Welcome to my digital nomad information to dwelling in Phu Quoc. House to beautiful seashores, spectacular nationwide parks, and a few implausible cultural and historic sights, it’s a distant employee’s dream vacation spot. To alleviate any confusion it’s pronounced Foo Kwuck, and it’s simply one among many idyllic places inside Vietnam.
Vietnam’s largest island has all the pieces a distant employee might want. Whether or not you get pleasure from kicking again on the seashore following a busy day on the laptop computer or climbing amongst beautiful lush countryside between on-line conferences, right here is why it’s best to take into account Phu Quoc as your subsequent digital nomad location.
About Phu Quoc
The island metropolis of Phu Quoc is house to round 180,000 individuals and is at the moment going via a interval of speedy improvement due to a tourism growth. Since 2014, the Vietnamese authorities has allowed 30-day visa-free journey for all foreigners to Phu Quoc, which has resulted in a large uptick in guests.
Phu Quoc consists of the primary island however contains 21 further smaller islets. Such is its magnificence and within the hope of conserving it, Phu Quoc has terrestrial nationwide park and marine safety.
Because of the wealthy provide of recent anchovies offshore, it’s broadly agreed amongst Vietnamese those that the most effective fish sauce on the earth is made in Phu Quoc. Black Pepper is one other main export and is cultivated broadly on the island.
Dwelling in Phu Quoc As a Digital Nomad
Phu Quoc was the ultimate cease of my time in Vietnam and I’m glad I saved it till final. Just because If I’d gone there first I could by no means have left! It’s an extremely lovely place that feels each bit like an island paradise.
Like a lot of Vietnam, WiFi is broadly out there in Phu Quoc that means distant working potentialities could be discovered nearly all over the place. And whereas there aren’t too many devoted coworking places on the island, laptop-friendly cafes are very commonplace. I loved having a couple of common spots to work from (extra on this later).
My work/life steadiness was pretty much as good as I’ve recognized it in Phu Quoc. The low price of lodging and meals meant that having fun with the nice life was extremely reasonably priced. It’s utterly possible for a Phu Quoc digital nomad to spend the morning working amongst tranquil countryside, drive into city for lunch, and end the working day on the seashore. Sounds dreamy, proper?
Is Phu Quoc Secure?
Phu Quoc is usually thought-about secure for vacationers. The island maintains a low crime price and violent crimes in opposition to vacationers are uncommon. That being mentioned, it’s all the time wise to train primary precautions equivalent to safeguarding valuables and being aware of your environment.
The island’s regularly enhancing and creating tourism business ensures well-maintained seashores and resorts, and as such, I all the time felt comfy and secure while working remotely in Phu Quoc.
Within the occasion of any medical incidences, Phu Quoc does have services that may deal with minor illnesses and accidents. Nonetheless, with the dearth of contemporary improvement present in Vietnam’s greater cities, I’d suggest in search of therapy on the mainland for any severe points.
Finest Locations for Digital Nomads in Phu Quoc
There’s quite a lot of neighborhoods and areas for a digital nomad dwelling in Phu Quoc to think about. Listed here are 5 of the most effective areas to base your self. Every has its distinctive allure and facilities;
1. Duong Dong City
The primary city and business hub of Phu Quoc is Duong Dong. That is the place you’ll discover the largest confluence of contemporary facilities and important providers on the island. The Dinh Cau Temple and the night time market are simply two common points of interest which can be loved by vacationers and locals alike.
Located on Phu Quoc’s central west coast, Duong Dong has nice entry to some fabulous seashores and lots of cultural points of interest such because the Dinh Cau Lighthouse. It’s additionally a brief 15-minute drive to the worldwide airport, making it a super location for exploring not solely Phu Quoc, however additional afield too.
2. Cua Lap
If it’s extra of that seashore life you crave, then head south of Duong Dong and keep at Cua Lap. The seashore right here is sensational and picturesque ocean views are so widespread you’ll run the danger of taking them with no consideration.
