Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang will become one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s World of Buzz newspaper wrote in its article about Vietnam’s largest island.

A corner of Phu Quoc island district

The beaches and small islands around Phu Quoc are a perfect getaway on the crowded holiday scene these days, it says.

Travellers should visit Sao Beach, Long Beach, Truong Beach, Hon Chong Island, Hon Rom Island, Thom Island, and Trung Truc Temple at Ganh Dau Cape, it exhorts.

Located on the Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand marine economic corridor, Phu Quoc is dubbed the “pearl” island.

It features a monsoon tropical climate, with two seasons, the dry season from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. The average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius, allowing visitors to enjoy the island’s beauty at any time of the year.

Phu Quoc was once a sleepy area of around 100,000 people. In recent years, however, the 567sq.m island has become a tourist mecca for thousands of visitors from around the world.

Located 46km from the mainland, the island can be reached by air from HCM City within one hour and from Hanoi within two hours.

Phu Quoc National Park is one of the most attractive places in the district. It is home to 929 plant species, of which 42 are listed in the Vietnamese and world red books of endangered species. The park is part of the Kien Giang biosphere reserve, which was recognised as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2006.

The island was named as one of the 10 most beautiful Asian islands to visit in summer by tourism site www.topinspired.com.

 "This peaceful tropical paradise is Vietnam's largest island, which has rapidly morphed from a sleepy island to a must-visit destination. It's still largely undeveloped as there is plenty of room for exploration. Dive the reefs, kayak in the bays or relax by lounging on the beach, indulging in a massage and dining on fresh seafood. It really is a perfect escape from reality and everyday life,” the site said.

In September, it was named by CNN among the top five up-and-coming Asia Pacific destinations to visit this fall.-VNA