Bad reviews from tourists about holidays in Fukuoka. Phu Quoc - full review of all places Prices in Phu Quoc
Article updated: September 30, 2018.
November is a great month to come to Phu Quoc Island. When in the popular resort In Vietnam, Nha Trang is still raining, and strong cyclones are possible; in Phu Quoc it begins " high season" The rains are subsiding and gentle sun and the warm sea welcome tourists to the island who have come on a long-awaited vacation to the tropics. Let's take a closer look at what to expect from the island at this time.
Weather in Fukuoka in November
According to long-term weather observations on the island, in November the sun shines for two thirds of the month, and rain is possible for only 5–6 days. The air warms up to a temperature of 30 - 32 degrees Celsius, and the water to 29. At this time, you can already count on the fact that during the entire 10-12 days of a standard tour to the island, there will be no rain, and everything planned on the trip will come true.
As for the waves in Fukuoka in November, they are also declining. On our website there is a detailed article on which beaches are best for swimming in different times. In November, both on the east coast and on the west, big waves no, and any beach is suitable for water treatments, especially with children.
November in Fukuoka: reviews from tourists
This is what visitors to our website and clients of the travel agency “Phu Quoc Life Tour” write about their vacation on the island this month:
They were afraid that it would be “wet”, the travel agency scared us about the rainy season and offered to go to Thailand. But we’ve already been to Thailand three times and wanted to try something new, especially since Phu Quoc is recommended by many. And they were right. It was cloudy for only two days, and it rained only once, and that was at night. As a result, we climbed the entire island on a moped, spent the day in Winpearl at the water park, and generally bought enough for the year ahead!
Anna Klimevich, Novosibirsk
Another vacation review:
We went specifically in November, since the prices for the trip were low, and on New Year’s we traditionally go skiing in the Carpathians. We were satisfied with our holiday: we lived in a good hotel (Salinda), went on two trips sightseeing tour, swam on a yacht, dived with a mask and snorkel, but the weather didn’t let us down - it was sunny, and cloudy too, but we didn’t see any heavy rains for the whole day, it rained a couple of times and that’s it, so I’d like to advise everyone who doesn’t risk taking a trip to November don't be afraid, but go.
Phu Quoc is a jewel with emerald splashes of dense jungle, carefully framed by the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand. I came to the island for the first time in November 2017. I loved it! I hope I can do it again.
November in Fukuoka
The island boasts unique wildlife in the northern part and pristine beaches in the southern part. I was struck by the lack of public transport. You can only travel by taxi, scooter or bicycle. I didn’t want to pedal in the +28 degree heat, so I most often used taxi services to get around.
The temperature day and night is almost the same, with the onset of darkness, closer to 18:00, it gets colder by only 3-4 degrees. Thus, +25 at night is the norm. Air conditioning in the room is vital. Thanks to moderate humidity, there is no stifling heat.
Heavy rains, clouds, winds - this is all fate Central Vietnam. In the North and South, where Phu Quoc is located, it’s the other way around: the sky is clear, but there’s not even a smell of rain. You won't need an umbrella or other autumn paraphernalia. This time I flew with hand luggage: dress, sandals, Panama hat. I bought sun cream locally.
The best beaches in Fukuoka
Basically, go to any beach, I’m 99% sure you’ll be satisfied. If we select the top five, those where privacy is still preserved, these will be:
- Vung Bau;
- Ganh Dau;
- Rach Vem.
My personal, so to speak, out-of-competition favorite is Thom Beach, located in the northeastern part of the island. Quiet, secluded, filled with the rich aroma of cashews and the clatter of restless cicadas.
Fruit paradise
Abundance reigns at local markets! My eyes widen. You can try and touch everything. They will peel your pineapple absolutely free of charge; for example, in Thailand they charged me money for this service. Try vegetables:
- surrounding;
- chayote;
- pan choy.
My weakness is watermelons. They are not as huge as Astrakhan ones, but they are a thousand times sweeter.
We spent a full seven days in Fukuoka. We drove the length and breadth of the island. We visited basically all the places mentioned in tourist brochures and more. I decided to build this review according to the principle: place - description, abandoning the more familiar structure of a 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
Opened in Fukuoka in 2012 new airport(Code PQC), which receives scheduled 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 operated by: Vietnam airlines, VietJet Air, JetStar. Ticket prices range from 4,000 rubles. up to 20,000 rub. for round trip flight per person. We bought 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.
