VIETNAM NORTH
1. Ha Noi – Capital
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is the second populous city in the country with approximately 7 million people. Compared to Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi is more traditional and refined.
Today, it is best known for its thriving contemporary arts scene and French architecture, visible by many colonial villas scattered through the city. While it is rapidly developing, the city has retained many of its cultural traditions. Observe elderly people practicing Tai Chi by the lake or witness traditional festival during the Lunar New Year. Hanoi has a vibrant “street culture” where daily activities, such as hair-cutting and eating at food stalls, take place on cramped sidewalk. As Hanoi is becoming more populated with people and automobiles, the city is experiencing more traffic congestion, particularly in the old quarter.
Famous sightseeing you should discover:
Hanoi night market is located at the center of Hanoi Old Quarter, it spreads from Hang Ngang street to Hang Dao street and finish at Dong Xuan streets and it takes only place on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. At this market, you can find and buy many interesting sovenirs.
Dong Xuan Market in the Centre of Hanoi Old Quarter. Here sell every things.
Hanoi's vivacious Old Quarter
The Hanoi Opera House
Long Bien Bridge
Hoa Lo Prison
The Ho Chi Minh Museum
My Thuat Museum
The Hanoi Museum of History (No 1 Pham Ngu Lao)
Revolution Museum (add: 25 Tong Dan)
Vietnamese Women's Museum (Add: 36 Ly Thuong Kiet street)
The Ethnology Museum (Add: Nguyen Van Huyen str, Cau Giay dist)
The Hochiminh mausoleum
St. Joseph's Cathedral (Add: Nha Tho & Nha Chung str)
Pagoda Perfume (60 km southwest of Hanoi)
Tran Quoc pagoda
Hanoi's One Pillar Pagoda
Hanoi's Temple of Literature
Le Mat Snake Village (About 7km Northeast of Hanoi off Highway 1A)
Bat Trang Ceramics
2. Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam.
A visit to the north is not complete without experiencing the spectacular views of more than 3000 limestone karsts in Ha Long Bay. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1994 by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay is the naturalist, s dream. Sculpted into strange shapes by the wind and the weather, the karsts hide deserted beaches, many magnificent caves, and hidden lagoons that may only be reached by chinked in the cliffs that are revealed at low tide.
Getting there:
A 4 hour drive from Hanoi through urbanized areas. You will transfer to docking station, since this is a popular destination, expect bustling scenes of boats and large crowds. All this will be left behind once you sail away to a more serene environment.
Famous sightseeing should discover:
Dau Go Island
Sung Sot cave
Virgin Cave
Floating villages
Bai Tu Long bay.
Tho Mountain
Tunnel Cave
Thien Cung cave
3. Cat ba island
Situated 50km east of Hai Phong and South of Halong Bay, Vietnam, Cat Ba is the largest of the 366 islands in the Cat Ba Archipelago. Named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2004, the island has an impressive national park that houses a small population of langurs, an endangered monkey found only on Cat Ba. If you don’t suffer from a fear of heights, climb up to the park’s observation tower, but you have been warned: much of the trail involves climbing metal ladders bolted to steep rock faces. With sandy beaches, the same dramatic landscape as Halong Bay and a small city with enough restaurants and shopping to keep you occupied, this island has it all.
4. Sapa
Set high in Vietnam, s Northeast Mountains, the hamlet of Sapa offers spectacular view of jagged mountain ridges, terraced rice paddies and green valleys inhabited by people of various ethnic minority groups, most of whom congregate in Sapa, s colorful market.
Each group has its own distintive style of dress. From early childhood , girl learn to grow and weave hemp, to dye cloth with indigo, to sew the family, s clothes, and to decorate items with traditional embroidery motifs. More recently Sapa has become tourist mecca. Expect hill-tribe vendors to follow you and to be persistent in persuading you to buy their handicrafts. If you buy from one vendor and other vendors see you making purchases, they will attempt to sell you their products, too. If you are not interested, just say “no” and ask your guide to walk away.
Getting there:
The best way to get to Sapa is to take a 10 hour overnight train from Hanoi. Departing at night you wake up refreshed the next morning in Sapa ready to begin your adventure. Visiting a more remote hilltribe market requires a 2- 3 hour drive along the mountains. Otherwise enjoy our time in nearby hilltribe villages.
