48 Hours in Phu Quoc — Day 1
This February, Vietnam’s Phu Quoc proudly made the list of the world’s 10 most welcoming destinations, as chosen by the global travel platform Booking.com. For many Koreans it has simply been a beach getaway close to home—so how kind and beautiful does everyday life on Phu Quoc really feel? Here is
This February, Vietnam’s Phu Quoc proudly made the list of the world’s 10 most welcoming destinations, as chosen by the global travel platform Booking.com. For many Koreans it has simply been a beach getaway close to home—so how kind and beautiful does everyday life on Phu Quoc really feel? Here is a record of 48 hours on an island full of fresh energy drawn from its clear, unspoiled nature and local food that wakes up the palate, an island that holds its own sense of time dear.
Words & Photos Parc Jinmyoung
In collaboration with Booking.com
This trip was made with Booking.com’s Connected Trip, which brings flights, accommodation, transport and activities together into one travel experience. The heart of the service is how smoothly it links bookings, itineraries and payments within the Booking.com app. It also impresses by suggesting tailored travel options based on your past trips, current location and interests, much like a personal travel guide. Any changes to bookings or questions can be handled right in the app.
Day 1
10:00am The Journey Begins
It takes a little over 20 minutes by bus from Phu Quoc International Airport. Just as palm trees start to flicker past the window and the smell of the sea grows strong, you arrive in Dương Đông, the heart of the island and its liveliest town. It is the island’s travel hub, home to Dương Đông Harbor, a night market steeped in local life, and a dense cluster of restaurants, cafés and hotels. In the morning, freshly caught seafood pours in at the harbor and the fish market buzzes with energy. Fishermen, vendors and travelers mingle in the streets, and the foot traffic never stops all day. Amid all this bustle, Dương Đông’s cafés offer welcome places to pause. From hidden spots recommended by locals to cafés with sweeping views over the jungle and the beach and outlets of homegrown Vietnamese brands, try cafés of every style and soak up both the local vibe and a moment of ease.
Tip. Three Cafés to Recharge Your Phu Quoc Mood
Buddy Ice Cream & Cafe
Right in front of Dương Đông Harbor, Buddy Ice Cream & Cafe sees a steady stream of locals and travelers from early morning until evening. This cafeteria serves handmade gelato with tropical fruit as well as light meals such as pasta and sandwiches and desserts, and it is famous for its egg coffee, topped with a rich, nutty cream made from egg yolks. Part of its appeal lies in the planterior that blends with the trees rising sturdily toward the sky along the street, and in its brightly colored walls and tables. To feel the local atmosphere at its most vivid, visit early in the morning. You can savor the deep flavor of your coffee amid the energy of harbor residents starting their day as the fishing boats return from their catch.
Trung Nguyên Legend
G7 coffee is one of the must-buy souvenirs in Vietnam. Famous for its distinctively sweet, strong taste, it is the masterpiece of the renowned Vietnamese coffee brand Trung Nguyên Legend. True to its name—Trung means “center” and Nguyên means “source” in Vietnamese—the brand aims to be the center and source of coffee, and it leads the globalization of Vietnam’s coffee industry. There are two branches on Phu Quoc, in Dương Đông and at Grand World, and the Dương Đông branch is a two-story space that, unusually for downtown Phu Quoc, is fully air-conditioned. With a cool, comfortable interior and a tropical garden–style terrace, it offers a pleasant break even on the hottest days. From traditional Vietnamese-style coffee to creative drinks blended by bean, you can enjoy the many charms of Vietnamese coffee. Be sure to try the coconut coffee, a perfect balance of sweet and nutty that cools you right down to your bones. You can also buy roasted beans, drip bags, G7 coffee and other products that make great souvenirs of your trip.
Zyzu Kafe
If you want to experience Phu Quoc’s tropical gardens, where colorful flowers mingle with lush greenery, head up the hill to Zyzu Kafe. With a garden of tropical plants, a small pond and shaded benches, plus a rooftop overlooking the open sea, it is the perfect place to capture a once-in-a-lifetime photo. Visit at sunset and you will witness the romantic sight of the Phu Quoc sea washed in yellow and red. Unlike the garden, designed around the concept of a Vietnamese rainforest, the interior creates an exotic, stylish mood with arabesque patterns, decorative tiles and arched doors and windows. Furniture made of natural materials such as wood and rattan, along with low, plush sofas, makes it cozy and relaxing. The menu ranges from traditional Vietnamese coffee to blended drinks, and the mango smoothie comes highly recommended. Sweet and refreshing, it quenches your thirst so well that the climb up the hill is more than worth it.
2:00pm The Luxurious Face of Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc is working to attract more travelers by making the most of the island’s unique and rich natural and cultural resources. You can see these efforts in the complex of luxury resorts and upscale villas along Khem Beach (Bãi Khem) in the south of the island. Named for the fine white sand the word describes in Vietnamese, Khem Beach charms with a quiet, private feel unlike the crowded tourist spots. Some sections are open only to resort guests, but the stretches open to other travelers are beautiful enough. The sand, so white it is almost silver, dazzles the eyes, and the rippling sea catches the sunlight in a different texture each time.
4:00pm Between Day and Night on a Hot Beach
Behind the swimmers enjoying the sandy shore, Khem Beach is lined with bars and restaurants. Also famous as a sunset spot, The Deck Phu Quoc - Kitchen & Beach Bar is a great place to enjoy cocktails, beer and wine while gazing out at the vast sea. Thanks to a daily buy-one-get-one-free happy hour from 12pm to 6pm, you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon drink at a reasonable price. On Friday evenings, live music plays and the beach’s easy pace flows a little deeper, with a little more rhythm.
7:00pm A Sustainable Hotel in Phu Quoc
At the end of 2020, when Grand World Phu Quoc—Vietnam’s first cultural complex open 24 hours a day—opened, Phu Quoc earned the nickname “the city that never sleeps.” Built as a vast complex inspired by European architecture and the canals of Venice, it brings together a wide range of cultural and entertainment venues, from performance halls to restaurants, cafés and galleries. Just a five-minute drive from Grand World Phu Quoc is a cluster of luxury resorts, making it easy to continue your trip.
At the far end of the sprawling tropical gardens within the resort complex sits Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc. About a five-minute walk from Dai Beach (Bãi Dài), the resort offers a range of rooms from deluxe rooms to pool villas. Rooms face either the tropical garden or the sea, and whichever view you choose, you can vividly experience the charm of Phu Quoc, known as the Pearl Island. In particular, the Radisson Hotel Group actively runs a net-zero program, serving low-carbon menus in its hotel restaurants and minimizing waste. It is a good choice for environmentally conscious travelers.
Tip. Booking.com’s Genius Loyalty Program
Have you ever spotted the welcome words “Genius discount applied” when booking accommodation in the Booking.com app? It refers to the Genius loyalty program, which offers benefits such as up to 20 percent off stays, free breakfast, room upgrades and car rental discounts. You earn Genius status after completing a certain number of bookings on Booking.com. Discounts and benefits vary by level, from 1 to 3, and can be used at global hotel chains as well as countless independent properties.