It’s a preferred spot for ex-pats and vacationers because of the scenic environment and the accessibility of Duong Dong. Cua Lap has a really chilled vibe and welcoming environment and but offers sufficient facilities to justify calling it house.
3. Ong Lang
An excellent quieter and extra secluded seashore city is Ong Lang, round a 25-minute drive north of Duong Down. As soon as once more, you’ll discover pristine seashores, clear waters, and a tropical backdrop that appears too excellent to be actual.
Being fairly near the primary middle of Phu Quoc means vacationers repeatedly make the journey to Ong Bang Seaside. Nonetheless, I all the time discovered it considerably much less busy, even on weekends, than close by seashores. The city has an actual neighborhood really feel to it with a small collection of cafes, bars, and eating places to take a look at.
4. Cua Can Village
Relying on the kind of expertise you’re on the lookout for in Vietnam, Cua Can Village will not be for everybody. It’s a a lot smaller neighborhood situated in direction of the island’s northeast nook and located alongside the Cua Can River.
I discovered Cua Can Village to have an enthralling setting with very laid-back vibes and pleasant locals. Surrounded by mangrove forests and rivers, that is definitely an space for anybody who enjoys eco-friendly dwelling and outside actions. Dwelling right here would enchantment to digital nomads in search of a detailed connection to nature and a slower tempo of life in Phu Quoc.
5. An Thoi
Don’t overlook the South! A 30-minute drive south of central Phu Quoc will carry you to the island’s southernmost city – An Thoi. The brief and fairly simple journey ought to offer you a sign of simply how small the island actually is.
Although it lacks a few of the facilities of Duong Dong, there’s nonetheless loads to get pleasure from in An Thai. A very good variety of eating places, a implausible stretch of shoreline with some wonderful seashores, and a extra chilled social scene are just some of the advantages of organising camp within the south.
Learn how to Discover Lodging in Phu Quoc
The favored tourism growth in Phu Quoc implies that there are lots of accommodations and residences out there for guests to lease. Listed here are a couple of prime locations to look and a few concepts to think about to make sure you get the most effective offers going.
1. Airbnb. The standout lodging possibility for a digital nomad in Phu Quoc is Airbnb. It has many listings that characteristic handy reserving choices, free cancellation, and reasonably priced charges. I’ve typically seen reductions of as much as 40% to 50% for month-long stays.
2. Reserving.com – Reserving.com has an intensive array of lodge rooms and residences for each finances in Phu Quoc, most with versatile reserving choices together with no prepayment or free cancellation. I’d additionally suggest enrolling within the Genius Membership for important reductions and extra perks in your bookings.
3. Trusted Housesitters – Home sitting is an more and more common possibility for budget-friendly journey. Trusted Housesitters is my go-to web site of selection – I secured a 2-week sit throughout my time in Phu Quoc. In the event you’re focused on pursuing home sitting alternatives try my earlier article, 8 Professional Suggestions for Touchdown a Home Sitting Job.
4. Workaway – An effective way to save cash on lodging, and infrequently meals, is to make use of Workaway. If in case you have time in your schedule to assist out with group initiatives, train English, or help on an eco farm, Workaway is all the time price a glance.
Price of Dwelling in Phu Quoc
Many guests will discover Phu Quoc a really reasonably priced place to stay. There aren’t any data-led web sites to focus on a lot of this, so I’ll give you my very own expertise from being a digital nomad in Phu Quoc. For additional verification, I direct you to the price of dwelling in Hoi An, which I discovered to be akin to island life in Phu Quoc.
Eating places and Groceries
Road meals stalls and conventional Vietnamese eating places are all over the place in Phu Quoc. An honest meal could be bought for beneath $1.50 and the standard may be very excessive. You’ll discover many locals utilizing these institutions day by day – which is all the time a very good signal!
Extra upmarket eating places are after all out there too, and also you anticipate to pay round $8-$10pp for a pleasant 3-course meal. Going out for a espresso will price between $1-$2 relying on how fancy you propose to be.
Grocery procuring is one explicit space the place I seen an enormous distinction from again house within the UK. Issues like eggs and meat are greater than 50% cheaper in Phu Quoc, as are many vegatables and fruits.
