Phu Quoc with a Toddler – What to Do and Not to Do

Phu Quoc, Vietnam—or Phú Quốc, Việt Nam—was our first trip since we landed in the Vietnamese capital in late December. No visa, no cold weather, no problem, right? Onward to Phu Quoc, the southwesternmost territory (and island) of Vietnam, which is situated closer to Cambodia than to Vietnam.

Pre-Departure—What (and what not) to Pack

We decided a 3-day / 2-night stay would be enough time to see all the sights and still manage to have a good time visiting Phu Quoc with a toddler.

Since this trip was going to be quick, we didn’t have to pack much. We figured 1 checked suitcase (and a few carry-on bags) would be enough. Summertime clothes in January? Yes! Phu Quoc has a warm, tropical climate year-round so we packed shorts, tank-tops, flip-flops, swimwear, and of course sunscreen. For our toddler, swim diapers and toys were also a must to pack!

While at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi’s Airport), we checked in and went through security, all of which was a breeze because it is a little different than in the U.S. For example, we were allowed to bring liquids through security and didn’t have to take off our shoes. As you read in our last few posts about flying coast to coast or internationally with a toddler, security checks can be quite a pain, especially with a clingy 2-year old. But, flying in Vietnam with a toddler is like having VIP service, when you have a toddler in tow, you are sent to the front of every line—check-in counter, security check, passport control, boarding—especially if you have a stroller! This makes traveling so much easier when you have a fussy toddler along for the ride.

Phu Quoc, Day 1

VietJet selfie!

Lucky for us, the flight was short and sweet (less than 2 hours) and Lily was an angel! Roundtrip from Hanoi to Phu Quoc was dirt cheap, too—$80 per person on Vietjet Airlines! Once we arrived we caught the hotel shuttle from the airport to the hotel, which was only about ten minutes away, perfect for traveling in a car with a toddler. We stayed at the Eden Resort, and they even upgraded us to a bungalow suite—yes, please!

Our main room in the bungalow

Our bathtub/kiddie pool in the bathroom

View from our patio

After we dropped our luggage in our room and changed into our summer clothes, we wanted to head out and explore, plus we were starving. We decided (on a whim) to go to the famed Vinpearl Safari, and not thinking straight (due to being hungry) we left in a hurry and were not prepared to spend a hot day out with a toddler at the zoo. The downside of going to the zoo from our hotel was that it was on the other side of the island. The Safari park provides a bus to transport you from your hotel to the Safari every 30 minutes, but we just missed it. So, instead of waiting for the next bus to arrive, we took a taxi to take us there—hey, we were starving! Upon arriving 45 minutes later (and 400,000 dong lighter due to the taxi fare), we found the first place to eat which was the Flamingo Café, one of two animal-themed cafes inside the park.

Lily looking at the Flamingo pond from the cafe

After we finished eating we started our stroll around the zoo to look at the animals. Since we were visiting in the middle of the week the park was pretty empty, which was great because we didn’t have to wait in long lines or encounter crowds near the animal enclosures. But, as we were in a hurry to get out the door at our hotel, we forgot to bring Lily’s milk and stroller! Can you imagine going to the zoo with a toddler and not having a stroller? It was rough! Lily did not want to walk at all and only wanted her dad to carry her throughout the park. To make matters worse, the temperatures were high, the sun was beating down on us, and carrying a toddler and her diaper bag in that heat quickly became exhausting. Luckily, the park’s vending machines had milk for purchase (thank God!) as we did not want to add to this excitement of a toddler not having her milk! After we walked around and looked at the animals, we headed for the safari part of the park where you sit on an air-conditioned bus and ride through enclosures to look at animals like in a “safari-type” setting. Unfortunately, our woes didn’t stop with the lack foresight to bring a stroller. On our way to the bus to see the Safari, Lily fell and scraped both knees. On top of being hot and tired, Lily was now bleeding and crying. Great. Thankfully, the bus ride through the Safari was an absolute blast! It is definitely a must-add to any itinerary when visiting Phu Quoc, just don’t forget the stroller if you’re bringing a toddler!

We took the bus back to our hotel and chilled-out at the beach until dinnertime. It was 5 o’clock after all and the beach bar was open and playing beachy music. Lily was easily entertained by playing with her toys in the sand while Matt and I sipped on some fruity cocktails.

A few drinks later, we became hungry and we headed for the Dinh Cau Night Market—a 15-minute taxi ride. Matt was excited to put his negotiating skills to the test and to speak Vietnamese with the shop sellers. It seemed the sellers were tickled to see Matt speaking with them in their language so I think we got some great deals! Phu Quoc is famous for three things: pepper, fish sauce, and pearls. Of course, we bought all three at the market! We were also able to score Matt and Lily new swimsuits since we did not bring any with us from the U.S. The two suits only cost $8! I suppose all of the shopping was not interesting enough for  Lily because she was fast asleep in her stroller the entire time. With a sleeping toddler, we thought this would be a perfect time to sit and eat dinner in peace and quiet so we picked a restaurant within the market, which was mediocre at best.

Day 2

The next morning, we ate our buffet breakfast at the hotel and headed to the local pearl factory to learn about pearls. We thought it would be unique to get a special souvenir at each destination we visited for Lily to cherish as she grew older and could appreciate it more. Otherwise, why spend money on a toy that a 2-year-old is only going to play with a few times and never remember buying it in a foreign place? For this trip, we decided that her souvenir would be a pearl pendant that she can have when she turns 13.

After the pearl shopping, we wanted to go hang out at the resort pool and let Lily swim. Then, after her nap, we went to sit on the beach and let Lily play in the sand (as we did the previous night) while we enjoyed some adult beverages and music. With the prices at the night market too good to pass up, we then hopped in a taxi for round two at the market. Following the bargain shopping, we ate at a German restaurant for dinner before heading back to our hotel. We flew out the next morning, back to Hanoi.

Cheesing for the camera

Making friends

Phu Quoc with a Toddler can be an enjoyable experience, like the one we had, but follow our recommendations and learn from our faux pas to have an even better experience 🙂 !

Don’t Forget to Pack: Mosquito repellant is a must! And, don’t forget to reapply before bedtime to prevent those nasty bloodsuckers feeding on you while you sleep.

Don’t Go Home Without: Pearls, Fish Sauce, and/or Pepper. All three are very famous throughout Phu Quoc!

Pepper, fish sauce and local candy

Observation on Phu Quoc: One thing I notice about Phu Quoc was that it allows for many different types of people to enjoy their time while visiting. There are plenty of activities for families to do as well as singles or couples with no kids.

Hotel Review: Eden Resort was toddler-friendly! It has a play area for toddlers, kiddie pool, provided a crib in our room, and a large tub in our room for bathing (or swimming)! Breakfast buffet had all necessary components for all types of cuisine as well as room service and an on-site restaurant.

Transportation: Taxis are king here and Uber is nonexistent. There were also sidewalks on most streets in the tourist areas, so it was easily accessible with a stroller.

Airline: Vietjet Airlines was great value for the money! No frills, but it was on-time and was very accommodating to families traveling with little ones, like us.

Check out more blogs about our travels here.

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