Sightseeing:
Fansipan is (9km Southwest of Sapa) the highest peak of Indochina at 3,143m above sea level.
Bắc Hà market (about 105kms from Sapa) - take only place on Sunday every weeks.
Can Cau market (about 5 kms from Bac Ba Dist) - take only place on Saturday every weeks.
Thac Bac Waterfall (Silver Falls) is about 13kms from Sapa on the road to Tram Ton Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam.
Cat Cat Village is a mostly downhill 3km walk from Sapa.
Shin Chai village
Ham Rong Mountain
5. Cuc Phuong National Park – Ninh Binh Province
At 45km from the city of Ninh Binh and about 140 km to south of Hanoi, is located the Cuc Phuong National Park. This treasure of the Vietnamses biosphere was declared National Park in 1962. It is the first of its kind in the country and perhaps the most important, not only for its 25000 hectares, but because of the wide diversity of plant and animal that shelters inside.
Cuc Phuong stands out among its similar for the kilometers of pathways that pass through ancient forests filled with vines and creepers. The many caves that can be seen along the way were inhabited by prehistoric people. The streams, waterfalls, and traditional villages that make up this nature reserve are also attractive to tourists. The botanical richness of the forest in the Cuc Phuong National Park is impressive. This primeval forest has ancient trees, parasitic plants and various species of vines, many of which have been introduced from neighboring region such as Myanmar, India and Borneo. Some of the large trees that populate the park as the Parashorea Stellata and Terminalia Myriocarpa exceed the 50 meters high and date back over a thousand years old.
In Cuc Phuong have also been discovered nearly 500 medicinal plans, both native and foreign, which grow wild in the park. Multiple exotic mammals such as panthers, bears, monkeys, gibbons, and flying squirrels also inhabit this nature reserve. In addition to the always beautiful pheasants that abound in the region, nature lovers will appreciate the 250 different species of birds, and 64 mammals, including tigers, leopards, bats, feral pigs, and flying squirrels among other.
Besides, it offers for your Vietnam Luxury holidays bath in therapeutic hot springs of the park, which is maintained at the constant temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and contains over 20 chemicals with healing properties.
6. Mai Chau
Isolated Mai Chau is a 139 km trip from Hanoi, 66km further on from Hoa Binh. Though is not far, the trip from Hoa Binh to here takes almost two hours by motorbike due to the mountainous terrain.
Nestled in a valley amongst verdant hills in the northwestern highland, Mai Chau, stunning scenery offers excellent opportunities for trekking and mountain biking while providing a glimpse into the village life of Hmong and white Thai ethnic hill tribes.
Mai Chau is in a valley just over the biggest hump, about 10km from the Song Da River and only 150 m above sea level. The village presents an idyllic rural valley that could easily charm you into staying longer than intended. Nestled between two towering cliffs and surrounded by emerald green paddies, it is an enchanting sight as you wind down the cliff side.
In spring Mai Chau is a bright, almost parrot green and by autumn this green transforms into golden hues as the rice approaches harvest. Taking the time to watch these transitions of color seems like a perfectly useful way to spend your time while here.
Beware that whilst a beautiful time of year, Mai Chau can become unbearably hot in June/July with little respite from the heat as electricity does not come on until the evening.
These bemoaning the dearth of truly budget accommodation in Vietnam will be happy to learn that this is one place you can stay for a song. The star attraction here is a “home stay” in a silt house in one of the two ethnic White Thai villages, Ban Boom Coong and Ban Lac. While both are run by ethnic minority families who have lived on and worked the land for generations, this is hardly like trucking into a Karen Vil in northern Thailand and staying in the spare room of someone, s house.
The “bare bones” accommodation is purpose – built to give tourists the home stay experience while the watchful eye of the government makes sure they have western toilets, ample bedding and sometime satellite TVs in the common rooms.
