Attractions & Things To See In Phu Quoc
Apart from relaxing in the beautiful beaches of the island, other best things to do in Phu Quoc are its top attractions and experiences. For those who want to experience local life, Phu Quoc Island is a great place which is 45 kilometers west of Ha Tien. It has such interesting sights as Cao Dai and Buddhist temples, live market places, quaint fishing towns and pepper plantations.
More than half of this tropical island still remains a UNESCO-listed national park where one can spend the whole day observing rare species of wildlife, walking around, camping, taking pictures, or bird watching. This contradicts with numerous accommodations and modern facilities along its long coast line.
Phu Quoc National Park
Phu Quoc National Park comprises more than fifty percent of the island, which is a home for rare plants and animals like long-tailed macaques, silver langurs, otters, and hornbills. The Unesco Biosphere Reserve which consists of this greenery offers places to camp, hike, bird-watch or photograph in.
Mount Heaven in Phu Quoc National Park is a good place to go if you want to test your strength. It can be reached following a four hour uphill struggle across dense rainforest and up a ten meters high bamboo ladder.
VinWonders Phu Quoc
A group of friends in Vietnam have built an amusement park that has got some thrilling roller coasters, water slides, amphitheatres, indoor and outdoor arcades, 5D movie theaters and a variety of places to eat. The amusement park is found between Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort and Vinmec International Hospital and is only a twenty-minute drive from Ong Lang Beach.
There are also daily lively street performances, mermaid shows and traditional dances; this makes it a perfect place for visitors who come here with their families while planning to enjoy themselves during their holiday on Phu Quoc Island. VinWonders Phu Quoc also provides free shuttle services within Duong Dong Town for those who purchase tickets through travel agents.
Location: Bai Dai, Ganh Dau, Phu Quoc island, Vietnam
Open: Daily from 9 am to 7.30 pm
Dinh Cau Shrine
Located on Phu Quoc Island, Suoi Tranh Waterfall is a four-meter-high waterfall. Lying in a verdant setting with many trails, grottoes and rock pools around it. Bird watching, picnicking, jungle walking and camping are outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts at a place 7 km from Duong Dong to the West.
If you feel like being very brave you may proceed further up from the main fall site to Hang Doi (Bats’ Cave) which stands at 200 meters high and has unusual stalactites. Being so close to the big city causes Suoi Tranh Waterfall to be overpopulated by residents every Saturday and Sunday.
Location: Duong To, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang, Vietnam
Duong Dong Market
Duong Dong Market, located along Tran Phu Street, is the most bustling and largest outdoor market on Phu Quoc Island. The morning time period is the best time to check it out due to inhabitants of the area bargaining fiercely for products such as fresh seafood, dried seafood, home ware items, meats, bakery products and mainland fruits shipped here.
There are plenty of food sellers in Duong Dong Market selling Vietnamese dishes, fruit juices and fresh sea foods at reasonable prices. It is highly recommended that you carry some cashew nuts, pepper or mushrooms back home if you want to present your friends and loved ones with distinctive gifts from this island as these are its famous produce.
Location: 21 Tran Phu Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Open: Daily from 3 am to 7 pm
Sung Hung Pagoda
Phu Quoc Island’s Sung Hung Pagoda is the first of its type. It includes two sanctums that were combined during the 10th century. In front of Duong Dong Town, there are potted plants and Bodhi trees as well as a statue of the Goddess of Mercy. On the third floor prayer hall, there are three Buddha images and mural paintings illustrating various mythical animals and stories from Buddhism.
The Sung Hung pagoda is open daily although modest dressing is required by visitors visiting it so as to respect for the monks and residents who flock it.
Location: 7 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Open: Daily from 7 am to 6 pm
Cao Dai Temple
There are two Cao Dai temples in Duong Dong town—the newest and main one built along Nguyen Trai Street. Cao Daism, a monotheistic religion established 1919, is a blend of Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam.
At present more than two million people practice Cao Daism in Vietnam. On Phu Quoc Island there is no need to wander around while searching for Cao Dai Temple as it has got a unique face that differs from other Buddhist pagodas through its multicolored exterior and religious symbols on the walls which consist of crosses from Christian religion or crescent form Islamic faith or swasticas of Buddhists. It is open to the public and every day worship sessions are conducted between six in the morning until noon.
Location: 40 Nguyen Trai Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Open: Daily from 7 am to 6 pm
Ham Ninh Fishing Village
Ham Ninh Fishing Village is a great place for foreign tourists to learn about local residents fishing methods and try real regional food. The Hai Tac Archipelago, the Ham Ninh Mountain range, and the sea shores are all visible from a jetty near the village that can be reached in twenty minutes by car from Phu Quoc International Airport.
The Ham Ninh Fishing Village is especially famous due to its unique cuisine of such dishes as sea cucumber soup, tram mushrooms, boiling flower crab or rice wine with ginseng, seaweed as well as medicinal drinks made of seahorse- and ginseng-based.
Phu Quoc Penitentiary
The Vietnam War saw more than 40,000 North Vietnamese soldiers languish in captivity here; reminding the world of a country with multiple pasts. Currently, this military museum was established in 1949 by French colonists and houses torture equipments, pictures of former prisoners and exhibits showing various cruel forms of punishments like electric shock treatment, crucifixion and even being starved to death.
Phu Quoc Penitentiary has a row of tiger cages were captives were locked inside in complete darkness with temperatures that fluctuated from extreme heat in summer to cold during winter for long periods. There is an entrance fee charged and there are extra charges for English speaking tours as well as French and Vietnamese guided trips.
Location: 350 Nguyen Van Cu, An Thoi, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Open: Daily from 7 am to 5 pm
Su Muon Pagoda
A few meters east of Duong Dong town lies Su Muon Pagoda which sits on top of a hill; it’s where people visit to pray for blessing, have their futures foretold or just appreciate the quietness. Many locals visit this pagoda because of its peculiar location.
The main hall is upstairs by 60 steps and it is full of colorful objects and golden Buddha images. When going to Su Muon Pagoda, kindly dress modestly and maintain silence like many other sacred places in the world.
Location: Duong To, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Open: Daily from 7 am to 7 pm
