Mountainous and forested Phu Quoc Island is in the Gulf of Thailand, 45km west of Ha Tien, and 15km south of the coast of Cambodia. This tear-shaped island, which is 48km long and has an area of 1320 sq km, is ringed with some of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. There are fantastic views or marine life through transparent blue-green waters (though unfortunately there are no scuba diving operators on the island as yet).

Phu Quoc Island is a district of Kien Giang Province.

Phu Quoc Island served as a base for the French missionary Pigneau de Behaine during the 1760s and 80s. Prince Nguyen Anh, later Emperor Gia Long, was sheltered here by Behaine when he was being hunted by the Toy Son Rebels.

During the War there was a little fighting here, but Phu Quoc Island was mainly useful to the Americans as a prison for captured VC. Phu Quoc Island is not really part of the Mekong Delta, and doesn’t share the delta’s extraordinary ability to produce rice. The most valuable crop is black pepper, but the islanders have traditionally earned their living from the sea. Phu Quoc Island is also’ famous in Vietnam for its production of high-quality fish sauce (nuoc mam).

The island is also known for Phu Quoc hunting dogs. The dogs have been a great success with their help; the islanders have decimated most of the island’s wildlife. These dogs are said to be able to pick up the scent or their master from over 1km away. Phu Quoc Island has tremendous tourism potential, so far mostly unrealized. Transport difficulties, not to mention some of the best benches being, occupied by military buses, have contributed to keeping visitors away.

Rather than developing this island for tourism, the national government has been contemplating, a half-baked plan to turn Phu Quoc into ‘another Singapore’. In other words, skyscrapers, high-tech industries and a container port are envisioned. The reasoning is that Singapore and Phu Quoc Island are both tropical islands and both are about the same size, so why shouldn’t they have the same type of economic development? Both the Singaporeans and the World Bank have had n good laugh over this one. Less absurdly, the island could evolve into another Bali, assuming of course that no smokestack industries arc introduced in pursuit of the Singapore fantasy.

Phu Quoc’s rainy season is from July to November. The peak season for tourism is mid-winter, when the sky is blue and the sea is calm; however, when its not raining, it’s stinking hot (at least when the sun is up). Bring sunglasses and plenty of sun block and be prepared to spend the afternoons at the beach or in the shade. Don’t set out exploring the island unless you’ve got at least 21, of water in your day-pack or else you’ll dehydrate.