tourism industry. Phu Quoc is expected to receive more cruise ships soon as Kien Giang Province develops tourism infrastructure facilities to accommodate more ocean cruise passengers. Man arrested for torturing newborn baby Police in Da Lat City in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highland) province of Lam Dong arrested 33-year-old Tran Hoai Thuong on the night of May 21 for brutally … [Read more...] about Vietnam News Highlights for May 22, 2023
Vietjet inaugurates first direct route connecting Hanoi to Phuket
Vietjet Vice President Nguyen Duc Thinh welcomed passengers on the inauguration flight connecting Hanoi - Phuket (Source: Vietjetair.com) Hanoi (VNA) - The new-age carrier Vietjet has officially inaugurated the first direct route connecting Hanoi to the famous beach tourism paradise Phuket (Thailand), pampering people and tourists who are passionate about travel and discovery, connecting two of Asia's top favorite tourist destinations. The only direct Hanoi – Phuket route is operated one daily return flight from May 19, 2023. The flights take off from Hanoi at 11:30 and landing in Phuket at 14:40. The return flights depart Phuket at 15:45 and arrive in Hanoi at 18:35. It’s convenient flight time for passengers to arrange sightseeing schedules. Hanoi, the capital of thousands of years of civilization, is famous for its image of 36 streets, a city that blends modernity with ancient features. Additionally, Phuket is a must-visit destination in the country of golden pagodas, the … [Read more...] about Vietjet inaugurates first direct route connecting Hanoi to Phuket