Phu Quy Island is located about 120km from Phan Thiet City to the east in Binh Thuan Province. Covering over 17km 2 with great potential, the island is considered the political, economic and cultural centre of the island district of Phu Quy.

During the day of calm sea, it takes tourists only about 5-6 hours by ship and only 3 hours by a high speed boat to arrive on the island.

Seen from the sea from different directions, the island looks like a floating city with interesting shapes, such as a dragon, a codfish or a giant whale swimming in the deep blue ocean.

Near Phu Quy Island are various small islands, named Hon Tranh, Hon Den, Hon Trung, Hon Giua and Hon Do.

In the past, the island was called different names, including Co Long, Thuan Tinh and Khoai Xu.

According to historical records, the island has been famous for its great potential. Since the 17th century many people from the mainland arrived on the island to claim the land and establish villages.

Located in the middle of the East Sea, Phu Quy Island has a strategic position in terms of national defence and security of Binh Thuan Province in particular and of the nation in general.

Therefore, it now gives the island the urgent task of both developing the economy and protecting the national island sovereignty.

Thanks to support and investment from the State, Phu Quy has experienced great changes and has quickly developed and become the political, economic and cultural centre of Phu Quy District.

The island has Phu Quy Port where hundreds of boats and ships sail in and out everyday to refuel, load water and transport seafood. The port is capable of receiving ships of hundreds of tonnes.

With its advantage of geographic position and natural conditions, the island has great potential for marine economy and tourism. From the island, the locals can catch special seafood from offshore fishing so the average catch yields more than 50,000 tonnes/year.

On the days when fishing boats arrive in the port, it becomes bustling with traders. Here, there are various species of valuable seafood, such as holothurian, sea-bass, king crabs, Vu nang snails, tuna and cuttlefish.

The island is endowed by nature with a cool climate, many beautiful beaches, such as Trieu Duong Bay, Doi Dua and Nho Ganh Ngang and a diversified flora and coral reefs. The island also has plentiful fresh water resources.

All create favourable conditions for the island to develop tourism.

Besides the natural potential, Phu Quy Island has over 30 famous historical and cultural relics such as Linh Son Pogaoda, Linh Quang Pagoda; Ba Chua Ngoc Temple; Trieu Duong Communal House and My Khe Park.

The island is especially well known for Van An Thanh Relic which was built in 1781 to worship the Nam Hai Genie and the locality’s patron saint.

The relic now preserves about 100 skeletons of whales and sea turtles from different dates. Every year, the locals organize a lot of traditional festivals like the Spring and Autumn Offering Ceremony.

With its historical and cultural values, Van An Thanh was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic in 1996 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Besides the landscape, ecological environment and cultural and historical relics, Phu Quy has a good infrastructure with a synchronous and spacious system of roads, schools, hospitals, boat repairing workshops and a sea rescue station. It also accesses the networks of Mobifone, Vinaphone and Viettel.

At present, Phu Quy Island focuses its investment on infrastructure, such as the construction of a breakwater, hotels and entertainment areas, improving the living standards of locals and developing the economy, tourism and services.

Source: VGP