9 Phu Quoc resorts for an enchanting Vietnamese escape

The 4-star La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc is unbeatable when it comes to timeless elegance. Part of Sofitel’s exclusive MGallery collection, this hotel’s got French sophistication in everything from its hand-painted mosaic tiles to the rich dark wood furnishings that feature throughout. A selection of rooms, suites and villas means there’s accommodation to suit various party sizes – whichever you go for, you can look forward to evocative artwork and luxury four-poster beds.

To jumpstart your relaxation, pop over to onsite TĨNH Wellness Sanctuary for a signature Volcanic Stone Body Treatment. Bookend this with a meander through the hotel’s tranquil gardens and time on the private beach, or perhaps enjoy a complimentary yoga class as the sun sets. By the time you’re feasting in The Peppertree Restaurant on slow-cooked squid and tempura crab rice paper rolls, you’ll be well and truly settled in your zen zone.

You’ll be immersed in Vietnam’s flora and fauna when you stay at The Garden House Phu Quoc. This resort stretches across four lush hectares, with a collection of earthy-toned ‘garden houses’ offering airy stays. Settle into a Deluxe Garden View Room with wooden interiors and a private kitchen – great for preparing leisurely breakfasts and the odd midnight treat.

When you feel like getting your pulse rate up, you can fill your days with volleyball, yoga and sun-soaked swims in the palm-fringed pool. There’s plenty to explore nearby, too – especially when you borrow one of the hotel’s handy bicycles. You can pedal to Dinh Cau Shrine in around 20 minutes, while bustling Dinh Cau Night Market is right next door.

The Shells might just be Vietnam’s most innovative resort. Focused on being at one with nature, this 4-star complex sits in a serene landscape of indigenous flora. Slick, voguish accommodation’s housed within a shell-shaped building, or you can splash out for a stand-alone luxury villa. Get cosy with swish in-room amenities like an oversized marble bathtub and toast your island escape with drinks from the minibar.

You can take advantage of the private beach for secluded sessions on golden sands, or linger in the hotel’s Waves Spa with a treatment or two. Soothing massages are perfectly rounded off with an open-air bamboo shower or even a footbath in the courtyard. Alternatively, you unwind with fruity cocktails at the Liquid Lounge.

Famiana Resort & Spa is a hotel of two halves. You’ve got the Beach & Spa Section – an oceanside oasis where you’ll drift off each night to the sound of gently lapping waves. Then there’s the Green Villa Section, which features a collection of rooms and villas encircled by coconut palms and fragrant flowers.

If you’re an early riser, jump on a hotel-organised tour to Phuo Quoc National Forest or Ham Ninh Fishing Village. More the nocturnal type? You can join a night trip to fish for sea squid. If you’d rather stay onsite, nab a sunlounger by the outdoor pool, or try your hand at archery. Either way, you can satiate your appetite afterwards in the elegant Famiana Restaurant, where the menu’s packed with local delicacies like lẩu chua cá bớp (black kingfish hotpot) and phở bò (beef noodle soup).

With both a tranquil spa and a lively amusement park onsite, Vinoasis Phu Quoc Resort is certainly enigmatic. Part relaxation zone and part adventure playground, you’ll find glitzy casinos, a fully equipped fitness centre and even a wildlife-rich safari park.

When you’re not dancing with lady luck or cooing over fuzzy-maned lions, pair time on the beach with a dreamy Thalgo Source Marine Ritual at Akoya Spa. If you’re travelling with the family in tow, wave the kids off to the activity-packed kids club so you can hit the fairways for some memorable golf by the sea.

After an action-packed day, tuck in to the likes of gourmet pizza at Atlantis Restaurant or tom yum shrimp noodles at Nautilus. Just leave room for sampling some of the refreshing beers on offer at the inviting Brew Bar.

Sheltered by a flower-dotted coconut forest, Saigon Phu Quoc is a tropical retreat. With the turquoise ocean just moments from your door, you can easily get your fill of lazy beach days here. Should you feel like venturing beyond your sunlounger, there are temples and pearl farms, picturesque pagodas and fish sauce factories to visit nearby. On your return, you can freshen up with a mud facial at GONY Spa.

As for your room, expect deep mahogany fixtures and silk-laced furnishings. In a VIP Room, you can enjoy panoramic ocean views from the privacy of your terrace – preferably with a glass of something sparkling in hand. Come evening, be sure to catch one of the hotel’s lavish buffet dinners. Served on the beach at sunset, the feast of barbecued meats and seafood showcases island flavours while musicians provide a soundtrack of traditional Vietnamese tunes.

Right on Phu Quoc’s southern tip is one of Vietnam’s most exclusive hotels. In fact, each of the 217 villas at Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort has its own private pool. Check into your personal oasis and you’ll have your own living space, elegant dining room and a sleek kitchenette for whipping up tasty treats.

Expert professionals are on hand at Plumeria Spa to pamper you with treatments or guide you in a private yoga class. Call in afterwards at Deli Cafe for a shrimp and spinach salad – or a hot fudge brownie if you’re feeling devilish. As for laidback afternoons, you can soak up the sun on one of two private beaches, or paddle out into the clear ocean with a snorkel.

Tropicana Resort Phu Quoc was one of the island’s very first hotels, so the staff here really know how to immerse you in Phu Quoc’s calming culture. A facelift in 2015 kitted the place out with luxury thatch-roofed bungalows that look out over lush gardens or the glittering ocean. After waking in crisp linens, brew an in-room cup of coffee before heading to the private beach for a dip in emerald waters.

You’re close to many of the island’s most famous attractions here, such as Dinh Cau Shrine and Sung Hung Co Tu Pagoda. If you want a taste of how the locals live, walk 15 minutes to lively Duong Dong Market. You can pick up handicrafts to take home, or sample a bowl of sticky echinus (sea urchin) porridge – a Phu Quoc favourite. Return to the hotel in time for sunset cocktails and freshly cooked seafood at the beachside restaurant.

It doesn’t get more central than Kim Hoa Resort Phu Quoc. It’s right in Duong Dong, the main town on the island, so you can easily stroll along Bai Truong Beach to attractions like the Dinh Cau Night Market. There’s plenty to keep you onsite, too, like a wealth of lip-smacking dining options and a glittering infinity pool that’s right by the beach. Sunseekers can luxuriate on the hotel’s private stretch of sand, while energetic types might hit up the tour desk. Popular picks include scuba diving tours that help you check out kaleidoscopic marine life beneath the rippling waves.

Whether reclining in a stand-alone bungalow or feeling the breeze in an airy sea-view room, you’ll enjoy a bounty of extra touches – think soft slippers, perfumed toiletries and a tempting minibar. In the evening, slip out to your private terrace or balcony to watch the stars come out over the tropics.