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PHU QUOC ISLAND KIDS GUIDE
Things to see and do with children
Phu Quoc with Kids: Complete Guide for a Phu Quoc Family Holiday
Looking for a destination for your next family trip? Phu Quoc is an excellent choice. We loved our family holiday in Phu Quoc Island – so much so that we just returned for the third time. From beautiful beaches to the beautiful temples around Duong Dong Town to the culture to the purpose built attractions in Phu Quoc for kids, there is plenty here to entertain the whole family.
Phu Quoc family holidays are so easy. There is a crazy amount of Phu Quoc family accommodation which can make stays very easy. The Vietnamese are very welcoming of kids, and there is plenty of western style food for fussier palates. There is also plenty of Phú Quốc information for kids – such as this guide – to help make your visit a success.
The other big plus is that Phu Quoc is incredibly good value. For a few dollars you can easily find something to eat, have a beer or a massage. The Phu Quoc family resorts are also great value. Below, you will find our complete guide to Phú Quốc family holidays from our holiday blog including everything you need to know to make your Phu Quoc family vacation a success!
Hotels
WHEN TO GO
Phú Quốc has two seasons – a wet and a dry. The dry season runs mid November – April and is the best time to visit weather wise. The wet season is May – October. In the wet season, there is generally just a huge downpour every day, but it can also day for days on end especially during the late summer early fall months. The first time we visited in the wet season, we generally saw rain early in the morning. The second time, it rained all day everyday. Also, there are far more bugs around in the wet season and this can be annoying.
The busiest times in Phu Quoc are during the Christmas and New Year holidays, TET holiday, and Vietnamese Victory Day. The busiest month is January, however even at busy times, there is plenty of room for everyone and there is plenty to do in Phú Quốc for families at any time of year.
GETTING THERE
Phú Quốc is a popular destination and as such there are plenty of flights into Phu Quoc, particularly from China, Russia, Korea, and the rest of South East Asia. People coming from further afield may need to connect somewhere else in Asia, such as in Singapore or Hong Kong. If you are on a budget, there are some great budget airline choices from Singapore (TigerAirways), Hong Kong (Air Asia or Jetstar), and withing Vietnam there is VietJetAir. The departure tax is included in your ticket. There are ATMs at the airport if you are running low on Vietnamese Dongs or US dollars.
You can also arrive to Phu Quoc by a ferry from mainland Vietnam and or by cruise ship. The ferry departs from either Ha Tien Town or Rach Gia Town. Please click HERE for more information about the Phu Quoc Ferry.
VISA & IMMIGRATION
Phú Quốc is Vietnam's only special economic zone and all international visitors who will vacation only in Phu Quoc will receive a 30 visa exemption, to learn more click HERE, If you plan on visiting the rest of Vietnam then unfortunately you will require to purchase a Vietnam Tourist Visa. You can arrange for this by clicking HERE. The visa on arrival process is very straight forward. You will hit the desks before immigration and you cannot miss them.
WHERE TO STAY
Family accommodation in Phu Quoc is plentiful. You will have no problems finding something perfect for your needs. There are three main options you will probably look at – Phu Quoc family resorts, family hotels in Phu Quoc and family villas.
Hotels tend to be the cheaper option with rooms and not much else (although resorts do sometimes call themselves hotels). Family resorts in Phu Quoc tend to have multiple pools and restaurants, kids club, gym and many other facilities and may include activities and the option of an all inclusive stay (which means that meals, drinks and other items may be included). Family villas in Phu Quoc can be an excellent option for Phu Quoc holidays with kids. This generally means an entire house with a private yard which often includes a private pool. Some even come with staff. For bookings, we recommend using Agoda, the trusted leaders in South East Asia when it comes to resort bookings and deals.
REGIONS
Ganh Dau Commune: Ganh Dau is famous in Phu Quoc for being the area that is targeted towards vacationing families. Here you will find amusement parks with the islands largest Ferris wheel that overlooks the ocean, Vietnam's first open air safari park, an aquarium, a water park, shopping and food courts, a professional golf course, and of course a nice beach. This area is made for families and you will be surrounded by families such as yourself.
