Phu Quoc Island is Vietnam’s largest island, located in the Gulf of Siam, 62 nautical miles from the coast. The interior of the island mainly consists of dense forest and mountainous terrain, while the perimeter is fringed with stunning beaches and striking coastline.

The island once served as a base camp for French missionary Pigneau de Behaine, as well as providing shelter for Prince Nguyen Anh while he was being chased by Tay Son rebels. Fortunately, the island was untainted by the war years, but was used by the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces to imprison captured Viet Cong.

The land on the island is difficult to farm, but the water is teeming with a valuable food resource; the island’s seafood is some of the best in the country, if not the world! Most of Vietnam’s nuoc mam (fish sauce) originates from here, as well as high quality pepper.

The island is easily accessed, and can be reached by cruise ship, ferry or plane. The most charming aspect of the island is the availability of small resorts right on the beach, which is becoming increasingly hard to find throughout Southeast Asia. The atmosphere on the island is just as about as far laid back as you can stretch.

Fish and seafood lovers will be in heaven on Phu Quoc Island, the abundance and freshness of the dishes is truly sensational. The night market is a great place to sample some local specialties, but there is also an ice cream and café serving toasties, shakes and New Zealand-made ice cream for those who crave home tastes.

Long gone are the days when visitors to Ho Chi Minh City had to rough it along Pham Ngu Lao, with the city today boasting a fine selection of high-end hotels to choose from. Here’s our top pick of Saigon hotels:

Park Hyatt Saigon
This is Saigon’s showpiece, centrally located and occupying what was once a huge hostel for US servicemen during the Vietnam War era. Its great position means guests can walk to many of the city’s top sights and its colonial ambience ensures guests unwind in style. Onsite dining comes in the form of a classy Italian restaurant and a pan-Asian eatery while leisure amenities include a quality spa and outdoor swimming pool.
Phone: +84 8 823 1234       

Caravelle
This historic landmark sits opposite the Park Hyatt near the Opera House and is perhaps the best known Saigon hotel thanks to its long-running history. Having first accommodated the French back in the 1950s, the Caravelle became a favourite haunt of foreign correspondents during the Vietnam War. Today the renovated Saigon hotel struggles to live up to its reputation, with the famous Saigon Saigon rooftop bar having seen better days. Nevertheless, if you want to experience a piece of Saigon’s living history, here’s the place to do so.
Phone: +84 8 823 4999       

Hotel Majestic
For French colonial splendour, there’s no better choice than this riverside Saigon hotel on Dong Khoi, Ho Chi Minh’s celebrated shopping street. Dating to 1925, Hotel Majestic has retained its period charm over the years – and unfortunately some tacky elements along the way – yet for those who are looking for something a little more original than the sleek modern touch of the Hyatt, this is a good centrally situated choice. Not to mention the Breeze Sky bar offers fantastic city views.
Phone: +84 8 829 5514

Bikes and bustle

Get caught up in the heady buzz of Saigon, dizzy with the pace of a million motorcycles, and beguiled by the local girls cycling by in their flowing Ao Dai dresses. Southern Vietnam is captured in all it’s intriquing essence here.

Follow the history and culture of the city on this blog, from Re-unification Palace to the War Museum, with plenty of Asian and Indo-Chine architecture and character splashed across this guide. From the Cu Chi tunnels and Mekhong Delta, to endless pagodas and Com Pho shops, it’s all soon covered here.

It’s all part of a comprehensive travel guide, with hundreds of pages and dozens of pictures, which we are busy developing to help you plan you trip to Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam.