THE DAY AFTER DUSSEHRA IN PHU QUOC, VIETNAM – 3 OCTOBER 2025

"It’s better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times.” - Asian Proverb

Last evening, when I returned to the hotel from the long walk, I made arrangements with the owner of the hotel, a lady, for a taxi to take me to the sights in the southern parts of the island, most notably the Hon Thom cable car station to visit Sunworld. She told me that the Sunworld entrance fee would be 750,000 VND and the taxi would be at my disposal for the day at 800,000 VND, which in INR terms was less than 5500! I had accepted the suggestion of the lady to go in for a non-English speaking driver, as that would be cheaper. Surely, a bargain, I thought and struck the deal and arranged for the taxi to be at the hotel by 9 am.

Breakfast at the hotel began at 7.30 am. I was the earliest bird in the restaurant and was charmed by the smiling and polite waitress. She allowed me to choose my seat and set a laminated menu sheet in front of me. I had a variety of egg preparations to choose from accompanied by the ubiquitous Vietnamese crispy bun. I chose to have a cheese and ham omlette with coffee.

The fresh and crispy Vietnamese bun can be messy for the crumbs, but is tasty and filling. The coffee was served black and I requested for milk and sugar. The coffee from freshy ground Vietnamese beans was indeed so refreshing that I asked for another cup of the same. When I was done with the coffee, the pretty waitress brought me a few cut pieces of watermelon and dragon fruit.

After breakfast, I sauntered towards the sea shore from the hotel and I reached a resort that fronted the Long beach, which is one of the longest beaches in Phu Quoc; stretches over 20 km. It is renowned as one of Phu Quoc Island's most picturesque beaches. The Long Beach captivates both local and international visitors with its golden sand and crystal-clear water. I confidently trespassed one of the private Beach Clubs and walked it's beach for some time before getting back to the hotel to get ready for the long day ahead of me.

The skies promised to hold for the day. Nevertheless, I carried the umbrella with me so that any eventuality from the weather could be countered. Moreover, as I would be traveling in a taxi, the chances of being drenched from the rain was substantially reduced. Exactly at 9 am, the taxi from Xahn SM was at the hotel and I was ready for Bac, my driver and friend for the day. The young man was so polite that I felt my own behavior changing to accommodate the culture that so exuded from Bac. He double checked with me, using Google translate, the itinerary for the day.

The taxi was a made in Vietnam vehicle, Vinfast. The VinFast Auto Ltd. is a Vietnamese multinational automotive company founded by the Vingroup, which is one of the largest private conglomerates in Vietnam. The company was established in 2017 in Haiphong, Vietnam and is the first Vietnamese car brand to expand into global markets. It was also the first to expand into producing electric cars and scooters in Vietnam. Most taxis in Phu Quoc, I found, were Vinfast productions.

As with the Vingroup, the Sun World is the entertainment brand of Sun Group, a major Vietnamese conglomerate that also operates in real estate, infrastructure, and hospitality. The group operates a collection of theme parks and entertainment complexes across Vietnam, such as Sun World Ba Na Hills, Sun World Halong Complex, and Sun World Fansipan Legend. These parks are known for combining entertainment with natural landscapes and local culture, creating popular tourist destinations.

The Sunworld company has developed a paradise south of Phu Quoc pearl island in Hon Thom, which is a favourite with visitors from all over the world and domestically. The tourists are immersed in the beauty of pristine nature with fine white sand and blue water. The cable car, spanning nearly 8 km has been recognized by Guinness Book of World Records as the longest non-stop three-way cable car ride in the world. It is an unforgettable 15-minute experience. The cable car ride provides scenic views of the An Thoi archipelago and connects An Thoi Town to Hon Thom Island. The cable car has 69 cabins, each holding up to 30 passengers, and offers stunning panoramic ocean views. 

Aquatopia Water Park was opened in December 2019 and has a lot of interesting entertainment options. More than 20 adventurous games designed according to international standards have been completed and is the most modern theme park in Southeast Asia. The Aquatopia is a paradise filled with water rides.

The Aquatopia Water Park is designed and divided into 6 unique zones. The zones are Tropical Fruits, Marine Creatures, Wild Animals, Sea Monster, Aboriginal and Pirate World. The water slides seemed to be the most popular. Unlimited rides are included in the entrance fee of 750,000 VND as also is a litre of Kraftbeer or soft drinks. One can easily spend a whole day there and the fireworks and nighttime experience is said to top all that. Time and money well spent.