Road from/to Fukuoka Airport
If I'm not mistaken, there is no public transport. You need to get from the airport to the hotel by taxi or a previously booked transfer at the hotel. Taxi stands are located at the exit, also in the baggage claim area. Everything is simple here, show your hotel reservation with the address, pay for travel at the counter, receive a voucher, and go out. We get into the hands of a driver who, using a voucher, takes us to the hotel without any problems or 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.
Fukuoka beaches
The map below shows all the places we visited in Fukuoka:
Perhaps we should start with what 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 the hotels and resorts are located on the west coast, since in winter, during the season, this coast is quiet and protected from the winds. On the east coast in winter months- waves and a huge amount of dirt and household garbage washed up 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 (afternoon) the coastline increases greatly. The beach, especially in the photo, looks heavenly.
Enjoy this natural beauty, we were not able to relax or swim in the sea. There is so much dirt and garbage here that there are simply no words. Wild trash. The entire coast is strewn with bags, bottles and other nasty things. The desire to swim here immediately disappears when a pack of condoms floats next to you and a meter-long piece of driftwood drags along the bottom.
Infrastructure: along the beach there are several cafes in traditional Vietnamese style - dirty tables, dishes, waiters sleeping on the move. I didn’t have any particular complaints about this, since this is Vietnam.
Each establishment diligently “cleans” its coastline from dirt and debris. It happens like this: a Vietnamese shovels garbage into a bucket, moves beyond the restaurant’s shore area and pours it out where a section of the beach belongs to no one. The sea takes all this garbage again with a wave and washes it down over time. Such is the cycle of idiocy.
One of our compatriots, who has lived on the island for more than 5 years, assured me that after the wind changes, the beach will be cleaned and it will be exemplary. The locals have the following mentality: why clean up today if tomorrow the sea will again bring all sorts of rubbish.
I don’t post photos of the mud so as not to spoil the impression of this place, because it really is amazing. I hope the local authorities will pay attention and put this beach in order; it has no equal in beauty on the island.
Beach - continuation of Bai Sao
If you stand facing the sea on Sao Beach, then on the right there is another beach, which differs in the color of the sand, it is yellow.
There are huge boulders in the water and on the shore. The coastline is slightly narrower than that of Bai Sao. There are no restaurants or sun loungers here. In a way, this is a plus, since there are almost no people, you can throw in a towel and lie in solitude.
The main problem is, again, garbage, but oddly enough there is much less of it 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-groomed and clean beach in Fukuoka. The sand is fine and golden in color. On the first coastline There are many decent hotels and restaurants, hence the impeccable cleanliness; the surrounding area is regularly cleaned. The sea is very calm and warm.
In some places there are areas with stone banks.
Large areas of this beach are occupied by hotels, mainly of the bungalow type. Since all the beaches in Fukuoka are public, this does not cause problems. 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 the beach Ong Lang on the western part of the island. Essentially no different from Ong Lang. Is that access to the beach is only possible through the territory of the Shells Resort hotel (one of the most expensive in Fukuoka). You could say the beach is private.
They may not be allowed into the hotel territory, so if you are not staying at this hotel, then there is nothing to do at 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 specific opinion about them. In addition to these places, during our stay on the island we were taken to several more beaches, I’ll say a few words about them.
Long Beach is the center of all beach holidays in Fukuoka. Its length is about 20 km. Probably 90-95% of all hotels and resorts are located on this beach and its surroundings. I try to avoid places where there are such crowds of people, so I won’t give recommendations.
Duong Dong Beach is a garbage dump, not suitable for swimming or relaxing
Thom Beach is a garbage dump, not suitable for swimming or relaxing
What else to do in Fukuoka
Judging by tourist brochures and notes, Phu Quoc is famous not only for its beaches. We had enough time to carefully familiarize ourselves with island life and all the entertainment for tourists. In addition to beach holidays, Phu Quoc offers activities for guests to suit every taste:
- hiking trails through tropical forests;
- one-day snorkeling/diving excursions to coral reefs and islands;
- a modern amusement park with water slides and attractions;
- safari zoo;
- rich excursionist. Pepper factory, pearl factory, local fish sauce production
- Getting to know local traditions and lifestyle (markets, street food, etc.)
