Recent South Vietnam visit?

October 4, 2007 7:13 PM

All I want for Christmas is a trip to Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Can anyone steer me towards up-to-date information online?

I'm planning a trip to the southern region of Vietnam in December. Particularly Phu Quoc Island. So far, questions to well-traveled friends have been met with responses along the lines of, "what, you haven't been to Vietnam, yet?!" and, "I was there in the early 90's...it's probably overdeveloped. And expensive." After which the conversations dwindle off. Thanks, but no thanks, guys.

The online traveler's forums I have visited have been no better. Lots of contradictory hotel reviews, and blogs written by backpackers. Not to diss the backpackers, but I retired my 40L pack about a decade ago and am kind of partial to ensuite facilities, now.

Basically, I'm just looking for information from anyone who has been there in the last year or two (maybe someone who has been there during the peak winter season?) and can make some recommendations. Alternatively, any links to more helpful traveler's forums would be much appreciated.

posted by squasha to travel & transportation (4 comments total)

Searched Google for pages created in the last year regarding Phu Quoc Vietnam. You can shorten that search all the way down to the last 24 hours.

Found some cool picture sets: from April 07 and from Jan 07

The Jan 07 link above leads use to a blog from somebody who recently spent time in Asia / Phu Quoc.

And then there is this article I cam across. Looks like it is full of good info: Paradise Not Lost: Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.

The article above comes from frommers.com, which has a page on Phu Quoc Island. That page brings you to complete pages on Introduction, Planning a Trip, Restaurants, Attractions, In Depth, and Active Pursuits. Looks like it has a pretty active message board on Vietnam as well.

The other thing I might do is a Google Blog search. This one searches pages back to Sept of '06.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 8:02 PM on October 4, 2007

Travelfish.org
posted by Etaoin Shrdlu at 10:27 PM on October 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

I've never been to Phu Quoc, but I lived in Vietnam for seven months this year and I can tell you that it is most certainly not overdeveloped. Yet. At least not as bad as Thailand. From the stories I heard Phu Quoc is probably the most untouched part of the country, and I don't think you can go wrong there.

Essential: Rent a motorbike and drive around the island. A lot of the beaches don't have anything at all on them.
posted by borkingchikapa at 6:56 AM on October 5, 2007

Thanks for these answers!

Following Travelfish traveler recommendations led me to email a few of the island hotels with an online presence...but either they were booked solid or the high-end suites were all they had left. Which led us to rethink our plan so that we fly into HCMC, then head to Hoi An and Hue and work our way down...spending the final week on Phu Quoc (which seems highly appealing, even if we're not spending the actual holidays there.)
posted by squasha at 3:10 AM on October 9, 2007