Ban Lac is the more developed of the two villages, with more gift shops and a busier nightlife, what there is of it but there is little differentiate the accommodation on offer. The lodgings are mostly traditional silt houses with large communal rooms where you can sleep on a mat laid upon a squeaky, split bamboo floor, for jus about the same cheap price every where. The sleeps are really a loss leader – they make the real money off the food you eat, and the curios and textiles you buy. Not to mention, the liquor you drink. A typical charge is 150.000 Dong per person for dinner, breakfast, and a bed although some are a bit cheaper. You could save small money by eating in town, but family style Vietnamese cooking is generally far superior to restaurant fare, and you would not to miss out on the nightly group meals.
Despite this tourist-driven set-up, and the regular influx of visitors, the villages remain a relatively peaceful retreat and its heartening to see how the influx of tourist dollars has not changed the essential character of the locals which we gauge to be as warm and easy-going as you please.
As far as eating is concerned, all guest houses in the villages offer food at the reasonable prices and varying standards. If you do not live up to your expectations there is a little option other than to track back into town to try the local restaurants. Be warned though you will struggle to find anything of outstanding worth there.
Getting there:
Mai Chau is a four hour drive from Hanoi. Although the drive can be strenuous due to the mountainous roads, it does offer a very good view of countryside.
VIETNAM CENTER
7. Hue Imperial City
While imperial rule ended more than six decades ago, the central city of Hue still bears the marks of its royal past. From 1802 to 1945 Hue was home to 13 Nguyen emperors, whose palaces and tombs provide fascinating glimpses into the luxurious and secretive world of the court.
Hue is the capital city of Thua Thien-Huế province, Vietnam. Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty. It is well known for its monuments and architecture. Its population stands at about 950,000 people. In Sino-Vietnamese script, used until 1945, the name of the city is written.
Hue is well known for its historic monuments, which have earned it a place in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.The seat of the Nguyễn emperors was the Citadel, which occupies a large, walled area on the north side of the Perfume River. Inside the citadel was a forbidden city where only the emperors, concubines, and those close enough to them were granted access; the punishment for trespassing was death. Today, little of the forbidden city remains, though reconstruction efforts are in progress to maintain it as a historic tourist attraction.
Roughly along the Perfume River from Huế lie myriad other monuments, including the tombs of several emperors, including Minh Mạng, Khải Định, and Tự Đức. Also notable is the Thiên Mụ Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Huế and the official symbol of the city.
A number of French-style buildings lie along the south bank of the Perfume River. Among them are Quốc Học High School, the oldest high school in Vietnam, and Hai Ba Trung High School.
The Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts on 3 Le Truc Street also maintains a collection of various artifacts from the city.
Getting there:
Hue has a small domestic airport. It is a 1 hour flight from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Sightseeing detail should discover:
Thien Mu Pagoda (3km from the city centre on Ha Khe hill)
Emperor Duc Duc’s
Thanh Toan bridge (7km east of city centre)
Tu Duc Tomb (8km from city centre, Duong Xuan Thuong Village)
Minh Mang Tomb (12km from city centre on Cam Ke mount)
The Citadel is Hue’s main attraction
Hue’s majestic Perfume River
Hai Van tunnel (30km north of Da Nang)
Bach Ma National Park (28km west of Lang Co/Buses available from Hue and Da Nang)
Tam Giang – Cau Hai Lagoon (Thua Thien-Hue province, south of Hue between Hue and Lang Co)
Hai Van Pass (20km north of Danang)
Dong Ba market (East corner of Citadel)
8. Hoi An – Vietnam
Hoi An is a beautiful and peaceful city in Vietnam, just south of Danang. The Old Town of Hoi An is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hoi An, once known as Faifo, was a major international port in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the foreign influences are discernible to this day. While the serious shipping business has long since moved to Danang, the heart of the city is still the Old Town, full of winding lanes and Chinese-styled shophouses, which is particularly atmospheric in the evening as the sun goes down. While almost all shops now cater to the tourist trade, the area has been largely preserved as is, which is unusual in Vietnam, and renovation has proceeded slowly and carefully – it’s mercifully absent of towering concrete blocks and karaoke parlors. The main thoroughfare in the Old Town is Tran Phu. Just south of the Old Town, across the Thu Bon River, are the islands of An Hoi to the west, reachable via Hai Ba Trung, and Cam Nam to the east, reachable via Hoang Dieu.
