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.

Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba Island is one the popular attraction for traveler when they join Halong Bay tours. Usually tourist spend one night overnight on cruise and one night overnight in Cat Ba Hotel. Cat Ba island is one of the largest island, belong to Hai Phong city with an area of 280 km2, included Cat Ba National park, complex of beautiful bay, Cat Ba center town.
Cat Ba Island view from the peak of National Park

Cat Ba island has a variety of natural ecosystems with limestone, forest, beach, cave… Original Cat Ba is the place of fisherman. They live in Cat Ba town and floating villages around the island. Today Cat Ba become one of famous attraction for tourist.  Tourist arrive here and join many activities on the island: Trekking through Cat Ba National Park, Biking through village with mountain landscape, kayaking to explore the bay, swimming in natural beach… Vietnam travel
There three beaches in Cat Ba island: Cat Co beach I, Cat Co beach II, Cat Co beach III

Cat Ba National Park founded in 1986, covered an area of 98 km2 with 109 km2 of land area and 52 km2 of sea.  There are 1,561 species of flora from 186 families, 406 species of trees. There are 279 species of fauna, included 53 manual species. 160 bird species, 274 species of insect. There are 178 coral, 900 fish, especially Cat Ba island is a home land of langurs, it going to disappear in the world. Today there are only 68 langur in the National Park.

There are 68 langurs left in Cat Ba National park

Cat Ba National Park

Tourist is easy to get to Cat Ba island when they join Halong Bay tours. Halong Bay cruise will drop you in Gia Luan or Beo tourist wharf then take the shuttle bus to Cat Ba town. Optional from Hanoi ( 160 km to Cat Ba ) tourist will take bus and drive to Hai Phong (50 km to Cat Ba island )city then transferred by ferry to Cat Ba town ( not recommended for tourist, It take long time to get to Cat Ba island. Drive to Halong City then join boat trip to Cat Ba island. You will be enjoyable with Halong Bay view) Huong Hai Sealife Halong bay
Cat Ba National Park has various types of animals, trees, insect, fishes...

Cat Ba island welcome 350,000 tourists every year. There various type of services in Cat Ba island: hotel form 3 star hotel to 5 star hotel or resort in Cat Ba island, driving motor or biking to explore Cat Ba island, kayaking to explore the bay, drinking some beer in the bar, joining massage services. Food in Cat Ba is perfect with various of seafood.

Ha Long Squid Ball

Ha Long Squid Ball- one of the most popular specialties of Quang Ninh has been named in the list of the top 50 recipes of Vietnam, according to the evaluation standard of Vietnamese specialties issued by the Vietnam Guinness Book of Records.

The dried squid ball has a fresh yellow, sweet- smelling and a nice taste
According to a survey’s results in 2012 of the Center for Agricultural Development and Research (under the Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute) in Ha Long city, this traditional dish was discovered in 1946 and was firstly made by Tai Le- a famous chief who served the domestic and international visitors in Hon Gai (during the French colonial period). Hoai Phuong-one of the 3 most well-known squid ball makers in Ha long city, is the one who was taught by Tai Le since 1946 and is now still keeping his old mortar.

Braying is the traditional technique to make the special quality of Ha Long squid ball
To date, Hoai Phuong has over 100 year experience in making squid ball. The owner - Mr. Dang Manh Hiep shared that to be a professional squid ball maker, you must be clever, meticulous, and hardworking. The very first step to make a nice dish of squid ball is selecting the squids. We should choose the squid with fresh and thick carapace on the back with a weight of around 0.8 to 2.0kg.

It is very scrupulous to “operate” the squid, too. We need to omit the bowel and the vesicle, remove all the skin. We should keep the fin on the two sides of the squids because this part would create the crunchy taste after cooked. Then, wash them with the water and slice them into pieces.

If we want the squids to be crunchy and fragrant, we should grind them in a stone mortar by our bare hands. Put the squids into the mortar one by one. It is recommended that we should not make them well kneaded, especially with the fins. In that way, the squid would be stickier and some parts that are not well grinded yet will turn to be very crunchy when you eat. When grinding, add some peppercorns to make them mix steadily with the squid meat because later the squid would stick very hard.

After that, adding some chopped onion, a little bit fish sauce and some spoons of liquid lard and mix them continuously in about 2 minutes.

Depending on the liking of each person, we can create different shapes for the squid ball. However, you should remember to prepare a bowl of water and put a little oil on your hands to prevent them from being sticky with the squid. Using a spoon to take a little squid and then put it in your hands, roll it into a ball and press it.

To fry the squid ball, we should use a sunken pan. Pour the oil into nearly half of the pan. Keep the oil hot, then lower the flame and fry the squid ball. Turn the balls over steadily; keep the flame in a medium level, not too strong, not too weak. When they turn into yellow, take them out and put them on the grill to keep them dry (if not the balls would be very greasy).

Tourists are buying squid ball at Thoan squid ball store.( in Ha Long I Market, Ha Long city)
Squid ball using with sticky rice has already become a famous specialty of the people of Quang Ninh. In Ha Long, there are even chains of street where people specialize in making this dish.

Hiep added that during the tourism season, an average of 70-80 kg of squid ball is sold on regular days and 100kg on peak days. The customers are mainly tourists from Hanoi, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen...They buy squid ball to give their relatives and friends as a special present from Quang Ninh. Travel to Vietnam

Pham Thi Giang- a tourist from Thai Binh province commented that Ha Long squid ball is a very delicious and unforgettable dish. It can be served with white sticky rice, Cuon cake and fish sauce with pepper. It costs around VND 350,000-370,000/kg.

Ha Long Squid Ball

There are 30 units specialized in making and selling squid ball within Ha Long city; of which 23 units based in Ha Long I market and 7 in Ha Long II market) under a wide range of well-known trademarks such as Thang Hue, Hien Nhung, Tien Chuyen, Kim Thoa, Thoan, Lan Diep, Hoai phuong... Squid ball is also made in hotels, restaurants.... Paradise Cruise. Jasmine Cruise

It is reported that the Ha Long City People’s Committee is considering and drawing geographical indication for Ha Long squid ball. The promotion Halong squid ball product helps to enhance its competitive advantage in the market, protecting its reputation and prestige. This is a good opportunity to introduce this specialty to the national and international market.