Phu Quy, also known as Thu islet and Khoai Xua islet, is a small island in Binh Thuan about 120 kilometers southeast of Phan Thiet. In addition to the main island, there are Hon Da Cao, Hon Do, Hon Tranh, and Hon Hai islands in the vicinity of Phu Quy Island. The island of Phu Quy is just over 18km2, but there is enough breathtaking scenery, landscapes, and experiences… for travelers to spend a few days exploring.
The most beautiful season in Phu Quy
The appropriate time to explore Phu Quy Island is from about December to June next year because the typhoon season usually falls from September to November. The sea is calm and clear in spring and summer, with light wind, and it is easy to move to small islands. However, there will be occasional rough seas, so you should check the weather forecast beforehand.
Transportation
Phu Quy Island, the most isolated island district in Binh Thuan province, boasts pure and magnificent scenery, although tourism has yet to grow. At the moment, the only method to get to the island is by boat from Phan Thiet City, which is more than 110 kilometers distant.
Superdong-PQI, Superdong-PQII, Phu Quy Express, and Phu Quy Island are the ships that go to Phu Quy… The boat usually departs Phan Thiet port at 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; depending on the day, there may be an earlier flight at 5:30 or, at the very latest, at 15:00.
Travel time ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on the type of train and whether it includes beds and chairs, fan rooms, or air-conditioned accommodations. The cost of a 2.5-hour high-speed rail ride is 350,000 VND per passenger.
There are no taxis on the island, but you can rent a motorcycle from the hotel. The roads on the island are wide; there is a main road, so getting around is simple. You might also strike up a discussion with a local to ask for directions if you are “stuck.”
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Homestays and hostels
Because Phu Quy Island is still pristine, there are no hotels or resorts, but there are plenty of guesthouses and homestays. Popular hotels include La Min, Hai Long, Hoang Phu, Phuong Quyen, An Binh, Huong Duong, and Nam An, An Phu motels… Some of the homestays are Phu Lien, Ms. Sang, Blue Sea Villa, LyTi Sea, and La Isla Bonita. For two people, the average nightly rate is 300,000 – 500,000 VND.
Exploration locations
It typically takes 4-5 days to explore the entire island district. If you don’t want to take a boat to the nearby minor islands, you can choose for a 3-day-2-night trip that includes two days of transportation and a day of fun seeing all of the big islands.
Trieu Duong Bay
The first stop on the wide drive around the island is Trieu Duong Bay, a little beach with turquoise water and stillness on the clean sandy beach. There are a lot of locals bathing here in the afternoon. Next, the sovereign flagpole is a place where almost all visitors to the island also check in.
Nho Beach
This is a semicircular beach hugging the heart of the mountain with natural blue water. Visitors must park their motorcycle on the road and then walk down the mountainside to access the beach. Doi Dua Beach in Ngu Phung and District Committee Park Beach are two other beautiful beaches.
Ganh Hang
Ganh Hang is a big cliff about 650m from Nho Beach, with seawater pouring into “Khe Sung Suong” and “Infinity Pool,” naturally attracting many guests to swim. To ensure your safety, bring sturdy climbing shoes. When taking shots, avoid getting too close to the “infinity pool” edge to prevent being dragged out into the sea by the waves and being followed by residents.
Cao Cat Peak
Cao Cat Peak, located north of Phu Quy Island, is one of the island’s tallest summits, rising 106 meters above sea level. Weathering has created special-shaped cliffs with horizontal grooves, such as the Grand Canyon in the United States. Linh Son Pagoda can be visited on the way to Cao Cat.
Ong Temple of the Van An Thanh Fish
The body of a whale washed up on Phu Quy island in 1941, and the body was recovered and buried. When alive, this whale may grow to be over 20 meters long, and the skeleton can be seen when visiting Van An Thanh. When you arrive, you will hear about whales assisting boats when they encounter thunderstorms offshore.
