1) Thác Suối Tranh: a clean river and waterfall, hard to find on the mainland
2) Công viên nước Aquatopia was fun
3) Cable car!
Neutral things:
1) The beach directly in front of our hotel was clean but bike some ways in either direction and there was litter.
2) The zoo+safari might have been good but we got rained on the whole time.
Bad things:
1) Isolated hotels, far from services. We ended up doing laundry in the bathtub (at a 5-star hotel) because the laundromat was too far and the hotel laundry was too expensive.
2) Bad public transportation. There's a free bus along many points on the west side of the island to VinWonders Phú Quốc. But anywhere else requires expensive taxis.
3) Ghost cities! The two of them. I had heard about ghost cities in China but was surprised to see them in Phú Quốc. Way too hot to walk through (no shade or breeze), few services, and creepy. Weirdly, you had these nice-looking apartments which were very empty. Nearby, the local people lived in what looked like cheaply-constructed housing.
I don't remember running into touts on Phú Quốc. Except there was taxi driver who really wanted to give us a ride out of one of the ghost cities (he probably thought we were lost).
Great podcast - love the balanced views, and also reinforced our initial reactions/views on visiting Phu Quoc. Importance of the "positive change" needed there. CHeers,
I've lived in VN for 10 years and am married to a VN woman. The family went to Phú Quốc a couple years ago and we were all very disappointed. No way we'll ever go back.
Some great insights from Stuart. I first went there in 2004 and spent 6 years on the island. I've only been back once since that time and I'm not sure I could face going back. The memory and potential of what PQ had to present day is upsetting. It saddens me further that Con Dao is slowly creeping towards the same fate.
Phu Quoc is still an amazing island if you know where to look. The East and North coasts remain relatively undeveloped with mountains blanketed by thick rainforest.
I did my honeymoon on Phú Quốc.
Good things:
1) Thác Suối Tranh: a clean river and waterfall, hard to find on the mainland
2) Công viên nước Aquatopia was fun
3) Cable car!
Neutral things:
1) The beach directly in front of our hotel was clean but bike some ways in either direction and there was litter.
2) The zoo+safari might have been good but we got rained on the whole time.
Bad things:
1) Isolated hotels, far from services. We ended up doing laundry in the bathtub (at a 5-star hotel) because the laundromat was too far and the hotel laundry was too expensive.
2) Bad public transportation. There's a free bus along many points on the west side of the island to VinWonders Phú Quốc. But anywhere else requires expensive taxis.
3) Ghost cities! The two of them. I had heard about ghost cities in China but was surprised to see them in Phú Quốc. Way too hot to walk through (no shade or breeze), few services, and creepy. Weirdly, you had these nice-looking apartments which were very empty. Nearby, the local people lived in what looked like cheaply-constructed housing.
I don't remember running into touts on Phú Quốc. Except there was taxi driver who really wanted to give us a ride out of one of the ghost cities (he probably thought we were lost).
Great podcast - love the balanced views, and also reinforced our initial reactions/views on visiting Phu Quoc. Importance of the "positive change" needed there. CHeers,
I've lived in VN for 10 years and am married to a VN woman. The family went to Phú Quốc a couple years ago and we were all very disappointed. No way we'll ever go back.
Good episode Mike. But hardly a surprise. I’m amazed there’s any water still coming out of the ground https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel-life/phu-quoc-feels-growing-pains-as-development-booms-3487852.html
Not surprising at all for those who have been following it!
Good episode, thanks. Stuart has an interesting, well developed, and strong point of view. I've never been to Phú Quốc, and I can't wait to miss it.
Some great insights from Stuart. I first went there in 2004 and spent 6 years on the island. I've only been back once since that time and I'm not sure I could face going back. The memory and potential of what PQ had to present day is upsetting. It saddens me further that Con Dao is slowly creeping towards the same fate.
My hopes for Con Dao are fading as well: https://condao.com.vn/en/news/news/the-return-of-resorts-world-one-cruise-ship-to-con-dao-island-1065.html
Phu Quoc is still an amazing island if you know where to look. The East and North coasts remain relatively undeveloped with mountains blanketed by thick rainforest.
Agree, nice pockets remain - though I’m worried it’s just a matter of time for those areas as well.