Set near the coast in central Vietnam, from the 16th to 19th centuries the riverside town of Hoi An once drew merchants from as far as Japan, India, Indonesia and Europe who bought the area’s silk, spices and porcelain. Hoi An still retains remnants of its trading days as evident in the bustling market and abundance of souvenir and tailor shops. What makes Hoi An remarkable today is that its Old Quarter has been beautifully preserved, the streets still lined with old tile-roofed shop houses, shady pagodas and colorful communal halls earning it the status as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hoi An is surrounded by attractive countryside where you can observe the traditional way of life of farmers and fishermen
My Son – Hoian
Once the site of magnificent temples and towering structures belonging to the Champa Kingdom, My Son is, at the present, a remarkable tourist attraction. While one can no longer witness these massive structures in their original splendor, the ruins are still present and one an individual can surely obtain an image of the likeness of the once marvelous edifices. The site was actually named to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites recently as well.
Getting there: Hoi An is a 30 minute drive from Danang International Airport or more than an hour flight from Hanoi & Saigon
9. Nha Trang – Vietnam
Located iin the central Vietnam, the sun-washed town of Nha Trang hugs a seven km long stretch of golden sand, making this perfect place to get a close of sun, surf and fresh seafood.
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa Province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoa District, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh Town and on the West by Dien Khanh District. The city has about 3,00.000 inhabitants, a number which is projected to increase to between 5,00.000 to 6,00.000 inhabitants by 2020 according to an estimation of Nah Trang Administrative Board Statistics.
Nha Trang is well-known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for the international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travelers on the Southeast Asia Circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is widely considered as amongst the world, s most beautiful bays. Tourists are welcome to participate in the sea festival, held biennially. Nha Trang was the site of the Miss Universe 2008 Pageant on July 14, 2008 and Miss Earth 2010 held December 4, 2010. Besides, Nha Trang was also approved to host 2016 Asian Beach Games.
Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under the Champa. The city is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower Champa built between the 7th and the 12th centuries. For a truly dirty pleasure try the mineral mud baths warmed by natural hot springs. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a centre for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute. The Hon Mum marine protected area is one of tour first marine protected areas in the world admitted by the IUCN.
Commercial flights to Nha Trang no longer use the city, s municipal airport, but fly to the larger Cam Ranh International Airport, a former US Air Force Based (built during the Vietnam War) located approximately 35km south of Nha Trang.
Getting there:
A 45 minutes drive from the small domestic airport located in Cam Ranh City. It is a hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City and 1 hour 40 minutes from Hanoi.
10. Phan Thiet – Vietnam
The capital of Binh Thuan Province, Phan Thiet is a small but thriving Vietnamese city and would be a decent destination for tourist in its own right
Phan Thiet is large fishing village best known locally for its fish sauce production. Located 200km from Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet is a gateway to nearby beaches which are popular for both local and tourists alike. Mui Ne, a nearby resort town, has 21km stretch of sandy beaches lined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, and night clubs. Mui Ne is subject to onshore winds from the South China Sea and is especially breezy from November to May, which may not be ideal for swimming but is popular for wind and kite surfing. Other attractions in the area include the white and red sand dunes, Po Klong Garai Charm Tower, and Ocean Dune, s Golf Club a 6746 yard par 72 course designed by Nick Faldo.
For the Vietnamese tourist however, Phan Thiet is a compromise – they do not have to choose between expensive resorts and low rent guest houses like Mui Ne, good, reasonably- priced seafood restaurants line the water, and the beach is just as fine as Mui Ne – there is just less of it.
A number of minor treats including Cham Towers and huge cemeteries – can be all easily visited either independently from here (or Mui Ne). In terms of the cost of accommodation, the variety of of eats and things to do, we have to recommend Mui Ne as the better destination. But there are things to do and see in Phan Thiet proper that make it worth a day trip, and a night or two here is not a bad idea if you have the time and budget for it in your travel schedule.
Getting there:
Phan Thiet is a 4,5 drive or 5 hour by train from Ho Chi Minh City.