Night market
Before going to the island, I read a lot of comments and reviews about the night market. People described this place as a paradise for fans of seafood and street food in general.
The market consists of several streets with street cafes, shops selling nuts, souvenirs and other junk. Every reputable establishment has aquariums and counters with fresh catch.
There are really no questions about the products, everything is fresh. Wide selection of shellfish and fish. There is exotic stuff - for example, sharks and other unknown creatures. It’s interesting to look at sea creatures and tap their fingers on the glass. This is, in its own way, a miniature aquarium.
Guests are invited to choose their own dinner. They prepare, without exception, according to three recipes: grilled, boiled, boiled/stewed with local seasonings.
I can’t stand intrusiveness, so I didn’t feel very comfortable walking around the market. The Vietnamese are overwhelming from all sides, everyone offers to sit in his establishment. Cherkizovsky market in Moscow in the nineties, one to one. Only instead of sneakers and tracksuits, they sell shrimp and squid here.
All eateries, and there is no other way to call them, are the same. So we sat down where there were people and the most decent tables and tablecloths.
I don’t consider myself a squeamish person, but here there is excellent filth everywhere. You can stick tightly to the table. I had to drink beer from a bottle; I didn’t dare pour it into a glass. The seafood is fresh, you can be patient, let's go choose your dinner. We 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 was a big question for me.
With a clear conscience I tried everything. Then my stomach ached wildly and we moved away from the Night Market.
Bottom line. The feeling is like resentment for wasting an evening on the island, and also a pain in the stomach after the “delicious” seafood. In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing to do here. As a last resort, 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 under no circumstances eat anything here. Not tasty and not safe.
Phu Quoc Pepper Farm
There are several pepper factories, or more precisely, pepper farms, in Fukuoka. At least there are about five markers on the mapsme map. We visited the most “touristy” of them. It is located a couple of kilometers from the city of Duong Dong. See map above.
At first, I still didn’t understand whether we had arrived correctly or not, since there were practically no identifying signs of the factory, not counting the sign on the road. In general, the place looked 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 peppers are grown - strict rows of climbing plants.
There is a small orchard.
In the store you can buy many different versions of ready-made seasoning. Black and white pepper, peas and ground, ground with garlic and soy sauce.
I guess that's all.
We stopped at a 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 or do.
My opinion is that if you are passing by, you should definitely stop to buy pepper for the year ahead and then distribute it to all your friends and relatives as a souvenir. I don’t see any point in coming here purposefully to see the farm.
Fish sauce factory, pearl factory
Both of these establishments are a common ploy by local residents to attract the attention of tourists. You arrive there and all you find is a shop where you can buy pearls or fish sauce. There is nothing more to say. It's not worth going.
Trekking in Phu Quoc (Ganh Dau trail)
There are no tracking routes in the usual sense of the word in Fukuoka. Let me explain a little: on the island there is a huge national park — rain-forest, where monkeys, parrots and many others live in their natural environment. There are lakes, waterfalls, rivers, hills. Only the infrastructure and access to these nature reserves No. Complete impenetrable jungle.
In total, we had three trips to different parts of the island, with the goal of seeing wild monkeys, listening to caecas, and generally getting to know the local flora and fauna.
In the north (map above) there is a route that is marked on tourist maps - Ganh Dau trail.
It consists of a path about 2 km long through the forest. The route is a dead end. Reached the end and back.
I've seen trees like this a couple of times
On the trail you feel that the forest is simply teeming with insects, snakes and other creatures. We were already close to sunset and completely alone. The feeling is eerie, I'm happy.
This is all. More equipped tourist routes not in Fukuoka. One time we turned off the road and followed a path not marked on the road. tourist map(on my map "Forest")
After 15 minutes we came to a clearing where the Vietnamese were diligently cutting down the jungle. It 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 along which we could walk through Phu Quoc National Park. Judging by the maps, there is a trail that crosses the entire park, but we were unable to reach it. Locals They looked at us as if we were plague-ridden, waved their hands and sent us away from the forest.
The DT973 road (Duong Dong - Bai Thom) runs through the jungle. You can ride along it quite comfortably on a scooter to the north and back to look at the local landscape. Along the way we happened to meet wild monkeys.
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 over 61 species of reptiles alone. You can read about the park using the link.
