TRAVELLIVE MAGAZINE Travellive 05-2016 | Page 101

ITINeRARy: ü Travel to Phan Thiet fishing port (3km from the city center) and buy ship ticket to Phu Quy Island. There are two types of ships operating alternately. The best and fastest one is Hung Phat 26. Prices: VND250,000/ seat, VND350,000/ sleeper. The trip lasts about 4 hours. TIMe: ü The best time to travel to Phu Quy is from March to May when the sea is calm. SOAK IN THE ORANGE LIGHTS IN CAO CAT MOUNTAIN - THE BEST PLACE TO CONTEMPLATE SUNSET ON PHU QUY ISLAND NOTe: ü There is only one ship to and from the island each day so you should plan carefully. THE ISlAND OF CHAllENGES Phu Quy Island, also known as Cu Lao Thu, is located off the coast of Binh Thuan, about 54 nautical miles from Phan Thiet. The island spans an area of only 16km2, but there are many interesting things to explore there. Firstly, this is an isolated island. Only one boat goes to the island and returns to mainland. Due to unstable water levels, this boat has no fixed schedule so you need to follow the schedule each day to book a trip. Moreover, weather is an important factor as the boat can only run when the wind level is lower than 7. The Phu Quy flagpole is a famous attraction for many tourists. From the flagpole, you can fully take in the coastline’s 2 crystal-clear beaches. The fantastic water and black stones make Phu Quy more unique. Another must-visit destination is Ganh Hang where every photographer wishes to visit to capture the magnificent sunrise. Nearby is Doi Thay which brings you lots of surprises with its strange geological structures. Huge rock plates are stacked together and stretch toward the sea. Under the reef are fortresses where locals raise lobsters. They call them fortresses as the farms are built of stone and concrete to keep strong waves and winds away. Not only enticing visitors with its long sandy beaches, beautiful poplars, and tranquility, the island is also an exciting place to swim, dive among the corals, go fishing, catch sea urchins, and enjoy seafood right on the beach. TRAVELLIVE 101