Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Phu Quoc, Vietnam: A Scenic Island with Mixed Experiences
Phu Quoc is a Vietnamese island known for its beaches, local food, and unique attractions. Sounds like paradise, right? Well… mostly. While we had some great moments, it didn’t quite make our list of top destinations in Vietnam. From stunning sunsets and unexpected limbo contests to a food experience that left us questioning our life choices, our time here was anything but boring. Here’s a breakdown of the highs, the lows, and the downright chaotic moments of our Phu Quoc adventure! 😬
Northern Phu Quoc: Beaches, Food, and Tourist Spots
Ong Lang Beach: Smoothies, Sunsets, and Pure Relaxation: Ong Lang Beach had it all—calm waters, stunning sunsets, and the perfect vibe for unwinding. But the real game-changer? The smoothies. We lost count of how many we ordered from the resort bar right on the beach, but let’s just say we were very well-hydrated. Sunsets and smoothies—our kind of paradise!! 😎
Tree House Café: Hands down, one of our favorite places to eat. The Pho Bo was delicious, and the Coconut Coffee and Egg Coffee were fantastic. The Coconut Coffee, in particular, was my absolute favorite—I highly recommend trying it if you ever find yourself in Vietnam! It’s rich, creamy, and a perfect drink on a hot day.
Food, Beaches, and Surprise Feasts
We’re always up for checking out new food spots and beaches—because eating and relaxing in the sand is basically our full-time job now.
At Mai Jo, we ordered the seafood platter, expecting a reasonable spread. What we got was Poseidon's personal buffet. This thing was massive—piled high with fresh seafood, enough to feed a small village (or just two very determined people). Challenge accepted.
Then, at Bamboo Beach, we ate at a packed local restaurant that was absolutely buzzing with activity. Things were so hectic that, before I knew it, a kid was handed to me so his mom could take our order. And just like that, I was on official babysitting duty until our food arrived. Good food, beautiful beaches, and an unexpected side hustle—just another day in paradise!
Grand World: The X-Files Edition: Imagine a European-style mini-city with charming little shops and picturesque streets. Now imagine that same city feeling like it was plucked from another dimension and dropped into Vietnam—where it just doesn’t belong. That’s Grand World. A bizarre mashup of cool architecture and eerie ghost town vibes. Most of the shops? Empty. The streets? Strangely quiet. It’s the kind of place where you half-expect to see flickering lights, mysterious figures in the distance, and maybe even hear the X-Files theme playing faintly in the background. We walked around waiting for something—anything—to make sense. It never did.
But the public bathrooms? Spotlessly clean. Almost too clean. Like... who’s maintaining them? And why, in a nearly abandoned city, are the restrooms pristine? Just another mystery in the Twilight Zone that is Grand World.
Starfish Beach: More Like Starfish Sadness: Starfish Beach sounded dreamy in theory—but in reality? Not so much. Normally, we check Google reviews before heading somewhere, but this time, we were just exploring and stumbled across it. Big mistake.
Later, we looked it up and, surprise surprise, the reviews all screamed "avoid!"—and for good reason. Tourists were scooping up starfish for Instagram clout, while little kids treated them like beach toys. It was like a marine biology horror show. We left as fast as our flip-flops could carry us.
Food Poisoning: The 72-Hour Crash Diet from Hell (Would Not Recommend): Ah yes, the unforgettable (and deeply regrettable) part of our trip—72 hours of pure misery, courtesy of our first (and hopefully last) bout of food poisoning. Not exactly the adventure we had in mind. And the culprit? A hamburger. A hamburger! We basically signed up for the worst crash diet of our lives. Zero stars, do not recommend. 🤢
Christmas at Thein Than Resort: We spent Christmas at this resort, where Eric got roped into a drinking game that somehow morphed into a limbo contest. He crushed it—landing third place and winning a bottle of wine. Not bad for an unexpected holiday challenge! 🍷🎄
Southern Phu Quoc: Relaxation and Sightseeing
Long Beach: A solid place for a stroll or a lazy beach day. The sand was soft, the water was warm, and it had just the right amount of liveliness without being too crowded.
Lost in Translation: English Abroad Edition: One of the little joys of traveling is spotting English words used in, well… creative ways. Whether it's a hilarious misspelling or a phrase that makes zero sense, these signs never fail to entertain.
Here are a few gems we stumbled across—enjoy the laugh!
King Kong Mart: Like Costco and a Vietnamese Supermarket Had a Baby: If Saturday morning Costco and a Vietnamese supermarket had a baby—and then threw it into absolute chaos—you’d get King Kong Mart. This place is a wild shopping experience. Herds of people push carts overflowing with multiples of the same item, squeezing through aisles with barely enough room to breathe. The pictures don’t even begin to capture the madness—trust me, you have to be there to fully understand. And the checkout lines? Pure chaos—like a high-stakes game of Tetris where everyone is determined to leave with way more than they came for.
Now, what’s up with the Chouchou peanuts? We saw people buying massive amounts of them all at once, and of course, Eric had to grab some to see what the fuss was about. Turns out, they’re actually pretty good!
The Cable Car to Hon Thom Island: Holding the Guinness World Record for the longest cable car over water, this ride had incredible views! Once on the island, we walked the Kissing Bridge and checked out Sun World, another amusement park with water rides. The views from the cable car were amazing!
Final Thoughts on Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc had its highlights—good food, nice beaches, and a few fun surprises. We’re glad we experienced it, but we enjoyed the mainland more. More on that adventure to come.
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