Phu Quoc Island has long acclaimed its reputation as a beach paradise, yet it is not all that this place offers. It also possesses other appeals, including the dizzyingly diverse eco-systems inside Phu Quoc National Park. Together with the beaches, the Park is a must-stop for any Phu Quoc vacation.
Table of Contents
I. Phu Quoc National Park Overview
Phu Quoc National Park is located in the northern part of Phu Quoc Island and is a part of the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve – a UNESCO designated biological site. The park covers 31,422 ha of both terrestrial and marine areas, of which 8,603 ha is for the strictly protected area, 22,603 ha for biological restoration area, and 33 ha for administration and services.
Source: Unsplash @boudewijn_huysmans
The park contains several zones, including the Northern Island Preservation Zone, Ham Rong Mount, Cua Can, and Ganh Dau.
Regarding the boundary, Phu Quoc National Park lies mostly within 5 communes: Ganh Dau, Bai Thom, Cua Can, Cua Duong, and Ham Ninh. Some small parts are belonging to Duong To Commune and Duong Dong Town, also. In general, the park has accounted for more than half of the island already.
II. How to get to Phu Quoc National Park?
The park is about 30 km away from the airport and is accessible via car, motorbike, jeep, and even bike. The best way to reach there is to book a Phu Quoc National Park tour with a reliable tour operator. They will take care of the tour program as well as transfer services. In case you want to travel on your own, then you can take a taxi or hire a motorbike and follow the map to get to the Park.
Source: Flickr @vjtadventures
There is no entrance fee to enter Phu Quoc National Park, luckily.
Apart from the main entrance, you can also access the forests and the beaches by other gates along the road. You can ask the tour guide or the locals to find which one is the best to visit.
III. Wildlife in Phu Quoc National Park
Source: Flickr @TuCongVan
Phu Quoc National Park possesses an exceptionally diverse bio-ecological system. It provides the natural to various species of plants, animals, and marine creatures, many of which are rare and precious. To be more specific, the Park is home to 1,164 species of plants, 61 species of mammals, 134 of birds, 47 of reptiles, and 23 of amphibians.
1. Flora And Fauna
The most impressive thing that strikes travelers during your Phu Quoc National Park tours is the vegetation. The primary forest is multi-layered with small to big & tall trees, including lots of precious orchids, medicinal plants, and parasitic plants.
Source: Luxurytravelvietnam
The fauna here is also plentiful with many species of animals, reptiles, and birds named in the Vietnamese and IUCN Red List.
2. Marine Life
Source: Luxurytravelvietnam
The marine ecosystem of this national park is also diverse. This oceanic region is home to 100 species of reef-building corals, 20 species of soft corals, 62 species of seaweed, and numerous species of fish. Typically, Phu Quoc sea is the habitat of dugong – an endangered and vulnerable mammal appeared in IUCN Red List.
IV. Things to do in Phu Quoc National Park
Large as it might seem, only some parts of the National Park are accessible to tourists. That said, there are still many appealing things awaiting your exploration.
Down below are the 3 highlighted activities that travelers should never forget to do.
1. Enjoy The wildlife
There are walking trails that lead tourists to go deep inside the forest. It is a quite adventurous yet joyful walk as you will come across the dense forests, jump through the small streams, meet the wild animals, and hear the murmur of the birds. As the natural habitat here is well protected, there are few signs of human interferences or buildings, thus offering tourists the best experiences of a primary rain forest.
You can also pay a visit to the isolated beach or island to meet the picture-landscape beach or dive deep to observe the colorful coral reefs and schools of fish.
Source: Luxurytravelvietnam
2. Phu Quoc National Park Trekking
Together with island hopping, trekking in Phu Quoc National Park is a cannot-miss activity when you visit this Pearl Island. Compared to the normal forest walks, an intrepid jungle trekking will have more to offer.
Source: Flickr @jensaar
While the reviews online are complaining about the crowded flocks of tourists in the major hiking trails, the unspoiled trekking trails give you a much quieter and more impressive experience. There are different trails of different lengths and difficulty levels, which are suitable for both amateurs and professionals. Some outstanding Phu Quoc National Park trekking routes are Ganh Dau Trails, Ham Ninh Mountain Treks, Rach Vem Jeep Trails, Da Ngon Waterfall Hike, and so on.
3. Photographing
The untouched wildlife of Phu Quoc National Park is an endless inspiration for photography enthusiasts. Don’t forget to bring along a camera or a good smartphone to capture the breathtaking scenery along the way. Every single thing inside the Park is worth photographing, like the monkeys, the birds, the flowers, the waterfalls, the Colgate-white beaches, etc.
If you want to get 360-degree photos, hike Mount Chua or Mount Ham Ninh to catch the panoramic view. These 1st and 2nd highest mountains inside the Park offer the exquisite bird’s eye view over the soaring forests and the far-off coastline.
V. Things to notice before traveling
- It is important to have a local guide accompanying you. It is easy to get lost if you get off the beaten track to explore deep inside the forests. Also, a guide who speaks your language will tell you more interesting information about the Park and explain all of your pop-up questions.
- Bring along enough water and fill up your vehicles beforehand.
- Wrap yourself with repellant and first-aid kid when you go for a jungle trekking
- Be environmentally friendly. Don’t leave anything behind except your footprints.
Source: Flickr @reinerhildebrand
VI. To Wrap Up
Being home to diverse eco-systems, Phu Quoc National Park holds an irresistible appeal to nature lovers. Paying a visit to the Park and immersing yourself into the wilderness of nature is a great idea to escape from the hustle and bustle of life and find peace in your mind.
If you feel interested, feel free to get in touch with Lux Travel DMC at any time for a more detailed guideline. As a tour operator with years of experience in providing Phu Quoc tours, we’re confident that we could offer you the best trip ever!.
Thanks for reading.
Contact Us
Address : No.456 Lac Long Quan Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Phone: (+84) 4 3927 4120
Email: [email protected]
Hotline: +84-336-276-996
Website: https://luxtraveldmc.com