My opinion:
To me, as an amateur wildlife it was simply necessary to try to climb into the jungle and see wild monkeys. I was pleased to see the nature of this region. Since the infrastructure on the island is completely unsuitable for such a holiday, not everyone will like such entertainment. For those who are bored of lying on the beach all day, I can advise the following:
- The Ganh Dau Trail walking route will take 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 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 or corals on the beaches of Fukuoka. Travel agencies offer day trips to small islands that are located north or south of Fukuoka. We took a tour to northern islands, since in the south there were unfavorable conditions due to the wind. It doesn’t matter which islands you go to; the program is the same everywhere and includes:
- Transfer from the hotel to Duong Dong pier where the boat is waiting
- The road to the islands by boat is 1-1.5 hours
- Fishing for about an hour per donk
- Snorkeling off the islands, about 2 hours
- Lunch after snorkeling
- free time on one of the beaches of Fukuoka, which are taken by boat
Price per person per group excursion 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 near Ong Lang Beach. 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, but 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 woman still didn’t understand what a Private tour was and just pointed at the brochure, in another there was no one at all.
Since we had a private excursion, we did not have to go to Duong Dong to the pier. The boat itself came to us on Ong Lang beach, next to which we lived.
The purpose of the excursion is small islands: Fingernail Island and Turtle Island. The journey is about an hour in total. Next to them you can fish from a boat to the bottom, swim with fins and a mask.
It is difficult to call them islands. Small pieces of land that can be reached by swimming.
We tried fishing and decided not to waste time on it. firstly, it wasn’t particularly biting, and secondly, catching fish from the palm of your hand is not particularly interesting.
We spent all the allotted time in the water on a coral reef
You can get out onto land and relax a little. There is garbage on the island that comes from the sea, and there is quite a lot of it. Some bottles and flasks look like they have been lying here for years. Since they bring tourists here, why not collect all the dirt. The area of the island is only 100 square meters. But this is Vietnam, no one picks up trash here.
Two hours is enough to swim above the corals and look at small fish.
On way back Lunch is offered from the islands, which is represented by local dishes: Pho soup, rice, chicken. The dishes are simple and tasty, especially after 2 hours on the water. For exotic items, you can try sea urchins for an additional fee.
By 15:00 we were brought back to Ong Lang Beach.
General impressions: If in your life you have never seen anything underwater except sand and stones, then you should definitely take an excursion. For beginners, snorkeling in Fukuoka will delight you. It so happened that I first became acquainted with the underwater world while scuba diving in the Red Sea and now snorkeling or diving in other places does not evoke strong emotions in me. Local underwater world it’s sparse and not as motley and colorful, but it’s there. I like active holidays, I’d rather swim for 3 hours and look at the corals than lie on the beach, so I recommend it.
Safari Zoo in Phu Quoc (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 Safari Zoo. They are located in the north of the island. We traveled around the island for the entire seven days on a rented scooter, so we didn’t encounter any problems getting to this or that part of the island, but there also seem to be free buses from Duong Dong several times a day.
At the ticket office of the zoo, general tickets for 1 day (Vinperalland + Vinpearl Safari) were purchased at a price of 850,000 Dong per person. It was decided to start with 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 decent. The territory is well-groomed, everything is thought out and worked out to the smallest detail.
Animals are nice to look at. Clean, well-fed. Their cages are very large, there is room to roam around.
The second zone is the safari zoo. Tourists are transported by bus from one zone to another. In each zone there are certain animals. The downside is that this is an ordinary bus, the same as on the city route to MSC. You have to look at the animals through glass. This requires a tall double-decker bus with an open second floor.
We couldn’t stay here for more than two hours; the scorching sun was simply unbearable. Moreover, we got here at the very peak of the heat, we arrived at 12 and walked until 2.
Next about Vinpearlland. It's a 10-minute scooter ride from the zoo. The park is divided into several zones and offers the following entertainment: water slides, attractions, an aquarium, shows dancing fountains etc. In a word, we collected everything we could. We came here using a previously purchased single ticket at the zoo. I’ll say right away that we were only interested in the park with water slides, we didn’t go anywhere else, we didn’t see anything. So they are a solid 4k. There are no queues. There are enough slides, there is somewhere for children and adults to ride. You can read more about the park.
