Phu Quoc, the island in Vietnam's extreme southwest often described as one of the country's hidden gems, has just welcomed a very affordable new resort.

Best Western Premier Sonasea Phu Quoc boasts a whopping 566 rooms and a handful of luxury villas decorated in a modern Indochinese style. Said villas run along a 300-meter-long pool that stretches all the way to a beachside pool bar (open from 11am).

Standard rooms start at VND1,802,000—or about B2,500—per night, but splash out VND10,672,000/night (about B14,300) for a presidential five-bedroom villa and you plus at least nine others could kick back with your own private pool, wine cellar and karaoke room in the basement, as well as an in-house chef to see to your ravenous needs. Don’t have that many friends? A three-bedroom villa with private pool comes in at VND6,791,000/night (B9,100).

If you can pull yourself out of the pool, other resort facilities include a sky bar, a restaurant, a spa and a gym. 

Long heralded as one of Vietnam’s best-kept secrets, Phu Quoc is no longer so secret. Designated a special economic zone, the island could soon welcome a growing number of casinos, “integrated resorts” and theme parks that could detract somewhat from the azure waters, bountiful seafood and dense forests on offer. So the time to visit is now. Bangkok Airways run 1.5-hour direct flights from Bangkok for B8,000-9,000 return.

Thai nationals don’t require a visa to visit Vietnam, while many other nationalities can also visit Phu Quoc visa-free for 30 days. 

 


See also: Why Vietnam’s Phu Quoc should be your next island escape