Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Vietnam’s largest island is widely known as Pearl Island on account of its pearl farms, and is also renowned for its fish sauce and black pepper.

Duong Dong, Phu Quoc’s main town, is the heartbeat of the action, but there’s plenty to experience around the island, from nature, culture and great eats to a host of scenic sights.

Laze on the beach

Phu Quoc is framed by beautiful beaches, and depending on what you like, there’s a seaside paradise for every traveller.

Long Beach – said to be the best beach to view sunsets – is Phu Quoc’s most famous. Stretching 19 kilometres along the western side of the island, it is abuzz with activity, with various restaurants, bars and hotels lining its shores.

Sao Beach, on the other hand, is perfect for anyone looking for some solitude. Tucked in an alcove on the eastern side of the island, the main draw here are the powdery, white sands that flow into Phu Quoc’s clear waters.

There are smaller pockets of paradise to explore if you’re up for it, from the stripped down, scruffy Thom Beach on the northeastern tip to the rocky coves of Ganh Dau Beach.

Hop on a cable car

Spanning a distance of 8 kilometres, Phu Quoc’s Hon Thom Cable Car is the longest oversea cable car ropeway in the world.

The cable car takes you from An Thoi Station to Hon Thom, the largest of 15 islets in the An Thoi archipelago located off Phu Quoc’s southern tip.

More popularly known as Pineapple Island, Hon Thom is a haven for water sports junkies, and taking the cable car is the quickest, most scenic way to get there.

This 15-minute ride, ascending to 174 metres at its highest point, gives visitors an unbeatable bird’s-eye view of the An Thoi archipelago, with its sandy beaches, lush greenery and turquoise waters dotted with fishing boats.

Enjoy theme park thrills

Have kids in tow? Then Vinpearl Land should be at the top of your list.

The sprawling 170,000-square metre amusement park is filled with thrilling rides, bustling shopping streets and spectacular light shows.

You’ll find everything from roller coasters and merry-go-rounds to ferris wheels and bumper cars in its outdoor arcade, over 120 games in its indoor arcade and a state-of-the-art aquarium with an underwater walkway so you can marvel at marine life.

For a splashing good time, check out the massive waterpark with man-made beach, hair-raising spiraling slides and a dedicated kids’ zone with an array of water slides.

Visit a fish sauce factory

If you have nostrils of steel, then a visit to a fish sauce factory is a must. After all, Phu Quoc fish sauce-making has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Three factories – Phung Hung, Hung Thanh and Huynh Khoa – open their doors to curious visitors who want a peek at how the condiment, known as nuoc mam in Vietnamese, is made.

Phu Quoc’s fish sauce, a dark amber liquid famed for its deep, briny, umami punch, is said to be the best in the world. It is made with the black, spined and red anchovies that inhabit the island’s plankton-rich waters.

These anchovies are hauled up by fishermen each morning, salted and left to ferment for up to 12 months in large barrels made from local wood and rattan – a technique that has not changed in 200 years.

According to airasia.com