Get around Phu Quoc Island

Cycling

Most hotels offer bicycle rentals which start from US$1 per day, which can be a great way to adventure around the local area.

We recommend purchasing a face mask before you head off on these longer journeys and take plenty of water. The coastal strip surrounding Phu Quoc makes cycling relatively easy however the island heats up when you get move from the coast . Visit Phu Quoc with South Vietnam tours

Get around Phu Quoc Island

Motorbike Rental

Renting a motorbike is one of the cheapest ways to discover Phu Quoc Island and motorbikes also provide the best access if you are adventuring out to the more remote beaches and dirt roads beyond the main towns. Mekong & Phu Quoc island

Motorbikes can be rented at many of top end and mid range hotels, or you’ll find local owners outside the hotels and airport very keen to either rent their bikes or even adopt you and guide you around the island. Bikes rental rates will vary depending on the condition of the bike and your bargaining skills, here is guide to prices:

Mekong Off the beaten Path with extension to Cambodia 12 days

Per hour, from around 30,000d

Per day, from US$6-10 dollars a day

Per week, around US$45-50 or less depending if you negotiate any discounts.


Note: since the end of 2007, it is now illegal to ride on a motorbike without wearing a helmet, however local police are generally lenient towards tourists. If you are concerned about your safety, insist on a helmet when renting a motorbike.


Walking / Hiking

The centre of Duong Dong is only a couple hundred meters from the airport, just turn right outside the airport gates and you’ll hit the central market in around 10 minutes. So if you don’t have much luggage, this is definitely the cheapest option. There are also some local hotels across the road from the airport terminal.

The coast surrounding Phu Quoc is relatively flat and allows visitors some very scenic walking.

The mountains on the island range from around 300-600 meters and provide far more strenuous trekking.The National Park in the northern part of Phu Quoc is as yet relatively undeveloped in terms of walking trails and forests can be quiet dense. There are plans to build a walking trail in future to Mount Chua (603m) the highest mountain on Phu Quoc Island.

Story about unique horse-drawn carriage in Bac Ha

Horse in Bac HaA horseman, deeply attached to the northern mountainous Lao Cai province’s Bac Ha Plateau, has expressed his love for the area as he carries tourists in a horse-drawn carriage.
Hoang Van Chu of the Nung ethnic sects, who lives in the province’s Na Hoi Nung Village of Na Hoi Commune, is the first admirer of the ‘White Plateau’ to build a horse carriage and earn his living by transporting tourists in the carriage. North Vietnam tours
“It’s easy for tourists to find a vehicle to travel everywhere on the Plateau, as there are modern vehicles in the area, including motorbikes and minibuses. However, anyone who is well-experienced in travelling will choose the horse carriage,” Chu said.
A carriage ride with a view of the imposing mountain landscape gives tourists the impression of being on vacation and makes them feel a bit like “royalty”. Hanoi & Sapa Homestay 6 days

Travelling the Bac Ha Plateau, tourists will be impressed with the colourful ethnic costumes, the horses’ neighs, and the screams of mountain pigs intermingled with the sounds of hammers on the fires of blacksmiths. In particular, tourists will have the opportunity to enjoy Tam Hoa plums, a tasty specialty of the area.
“Many tourists visiting the plateau shared with me that travelling by horse carriage helped them leisurely enjoy the area’s landscape and take souvenir photos,” Chu said.
He is skillful at shooting and horse straddling and a famed horseman in the area, having learnt how to ride a horse and fire a gun in early childhood.
Horse in Bac Ha 1“My parents told me there were many horse carriages in my hometown during the years of French colonialism, from 1857 to 1945. At that time, the horse carriage was one of the specific features of Bac Ha Plateau. Local residents mostly used horses for transport. Only the rich could ride in carriages,” Chu said.

Story about unique horse-drawn carriage in Bac Ha

However, such kinds of vehicles gradually fell into oblivion, and were changed over to modern vehicles. “There were no horse carriages on any roads in the area since the 1990s,” Chu said.
The sound ‘click clock click clock’ of horses’ hooves and the tinkling of the tintinnabula bells on their necks gradually faded in local residents’ memories, which saddened the horseman Chu.
After much searching of his heart, Chu decided to go to China and order a horse-drawn carriage from a Chinese worker, with the aim of bringing back a specific tradition of the plateau. “The Chinese man delivered a horse carriage on time. Yet, the carriage he made couldn’t satisfy me because it was not convenient for carrying tourists,” Chu said. Travel to Vietnam
Not giving up, Chu was determined to make a horse carriage on his own. The vehicle was completed and used as to serve tourists in the area, which surprised all local residents.
“Some of my neighbours sneered at me, and called me a ‘madman’. They thought that there would be no tourist to use a horse carriage on their trips. Yet, I ignored all the ridicule and continued making shoes and tintinnabula for my horse,” Chu said.
Horse in Bac Ha 2
At first, Chu carried tourists free of charge along the most beautiful destinations in the area, such as Hoang A Tuong edifice, Trung Do Temple and on misty paths, in a bid to build reputation for his service, as well as advertise the beauty of his hometown.
“Foreign visitors often called me a ‘cowboy’. Some of them told me that during their trips in Bac Ha Plateau, they loved most of all the sound of horses’ hooves on road and the tinkling bells on the horses’ neck, which made me so happy,” Chu said.
Chu is the only one in the area who provides tourists with horse-drawn carriage rides. “I had to spend all my savings, worth VND60 million (US$2,800), to make my carriage. No one in the area dared to spend the sum as I did,” Chu said.
Besides Chu’s horse providing rides for tourists, there are many horses in the area to carry goods. Riders of baggage horses often gather in front of Bac Ha Temple ready for hire to carry goods, which is one of the area’s oldest jobs.

Tips for safe dining of seafood in Halong

Halong, known as the world heritage city with thousands of caves and grottos, is also famous for its abundance of nutritious and delicious varieties of seafood like crab, prawn, fish, or sea-snail. Gourmets who come to Halong can hardy resist the taste of fresh seafood without the worry of gaining weight. However, there is always risk of food poisoning hidden in seafood. Below are some safety tips to avoid trouble with dining in Halong bay tours.

1. Avoid eating raw seafood in general

Raw seafood or unprocessed seafood may contain the Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria which is harmful for the digestive system. Moreover, the bacteria can live under high temperature (more than 80oC). Although sushi and sashimi is very tempting, try not to eat too much, esepecially from the dubious dining places. Fresh seafood in Halong Bay

2. Never eat raw crab

Tips for safe dining of seafood in Halong

Inside unprocessed Ha Long’s crab is a very dangerous parasitic bacteria named lung fluke that may mess up your respiratory system with symptoms like lead to severe cough, coughing up blood, or even cerebral paralysis. It is highly recommended that crabs have to be fully cooked for at least 20-30 minutes. Travel to Halong with Vietnam tours

3. Seafood shopping tips

Buying your own seafood in a market to bring back to your hotel and ask the chefs to cook for you is a very enjoyable experience. However, remember to choose ones which are still alive and fresh, because dead sea-animals, especially one that has shells, contain much higher level of bacteria or poisons.

4. Avoid drinking excessive beer while eating seafood

Scientists say drinking beer while eating seafood increases the probability of having gout or arthritis disease. Therefore, it is recommended that you limit your alcohol consumption when being served seafood.

5. Avoid having fruits/tea after having seafood

The reason is that the acid inside sour fruits may negatively affect the process of absorbing protein from seafood into your body. Besides, tannin from fruits may react with calcium and protein from seafood to stimulate your digestive system that leads to stomach-ache and vomiting. Same thing happens if you drink tea after a seafood meal.