After spending the entire morning in Sunworld, I was 'trapped' on the island during the cable car break time, which I did not in advance.  I utilised the time gorging on a humongous shawarma lunch made by a Russian chef. While on the return to An Thoi I could make out the Kiss Bridge at a distance. The entrance to that iconic bridge is also free with the Sunworld ticket. Marco Casamonti, an Italian architect, is the father of this unparalleled building. What makes the 810 meter bridge exceptional is its two separate spans, with a gap of exactly 50 centimeters at its peak. This intentional space has led to romantic scenes where two lovers kiss sweetly on opposite sides.

From An Thoi, Bac drove me to the Phu Quoc prison museum, aka Coconut Tree prison, which was witness to some of the most inhuman treatment meted out to humankind in the 1950s. Phu Quoc Prison was built by the French colonial administration in 1949 to detain Vietnamese revolutionaries. After 1954, it was taken over by the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese government and significantly expanded. During the Vietnam War, it became the largest detention center in the South, holding more than 40,000 detainees, many of whom were subjected to severe torture and inhumane conditions. Following Vietnam’s reunification in 1975, Phu Quoc Prison was decommissioned and later officially recognized as a National Historical Relic in 1995, marking its transition from a war facility to a site of remembrance.

 Today, the prison stands as a solemn reminder of the cruelty endured during conflict, while honoring the resilience and sacrifices of Vietnamese soldiers. It plays a vital role in preserving these war memories for future generations, offering visitors insight into the harsh realities faced by prisoners. But, most importantly, it serves as a shining example of the resilience of a people who refused to bow down to those who tried to break them.

The Sao Beach is a pristine crescent shaped haven with powdery white sand stretching over 7 kilometers. With its serene atmosphere and crystal-clear waters, this awesome beach offers the perfect escape for beach lovers and adventure seekers. It seemed that the resorts in Sao Beach is popular with Indian tourists.

The beach is surrounded by lush green mountains and fringed with swaying coconut palms, contributing to a tranquil and tropical ambiance. Popular activities include swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling to see colorful coral reefs, kayaking, and parasailing. Fresh catch of seafood is also served in the restaurants and resorts near the beach.

Quietly nestled at the foot of the mountain, Ham Ninh fishing village is one of the oldest villages in Phu Quoc Island. The driver, young Bac, told me that it was once a quaint place with exquisite landscape. All that remains are cafes, restaurants and shops. However, it is still listed in tourist posts as a must visit site, with which I disagree. The waters around Ham Ninh are quite shallow; when the tide recedes, endless stretches of sand appear, and when the tide rises, the sea water touches the edge of the forest.

The old concrete bridge, possibly the fish landing center in the past, has collapsed. I walked into the Bien Xanh restaurant that was empty at the time of my visit. Purely going by its size, I considered it one of the popular restaurants in the area. The workers were lazing around, possibly after a busy lunch schedule. They permitted me free access to walk around and enjoy the waterfront property.

While in Phu Quoc a visit to the Ngon Hein pearl farm is certainly a must to understand the process of cultured pearls. I was escorted into the large showroom where a lady explained how cultured pearls are developed. She even showed me how the pearl is harvested by opening a live oyster. The pearls are typically harvested between a year and six years; the longer it takes, the better the quality of the pearl. The harvested pearls come in various colors such as ivory white, yellow, or black, depending on the coloration of each oyster. There is a museum with many relics retrieved from the bottom of the sea like pots and pans, large conch shells, driftwood, etc. 

The final section is the retail area where set pearls and loose pearls are on display. Considering the number of people there, many Indians, I considered that the products are genuine. I was shown how to distinguish between a genuine pearl and fake. Rub them against each other. The genuine one will produce a powdery substance. The displays were exquisite, and I don't know how I overcame the overarching desire to at least buy a souvenir.

With that my day with Bac was over. A day well spent and the money too. Later in the evening, after a short rest in the hotel room, I took a walk to the KingKong Mart, which is a place to visit for bargain shopping in Phu Quoc. The giant store has everything, clothes, shoes, bags, souvenirs, grocery, food, drinks, and as was to be expected, filled with Indian tourists. I was not wrong in suspecting that many of the displays were Chinese products.