Duong Dong Town: Duong Dong Town is the tourist capital of Phu Quoc and this is where most of the action takes part in Phu Quoc. It is also where much of the budget accommodation choices live as well as some of the biggest hotels. If you want something a little bit quieter but still close to the action, neighboring Ong Lang can be a good choice.
Bai Truong: South Long Beach in Duong To commune is an increasingly popular beach area to stay just south of the Phu Quoc International Airport. It is known for being a bit fancier (and pricier) and is a great option if you are looking for the best beachfront family villas in Phu Quoc – many of these are here. It’s a nice area. We found everything a fair bit nicer than in Duong Dong with less hassle. Food is generally more expensive but we found it better quality and better value too. We are big fans of South Long Beach.
KID FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION
The following are our pick for the best family hotels in Phu Quoc along with resorts and villas from our personal experiences, online reviews and from people we know.
Vinpearl
The Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort is one the first five star, yet affordable, family friendly resort on Phu Quoc. It is directly located on Dai Beach, one of Phu Quoc's best beaches, and there is easy access to shops, restaurants, and things to do for kids. This is a great pick of the Phu Quoc family resorts. The Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort has everything you need in Phu Quoc Island for children.
Click here for the latest prices and more information.
Richi Resort
This resort in Duong Dong is a top choice if you want something budget friendly in a prime location by the beach. It has all the facilities of top Phu Quoc accommodation for families with multiple pools, restaurants, bars, a playground, kids playroom and many other facilities. The location is fabulous as the beach (Long Beach) is right in front and there are many restaurants, massage places, shops etc nearby. There are hotel rooms and villas on offer making this a good family accommodation in Phu Quoc especially at these cheap prices.
Click here to see the latest prices or for more information.
Salinda
The Salinda Resort is one of the top Phu Quoc family hotels. This is because it has just amazing facilities for kids. On top of the beach side pool there is an amazing restaurant serving international food that will satisfy the fussiest of taste buds. Even more exciting for little ones is the water playground and water fun zone. There is also a kids club with an outdoor playground. There are lots of room types including ones made especially for families.
Click here for the latest prices and more details.
Novotel
This fabulous beach front Phu Quoc family accommodation offers a range of options from massive suites to pool villas. For a family, it is hard to look past the beautiful one or two bedroom pool villas. With one of these, you will have your own oasis in Phu Quoc with a private pool. The resort also has two amazing pools, including a kids pool, very cool restaurants and bars and organized kids activities.
Click here for the latest prices and more information.
GETTING AROUND
It is easy to get around Phu Quoc, especially if you are staying in the Duong Dong/Long Beach area. If you want to venture further out then there are several main options: hire a car and driver, take a taxi or use a shuttle bus. There are also some public bus which we found useful for getting to Ganh Dau, Sao Beach, and An Thoi Town but they generally do not suit tourists needs. You can also rent a motorbike but you must have a valid international motorcycle license in order to legally ride in Vietnam.
Hiring a car and driver
This is a cheap and easy option and you should have no problems finding someone. You can hire a private car and driver or a taxi for about $30US per day. You can then plan your own itinerary and go where you want or follow their recommended itinerary.
Taxis in Phu Quoc
In the main beach areas there are no shortage of taxis. Look out for Phu Quoc Taxi taxis which are the cheapest. They should use their meter which will be better value than bargaining for a price with someone else. This is the best option for quick air condition trips.
Shuttle buses
There are shuttle buses (usually vans) that will take you between the main tourist areas. These don’t generally work out to be good value for a family and you are usually better off taking a taxi or hiring a driver and car.
Car seats
Car seats for your kids are not readily available. You will need to bring one from home if this is important to you. Most children sit on their parents laps.
Getting from the airport
From the Phu Quoc International airport you can reach your resort either by taking a taxi, jumping on a shuttle bus, or your resort will have a car and driver waiting for you. There is also a public bus that will drop you off at Duong Dong Town.
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS ON PHU QUOC ISLAND
If you are wondering what to do in with kids in Phu Quoc, don’t worry! You will not be short of kid friendly activities. There are a crazy amount of things to do with kids on the island and the island feels like it has been developed for the family unit. The following is a list of Phu Quoc attractions for kids along with the best kids’ activities in Phu Quoc. Phu Quoc is a relatively small place so all these attractions can be visited from the areas mentioned above in a half or full day trip.