VIETNAM SOUTH
11. Hochiminh City (old name: Sai Gon)
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city of Vietnam, in the southern part of the country near the South China Sea. An ancient Khmer settlement, it was known as Sai gon throughout most of its history, serving as the administrative center of French Indochina and after 1954, as the capital of the South Vietnam. The city has renamed after the end of the Vietnam War in 1975
Ho Chi Minh City is a sprawling metropolis of approximately 13 million people. Formerly known as “Sai gon” prior to 1975, today the city is Vietnam, s commercial center. The city dynamic energy is apparent in the bustling street scenes with thousand of people on motorbikes constantly on the move. Although Sai gon has rapidly developed into a modern city with skyscrapers and shopping centers, there are still remnants of its past visible in the historic landmarks and beautiful French colonial buildings dotted throughout the city. In Sai Gon, you will still see the women dressed in Vietnam traditional tunic stroll pass modern trendy boutiques and crowed café. You will find great nightlife and some of the best shopping in Southeast Asia in this vibrant, fast- changing city. The city is home to people from all aspect of Vietnamese society. You will see newly wealthy entrepreneurs in their luxury cars driving pass beggars on the street side. As in any large city, petty theft exists and you must exercise caution. From Sai Gon you can make a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and Cao Dai Holy See Temple.
Sightseeing should discover in Hoochiminh City:
Saigon's Reunification Palace (Add:135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1)
Saigon Central Post Office (Top of Dong Khoi, District 1)
City Hall (End of Nguyen Hue, District 1, Vietnam)
The Saigon Opera House (7 Lam Son Square, District 1)
Notre Dame Cathedral (Cong Xa Paris, District 1).
The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City (65 Ly Tu Trong, District 1)
The Fine Arts Museum of Saigon
The Saigon's National History Museum (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, District 1)
The Women's Museum (202 Vo Thi Sau, District 3, Vietnam)
The Fito Museum in Saigon (41 Hoang Du Khuong, District 10)
The Ho Chi Minh Museum (1D Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 4)
Cu Chi Tunnels (Cu Chi District)
Ho Chi Minh City's Ben Thanh Market (Intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, and Le Lai, District 1)
Bình Tây Market (At the meeting point of Nguyễn Hữu Thuận and Tháp Mười, District 6)
Saigon's Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
Thien Hau Pagoda (710 Nguyen Trai, District 5, Vietnam)
12. The Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta (Vietnamese: Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long "Nine Dragon river delta") is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of 39,000 square kilometres (15,000 sq mi). The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.
The Mekong Delta has recently been dubbed as a "biological treasure trove". Over 10,000 new species have been discovered in previously unexplored areas of Mekong Delta, including a species of rat thought to be extinct.
Mekong River Delta from space, February 1996
The Mekong Delta, as a region, lies immediately to the west of Ho Chi Minh City (also called Saigon by locals), roughly forming a triangle stretching from Mỹ Tho in the east to Châu Đốc and Hà Tiên in the northwest, down to Cà Mau and the South China Sea at the southernmost tip of Vietnam, and including the island of Phú Quốc.
The Mekong Delta region of Vietnam displays a variety of physical landscapes, but is dominated by flat flood plains in the south, with a few hills in the north and west. This diversity of terrain was largely the product of tectonic uplift and folding brought about by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates about 50 million years ago. The soil of the lower Delta consists mainly of sediment from the Mekong and its tributaries, deposited over thousands of years as the river changed its course due to the flatness of the low-lying terrain.
The Mekong Delta is the region with the smallest forest area in Vietnam. 300,000 hectares (740,000 acres) or 7.7% of the total area are forested as of 2011. The only provinces with large forests are Cà Mau Province and Kiên Giang Province, together accounting for two thirds of the region's forest area, while forests cover less than 5% of the area of all of the other eight provinces and cities.
Climate change concerns:
Being a low-lying coastal region, the Mekong Delta is particularly susceptible to floods resulting from rises in sea level due to climate change. The Climate Change Research Institute at Cần Thơ University, in studying the possible consequences of climate change, has predicted that, besides suffering from drought brought on by seasonal decrease in rainfall, many provinces in the Mekong Delta will be flooded by the year 2030. The most serious cases are predicted to be the provinces of Bến Tre and Long An, of which 51% and 49%, respectively, are expected to be flooded if sea levels rise by one meter.[11] Another problem caused by climate change is the increasing soil salinity near the coasts. Bến Tre Province is planning to reforest coastal regions to counter this trend.
Culture:
Life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and many of the villages are often accessible by rivers and canals rather than by road.