Lodging Prices
Dwelling on the gorgeous island of Phu Quoc is less expensive than you may first think about. The typical price of a long-term rental is round $250-$300/month. With all utilities coming in at roughly $60, the financial savings on month-to-month outgoings could be fairly important.
Airbnb and short-term lodging costs are a bit of steeper however nonetheless significantly extra reasonably priced than in lots of different nations I’ve visited. A pleasant residence to your self with a shared pool, health club, and sea views can price as little as $500/month.
Transportation Prices in Phu Quoc
It’s fairly straightforward to get round Phu Quoc because the island isn’t too massive. Dependable buses join all the primary cities with tickets costing round $0.25 for a single journey.
Seize is a helpful app to arrange in your telephone earlier than you arrive. The Vietnam equal to Uber offers a secure and safe approach to e book a taxi with out the necessity for money or communication with a non-English talking driver. Quick journeys price beneath $1 and drivers in Phu Quoc gained’t scoff at driving longer distances with charges across the $6-$10 mark for prolonged journeys.
SIM Playing cards and Knowledge
A number of telecom giants in Vietnam provide SIM playing cards for vacationers, however the massive three are Mobiphone, Vinaphone, and Viettel. Each time I’ve seen a value on-line, it’s differed from the value or deal I’ve ended up getting in-store, nevertheless it’s nonetheless so low cost that it doesn’t make a lot of a distinction.
The primary SIM I bought was with Vinaphone for 1 month which prices $6 for 6GB of knowledge a day! The second SIM was with Viettel additionally for 1 month and price $8 (together with a $2 price for buying a brand new SIM card).
So, for those who safely finances round $7-$10/month, you’ll simply discover a SIM with ample knowledge. The workers within the telephone shops in Phu Quoc are all the time useful and really acquainted with organising vacationers with new SIM playing cards there after which.
Cash Saving Suggestions for Phu Quoc
- Store on the markets: The quite a few day by day and nighttime markets in Phu Quoc are nice locations for selecting up all the pieces from garments to groceries.
- Haggle: Keep in mind the Vietnamese famously get pleasure from haggling, particularly within the market.
- Get Seize Limitless: The Seize app normally has a free trial of its membership program, providing versatile cancellation and even greater reductions on rides and meals deliveries.
- Join home sitting: Save on all of your lodging prices by signing as much as a web site like Trusted Housesitters.
- Eat Native: There are such a lot of nice avenue meals stalls and conventional Vietnamese eating places in Phu Quoc the place it’s potential to select up respectable meals for beneath $1.50.
- Take pleasure in Nature: Phu Quoc’s pure magnificence spots, beautiful seashores, and plush landscapes are free for everybody to get pleasure from.
- Drink Native Espresso: Ca Phe Den is a brilliant robust Vietnamese espresso, I add scorching water to it to make a scrumptious Americano-style drink. Better of all you’ll discover it all over the place for about $0.50.
- Search for Lodging Reductions: Many Airbnb hosts provide massive reductions on longer stays. I’ve seen reductions of 40%-50% when reserving for a month.
- Use Public Transport: A visit on the bus prices lower than $0.25 and there are routes connecting the entire island.
Coworking Areas and Laptop computer-Pleasant cafes
As a digital nomad dwelling in Phu Quoc, getting access to appropriate infrastructure is important. Whereas WiFi is offered nearly all over the place in Vietnam, coworking areas in Phu Quoc aren’t as widespread as they’re within the greater cities of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh Metropolis.
Having mentioned that, it’s nonetheless potential to seek out all of the facilities wanted for distant work. Listed here are a couple of of my prime locations for digital nomads to base themselves in Phu Quoc;
Nora’s Cafe and Restaurant – A beautiful, calm, and spacious setting with robust espresso and even stronger WiFi. Positioned a brief distance outdoors of Duong Dong it’s price making the brief journey south for the peaceable location and wonderful meals choices.
Highlands Espresso – Because the greatest chain of espresso retailers in Vietnam, Highlands Espresso is all the time an excellent distant working location. WiFi is free to all prospects and also you’re more likely to seek out extra specialty espresso choices right here than in one of many smaller avenue cafes.
