GETTING THERE
There are daily non-stop flights
from Bangkok on Bangkok
Airways (bangkokair.com)
and Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia
(airasia.com); VietJet (vietjetair.
com) is upping its weekly flights
from Hong Kong to six and from
Seoul to 14.
STAY
JW Marriott Phu Quoc
Emerald Bay Three beachfront
pools, a roster of activities, a fab
spa and lots of rubbernecking
will keep you busy at this resort,
voted No. 1 in Southeast Asia
by readers in T+L's World's Best
Awards 2019. marriott.com;
doubles from VND6,800,000.
Fusion Resort Phu Quoc All
spa treatments are included
in the cost of rooms—all of
which are private-pool villas.
A tranquil property whose
photogenic central pool faces a
wide beach and their house reef
300 meters out. You must eat
their banh xeo. fusionresorts.
com; doubles from US$329.
Nam Nghi Phu Quoc, in The
Unbound Collection by Hyatt
A little luxe haven off in its own
verdant world, with two private
islands, three boats, a fleet of
clear kayaks, golden buggies
and mindblowing sunsets. hyatt.
com; doubles from US$218.
InterContinental Phu Quoc
Long Beach Resort In this
459-room family-friendly hotel,
the main restaurant has a
separate dining room for kids.
Book an afternoon at Harnn
Heritage Spa, then head to Ink
360 for sundowners and Lava
for a romantic dinner. phuquoc.
intercontinental.com; doubles
from US$169.
Mango Bay Resort Probably
the greenest resort you'll
find in the country. A team of
green thumbs makes sure the
mangroves are healthy and their
untouched swath of forest stays
that way. Every room has an
outdoor shower and the food is
really good. mangobayphuquoc.
com; doubles from US$55.
La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc
- M Gallery If the island had
a grande dame, this French-
colonial beauty with saltwater
pool would be it. Book a sunny
suite with handpainted-tile
floors, a four-poster bed, gauzy
curtains and French doors that
open onto the gardens and
beach beyond. laverandaresorts.
com; doubles from US$117.
Chen Sea Resort & Spa A
pretty, independent resort
where the 36 villas come
with Jacuzzis or private pools
and the restaurant serves a
killer gnocchi. To regenerate
their semi-secluded bay, they
installed an artificial reef last
year that has already charted a
boom in the fish population from
50 to 3,000. chensea-resort.
com; doubles from US$124.
Salinda Resort Phu Quoc
Island Friendly service and
super green to boot. Examples:
outdoor architecture is made
of sustainable accoya wood,
all windows and 85 percent
of lights are made of recycled
materials, the pool is saltwater,
and they filter their wastewater
for gardening. salindaresort.
com; doubles from US$218.EAT+DRINK
Sailing Club Probably the
closest you'll get to a Bali-style
beach club on the island—for
now. sailingclubphuquoc.com.
Bittersweet Two locations
that bring tell-me-what-you're-
craving mixology to Phu Quoc.
fb.com/bittersweetcocktailbar.
The Bench A fun Mexican eatery
with the most craft-beer taps on
the island, plus a shuffleboard
table. fb.com/thebench.phuquoc.
Saigonese Eatery Wholesome
café where the vibe somehow
makes you feel at once warm-
and-fuzzy and above-the-fray.
fb.com/saigoneseeatery.com.DO
Flipper Diving Club Snorkel,
dive or get PADI certified
with these environmentalist
dive instructors and marine
biologists. flipperdiving.com.
Hon Thom Cable Car Just take
the scenic ride over the waves—
or play at the nature, water and
theme parks at the terminus.
honthom.sungroup.vn. — J.L.S.J.Phu Quoc
Travelers who'd normally require a visa to enter Vietnam don't need
one for Phu Quoc, so long as they s t ay on the isl and, making it a newly
perfect long-weekend spot. Weather is best late-October through May.TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM / SEPTEMBER 2019 75