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Lighthouse of Phu Quy
The lighthouse lies on Cam Mountain, more than 100 meters above sea level. You can zoom out from here to enjoy the lyrical scenery. The route to the lighthouse is located near the end of the Linh Buu road. You can ride a motorcycle up to the mountain’s base.
Ban Tranh Princess Temple
The temple was built by the Cham people in the late 15th century. Princess Chiem Thanh, according to legend, refused to be pressured, therefore the emperor cast her into the boat of exile. The boat landed on the island, and she decided to stay and create a business, assisting the locals in driving off foreign intruders. She constructed a shrine and was venerated every year after her death, known as Lady of the Land or the Island.
Thay Nai Palace
The palace is dedicated to the Chinese physician who has done much to save the people since the island was still pristine. He was worshipped as the island’s guardian deity. According to legend, Sai Nai was a Chinese merchant who understood medicines to cure diseases. During a business trip to Vietnam, his boat was forced to Phu Quy island by a storm. The beauty of the island drew him in, and he resolved to stay for the rest of his life.
After his death, the villagers buried him and built the tomb in 1665. When the islanders face troubles, they all gather to the palace to pray or travel to the sea to enjoy the shrimp and fish season. The ceremony is held on April 4 of the lunar calendar every year with many traditional rituals.
Long Hai Fish Market
In the morning, the atmosphere at Long Hai fish market was bustling, and fishing boats constantly docked. There will be a plethora of exotic seafood; some snails are larger than hands and quite hefty. The seafood at Long Hai Fish Market is reasonably priced and of high quality.
Lang Duong aquarium
People graft stones to build high walls circled into a natural seafood pond. The spherical apertures are uniformly spaced, allowing seawater to enter but preventing fish and shrimp from escaping.
Beautiful Islands
Visit Black Island, Egg Island, Middle Island, Red Island, and Painting Island. You can walk under the trees for about 10 minutes by canoe and learn about the life of a fisherman on the island, including the traditional profession of lobster diving.
Locals regard Hon Tranh and Hon Den as lovely and safe. Guests can shuttle, fish, snorkel, stop taking “virtual life” photos, and go to the raft house for lunch. In particular, the guide will process the fish you catch into live dishes on the spot. The excursion costs 250,000 VND per person, not including lunch. You can request that the hotel contact a local guide and schedule a canoe trip for you.
You can also visit Hon Hai to learn about the history of the famed shark fishing boats in Phu Quy.
Foods
Food on the island is relatively inexpensive. In raft settlements, you can eat seafood. The must-try is the fluffy crab and the moon crab. Reservations are required to purchase in advance; you can ask the hotel owner to book for you. Hot beef is a specialty of Phu Quy, with reference places including Hoa Thinh, Ngoc Tinh, Thanh Binh, Thu Vien…
If you do not want to eat at the restaurant, you can enjoy fresh seafood at rafts such as Dai Nam, Anh Sang, Hai Thien, Hai Phat, and Ba Sinh.
Notes
Ships approach and leave the island on a predetermined monthly timetable, so tourists should book in advance because tickets sell out rapidly. You can follow more train schedules at the Binh Thuan Department of Transport information page in the notification section. There are only 1-2 departures per day each way on average; if the train is late, you will have to wait until the next day.
According to long-term ship drivers, the trip from Phan Thiet port to Phu Quy Island is the country’s second most difficult maritime route. The route contains many swirls and horizontal waves, making it impossible for boats to travel downstream, but they must cross the waves. As a result, the ship frequently shakes, making even healthy individuals seasick, especially on rough days.
Because traveling by sea is tough, the ship’s crew will provide plastic bags in case of seasickness before to departure. People who have a history of motion sickness should bring medicine and plenty of plastic bags.
The wind on the island is strong, so dress appropriately and keep your belongings firmly in place while venturing out. If you want to camp overnight, make arrangements with your host ahead of time to fulfill the residency regulations. Foreigners are permitted to visit the island. However, because the number is limited, the licensing process is lengthy.
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