Welcome to my digital nomad information to dwelling in Phu Quoc. Residence 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 in every of many idyllic areas inside Vietnam.

Vietnam’s largest island has all the pieces a distant employee might need. Whether or not you get pleasure from kicking again on the seaside following a busy day on the laptop computer or climbing amongst beautiful lush countryside between on-line conferences, right here is why you must think about Phu Quoc as your subsequent digital nomad location.   

About Phu Quoc

The island metropolis of Phu Quoc is house to round 180,000 folks and is at present going by way of a interval of speedy growth 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 an enormous uptick in guests. 

Phu Quoc contains the principle island however includes 21 extra smaller islets. Such is its magnificence and within the hope of conserving it, Phu Quoc has terrestrial nationwide park and marine safety.

As a result of wealthy provide of contemporary anchovies offshore, it’s broadly agreed amongst Vietnamese those that the very best 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 stunning 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 prospects might be discovered nearly all over the place. And whereas there aren’t too many devoted coworking areas on the island, laptop-friendly cafes are very commonplace. I loved having a number of common spots to work from (extra on this later). 

My work/life stability was pretty much as good as I’ve recognized it in Phu Quoc. The low value of lodging and meals meant that having fun with the great life was extremely inexpensive. It’s fully 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 seaside. Sounds dreamy, proper?

Is Phu Quoc Secure?

Phu Quoc is mostly thought-about protected for vacationers. The island maintains a low crime price and violent crimes towards vacationers are uncommon. That being mentioned, it’s all the time smart to train primary precautions reminiscent of safeguarding valuables and being conscious of your environment.  

The island’s frequently bettering and creating tourism business ensures well-maintained seashores and resorts, and as such, I all the time felt snug and protected 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 growth present in Vietnam’s greater cities, I’d advocate looking for remedy on the mainland for any severe points.

Greatest 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 very best areas to base your self. Every has its distinctive attraction 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 most important confluence of contemporary facilities and important providers on the island. The Dinh Cau Temple and the night time market are simply two widespread 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 plenty 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 really perfect location for exploring not solely Phu Quoc, however additional afield too.   

2. Cua Lap 

If it’s extra of that seaside life you crave, then head south of Duong Dong and keep at Cua Lap. The seaside right here is sensational and picturesque ocean views are so widespread you’ll run the chance of taking them without any consideration. 

It’s a well-liked spot for ex-pats and vacationers as a result of 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 

A good quieter and extra secluded seaside 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 good to be actual. 

Being fairly near the principle heart of Phu Quoc means vacationers often make the journey to Ong Bang Seashore. 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 choice of cafes, bars, and eating places to take a look at.

4. Cua Can Village  

Relying on the kind of expertise you’re searching 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 a captivating 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 out of doors actions. Dwelling right here would enchantment to digital nomads looking for an in depth 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 convey you to the island’s southernmost city – An Thoi. The quick and fairly easy journey ought to offer you a sign of simply how small the island actually is. 

Although it lacks a number of the facilities of Duong Dong, there’s nonetheless lots to get pleasure from in An Thai. An excellent variety of eating places, a implausible stretch of shoreline with some glorious seashores, and a extra chilled social scene are only a few of the advantages of establishing camp within the south. 

Methods to Discover Lodging in Phu Quoc

The favored tourism growth in Phu Quoc signifies that there are lots of resorts and flats out there for guests to lease. Listed here are a number of high locations to look and a few concepts to think about to make sure you get the very best offers going. 

1. Airbnb. The standout lodging choice for a digital nomad in Phu Quoc is Airbnb. It has many listings that characteristic handy reserving choices, free cancellation, and inexpensive charges. I’ve usually seen reductions of as much as 40% to 50% for month-long stays. 

2. Reserving.com – Reserving.com has an in depth array of resort rooms and flats for each price range in Phu Quoc, most with versatile reserving choices together with no prepayment or free cancellation. I’d additionally advocate enrolling within the Genius Membership for vital reductions and extra perks in your bookings. 

3. Trusted Housesitters – Home sitting is an more and more widespread choice 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. Should you’re concerned with pursuing home sitting alternatives take a look at my earlier article, 8 Skilled Suggestions for Touchdown a Home Sitting Job. 

