travel
H
aving moved to Asia four
years ago, we are constantly
looking to tick off as many
travel destinations as we
possibly can. I am forever in awe of
the amazing locations we have on our
doorstep and all the different places my
kids have been lucky enough to visit.
Vietnam was the first place we visited
as a family after our first few months
living in Hong Kong, and it has left an
indelible mark on our hearts. We are
quite adventurous travellers and don’t
usually let the addition of kids wholly
define our travel choices, however,
sometimes the ease and simplicity of
a beach destination has its appeal.
For the October mid-term break we
were looking for just that. Once we
discovered that Vietjet introduced a
direct flight to Phú Quốc from Hong
Kong, it was pretty much a no brainer.
Vietnamese food? Sign me up!
Phú Quốc
(pronounced
‘foo wok’) is
a Vietnamese
island off
the coast of
Cambodia with
white-sand
beaches and
resorts along
the southwest
coast. More
than half of
the island is part of Phú Quốc National
Park which features mountains, tropical
jungles, hiking trails and wildlife.
Arriving into the small airport and
getting through immigration was a
breeze, always a bonus when travelling
with children. Our first stop was in the
north of the island, a 45 minute drive
from the airport. It was an eye-opening
ride for the kids to see all the small
cafes, roadside shops, market stalls and
many small living spaces as we cruised
through the small villages, a far cry from
the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong life.
We woke up to glorious views
overlooking the Mong Tay peninsula at
the Nam Nghi Phú Quốc. This island
resort features natural landscapes and
the placid waters of Vung Bau Bay.
The resort accommodation is
luxurious and has very natural interiors
and ample space. It is quite secluded
and far from other restaurants and
convenience stores, though, which
is something to bear in mind when
travelling with kids. Onsite there is
a small kids club, kids pool, and
an opportunity to go snorkelling.
Unfortunately we didn’t bring any
snorkelling gear with us and were a little
disappointed to learn we had to pay for
rental gear onsite.
The beach has soft golden sand
and calm waters for the children
to splash around. We took out a
complimentary glass bottom canoe
with the kids
and ran across
some very large
jelly fish!
About 30 minutes
further northwest from the
Nam Nghi, in the Long Beach
area, is the Vinpearl land, home to
a large amusement park, safari wildlife
park and five star hotel. A day can
easily be spent exploring both of these
attractions as there is plenty to keep the
children entertained.
Our days were spent swimming,
relaxing and making new friends
poolside. On our last evening, we
ventured out to the Rock Island Club
located on a small private island only
accessible from the resort via a speed
boat. The kids loved the experience of
donning lifejackets and sailing out to
this small island, spotting crabs and an
abundance of fish along the rocks lining
the pier. The sunset views were beautiful
and whilst the place was quiet when we
went, I can imagine it can get crowded
during the peak season.
We said our goodbyes to the
Nam Nghi and headed to our second
destination, closer to the Dương Tơ
area near the airport.
Our second home on this trip was at
the Best Western Premier Sonasea Phú
Quốc overlooking the turquoise waters
of the Gulf of Thailand. The resort is
centrally located with easy access to
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