General impression of Vinpearlland + Zoo.
I can only recommend spending a day on Vinpearl if you have visited all the other places on the list above and still have time on the island. Also, such parks will probably be of interest to tourists with children. You can spend the whole day here. It’s better to start in the very morning (from 9 o’clock) at the zoo, while the heat can still allow you to walk under open air. There is little shade in the zoo. After 12 you can move to Vinpearlland to water slides and attractions.
Asia is famous for its sunsets, and Phu Quoc is no exception in this regard. You can watch a beautiful sunset anywhere west coast islands. The spectacle is truly impressive. We planned every day so that at 17:30 we would be at Ong Lang Beach with a bottle of Tiger. Comments are unnecessary here.
By 18:00 the sun sets in Fukuoka, people begin to disperse to their 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 east coast The islands need to be swept away immediately. There is no infrastructure here, the coast is one complete garbage dump.
95% of hotels are on the west coast. For myself, roughly speaking, I divided all the hotels into 4 zones (from north to south):
1st zone: North-west of the island. vicinity Vinpearl
At the time of our trip, this territory was actively being developed. Huge multi-storey premium chain hotels were built here. In addition to Vinpearl amusement parks, a casino should open here in the near future. For whom all this will be built and who will live here, I have no idea. Europeans and Americans will not come here when they have Las Vegas, Miami, Ibiza, and Nice at home. Moreover, considering the mentality and service of the local residents. I do not recommend this area of the island. Anyone who wants luxury should go to Dubai, and in no case to Phu Quoc.
2nd zone: 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 of them have bungalows and houses. This allows you to be closer to nature. Local residents do not live here, peace and quiet. This area is located in the very center of the island, making it very convenient to make forays into other parts of Fukuoka.
Zone 3: Hotels in Duong Dong and its surroundings
I won't pay much attention. It’s only suitable 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. Here it is also very clean coast, large number hotels for every taste and budget. The difference from the Ong Lang area is that the concentration of tourists here is several times higher. Hence the bustle, the constant movement.
For those who value tranquility and privacy, I would advise staying in the Ong Lang Beach area; for everyone else, Long Beach.
We stayed at the Palm hill resort. Mid-priced place, about $60 per night. The hotel is not located on the first coastline, about 10 minutes walk to Ong Lang Beach. It has its own green area and a small swimming pool. Accommodation is exclusively in bungalows. The cuisine in the local restaurant is nothing, the only thing I can recommend is the fruit milkshakes, very tasty. Overall, the place is cozy and worth the money.
For myself, I noted the two most attractive hotels in which it is best to stay in Phu Quoc near Ong Lang Beach:
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 main feature which is again the location, it essentially stands on the beach. We dined here most often. It’s better to arrive early; between one and three you’ll hardly be able to sit down. All the people from the beach come here. The kitchen is 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 during the season, you need to book 6 months in advance.
Mango Bay Phu Quoc Resort is the most... best hotel in Fukuoka. If I return to the island again, 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 shower you with compliments. Located, naturally, on the shore. There is a veranda where you can sit at a table and watch stunning sunset pictures. Menu, service, food - everything is in the best European traditions. During the season, a night in this hotel starts from $200. The price is decent, but it's worth it. You need to book a room probably a year in advance. 7 months before our travel date there were no rooms available.
How to get around Fukuoka
There is no public transport on the island. You cannot rent a car, since in Fukuoka it is legally prohibited for tourists to drive.
The most convenient way to get around the island, in my opinion, is a 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. Traffic on the island is not as crazy as in Ho Chi Minh City or any other metropolis, so you can move around calmly and without fear.
If for some reason the option with a scooter is not suitable, then the only option is a taxi. You can call it at the reception of any hotel. Taxi rides according to the meter.
General impression of Fukuoka
Is it worth visiting 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 holiday: Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia.
If you still decide to visit this Vietnamese island, then I would recommend spending no more than 5 days on it. 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, walking route, Vinpearl Zoo
Phu Quoc is a tropical island in the south of Vietnam. It attracts tourists by promising paradise beaches, cheap seafood, beautiful vacation in resorts. Are these promises true? In general, yes. Fukuoka is a great place to relax and is worth a trip. But the island shows its Vietnamese character - there are nuances and reservations, like a contract from a cunning lawyer. There is no need to give up your vacation, just read our review and advice. Forewarned is forearmed.