4. Workaway –  An effective way to economize on lodging, and infrequently meals, is to make use of Workaway. When you have time in your schedule to assist out with group initiatives, educate English, or assist 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 inexpensive place to dwell. There are not 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 value of dwelling in Hoi An, which I discovered to be corresponding to island life in Phu Quoc. 

Eating places and Groceries

Avenue meals stalls and conventional Vietnamese eating places are all over the place in Phu Quoc. A good meal might 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 an excellent signal! 

Extra upmarket eating places are after all out there too, and also you count on to pay round $8-$10pp for a pleasant 3-course meal. Going out for a espresso will value between $1-$2 relying on how fancy you plan to be.

Grocery procuring is one explicit space the place I observed a giant distinction from again house within the UK. Issues like eggs and meat are greater than 50% cheaper in Phu Quoc, as are many fruit and veggies.

Lodging Prices

Dwelling on the gorgeous island of Phu Quoc is less expensive than you may first think about. The typical value 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 might be fairly vital. 

Airbnb and short-term lodging costs are a bit steeper however nonetheless significantly extra inexpensive than in lots of different nations I’ve visited. A pleasant condominium to your self with a shared pool, gymnasium, and sea views can value 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 large. Dependable buses join all the principle cities with tickets costing round $0.25 for a single journey. 

Seize is a helpful app to arrange in your cellphone earlier than you arrive. The Vietnam equal to Uber offers a protected and safe strategy to guide a taxi with out the necessity for money or communication with a non-English talking driver. Quick journeys value 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 large three are Mobiphone, Vinaphone, and Viettel. Every time I’ve seen a worth on-line, it’s differed from the value or deal I’ve ended up getting in-store, but it surely’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 value $8 (together with a $2 payment for buying a brand new SIM card).     

So, should you safely price range round $7-$10/month, you’ll simply discover a SIM with ample information. The workers within the cellphone shops in Phu Quoc are all the time useful and really aware of establishing vacationers with new SIM playing cards there after which.  

Cash Saving Suggestions for Phu Quoc

1. Store on the markets: The quite a few day by day and nighttime markets in Phu Quoc are nice locations for choosing up all the pieces from garments to groceries. 
2. Haggle: Keep in mind the Vietnamese famously get pleasure from haggling, particularly within the market. 
3. 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. 
4. Join home sitting: Save on all of your lodging prices by signing as much as a website like Trusted Housesitters.
5. Eat Native: There are such a lot of nice avenue meals stalls and conventional Vietnamese eating places in Phu Quoc the place it’s doable to choose up first rate meals for beneath $1.50. 
6. Take pleasure in Nature: Phu Quoc’s pure magnificence spots, beautiful seashores, and luxurious landscapes are free for everybody to get pleasure from. 
7. Drink Native Espresso: Ca Phe Den is an excellent 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. 
8. Search for Lodging Reductions: Many Airbnb hosts provide large reductions on longer stays. I’ve seen reductions of 40%-50% when reserving for a month. 
9. 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 accessible 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 doable to search out all of the facilities wanted for distant work. Listed here are a number of of my high 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 quick journey south for the peaceable location and glorious meals choices.  

Highlands Espresso – Because the greatest chain of espresso outlets 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 search out extra specialty espresso choices right here than in one of many smaller avenue cafes. 

There’s a Highlands Espresso primarily based in the principle hub of Duong Dong a avenue or so away from the river, making it a vibrant and widespread spot good 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 on 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 below are nice, the WiFi is robust even outdoors, and the workers are all the time very blissful 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 number of desks extra suited to an workplace surroundings, 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 glorious 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 manner by way of the meals choices.   

Printing Amenities – Whereas espresso outlets are an excellent choice without cost WiFi and a snug area to work, they usually lack a number of the facilities digital nomads sometimes require. Concern not, as scattered throughout the island are round 18-20 impartial setups with printing and scanning capabilities. 

Now, dependable on-line data on such shops is fairly slim as they’re usually small-run operations which can be open each 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 rapidly and simply. It value me round $2 for over 50 printed and scanned pages.

