Phu Quy Island

Phu Quy lies about a hundred kilometres off Phan Thiet, a small volcanic island of some sixteen square kilometres with black basalt coasts, a lighthouse on Cao Cat hill, temples and pagodas built by fishing families, and a working economy of fishing and squid drying rather than tourism. It has been reached by fast boat only relatively recently and is visited almost entirely by Vietnamese; foreign visitors have at times needed to register on arrival, and rules have varied. Wind farms stand on the high ground. The water is clear and the coast is rock rather than sand for most of its length.

What you actually see

• A volcanic island offshore - black basalt coasts and lava rock.
• A working fishing economy - with squid drying on the shore.
• Temples built by fishing families - and a hilltop lighthouse.
• Almost entirely domestic visitors - with registration rules that have varied.

When to go

March to September; the boat stops in rough weather. Two to three days.

Honest expectations

Sailings are cancelled by sea state and being stuck is normal. Registration requirements for foreign visitors have changed and should be checked. Accommodation is guesthouses. There is little sand - the coast is rock.

Nearby

Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are on the mainland.