Island Adventures with Family in Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Stella K. Frazier
Feb 2
4 min read

Updated: Jun 7

By Stella K. Frazier

Family posing in front of a "Safari" sign with zebra stripes, surrounded by greenery. Sunny day with happy expressions and casual attire.

Looking for your next getaway from Korea? We love a mix of beachy vibes and cultural aspects for our vacations and this Christmas we chose Phu Quoc, Vietnam! This island in southern Vietnam requires no visa if you travel just to the island and back to your home destination. We frequented the Sonasea market which was a few minutes from our resort and the larger Duong Dong market which was 30 minutes away. For families with younger kids, Vinpearl Safari and Vinwonder Amusement Park was a nice day away from the resort-just book through the Klook app for hassle-free entry. The best part? Foot, body, and hair spa services are a fraction of Korean prices, averaging $12-15 USD for full body treatments and $6-7 USD for foot massages, making Phu Quoc perfect for decompressing.

Family on a blue boat at sunset, colorful lit-up bridge in background. Smiling, wearing casual clothes and hats; joyful, relaxed mood.

Two people pose with a smiling statue of a girl in a yellow dress and hat. "Xin Chào" text visible. Brick building and plants in background.

Flight Accommodations

For our flight, we booked using Jeju Air both ways. From Incheon, Phu Quoc is just a quick 6 hours there and about 5 hours on the return flight. Our return flight was late on December 28th, just a few hours prior to the plane crash involving Jeju Air in Muan, South Korea. Our flight taxied for 3 hours on the runway and finally deplaned due to plane inspection issues.

It was a blessing in disguise as we later found out about the tragedy. Exhausted, we hurriedly had to figure out lodging for the night at 3am. We were at the mercy of Jeju Air to figure out our flight home the next day. After news of another delayed flight the next day, we decided to book with another airline to get back home. We ended up booking with VietJet Air. The kind lady gave us a free upgrade after hearing our ordeal and we were seated in row 2. We were pleasantly surprised by the legroom and how far back the seats reclined for the night flight. We would definitely fly with them again.

Monkey in a patterned sweater sits on a wooden chair, grasping the backrest. Background is blurred with warm lighting; playful mood.

Lodging Accommodations and Resort Activities in Phu Quoc

We chose the Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort. We had previously stayed in Da Nang at another Pullman chain resort and were so impressed that we didn’t hesitate to book with them again. This resort also lived up to our expectations. From check-in, to pick-up to drop-off, our needs were prioritized, making our vacation hassle-free.

This resort offers complimentary amenities including a round-trip shuttle service that picks up visitors from the international airport, just a 10-minute drive away. There is also a daily shuttle to the downtown area to the night markets, which we utilized along with the local Grab app to get around the island.

Kids under 12 stay for free and receive their breakfast buffet for free too! The free Kids Club access allows parents to enjoy alone time without the kids, which we used to roam the markets alone and drink fresh fruit smoothies and get foot massages leisurely without the sound of our kids asking for snacks ;).

For adults, there are also many amenities including a beach volleyball, pickleball court, tennis court, gym, and a spa right on-site. The resort spa offered more of the traditional spa experience we know from the States—more privacy, calming music, and dimmed lights. We tried a body scrub and aromatherapy massage for a fraction of the cost that we are used to in Korea or America.

Food at the Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort is an experience of its own as well. Every day there is an amazing breakfast included with the price of the room. For breakfast at the Salt ‘n’ Pepper Restaurant you can choose made-to-order eggs, pastries, smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, and the hugest array of breakfast foods you will ever see. At their steak and wine restaurant which was included in the price of our deluxe suite, you can find the best cuts of meat to pair with the perfect bottle of wine.

Dining and Transportation Off Site

If you want to experience local life, visit other destinations, or dine offsite, outside the resort, download the Grap App! The Grab App is a great resource and is used in a variety of Asian countries like here in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Grab works like Uber. You can use it to order food, book taxis of all sizes, and even have groceries delivered in some places. Delivery options from Grab delivered straight to the hotel, are often cheaper options than hotel and resort restaurants. Try Grab also if you want to try a different variety of food options or for your picky eaters who have had enough of Pho!

Pro Tips

December-March: ideal weather, less rain.
Download the Grab App before arriving so you can familiarize yourself with the platform.
We purchased a 10-day eSIM data plan at the airport for about $10.
Download Google Translate or Papago as most residents only speak basic English.
Bring USD for better exchange rates.
Most places accept card payments but carry cash for markets.
Bargaining is expected at markets, but less so in established shops
King Kong Mart is an amazing shop to find so many souvenirs and Vietnamese snacks! Think Daiso where you can wander the aisles for hours :)
If visiting Vinwonder Amusement Park, many of the rides cater to kids over 130cm.
Be cautious crossing the streets as motorbikes dominate the roads here like mainland Vietnam.