Tourists go to Phu Quoc for cheap seafood. Yes, they are in abundance here. But you can enjoy seafood at any resort in Vietnam - and the prices are the same or lower.
Holidays in Fukuoka safe in terms of natural disasters, unlike the center of Vietnam. The island is protected mountain range. There are no tsunamis here, and typhoons are not rampant. The climate itself is milder, there is no intense heat.
Not yet no widespread Russification, as in Nha Trang or, so basic knowledge of English will come in handy.
Overall, Phu Quoc produces mixed impression: it is quiet and calm, but the infrastructure is poorly developed, prices are high by Vietnamese standards, and there are few attractions.
Rush Vem - picturesque beach with starfish in the north of Fukuoka. 
When is the best time to go to Phu Quoc? Weather and seasons - 2019
Almost the entire year the temperature remains at the same level: air +29...+31°С, water +26...+28°С.
Holiday season. It’s better to go to Phu Quoc Island to relax - it’s warm and dry. However, from December to April the most high prices. The island is especially popular on. At this time the number Russian tourists increases significantly. We vacationed in Fukuoka in December and January, and also met here New Year.
Hot season. From April to June it gets hotter, there is still not much rainfall. You can relax, but it’s not as comfortable as in winter. In reviews, tourists note that from mid-March to May there may be jellyfish in the sea.
Rainy season in Fukuoka it begins in July, with maximum precipitation falling in September and October. The rest of the time the island has favorable conditions for beach holidays, diving and snorkeling.
Long Beach is the longest on the island. Fukuoka beaches
There are many beaches in Fukuoka - the island is famous for them.
Long Beach- the longest and most popular beach in Fukuoka. This is where almost all of the tourism infrastructure islands: hotels, resorts, cafes, restaurants, dive centers. Getting to the beach itself is not so easy! The entire first line is completely occupied by expensive resorts and hotels. They do not want to let vacationers through their territory; they have to wander through the labyrinth in search of access to the sea. They can also drive you away from the beach - everyone best places occupied by hotel sunbeds from the first line. The beach, by the way, is very narrow and cramped. We recommend choosing others for your vacation.
Bai Sao- this beach is considered the best in Fukuoka. Beautiful beach with fine powdery sand, quite wide. Located in the southeastern part of the island, you need to go to it by bike or taxi. There are very few hotels here. There are cafes, fruit stands, showers, toilets.
In the northern part of the island there are several wild and uncrowded beaches - all with a flat bottom, clean water and completely white sand. This is where the starfish beach is located. Amazing place - definitely go! There are almost no hotels and resorts, but there are seafood restaurants. Come here for beauty, privacy and silence.
Southern part Long Beach Beach. Hotel prices - 2019
There is a wide choice of accommodation in Fukuoka: there are both cheap guesthouses and luxury resorts. We love to test different accommodations, so in Fukuoka we lived in a guesthouse, a hotel, and three resorts.
Hotels Phu Quoc is more expensive than other resorts in Vietnam. A decent room will cost from $25 (we recommend Sailing Hotel).
Guesthouses. You can find a cheap room in guest house for $9, but such housing is located far from the beach. We lived in a family guest house.
Resorts. The best way to relax in Fukuoka is in resorts - these are oases of peace and tranquility. Prices are reasonable:
- We paid $25 for a double house in the modest but cozy Cozy resort.
- Good resorts with a pool and breakfast cost from $40. We vacationed at Miana Resort and recommend it.
- There are also really cool five-star resorts with luxurious villas for $150 per night - for example, The Shells Resort & Spa.
Search hotels with discounts on Skyscanner Hotels. Here are the main ones.
The Hill Resort is a good resort in Fukuoka for $40 per night. What to see in Fukuoka
Holidays in Fukuoka are mainly beach holidays. There are few attractions on the island: there is a large national park reserve, waterfalls, pagodas and temples, amusement park and safari Vinpearl, cable car to Thom Island, a pearl plantation, a coconut prison and a fish sauce factory. The brightest and most colorful are the floating village and beach with starfish in the north of the island, the port and town of An Thoi in the south.
We recommend renting a motorbike (150 thousand VND per day) and riding around the island, exploring its attractions. The roads outside the city and the tourist area are clear - driving is a pleasure! We even celebrated New Year 2018 by riding a bike on empty roads at night.
