Phu Quoc Islands - Kien Giang Province

Phu Quoc Island,  is the largest island of Vietnam. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, the island is part of Kien Giang province. The district of Phu Quoc includes the island proper and 21 smaller islets. The district seat, Duong Dong, which is located on the west coast, is also the largest town on this island, whose total area is 574 km².

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc island lies 62 nautical miles (115 km) from Rach Gia, 15 kilometres (8.1 nmi) from Kampot province of Cambodia, and nearly 290 nautical miles (540 km) from Laem Chabang, Thailand. Roughly triangular in shape the island is 50 km long north to south and 25 km east to west in the north at its widest.

Phu Quoc is famous for its two traditional products: fish sauce and black pepper. The rich fishing grounds offshore provides the anchovy catch from which the prized sauce is made. Pepper cultivation is located inland in the center of the island. More recently a pearl farm was established.
Tourism plays an important part of the economy with the beaches being the main attraction. Phu Quoc is served by Phu Quoc Airport with air links to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)'s Tan Son Nhat Airport and Rach Gia's Rach Gia Airport. Plans are in progress for a new international airport for the island. Phu Quoc is also linked with Rach Gia and Ha Tien by fast ferry hydrofoils.

Phu Quoc is also called the Emerald Island because of its natural treasures and infinite tourism potential. The island is well known for its high-quality fish sauce; Phu Quoc fish sauce smells particularly good since it is made from a small fish, ca com, with a high level of protein. The island produces 6 million liters of fish sauce every year.
Phu Quoc Island has many harbors such as An Thoi and Hon Thom where international and domestic ships anchor. Also, there are several historical sites on the island: National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc's military base, King Gia Long relics from the time he spent on the island, and Phu Quoc Prison.
Off the coast of the island emerges a group of 105 islands of all sizes. Some of them are densely inhabited such as Hon Tre and Kien Hai, 25km from Rach Gia. Visitors can spend time on the beach or hike while observing the wild animals.

Phu Quoc is an almost unknown destination in Vietnam. International tourists and Vietnamese alike just recently discovered Phu Quoc. It is not hard to see why many tourists are boasting of the splendid natural beauty and untouched remote beaches of this spectacular tropical island.
 
It is possible to reach the island by either plane or boat from Rach Gia, Ho Chi Minh City ( 1 hour by plane), Rach Gia (2,5 hours by hydrofoil).

There are ferries and hydrofoils between Phu Quoc to Rach Gia, Ha Tien and Hon Chong. You may be told by tour agents that the fast boats are full, but if you go to the dock where the boats depart you may have the opportunity to buy tickets from street sellers.

• Phu Quoc - Rach Gia - 0800, 0810
• Rach Gia - Phu Quoc - 1300, 1310

Hydrofoils takes 2 1/2 hours, costs 240,000 Dong, book at http://www.duongdongexpress.com.vn/ When coming from Ho Chi Minh City you can book a combined night-bus + boat ticket for around US$26 (including pick up from hotel) at travel agencies.

• Phu Quoc - Ha Tien

Hydrofoils takes 1hour 10 mins. Costs 190,000 Dong. Daily at 0900. Slow boat takes 3 hours, costs 100,000 Dong, but doesnt go daily. Leaves at 10:00.

• Phu Quoc - Hon Chong – 12:30
• Hon Chong - Phu Quoc – 10:00

Transportation

Road: Rach Gia is 92km from Ha Tien, 116km from Cantho, 182km from My Tho, and 250km from Ho Chi Minh City.

Air: The province owns 3 airports: Rach Gia, Phu Quoc, and Ha Tien. From Ho Chi Minh City, there are daily flights connecting to Rach Gia, and 28 flights a week linking to Phu Quoc.

Hydrofoil boats daily connects Rach Gia and Phu Quoc and vice versa.

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