There’s a Highlands Espresso based mostly in the primary hub of Duong Dong a avenue or so away from the river, making it a vibrant and common spot excellent for digital nomads who get pleasure from a energetic environment while working.
Like Espresso – If it’s a extra tranquil setting amongst Phu Quoc’s pure magnificence you need in your day of distant working, situate your self at Like Espresso. Primarily based on the sting of a small park in Duong Dong, the cafe/restaurant with a big exterior patio feels very far faraway from the workplace.
The meals choices listed here are nice, the WiFi is powerful even outdoors, and the workers are all the time very completely happy to see you.
Store 3S Hoa Mai – One of many solely locations in Phu Quoc that advertises itself as a coworking area is Store 3S. And whereas they do have a couple of desks extra suited to an workplace atmosphere, it’s extra of a restaurant that’s hoping to draw a digital nomad crowd.
Primarily based in direction of the northwestern tip of the island, that is one other wonderful cafe that’s welcoming of distant employees who want to spend the day utilizing the free WiFi, topping up their espresso cups, and dealing their approach via the meals choices.
Printing Amenities – Whereas espresso retailers are an excellent possibility totally free WiFi and a cushty area to work, they typically lack a few of the facilities digital nomads often require. Concern not, as scattered throughout the island are round 18-20 impartial setups with printing and scanning capabilities.
Now, dependable on-line info on such shops is fairly slim as they’re typically small-run operations which can be open every time the proprietor is there. Nonetheless, I used to be in pressing want of some printing and scanning while in Phu Quoc and managed it shortly and simply. It price me round $2 for over 50 printed and scanned pages.
Actions and Issues To Do in Phu Quoc
We didn’t turn out to be digital nomads simply to sit down and work now did we? Phu Quoc is without doubt one of the finest locations on the earth for some superior post-work actions.
1. Speedboat Island Tour, Snorkeling and BBQ
I discussed earlier that Phu Quoc is made up of 22 islands, however what I didn’t point out is that the complete space is a hub for snorkeling and scuba diving. The turquoise waters are house to a implausible and protected coral reef.
I needed to discover a couple of of those islands so opted to take action by speedboat – why not? All of the snorkeling gear was offered, and an excellent lunch and even a beer for good measure have been thrown in. If you wish to discover and fairly actually dip your toe within the waters then check out this wonderful full-day tour.
2. Eat and Drink Like a Native
There are a ton of wonderful avenue meals choices out there in Phu Quoc, so that you’ll typically be spoiled for selection. Nonetheless, realizing the place to go and what to eat when the menus aren’t in English is usually a little daunting at the most effective of instances.
In the course of the first few days in Phu Quoc, I took a avenue meals tour and received to know some native delicacies, what I ought to be paying for them, and the place the most effective locations to purchase native dishes have been situated. It’s an excellent introduction to the road meals scene, click on right here for extra info.
3. Go to the Greatest Theme Park in Vietnam
It’s solely a small island however Phu Quoc is house to the largest theme park in Vietnam. VinWonders is house to an array of points of interest and thrilling rides that make for an thrilling day trip. Rollercoasters and epic water slides characteristic alongside a 4D cinema and family-friendly playgrounds and carousels. Click on right here to skip the traces and e book your tickets now.
4. Expertise the World’s Longest Cable Automotive Journey
Phu Quoc can be the placement of the longest sea-crossing 3-wire cable automotive on the earth. It has a size of almost 5 miles and might carry 3500 individuals an hour. It takes in unequalled, breathtaking views of the ocean and the beautiful inexperienced landscapes of the island.
There are quite a few excursions out there, however I extremely suggest one which additionally features a go to to some of the opposite islands and a seashore for a buffet lunch. Click on right here to learn extra and e book your journey.
5. Go Scuba Diving
Improve your snorkeling expertise and go scuba diving within the lovely waters of Phu Quoc. A licensed teacher is all the time with you and there are periods appropriate for all ranges of expertise. In the event you’ve all the time fancied giving scuba diving a attempt, now could be your likelihood!