We recommend renting a bike in Fukuoka - with it you will see many interesting places! Excursions in Fukuoka in 2019
- Amusement park "Vinpearl" - 500 thousand dong ($22).
- Safari - 600 thousand dong ($27).
- Comprehensive program with snorkeling, short fishing, dinner and excursion - from $17.
- The same thing, but with night fishing for squid - from $30.
- Diving: dive - from $70, course - from $340. Diving in Fukuoka is considered one of the cheapest in the world. Nice place The An Thới Islands archipelago is considered for snorkeling and diving.
- A two-day tour to neighboring Cambodia and Singapore costs $200-250.
- Yachting is not developed, but you can ride a speedboat or a pleasure boat.
- Wedding ceremony - from $1000.
On some northern beaches there are starfish. Food prices - 2019. Is the food good?
In Fukuoka the food is not tasty, and in a number of tourist cafes it’s completely disgusting. This is noted by many tourists in their reviews. Being lovers of Vietnamese cuisine, we also believe that Phu Quoc Island is much inferior to other resorts in Vietnam in terms of the quality of cuisine.
Food prices not happy either. Everything is more expensive in Fukuoka than on the mainland. Smoothies - from 20 thousand VND, rice with chicken or seafood in a tourist cafe - from 70 thousand. A serving of fish, squid or shrimp - from 100 thousand. In the capital of the island - the city of Duong Dong - you can eat cheaper.
To eat tasty and inexpensively, avoid tourist establishments and look for places where the Vietnamese themselves eat.
Grocery stores in Fukuoka are very bad. Even a rural store in the Russian outback will seem like a hypermarket in comparison. The assortment includes only specific Asian snacks, beer, soda, crackers and other snacks. Fortunately, everything is in order on the island: there are many sellers, prices are reasonable.
Shopping
There are practically none in Fukuoka, with the exception of small shops and night market. You can buy shower clothes, pearls, coffee, cocoa, local black pepper and souvenirs. For more substantial shopping, it is better to go to Ho Chi Minh City.
On popular beaches you can buy inexpensive cut fruits from vendors. It is better to book a hotel in Fukuoka in advance, especially for the New Year. We planned our trip late and the choice of accommodation was modest.
There is no public transport on the island. If only a free bus to the Vinpearl amusement park and a regular bus to the village of An Thoi. Rent a bike and ride for fun! If driving without rules (and the Vietnamese have never even heard of traffic rules) is unacceptable to you, use a taxi - they are in abundance here.
The mosquitoes on the island eat mercilessly! Nasty mosquitoes will disturb your sleep and bite you in the cafe during dinner. Stock up on fumigators and repellents.
Withdraw money from MB (Military Bank) ATMs - they are the only ones that do not charge a commission.
There are no buses from Fukuoka airport, only taxis. However, many hotels and resorts provide free transfers to guests - check when booking.
Don't limit your experience to just Phu Quoc. Outside the island - all the most interesting things: culture, nature, cuisine, historical sights.
Long Beach faces west, so you can watch beautiful sunsets on the shore.
Our visit to Phu Quoc unexpectedly aroused a lot of interest among readers. We write latest reviews about Fukuoka and our impressions of the island. We have only been in Fukuoka for a few days, but we have already noticed some features. I'll tell you briefly about the main points.
We're in Fukuoka!
Beach in Fukuoka
I'll start with the most important thing. After all, for beach holiday everyone comes here. So, friends, the beach is cool! Beautiful, exotic, there are palm trees, beach restaurants with thatched roofs and reasonable prices. In December there are no waves or jellyfish, the water is clear and you can swim. So far we have only visited Long Beach in the southern part. We’ll write more about the beach a little later.
Among the shortcomings of the beach, I would note the biting plankton. As with many, the body tingles a little in the water. Also on the surface of the water, there is a feeling that some kind of plaque is floating, similar to when you pour water into a greasy dish. According to reviews from tourists, many people note this phenomenon in Fukuoka.
Here's another photo of the beach for reference. Wait for a detailed article with lots of photos and videos.
