Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island, strategically located in the Gulf of Thailand and just off the coast of Cambodia. Nowadays, the island is widely recognized for its stunning white sandy beaches, which have made it a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists. This growing popularity has also attracted numerous real estate developers, eager to capitalize on the island’s potential. While Phu Quoc is frequently featured on lists of the “best islands to visit in Asia,” it has not become overrun or overcrowded, maintaining a fairly relaxed and tranquil atmosphere that continues to charm visitors.

Phu Quoc has been inhabited for over 2,000 years, predominantly by fishing communities. Originally named “Koh Tral,” the island’s roots are Cambodian, reflecting its historical ties to Cambodia and periods of shifting influence between Cambodian and Vietnamese control. By the late 18th century, the demographic balance had shifted, with more Vietnamese residents than Khmer. In 1860, the French colonized the island and developed pepper farming, a legacy that Phu Quoc continues to be known for today, although the population remained relatively sparse.

During the Vietnam War era, Phu Quoc gained notoriety for the “Coconut Tree Prison,” which held over 40,000 prisoners of war under extremely harsh conditions. While the details of the prison’s history are difficult to recount, the former site now operates as a museum. Visitors should be aware that the museum is emotionally intense, and it may not be suitable for family outings because of the heavy and somber nature of the exhibits.

After the Vietnam War, the island continued to remain a largely isolated and quiet place, with the local economy primarily focusing on traditional activities such as pepper farming, fish sauce production, and fishing. It wasn’t until the tourism boom began in the early 2010s that the island started to attract wider attention. In 2012, the construction of an international airport marked a significant turning point for the island's accessibility and growth. Suddenly, direct flights were established from major cities like Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Bangkok, and even Russia, making the island much easier to reach for travelers from around the world. As these new waves of tourists arrived, the demand for accommodations surged, leading to a rapid increase in real estate development. Despite this expansion, the government took careful measures to protect the island’s natural environment by designating approximately 70% of the total land area to remain as national parks, ensuring that much of the island’s natural beauty and ecological value was preserved.

As detailed in the corresponding blog post (https://www.xn--grandis-f1a.com/blog/better-together-hub), we are currently participating in “The Better Together Hub” alongside 14 other families from various parts of the world. While I am writing this, we have already spent a full week on the beautiful island, with another week still ahead of us. It’s been a wonderful chance to embrace slow travel, especially after some rather exhausting weeks spent navigating through several larger cities. There is still plenty left to explore here on Phu Quoc, but it also feels incredibly refreshing to spend relaxing days by the pool, playing pickleball, and simply taking it easy. Additionally, we visited a leisure park called “VinWonders,” which is known as the largest amusement park in Vietnam. We have also returned to renting scooters, which offers a very different experience here compared to Indonesia. The traffic in Vietnam is quite wild, though not as chaotic as in Ho Chi Minh City, but still notably hectic when compared to Indonesia. Despite this, we will likely rent scooters a few more times to further explore the island’s hidden gems. The schedule at the Better Together Hub is quite diverse (for more detailed information, please refer to the related blog post), but it also thoughtfully balances structured activities with plenty of opportunities for personal exploration and downtime.

We will leave Phu Quoc for Cambodia towards the end of November, until then, we will enjoy the relaxed island vibe! Be well!