Phu Quoc Or Con Dao ?

Phu Quoc or Con Dao are ideal tourist destinations for domestic and foreign tourists. Geographically, both are areas far away from the mainland, surrounded by the sea, so they have a variety of aquatic creatures. If you are still wondering which Vietnam holiday packages to choose, this article will provide some necessary information for your trip to these locations. Do not skip it if you haven’t read it all yet!

About Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc, also known as “Pearl Island,” is part of the Gulf of Thailand. It is located in Kien Giang province, southwest of Vietnam, and belongs to the island city of the same name. It is the largest island in Vietnam, with an area of up to 574 km2, and is home to more than 180 thousand residents. Before tourism officially developed from beautiful pristine beaches, clear water, and diverse flora and fauna, Pearl Island’s main income was agriculture and fishing. Culture and history are also intentionally mentioned, especially through the bustling lives of people at night markets. Moreover, one cannot ignore the specialties of Phu Quoc fish sauce, with its rich and distinctive flavor, which tourists always package as gifts.

About Con Dao

Con Dao is an archipelago, a collection of 16 different large and small islands in Southeast Vietnam, belonging to Ba Ria—Vung Tau province. Its area is about 75.15 km2, and it is home to about 5,000 local people. Con Dao was discovered in the late 19th century. It carries many historical marks from wars and is considered a symbol of resilience and peace. In addition, this place has many beautiful, pristine beaches surrounded by lush tropical forests. Thanks to that, it quickly became a destination where cultural history and mysterious nature gently intersect.

Should I Travel to Phu Quoc or Con Dao?

Accessibility

Phu Quoc is inherently a separate island district, so it can only be accessed by air and sea, including domestic or international routes:

	By Plane	By Ferry/Ship
Domestic	Most cities with airports in Vietnam have direct flights to this island, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, etc.	Take a ferry from Ha Tien or Rach Gia: takes about 2h30 – 2h45 minutes, about 45 km in distance, and costs about $8 per trip.
International	– Direct flights from: Singapore, Busan, Seoul (Korea), Siem Reap (Campuchia), Beijing (China), and Bangkok (Thailand) – Charter flights from: England, Russia, Sweden, and Italia	Cruise ships: Jupiter Cruises (Hong Kong), MS Europa 2 (Germany), and Costa (Italy), all dock at Duong Dong port, 2km from the mainland.

Compared to Pearl Island, the journey to Con Dao is often limited due to weather conditions and facilities. There are only a few domestic flights, which are fairly low-frequency and vary seasonally. In addition, visitors can also take a ferry from Vung Tau or Can Tho to here, with a frequency of about every 2 days. Due to rainy conditions and high tides, this service may be reduced to only once a month from November to March.

Tourism Development

Since 2006, Phu Quoc has become more known on the world tourism map when UNESCO recognized it as one of the world’s biosphere reserves. The protected biosphere is a system of 105 islands of varying sizes, home to diverse flora and fauna and preserving several endangered species. Pearl Island is also quickly becoming a bustling tourist destination in the Vietnam holiday packages like a “One-stop shop” with vibrant attractions, dining, relaxation, and shopping.

Meanwhile, Con Dao has been developed to preserve both natural and historical heritage. Traveling here tends toward peace, serenity, nature, and a little spirituality. It is quite suitable for travelers looking for tranquility and healing from the hustle and bustle of life.

Beaches

Phu Quoc and Con Dao are paradises of beautiful, pristine beaches with clear water and exciting fun activities. However, each beach has its characteristics places that tourists should know and visit, such as:

• Con Dao: An Hai, Ca Map (Shark Cape), Dam Trau, Lo Voi, Ong Dung, etc.
• Phu Quoc: Duong Don Harbour, Gach Dau, Ham Ninh, Ham Rong, Ong Lang, Rach Vem (Starfish), etc.

Experiences

Both Phu Quoc and Con Dao offer many exciting underwater activities in Vietnam holiday packages, such as snorkeling and viewing diverse marine life. However, Pearl Island provides more options, such as Kayaking, fishing with fishermen, or jet skiing. This place can also help visitors learn about the local lifestyle by visiting the night market, which offers traditional dishes, unique souvenirs, and a vibrant atmosphere with local people. On the other hand, Con Dao offers many cultural experiences through historical sites. Some of them include Dinh Chua Dao, Phu Hai Prison, Phu Phong Prison, Chuong Cop Phap, etc.

Best Time to Visit

The time to travel to Con Dao is from March to September, with an average temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. During this time, the weather is often rainy, but there are only small winds, and the sea is calm, so it is quite pleasant for a safe trip. Tourists can also witness humpback turtles and green sea turtles laying eggs on nearby Hon Bay island. This is one of the tourism activities that increases awareness of protecting the habitat of endangered turtle species worldwide.

Meanwhile, Phu Quoc’s peak season is from November to April. The weather is sunny, with little rain and doldrums, and the average temperature is only about 27 to 28 degrees Celsius. This time suits for outdoor tourism and water sports such as Kayaking, parasailing, diving, or water scootering. Tourists can also visit Pearl Island from May to October to save on travel costs or pepper harvest time from February to June if they are interested in the local agricultural sector.

Wrap Up

Pampering visitors with beautiful beaches, profound historical culture, and diverse activities close to nature, Vietnam holiday packages for Phu Quoc or Con Dao offer many unique experiences. Pearl Island will welcome you with its bustle, excitement, and diverse forms of tourism, while Con Dao is a wonderful, quiet resort with a fresh, natural atmosphere. Either way, both destinations will make you and your family unforgettable memories!

Vietnam Fast Tours

“Spare your time, Florish your travel”, Vietnam Fast Tours provide fully private personalized holiday packages at highgest quality services. As a local tour operator based in Vietnam, the company offers wide range of travel styles from family hoildays, adventure tours, beach vacation, honeymoon tours to luxury spa & wellness holiday to Southeast Asia. With Vietnam Fast Tours, the clients will experience Southeast Asia in their own way.