Central Village Clock Tower (Photo by Earl Jones/Stripes Guam)
Long before the invention of the World Wide Web, I used to look at National Geographic magazines and say, “I’d love to photograph far away places and share those images with the world.” Well many years later, that dream has come true.
My wife and I have traveled to about 17 countries and out of the 17, Vietnam has etched a place in our hearts. We’ve experienced DaNang, Hoi An, Ha Noi, and most recently Phu Quoc.
Phu Quoc is a Vietnamese island off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. If you’re looking for tropical weather and high-end resorts, then Phu Quoc is for you. I discovered this location skimming through social media and found it interesting because of its Mediterranean-themed Sunset Town, the headquarters of our stay. Here one can take in beautiful sunsets while hanging out at the Kiss Bridge, with views of the prominent Central Village Clock Tower. Every night crowds gather to experience fireworks as it provides an electrifying backdrop to the clock tower as well as reflecting off the sea.
Sunset Town (Photo by Earl Jones/Stripes Guam)
On our first full day, we ventured out to see what Sunset Town had to offer. One of the draws to Sunset Town is the Kiss Bridge, a two part curved bridge that spans the length of the shores of the nearby beach but does not connect. The concept is for a couple to start from opposite ends of the bridge to meet at the center to kiss. There’s a lot of dedication involved with this attraction because of the distance to travel and fighting the crowd in the process.
Other options are available such as shopping and an abundance of restaurants. This location will not allow you to go hungry or get bored. There are many scooter rental shops if you want to venture around or outside of Sunset Town, just make sure to have an international drivers license. We didn’t do that, instead we paid to be driven around in one of many fancy Xe Buggies to see all of Sunset Town. As the sun goes down, the town comes alive with nightly water and light shows, as well as, fireworks.
Aquatopia (Photo by Earl Jones/Stripes Guam)
The following day was an opportunity to hop on a cable car to venture out to Southeast Asia’s largest water park, Aquatopia Water Park on Hon Thom Island. This is no ordinary cable car ride; It’s about an 8-km ride with amazing views of small islands surrounded by blue waters and masses of fishing boats. After about a 15-minute ride, we arrived to the huge water park and the fun began. The park offers separate space for children, families and adventure game areas. The day could easily be spent there with the selection of water slides, restaurants and an added bonus, a beach. Take the free shuttle from the water park and about five minutes later you’re at Thom Beach. Unfortunately the water park and beach shut down around 4:30 - 5 p.m., but if you’re there early enough, it still can be a full day’s worth of fun and you’ll still have an opportunity to experience a beautiful cable car ride back to Phu Quoc Island.
With a little energy left, we took a walk on the Kiss Bridge since it was a part of our water park ticket package. Many are there to take in the sunset like what you’d see in Florida’s Key West. Once the sun sets, it’s restaurant time. We stopped for waffles and ice cream because that’s what we do on vacation. During this time an outdoor performance began with a firework display. By this time we were not new to the fireworks, but yet I would still run out amongst the crowd to see them. After a full day of walking and sun, it was time for us to head back to the hotel for Netflix to put us to sleep.
Grand World Canal (Photo by Earl Jones/Stripes Guam)
With the arrival of a new day, we headed out to Grand World, about an hour drive from Sunset Town. It’s a large theme park with a contemporary art urban park and a 400-meter artificial canal with gondola rides. Our first experience there we entered the largest bamboo cottage in Vietnam named Bamboo Cottage Phu Quoc, also known as Bamboo Legend. Built with thousands of bamboo trees, this structure stands 15 meters tall. It’s amazing and worth seeing.
Also on the same grounds are contemporary sculptures for you art lovers. Just across the way are shops, restaurants and massage parlors. Be prepared to be asked if you’d like a foot massage, which is not a bad idea since there’s so much ground to cover. If you do find yourself exhausted from walking, you can always grab a gondola ride on the canal.
As the day turns into night, the night markets are setup for more shopping and eating. With the introduction of night lights, Grand World is even more beautiful and festive with water and laser shows.
In the same neighborhood is VinWonders. Another theme park, but with actual amusement park rides and water parks. The park offers pools for swimming and water slides for cooling off from the sun. For those seeking a different adventure, experience VinWonders’ adrenaline-pumping European-themed rides and roller coasters.
If you’re like me, those adrenaline seeking days are far behind. Instead, seek out the beautiful gardens, castle, Vinpearl Safari, and my favorite, The Sea Shell aquarium shaped like a giant sea turtle. The amazing three-story facility is home to over 255,000 marine creatures spanning 300 species, a claim I will not challenge. The underwater tunnel really gave me a very memorable experience without having to be in the depths of the ocean.
VinWonders is not a park that stays open very late. Once the sun sets and darkness appears, get set for a multimedia show known as the “Once” Show. It features fire, water, and 3D projection mapping on the castle. Not a super huge park like Disney World, but still a couple days there would be good to really experience the attractions and restaurants.
Phu Quoc is definitely a tourist destination with a European theme. The location does not really give you the authentic Vietnam vibe you’d experience like in Hanoi or DaNang, but the people there are great and we really loved the opportunity to spend six days there. I recommend getting there soon before it becomes overcrowded.
About the Author
Earl Jones and his family (Photo by Earl Jones/Stripes Guam)
Earl Jones has been in Sasebo, Japan since 2022 photographing and video recording various locations on Kyushu Island and other East and Southeast Asian countries. You can find more of his work on Instagram: @theartcreatorphotography
