First Impressions: Phu Quoc

Leaving Panglao and getting to the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc was no joke. A two hour ferry ride from Panglao to Cebu City to get to the airport, then a 2.5 hour flight leaving at 9:30 PM from the Philippines to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Then we slept on the sidewalk outside the airport (it wasn't open in the middle of the night?!?) all night until our next 1 hour flight at 6:30 AM to Phu Quoc! Now that I've slept (a lot) and spent a few days here, I think it's time for some first impressions!

First of all, our Airbnb. I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful Airbnb I've ever stayed at in my entire life. (I know I said the same thing about the Airbnb in Trat - they just keep getting better!) It's like we're living in a giant green house filled with plants! There's a misting system that we turn on once a day when it gets hot to water the plants and cool us down, and there's even a small pool! It's like living in a fairytale, and it's so nice to feel like you're outside all the time!

We rented scooters and bicycles here, but Grab (the Asian version of Uber) is really fast and super available and affordable! The area we're in isn't the most walkable, because we didn't want to be exactly in the city, so it's good to have transportation options.

The city itself is super cool, and it has so many fun international restaurants! Phu Quoc apparently isn't where you go to get legit Vietnamese culture, because it's a really international island. Our first night we had tacos for dinner, and yesterday we had a delicious Korean mango dessert! I'm glad we'll be spending more time in Vietnam over the next couple of months, though, because I do want to eat some really good, authentic Vietnamese food!

Prices here are surprisingly good. I expected higher prices like in Panglao, because we're on an island, but I've been pleasantly surprised! Even at the grocery stores (King Kong Market rocks) where you can get a lot of high ticket, healthy foods (think macademia nuts, greek yogurt, specialty coffees etc.), the prices are really affordable! You can do even better at the local markets which are surprisingly clean and low stress!

The closest beach to our house is about a ten minute drive away, and it's called Ong Lang Beach. The first time we got in the water, I was super shocked by how warm it was! It's literally like swimming in a bathtub! Then I realized - we're still in the Gulf of Thailand! It feels like the beaches over on Koh Chang! The water is super clean and clear, but it's not crystal blue like in Panglao - it's more of a dark bluish green. Regardless, it's really beautiful, and the beach is super safe - it's lined with resorts and security guards.

When it comes to the culture here, I have to say that this is by far the most different to our own culture that we've seen while traveling! A big shock to us was how they handle lines. I know, sounds weird, but it's so true. In any and all lines since I've landed in Vietnam, people shamelessly cut! From bathroom lines to TSA lines, Vietnamese people have no shame in cutting the line! At first I was shocked, then I was annoyed, then I accepted my fate.

It's strange, because about a week before coming here, I started reading what other people had to say about this island. Yeah, I know - a little late. To my surprise, almost all of the reviews online about Phu Quoc are really terrible! I was super nervous after reading all of that to come here, but I have been pleasantly surprised for the four days that I've spent here so far. Phu Quoc is really beautiful, and I'm really excited to spend the next three months exploring Vietnam!