Phu Quoc: Private Car Full Island Tour with Local Lunch

4.93

(255 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You have to try the sim wine — it’s sweet but not too strong,” our guide Linh grinned as she poured a little into my glass at the Sim Wine factory. I’d never tasted anything quite like it; sort of floral, almost like berries but with this earthy kick that lingered. The place smelled faintly of fermenting fruit, which was better than it sounds, trust me. We’d started the morning with Linh picking us up right from our hotel in Duong Dong, her playlist humming old Vietnamese pop as we drove out past rows of pepper plants glistening after a quick rain. I never realized how much work goes into those tiny peppercorns — the farmer let us rub some between our fingers, and my hands smelled spicy for ages after.

The south of Phu Quoc felt quieter than I expected. At Ho Quoc Pagoda, there was this gentle hush broken only by wind chimes and a monk sweeping leaves — he nodded at us but didn’t say much. Sao Beach is where everything slowed down; white sand so soft it squeaked underfoot, and lunch was grilled fish that tasted like it had just come off someone’s boat. I tried to order in Vietnamese (Li laughed when I butchered “cá nướng”) but they appreciated the effort. After swimming, we visited Coconut Prison — honestly heavier than I thought it’d be; you can still smell the damp stone inside.

By afternoon we were heading north for the second half of this private car tour around Phu Quoc island. The bee farm stop surprised me — there’s something oddly calming about watching bees work up close, though I flinched when one landed on my shoe (Linh said they’re “polite bees” here). Rach Vem Village was next: Starfish Beach really does have starfish everywhere if you look close enough in the clear water. Kids from the village waved at us while we sat with iced tea and watched fishing boats drift by. There’s a spot where you can see Cambodia across the water — just a thin line on the horizon but kind of wild to think about how close it is.

The last part was a quick check-in at Grand World — all bright colors and music echoing off painted buildings. It felt almost surreal after all that quiet earlier in the day. On the drive back, Linh asked which beach was our favorite; honestly, I’m still not sure. Each place had its own mood. I keep thinking about that first sip of sim wine and how different everything tastes when you know where it comes from.