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Hotels in Fukuoka
- Sasco Blue Lagoon Resort
- Orange Resort
- Hong Bin Bungalow
- Saigon Phu Quoc Resort & Spa
- T&T Resort
All hotels in Fukuoka
Long Beach, Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Prices in Fukuoka
Second important point- what are the prices in Fukuoka, on the island that is considered the best island Vietnam. We will write about prices in more detail in future articles, but for now I will briefly orient you.
- Housing prices are slightly higher than in other resorts. More or less decent hotels cost an average of $20-25 (possibly due to the fact that it is high season). List of hotels in Fukuoka →
- The prices in the cafe also seemed a little higher than in Nha Trang. But overall not expensive. It’s quite possible for two to eat for $10 with drinks. I mean regular food, crabs and lobsters are all sorts of more expensive there. Comparing in dollars with Cambodia, it turns out about the same.
- Prices in stores are also slightly higher than in the rest of Vietnam.
- The fruit seemed expensive. Yesterday we bought a pineapple for 30 thousand dong ($1.5). But it’s near the beach, perhaps cheaper on the market.
- Cheap metered taxis. Yesterday we traveled 2 km by taxi for 22 thousand dong (1 dollar). There are unmetered taxis with a fixed price, but you can negotiate with them. From the city it costs $5 to get to the airport and $10 to the pier. There is a motorbike taxi. The service is running ordering personal transfers.
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience in this article.
Prices at the beach cafe. Dong exchange rate for calculating 1$ = 20,000 dong
Phu Quoc - construction island
Many people have probably heard that construction is everywhere in Fukuoka. Is this really so and what is the situation in Fukuoka now? Is it true. As of the end of 2016 - beginning of 2017, there is indeed a lot of construction going on. While we were driving from the pier, construction was constantly flashing outside the windows, and dump trucks were constantly plying along the roads. On the first day, we checked into a hotel, around which, within a radius of 200 meters, there were as many as 4 construction sites, which begin drilling and chiseling from 8 in the morning
But don’t be alarmed, it’s not like this everywhere on the island. We have now moved to new hotel, this area is quiet, no one is building anything. At least for now. And there are plenty of such areas. Even close to the center there are excellent hotels on the first line, where there is silence and the nearest construction site is a kilometer away. For example, Orange Resort— we recommend an excellent 3-star hotel on the first line with a swimming pool and its own green area.
Therefore, it is very important to choose a hotel in Fukuoka carefully, study reviews and check with someone if there is a construction site nearby.
Hotels on Booking.com are incorrectly marked on the map
Fukuoka residents are probably very bad at understanding maps)) This is the first time I have seen such a thing that so many hotels are marked on the map incorrectly. On the first day, we spotted a couple of hotels, but when we arrived, they were not in this place. Taxi drivers said that this hotel is 2 km from here...
Therefore, when booking a hotel in Fukuoka, be prepared that you may have to look for it. Usually taxi drivers deal with this quickly if they have the hotel phone number.
- See our selection of housing in the article -
Poor infrastructure, no supermarkets
All bloggers and travel sites write that Phu Quoc Island is just beginning to develop in terms of tourism, so the tourism infrastructure here is still poorly developed.
Eat good hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants, travel agencies, but there is not a single supermarket. There are no Big C, Metro, A-mart or other Vietnamese chain stores in Phu Quoc. There is only COOP, which we really counted on. But when we entered it, we were disappointed - the shelves were half empty, the choice of products was minimal, mainly chips, nuts, cookies and drinks.
The shops here include small private shops and stalls where you can buy water, alcohol and snacks. Milk, yoghurt, tea and coffee are also on sale.
Even buying a SIM card turned out to be a big problem! If in Nha Trang you can buy a SIM card on every corner, then here we were all sent to the night market. Only in one tent did the Vietnamese decide to make some money and said that he was going to pick up a SIM card for me on a moped. As a result, I got a SIM card with an overpayment of 30-40 dong for the service.
The only CO.OP supermarket did not live up to expectations. There's not even Dalat wine or Saigon beer. 
Family March in Fukuoka
Public transport in Fukuoka
There are no buses. But there are minibuses for 45 thousand dong ($2), which carry from the pier to Long Beach and to the city of Duong Dong. Perhaps there is one at the airport too. There is also inexpensive taxi with a meter or at a fixed price.
Few tourists
Despite the fact that December is already high season, there are few vacationers. There are always free places and sun loungers on the beach; there are no crowds of Chinese walking along the streets.