Actions and Issues To Do in Phu Quoc

We didn’t grow to be digital nomads simply to take a seat and work now did we? Phu Quoc is likely one of the greatest 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 number of of those islands so opted to take action by speedboat – why not? All of the snorkeling gear was supplied, 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 glorious full-day tour.

2. Eat and Drink Like a Native 

There are a ton of fantastic avenue meals choices out there in Phu Quoc, so that you’ll usually be spoiled for selection. Nonetheless, figuring out the place to go and what to eat when the menus aren’t in English generally is a little daunting at the very best of occasions.

Throughout the first few days in Phu Quoc, I took a avenue meals tour and received to know some native delicacies, what I needs to be paying for them, and the place the very best locations to purchase native dishes have been situated. It’s an excellent introduction to the road meals scene, click on right here for extra data.

3. Go to the Largest 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 strains and guide your tickets now.

4. Expertise the World’s Longest Cable Automotive Experience 

Phu Quoc can be the placement of the longest sea-crossing 3-wire cable automotive on the earth. It has a size of practically 5 miles and might carry 3500 folks an hour. It takes in unmatched, breathtaking views of the ocean and the beautiful inexperienced landscapes of the island. 

There are quite a few excursions out there, however I extremely advocate one which additionally features a go to to a couple of the opposite islands and a seaside for a buffet lunch. Click on right here to learn extra and guide your journey.

5. Go Scuba Diving 

Improve your snorkeling expertise and go scuba diving within the stunning waters of Phu Quoc. An authorized teacher is all the time with you and there are periods appropriate for all ranges of expertise. Should you’ve all the time fancied giving scuba diving a strive, now could be your probability! 

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 usually spans from December to March. Throughout these months, mild sea breezes present reduction from the warmth which may attain as excessive as 34°C (93°F). 

Round April/Might time, the climate transitions into the moist season, which lasts till November. Regardless of the occasional very heavy downpour, temperatures stay gentle, though humidity ranges rise and create a extra tropical surroundings.  

General, Phu Quoc’s climate may be very interesting to folks like me who dislike the chilly. When the wet season begins it will 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 plenty of execs to dwelling on a stupendous island like Phu Quoc, however there are additionally some cons to pay attention to too. Listed here are a number of of my high factors for digital nomads to think about. 

Execs of Dwelling in Phu Quoc

• Beautiful Atmosphere: Pure magnificence is all over the place in Phu Quoc. From the pristine seashores, tranquil waters, and luxurious forests, it encapsulates the picture of a paradise island. 
• Inexpensive: Like a lot of Vietnam costs for guests are very low. It’s doable 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 far slower and the overbearing stresses of metropolis dwelling are miles away again on the mainland. 
• Onward journey: Phu Quoc Worldwide Airport is definitely accessed from anyplace on the island and has day by day connections with all of Vietnam and numerous nations all over the world. 
• Visa: All international 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 typically superb in Phu Quoc, permitting digital nomads to work with out concern.   

Cons of Dwelling in Phu Quoc

• No Coworking Areas: There are not any devoted coworking areas in Phu Quoc. Distant working choices will come within the type of laptop-friendly cafes or providers supplied by a resort/lodging. 
• Wet Season: Between Might and November Phu Quoc experiences a wet season. This will imply some critically heavy downpours and disruptions to day by day life. 
• Vacationer Crowds: Phu Quoc is a well-liked vacation spot for vacationers from all over the world and as such might be very busy throughout peak seasons and trip occasions. 
• Restricted Infrastructure: Though Phu Quoc does have medical services and normal infrastructure it lacks the superior growth of Vietnam’s greater cities. 

Digital Nomad Visa for Phu Quoc

There aren’t at present any particular visas for digital nomads in Phu Quoc. Nonetheless, all international 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 choice to increase their keep to 90 days by way of a web based software or at a chosen entry level.

Guests from the USA and Canada should acquire a vacationer visa, which might be secured on-line earlier than journey or upon arrival at worldwide entry factors. The period of those visas ranges from 1 to three months, with related prices various between $25 and $50, relying on the meant 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 low all morning adopted by chilling on the seaside or climbing within the tropical forests within the afternoon.

Though it could lack the standard coworking areas, there are nonetheless loads of excellent areas from which to base your self. Moreover, on such an accessible island, all the pieces is at your disposal. Take pleasure in!