Only32sq.km and with a population of 20,000, Phu Quy Island occupies asmall dot on the map of Binh Thuan. The locals call it Hon Thu orMackerel Island, because from the southwest direction, the islet lookslike a cod emerging from the sea. Within a few years, Phu Quy haschanged drastically, due to the burgeoning seaport at Trieu DuongBeach. The buildings are climbing higher, and an asphalt road, insteadof the old sandy path, now circles the island.

PhuQuy has preserved its natural features – the warm sand glistens withshells and coral and the water is teeming with sea life. This tinyislet has huge unexploited tourist potential. It still has no ratedhotels, but tourists can enjoy a peaceful night under the starry skyand explore nearby caves. You can eat fragrant corn cobs and fresh fishgrilled over a roaring campfire. Coconut orchards provide shade forcamping and coconut milk and copra for meals. Diving is also apossibility. According to locals, the sea floor around Phu Quy iscovered with coral and rocks that are home to many sea creatures.

Inthe island, several pagodas and temples such as Linh Quang, Cao Cat, AnThan have been recognized to be cultural -historic relics. Linh Son Tu(Sacred Mount) Pagoda, is the oldest pagode on Phu Quy. It was built in1747 in the time of King Le Hien Tong (whose regal name was Canh Hungthe 18th) on Cao Cat Hill, in Tam Thanh Village. The pagoda haspreserved many documents about the life of the local islanders as wellas many ancient cultural objects. Oddly shaped mountains and cavespepper Phu Quy Island’s interior. On top of Mountain Cao Cat, Linh SonPagoda rests peacefully under a banyan tree. Located here is anotherworship site, with a statue of "Kuan Yin," the goddess of compassion.At the summit is a lovely panoramic view of the island's beaches andimmense rock formations.

Phu Quy Port

Theisland is surrounded with white sandy beaches and 9 islets, of whichHon Tranh, Hon Den, Hon Trung are attractive aqua tourist spots. HonTranh, a small island shaped like an S, is half a kilometer to theSouth-East. The island contains beautiful mountains and long, pristinebeaches. Hon Tranh also has excellent scuba diving and snorkeling inits pink coral reefs. The highest point on the island is Mount Cam Dat,at 106 m. Phu Quy has thick stands of tall trees and long, pristinebeaches. Only the rocky, northern half of the island is inhabited, witha population of 20,698 people. The southern end offers long, desertedstretches of sandy beaches.

Visitorsarrive at the wharf, and travel a narrow road, flanked by denselypacked houses. The first stop is Van Tam Thanh, a peaceful locale withred, basalt soil; once covered by pineapple plantations. Here you canview the skeleton of a gigantic whale that the local people worship as"Ca Ong", or the "Lord Whale."

PhuQuy is an important in-between logistic destination linking themainland to Truong Sa archipelago. It is a “floating base” providingservices to ships fishing offshore. With such an important position,people built a light house guiding ships going out and coming in. Theisland’s lighthouse, built in 1997, sits on Mountain Cam. Thelighthouse is one of only two in the country that runs on solar energy.

If having a chance, you should not miss the trip to discover the underlying beauty of Phan Thiet City by once setting your foot into the space of pristine Phu Quy Island...