Phu Quoc is located just 15km off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand and virtually unknown by outsiders a decade ago, it has slowly been recognised for its soft-sand beaches, swaying palms and limpid waters, to challenge Nha Trang as Vietnam’s top beach destination. Spanning 46km from north to south, it’s Vietnam’s largest offshore island, though Cambodia also claims the island, calling it Ko Tral. Phu Quoc is just 45km from Ha Tien, and a little under 120km from Rach Gia.
The topography and vegetation are quite unlike the rest of the delta, and give the place a totally different feel. Today, over eighty thousand people – and a sizeable population of indigenous dogs dwell on the island, famous throughout Vietnam for its black pepper and its fish sauce. Beyond the resorts lining Long Beach and development beginning on the east coast, there's still ample room for exploration and escaping. One can dive the reefs, kayak in the bays, eat up the back-road kilometres on a motorbike, or just lounge on the beach, indulge in a massage and dine on fresh seafood.