I discovered this nice tour that features pick-up and lunch, click on right here to study extra.
Climate in Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc has a tropical monsoon local weather, characterised by distinct moist and dry seasons. The dry season sometimes spans from December to March. Throughout these months, mild sea breezes present reduction from the warmth which might attain as excessive as 34°C (93°F).
Round April/Could time, the climate transitions into the moist season, which lasts till November. Regardless of the occasional very heavy downpour, temperatures stay delicate, though humidity ranges rise and create a extra tropical atmosphere.
Total, Phu Quoc’s climate may be very interesting to individuals like me who dislike the chilly. When the wet season begins it may possibly trigger points with journeys, excursions, and occasions, however for essentially the most half, life carries on as regular on the island. Even throughout the wettest months, there are nonetheless over 135 hours of sunshine to benefit from the seashores.
Execs and Cons of Dwelling in Phu Quoc
There are undoubtedly a number of professionals to dwelling on a fantastic island like Phu Quoc, however there are additionally some cons to pay attention to too. Listed here are a couple of of my prime factors for digital nomads to think about.
Execs of Dwelling in Phu Quoc
- Gorgeous Setting: Pure magnificence is all over the place in Phu Quoc. From the pristine seashores, tranquil waters, and plush forests, it encapsulates the picture of a paradise island.
- Inexpensive: Like a lot of Vietnam costs for guests are very low. It’s potential to benefit from the good life at a fraction of the fee in comparison with many different nations.
- High quality of Life: Though Phu Quoc has some sizeable cities, the tempo of life is way slower and the overbearing stresses of metropolis dwelling are miles away again on the mainland.
- Onward journey: Phu Quoc Worldwide Airport is well accessed from anyplace on the island and has day by day connections with all of Vietnam and varied nations around the globe.
- Visa: All overseas nationals are entitled to a visa-free 30-day keep in Phu Quoc. For nationals from locations like America and Canada, this implies no charges for a vacationer visa.
- Good WiFi: Regardless of being an island away from the mainland, web connections are usually excellent in Phu Quoc, permitting digital nomads to work with out concern.
Cons of Dwelling in Phu Quoc
- No Coworking Areas: There aren’t any devoted coworking areas in Phu Quoc. Distant working choices will come within the type of laptop-friendly cafes or providers offered by a lodge/lodging.
- Wet Season: Between Could and November Phu Quoc experiences a wet season. This could imply some significantly heavy downpours and disruptions to day by day life.
- Vacationer Crowds: Phu Quoc is a well-liked vacation spot for vacationers from around the globe and as such could be very busy throughout peak seasons and trip instances.
- Restricted Infrastructure: Though Phu Quoc does have medical services and common infrastructure it lacks the superior improvement of Vietnam’s greater cities.
Digital Nomad Visa for Phu Quoc
There aren’t at the moment any particular visas for digital nomads in Phu Quoc. Nonetheless, all overseas nationals are allowed a 30-day keep with out the necessity for a vacationer visa. It’s vital to notice that whereas Phu Quoc offers this visa-free keep, broader rules apply to different areas in Vietnam.
As an example, residents of the UK and 12 different nations can keep for as much as 45 days in Vietnam with no visa, with an possibility to increase their keep to 90 days via an internet software or at a chosen entry level.
Guests from the USA and Canada should receive a vacationer visa, which could be secured on-line earlier than journey or upon arrival at worldwide entry factors. The length of those visas ranges from 1 to three months, with related prices various between $25 and $50, relying on the supposed size of keep and the variety of entries wanted.
In Conclusion
I hope my digital nomad information to Phu Quoc has whet your urge for food for a slice of island dwelling. My time there was the epitome of what I hoped to expertise when setting out as a digital nomad – laptop computer and occasional all morning adopted by chilling on the seashore or climbing within the tropical forests within the afternoon.
Though it might lack the standard coworking areas, there are nonetheless loads of excellent places from which to base your self. Moreover, on such an accessible island, all the pieces is at your disposal. Take pleasure in!