The region is home to Khmer/Cambodian culture - the original inhabitants and cải lương, a form of Kinh/Vietnamese folk opera.
13. Phu Quoc Island – Vietnam
Located off the tip of Vietnam, s south coast, Phu Quoc is a heaven for nature and sea lovers looking for a place to unwind. The island is considered “off beaten track” as it remains remarkably undeveloped. Phu Quoc, s virgin forests and pristine white sand beaches make this an ideal place for trekking, diving, snorkeling. The infrastructure remains basis with dirt roads and a small number of four star properties. If you are looking for a relaxing beach gate without any distractions or a noisy nightlife then Phu Quoc is ideal place to visit.
Surrounded by more than 40 km of white beaches decorated with coconut palm, Phu Quoc, situated in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodia border, is Vietnam, s largest island. Its western coastline is sparsely populated while the interior is largely covered with jungle and mainly deserted.
You can start exploring the island in Duong Dong, the biggest town on the island (west of Phu Quoc), where most of the hotels and resorts are located. Going south, you can drive along the Bai Truong (long beach), which is 20km long, spectacular beach. You will see two pearl farms on the right, the second is worth a visit. At the end of road turn left (you can not miss it) and follow the signs, you will reach the fisherman village An Thoi and the An Thoi Pier, the island, s southern tip. From here the An Thoi Islands, a very nice snorkeling diving area consisting of 15 small islands and islets surrounded by coral reefs in crystal clear water, can be visited by boat.
Continuing to travel north east, you will see a sign to Bai Sao (the sign is somewhat hidden, around 1km away from the main road). Bai Sao with its marvelous white sand and green turquoise water, is one of the most beautiful, quite untouched beaches on Phu Quoc Island. There are a number of simple, on the sand restaurants with tasty, fresh seafood, in this area.
Before going back to Duong Dong, there are some recommendable springs and falls: Suoi Tranh, Suoi Da Ban. Suoi Tranh (some 10 km north of Bai Sao) is a stream connecting tiny ponds at different levels through small waterfall. Suoi Da Ban (a stony surface stream, north east of Duong Dong) is an easily accessible white water creek, gracefully flowing down huge granite boulders, on which you can wake; in some places there are natural pools waiting for a refreshing swim.
A stay on Phu Quoc Island would not be complete without visiting one of the factories producing Nuoc Mam (fish sauce), one of the most popular ingredients of the Vietnamese cooking as well as one of the pearl farms with panels describing the formation of pearls and shops selling pearl jewellery.
The island has a unique species of dogs, the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, which has a ridge of hair that runs along its back in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. Much of this island, nature is still protected. Around 70% of the island, an area of 31,422 hectares, became a national park in 2001. The rainy season in Phu Quoc is from July to November and the peak season for tourism is mid winter, when the sky is blue and the sea is calm.
Travelers who know the Thailand islands Ko Samui and Phuket often comment: “ The island of Phu Quoc is still natural and untouched like Ko Samui 10 years and Phuket 20 years ago”. Not surprising, a large national airport is being built on the island of Phu Quoc, expected to operate within five years. A golf course and a casino will be also completed. If you like untouched nature and pre-touristic surrounding, you should hurry up!
Getting there:
By air: A 20 minute flight from Rach Gia (Mekong Delta) or 50 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airline offers daily flights from both Ho Chi Minh City (around $50 one way, 4 flights daily) and Rach Gia.
By boat: Several companies operate high speed hydrofoils going from Ranh Gia to Phu Quoc. The boats leave the mainland daily between 7:00 am and 8:30 am and return from Phu Quoc between 12: 30 pm to 1:30 p.m (200.000 – 250.000 Dong, 2,5 hours). Tickets must be purchased in advance and most travel agents can book the passage. The most well-known hydrofoils companies (Tau Cao Toc) include Super Dong (Rach Gia 077-878475, Phu Quoc 077-980 111) and Duong Dong Express (Rach Gia 077 879 765, Phu Quoc 077 990 747)
Very popular to more adventurous travelers is a round trip between Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc: Travel overland through Mekong Delta (Sai Gon – My Tho – Rach Gia – Phu Quoc, taking a ferry from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc) and, after staying and discovering the island, take a short one hour flight back to Ho Chi Minh.
