Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While lacking the palm fringes of Long
Beach, Bai Ong Lang , north of Duong
Dong town, offers more privacy and
seclusion, and its rocky shore is good
for snorkelling. To the northeast and
northwest, Bai Thom , Bai Cua Can ,
Bai Vung Bao and Bai Dai offer similarly
rocky coves; all can be reached by
motorbike along dirt paths.
he blindingly white, powdery sand,
clean turquoise waters and excellent
palm-shaded seafood restaurants make
Bai Sao (Star Beach) popular for a
day-trip, though the road leading down
there is currently rough and gravelly.
South of here around the rocks lies Phu
Quoc's most beautiful beach, Bai Khem
(Ice-cream Beach); unfortunately, it's
hogged by the military and therefore
off-limits. Further north of Bai Sao on
the island's east coast, Bai Vong has more
white sand, good shade and shallow
waters suitable for paddling.
Duong Dong along the other paved road
that runs past some pepper farms. Before
you reach town, a signposted dirt trail
branches off towards Suoi Da Ban - a
white-water creek running down some
moss-encrusted granite boulders,
culminating in some dipping pools. If
you head east out of Duong Dong
towards the boat jetties, a more accessible
track leads to Suoi Tranh - another
mini-waterfall. Both falls are best visited
between May and September (outside
those months there's barely a trickle) and
admission is 3000VND.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane The international airport is in Duong Dong. Long
Beach is a 10min xe om ride (40,000VND) or 100,000VND
cab ride away from Long Beach.
Destinations
11
Can Tho (daily; 45min); Hanoi (2 daily; 3hr);
HCMC (10 daily; 1hr); Rach Gia (daily; 40min).
By boat Superdong ( W superdong.com.vn) runs hydro-
foils between Vong Beach in the east and Rach Gia (6 daily;
320,000VND; 2hr 20min) at 8am, 9am, 12.40pm and 1pm;
Ha Tien boats (8.30am and 1.30pm, 230,000VND; 1hr
10min) dock either here or a little further north at Ham
Ninh. Private minivans ply the route to the resorts
(60,000VND/person), but are notorious for overcharging.
Hydrofoil tickets for the trip back to the mainland can be
booked through your hotel.
Phu Quoc National Park
Seventy percent of the island is cloaked in
tropical forest. he north is mountainous
and heavily forested, while in the south
much of the land has been cleared for
pepper plantations. As well as its fish
sauce, Phu Quoc is known for its pepper
and visitors are welcome to have a closer
look in places like Khu Tuong , inland from
Ong Lang Beach - ask permission first.
If you head north up the main road that
runs along the coast, you can do a loop
through the national park, stop for a
short trail walk, and come back towards
INFORMATION
Information and tours Resorts and hotels can organize
all manner of tours; most can organize motorbike
rental (ask for a local map of the island), and assist with
booking onward transport. Many work with John's Tours,
4 & 92 Tran Hung Dao (daily 6am-9pm; T 091 9107086,
W johnsislandtours.com), who organize all-inclusive
DIVING AND SNORKELLING AROUND PHU QUOC
When Nha Trang's waters become too murky to dive, Phu Quoc's dive centres are open
(October to April), ferrying divers and snorkellers to Turtle Island to the northwest and the
An Thoi archipelago to the south, where you can see hard and soft corals, and a spectacular
array of reef fish including scorpion fish, butterfly fish, parrot fish, fairy basslets, damsel fish and
huge sea urchins. Rainbow Divers, 17A Tran Hung Dao ( T 091 3400964, W divevietnam.com),
offers well-organized and highly recommended diving and snorkelling trips; a day-trip with
two boat dives and lunch costs $87 ($30 for snorkellers). They also offer full-day “discover
diving” beginners' courses ($124), and PADI certification courses for all levels. Their o ce is on
the main roundabout coming into Duong Dong from the south (Long Beach road). Other
reputable dive operators include Searama (48 Tran Hung Dao T 077 6291697, W searama.com),
with English- and French-speaking instructors, and Vietnam Explorer (36 Tran Hung Dao T 077
3846372, W dive-phuquoc.com); the latter is one of the few dive centres that stays open during
the rainy season (May-Sept).
 
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