Vietnam's Phu Quoc island was obviously once one of those best kept secrets for travellers and for our trip in January it was idyllic. You can tell many before us have also found it so with the profusion of palatial resorts which are seeming to crowd in on the small but comfortable Beach Club where we stayed.
The new megamotels might have televisions, air-con, several bars, pools and bedside phones, all things you can well do without in an island paradise, especially one with free wi-fi, but the Beach Club offered something more, an intimate and friendly absolute beachside atmosphere at a far cheaper price.
Bungalow 1 (40US), which we booked well in advance, was the length of the doorstep plus a deckchair from the beach where the ocean was clear, totally calm and, relatively speaking, warm. All rooms in the bigger, expensive resorts are set well back from the beach.
Even closer to the beach than the room was the little Beach Club restaurant 20 metres away. Though the menu was short, the food was cheap and excellent and for something more substantial, Long Beach, on which the Beach Club sits, is lined with excellent restaurants, some with exceptional value (eg Mays - try the seafood hotpot!). Just walk in off the beach. Take a torch in case it's a dark night to walk back along the beach.
Beach Club had clean, comfortable rooms with good hot showers and, most importantly, the staff were friendly, always helpful and always available. Only the driveway, which is shared with the resort next door, is dreadful and difficult to walk or ride a hire scooter down. Its near proximity to a creek which tends to flood in the wet season undoubtedly presents maintenance problems.
Beach Club is a cheap taxi ride from town but the island's main attractions are its restaurants, beaches and sublime weather so there is often no need to stray far from your bed to find the magic of Phu Quoc and its people. We stayed 5 nights and only regretted not being able to stay for a few more.
- Beach Hotel Phu Quoc Island
- Beach Resort Phu Quoc Island