Amusement Park
Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc is the island's first full amusement park that has roller coasters, bumper cars, water park, swings, and a giant castle. It is like the island's own version of Disney Land.
Phu Quoc Safari
There are many things to do here from going on a safari to cultural shows to a petting zoo and fun zone. Good for all ages.
Ecotourism
Although there is no access to the heart of the Phu Quoc National Park at the moment, you can still see monkey from the side of the main road that runs next to the park. These monkeys are not use to seeing humans so please do not feed them nor attempt to touch them.
Waterfalls
There is a great waterfall on the island that has a well built trail system. Learn more about this here.
ITEMS FOR BABIES & TODDLERS
Deciding what things to pack for Phu Quoc for little ones can be very tough. The following is our thoughts about particular baby and toddler stuff to consider bringing with you. If you plan on sight seeing then we particularly love traveling with the Ergobaby Carrier.
Carriers
Strollers can come in handy if you are visiting the Phu Quoc Safari Park, Vinpearl Land, or walking up and down Long Beach Village as these have walk ways which are fine with a strollers. For longer outings such as this, I find a stroller so much easier than a carrier. It gets hot carrying around a baby/toddler. Plus, the young ones can usually nap more easily in a stroller.
We particularly recommend the UPPAbaby G-Lite Stroller or the UPPAbaby G-Luxe Stroller (if you need one that reclines) as they are super lightweight and easy to carry around at times when you don’t use them.
Travel cots/cribs
Most hotels and resorts on Phu Quoc will be able to supply baby cots. However, keep in mind that this can never be guaranteed and often do not conform to safety regulations that we might be used to. For this reason, we always traveled with our own travel cot. These are lightweight, easy to fold away cots that can fit in your luggage. We prefer the KidCo Peapod Plus which is like a fold out tent that should last your child a long time.
Diapers
You should have no problems buying regular diapers in Phu Quoc. The islands major grocery store, Co-op Mart, carries all your favorite brands.
Formula and bottles
These are also available in Phu Quoc but we recommend that you bring your own formula from home. This way your baby has the formula they are use to and there is no stress about trying to find a new formula that your child is happy with.
Mosquito nets
At the very least, we recommend a mosquito net for your stroller so your child is safe when you are out. The best ones to buy will vary based on your stroller. There are many options here.
MEDICAL CARE / DOCTORS
Unfortunately, on our latest visit we needed to visit a doctor as we hurt our ear while scuba diving. There is an international standard hospital on Phu Quoc called Vinmec Phu Quoc. The Vinmec is located in Ganh Dau. There is also a local but very good hospital in Duong Dong Town. If you need standard medicine you can purchase it without a prescription at the many pharmacies found throughout the island.
DENGUE & ZIKA VIRUS IN PHU QUOC - 2018 UPDATE
The CDC has confirmed that both the Dengue and Zika Virus are prevalent in Phu Quoc. The best protection is by applying a pharmaceutical grade mosquito repellent which is readily available everywhere except Vietnam.
Find it
What to pack
A packing list for Phu Quoc is quite straight forward, primarily because Phu Quoc always has hot weather. There is no need to bring winter clothing to Phu Quoc regardless of the time of year you travel. If you are wondering what to wear in Phu Quoc then most things are fine and less is best. Casual wear is what you will see most other tourists wearing. For kids, lightweight clothes that give good coverage for sun protection are the best idea.
Phu Quoc Packing List
- 3-5 lightweight, hot weather outfits for all members of the family
- hats, sunglasses, sunscreen
- bathers/swim suits/togs/bikinis/whatever you call them
- beach towels (if staying at a hotel where these are not supplied). They can be heavy and you can buy them on the island.
- basic toiletries (toothbrush, razor, etc.)
- nightwear
- sunscreen
- mosquito repellent and anti-itch cream
- mosquito net – most places provide this, but some cheap hotels do not.
- flip flops/sandals
- sturdy shoes if you want to go hiking or trekking in Phu Quoc
- passports
- motorcycle license if you have one
- credit cards and some cash just in case. There are a lot of international ATMs found on the island.
- travel insurance details
- medicine/first aid kit
- laptops and chargers
- phones, tablet computers
- toys
- drawing books, exercise books, crayons, pencils
- other reading material, especially for those rainy days
Ready to plan your trip to Phú Quốc?
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