The next time you’re itching to tiptoe into the waves and feel the sand beneath your toes, consider a quieter, more untouched beach destination in Southeast Asia. Usual suspects like Boracay, Bali, and Phuket are perpetually filled with tourists, but Phu Quoc — an island in Vietnam an hour away from Ho Chi Minh City known for its fish sauce, pearl, and black pepper production — has beaches, coral reefs, and rainforests waiting to be explored.
Another reason to visit the natural paradise: VinOasis Phu Quoc‘s opening on June 16. Operated by Vietnamese hospitality group Vinpearl — which has 23 hotels, resorts, and villas, as well as four amusement parks and four golf courses in its portfolio — the four-star property sits on Bai Dai Beach as Phu Quoc’s latest entertainment resort.
Offering 1,378 rooms across standard, suite, and Vinsuite categories, VinOasis isn’t being billed as an ultra upscale property, but rather, one with prices that make for a rather affordable resort option for those seeking a tranquil beach holiday.
Besides a swimming pool and tennis court, its facilities include nine restaurants serving Vietnamese, Italian, Chinese, Thai, and Korean food, and a spa that offers massages, hair services, and sauna/steam rooms.
But really, when you’ve taken time off to travel to such an undisturbed nature spot, the last thing you want to do is spend all day in an air-conditioned room.
First up, go wild at Vinpearl Safari, touted as the largest semi-wildlife safari park in the country, and immerse yourself in the habitats of more than 170 species of animals, with over 3,000 reptiles, mammals, and rare birds wandering freely around the grounds.
Or if you’re up for some thrills and spills, swing by Vinpearl Land Amusement Park for 20-hectares worth of entertainment, including a water park, an aquarium, outdoor and indoor gaming zones, a cinema, and a castle.
When the adrenaline wears off, take a trip to the Phu Quoc Night Market for stalls hawking seafood and street snacks, visit pepper farms, or browse through memorials of the Vietnam War at the former Phu Quoc Prison, which has been transformed into a museum.
Since the Phu Quoc district is made up of 28 islands, a day trip to some of the uninhabited ones could be in the cards as well. Otherwise, there’s always the sprawling Phu Quoc National Park, which is home to flora and fauna, beaches, and mountains.
VinOasis Phu Quoc is at Bai Dai Beach, Ganh Dau Commune, Phu Quoc, Klen Giang, Vietnam. +84 1900 636 699. Room rates start from 2,400,000 VNĐ (US$105).
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