5 Must-Buy Souvenirs from Phu Quoc Island Vietnam

Phu Quoc Fish Sauce

Phu Quoc fish sauce has been highly appreciated for its delicious taste for a long time. It is made from fresh fish caught by fisherman (mainly anchovies). After fermenting according to standard and traditional method, Phu Quoc fish sauce is created with completely different taste. The process is total handmade. You can identify standard Phu Quoc fish sauce base on color and taste as: fish sauce is puce, has a very unique light aroma, a salty taste, a little sweetness and fat of anchovies.

The price of Phu Quoc fish sauce ranges from 140.000 VND – 160.000 VND/liter (type 40 degrees of protein). You can buy it as a gift in markets or supermarkets in Phu Quoc: Duong Dong Market, Phu Quoc Night Market, Dinh Cau Market,… However, you should buy this specialties in popular fish sauce manufactures in oder to ensure about quality. Some trademarks you can refer to are:

Thinh Phat Phu Quoc Fish Sauce: 30th Street, Quarter 1, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc City.
Khai Hoan Phu Quoc Fish Sauce: Number 11 Hung Vuong Bridge, Duong Dong Town, Phu Quoc City.
Phung Huong Phu Quoc Fish Sauce: Nguyen Van Cu Street, Quarter 4, Phu Quoc City.

Phu Quoc Pepper

Pepper is also a specialty to be a gift chosen by almost of tourists traveling to Phu Quoc. There are 3 kinds at all: white pepper, black pepper and pink pepper (pink pepper is the most precious). Thanks to geographical location and special climate in this island, the round- grained pepper has a stronger flavor than other kinds grown elsewhere.

Tourists can buy pure pepper when visiting pepper garden. And it is quite easy to find out pepper that has been processed at specialty stalls in market or supermarket there. Phu Quoc pepper’ price ranges from 200.000 VND to 250.000 VND/kilogram. The pepper harvest is from May to Jun, so to buy good one you should chose this time to go.

Phu Quoc fresh/dry seafood

Phu Quoc is a island city so it is understandable when you can see fresh/dry seafood anywhere. Phu Quoc seafood is very variety about kinds and value. To buy the cheap one you can chose mackerel, squid, snail,… Or the more expensive one like: crabs, abalone, holothurian,… If you want to get them as a gift, you should chose dry seafood because it os easier to store and transport than fresh one. Ham Ninh Phu Quoc is a ideal place to buy this specialty, specialy dried squid, dried shrimp, the price of them here is much cheaper than at the market or supermarket in the center.

If you travel by plane, there will be a lot of strict regulations on luggage for some raw and smell food. Therefore, please carefully consider the information of the airline to be able to transport them properly. If you don’t know the regulations on how to bring fish sauce and seafood when traveling by plain, you can see it right here.

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Phu Quoc Rose Myrtle Alcohol

What do you buy when traveling Phu Quoc Island? Another Phu Quoc specialty that many tourists often buy is rose myrtle alcohol. This alcohol has a characteristic sweet flavor, made from rose myrtle- a famous fruit grows a lot in the moutains or along the rocky streams of Phu Quoc. Rose myrtle alcohol has some special uses as: stimulating digestion, supporting to cure some diseases of kidney stones, gallstones, bones and joints,...

Rose myrtle alcohol has 2 kinds: pink rose myrtle and mini rose myrtle. The use and taste of both of them are similar, only the color of the alcohol is different. The price of Phu Quoc rose myrtle alcohol is about 240.000 VND/liter. You can buy this traditional alcohol in Phu Quoc as: Vuon Tao Restaurant ( Cua Lap Hamlet, Duong To Commune), Bay Gao Rose Myrtle Alcohol Store in Duong Dong Town.

Phu Quoc Pearls

Phu Quoc Pearls are a significant souvenir for grandmothers, mothers, sisters and loved ones. However, it is a very valuable item, it’s quite expensive, you must choose carefully and ask someone who has knowledge about this item to avoid buying fake one.

Phu Quoc Pearls have many kinds, the cheapest is ivory (40- 50 USD/ piece), higher is pink and the most expensive is black (below 1000 USD/ piece). Currently, in Phu Quoc, there are many places to cultivate pearls as: Ngoc Hien Pearls, Long Beach Pearl, Quoc An Pearls,… In these place, the quality of pearls will be ensured and the price is cheaper than in the supermarket.

Some Famous Shopping Places In Phu Quoc

When traveling in Phu Quoc, where should you go shopping? Except some supermarker or places to buy specialties that mentioned above, don’t forget to visit some markets here. Because you can buy a lot of items with good price in there. Morever, tourists can also discover about the lives of local people. Here are some famous Phu Quoc markets that you should not skip:

Duong Dong Market

This is one of the first shopping places in Phu Quoc chosen by tourists. Duong Dong market has the most abundant and quality items in this island. And it is also a trading for many fisherman and tourists. Inside the market sells daily life items, souvenirs and dried seafood. Outside the market is a ideal area for the fresh seafood faithful: shrimp, crab fish, snail, squid,… And some other Phu Quoc specialties as fish sauce, pepper, rose myrtle alcohol,… The market is located in the center of town ( no12 Tran Phu- Duong Dong town- Phu Quoc island distric), open from early morning to evening.

Ham Ninh Market

It is called Ham Ninh Market because its location nexts to the ancient fishinh village of Ham Ninh – the place that provides mainly the items for this market. It provides fresh seafood, Phu Quoc specialties, some essential goods for daily life of people here. Specialy, Ham Ninh market if famous for fresh and fried crab, the price is much cheaper than other places. If you want to buy crabs to eat or to be a gift, remember to visit this market.

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Ganh Dau Market

Another shopping place in Phu Quoc that tourists should not miss is Ganh Dau market. It is located in Suoi Cai hamlet, Ganh Dau commune, Phu Quoc island distric. This market is one of the markets located far away from center of Duong Dong town. Unlike other markets, what makes the market becomes special is that people here are very friendly, the trade is easy, all of this creat a happy feeling for visitor. Ganh Dau Market sells a lots fresh seafood that are delicious, nutritious and cheap. Therefore, the market attracts many tourists every year.

Phu Quoc Night Market

Phu Quoc Night Market ( Bach Dang Night Market) is one of the most famous markets in Phu Quoc. Visiting this market, you not only have opportunity to eat some fresh seafood dishes with the very cheap price, but you also can immerse yourself in the cultural exchange space of tourists in over the world. The market is located on Bach Dang Street, quarter 1, Phu Quoc Island distric. At night, the lights from all the stores on the market begin to light up and the atmosphere becomes vibrant, crowed.

Some notes when shopping in Phu Quoc

Most of stores often enhance the price, specialy in Phu Quoc markets, so do not be afraid to bargain for the good price.
If you intend to buy the specialties as a gift as: Phu Quoc fish sauce, fresh or dried seafood, you must ask seller to pack carefully. Otherwise, these item will break or will be prohibited when transporting by plain.
Please keep your personal belongings carefully to avoid being lost