View source for Phú Quốc

{{Expand Vietnamese|topic=geo|date=October 2023|Phú Quốc}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Phú Quốc City
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = Thành phố Phú Quốc
| native_name_lang   = vi
| settlement_type    = [[Provincial city (Vietnam)|Provincial City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 280
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow = 1/2/2
| image1 = Bai-sao-phu-quoc-tuonglamphotos.jpg
| image2 = Hòn Thơm cable car above the An Thới township.jpg
| image3 = Trại giam Phú Quốc 2.jpg
| image4 = Dinh Cậu Phú Quốc.jpg
| image5 = Vinpearl Safari Phú Quốc.jpg
}}
| image_caption      = From left to right, top to bottom: Bãi Sao, Cáp treo Hòn Thơm, [[Phú Quốc Prison]], Dinh Cậu, Vinpearl Safari Phú Quốc
| image_map          = {{Infobox mapframe|zoom=8|frame-width=280|frame-height=280}}
| image_seal         = Logo Huyện Phú Quốc.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Phú Quốc
| pushpin_map        = Vietnam
| coordinates        = {{coord|10|14|N|103|57|E|region: VN|display=it}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{VIE}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Vietnam|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[An Giang province|An Giang]]
| area_total_km2     = 589.27
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="r326" >{{Cite web |date=20 July 2020 |title=Nghị quyết số 326/NQ-HĐND về việc tán thành chủ trương thành lập thành phố Phú Quốc |trans-title=Resolution No. 326/NQ-HDND about the establishment of Phu Quoc city |url=https://kiengiang.gov.vn/Lists/QuanLyVanBan/Attachments/2831/326-NQ-HDND.pdf |access-date=28 April 2024 |website=[[Kiên Giang province]] |language=vi}}</ref>
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_total   = 379.480
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_footnotes = <ref name="r326"/>
| population_density_km2 = 644
| timezone1          = Indochina Time
| utc_offset1        = +7
| area_code          = 855
| area_code_type     = Calling code
| iso_code           = 
| website            = {{URL|https://phuquoc.kiengiang.gov.vn|Phuquoc.Kiengiang.gov.vn}}<br>{{URL|https://phuquoc.kiengiang.dcs.vn|Phuquoc.Kiengiang.dcs.vn}}
| unemployment_rate  = 
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Tropical monsoon climate|Am]]
}}
[[File:Bai-sao-phu-quoc-tuonglamphotos.jpg|thumb|Bãi Sao beach on Phú Quốc island]]
[[File:PQ 2022, Thăng Long cổ trấn (hóa trang thần tài) (1).jpg|thumb|[[Lion dance]] with Thần Tài in Thăng Long Cổ trấn, Phú Quốc]]

'''Phú Quốc''' ({{IPA|vi|fǔ kǔə̯k|lang}}) is the largest island in [[Vietnam]]. Phú Quốc and nearby islands, along with the distant [[Thổ Chu Islands]], are part of [[Kiên Giang Province]] as '''Phú Quốc City'''; Vietnam's first island municipality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ONLINE |first=TUOI TRE |date=2020-12-09 |title=Phú Quốc chính thức là thành phố đảo đầu tiên của Việt Nam |url=https://tuoitre.vn/phu-quoc-chinh-thuc-la-thanh-pho-dao-dau-tien-cua-viet-nam-20201209165307047.htm |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=TUOI TRE ONLINE |language=vi}}</ref> The island has a total area of {{convert|589.27|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}} and a permanent population of approximately 179,480 people in 2020.<ref name="r326"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Phú Quốc chính thức là thành phố đảo đầu tiên của Việt Nam|url=https://tuoitre.vn/phu-quoc-chinh-thuc-la-thanh-pho-dao-dau-tien-cua-viet-nam-20201209165307047.htm|date= December 9, 2020}}</ref> Located in the [[Gulf of Thailand]], the island city of Phú Quốc includes the island proper and 21 smaller [[islet]]s. [[Dương Đông]] ward, located on the island's west coast, is the island's administrative centre and largest town. The other ward is [[An Thới, Kiên Giang|An Thới]] on the southern tip of the island.

Its primary industries are [[fishing]], [[agriculture]], and a fast-growing [[tourism]] sector. Phú Quốc has achieved fast economic growth due to its current tourism boom. Many infrastructure projects have been carried out, including several five-star hotels and resorts. [[Phu Quoc International Airport|Phú Quốc International Airport]] is the hub connecting Phú Quốc with mainland [[Vietnam]] as well as with international destinations.

Since March 2014, Vietnam has allowed all foreign tourists to visit Phú Quốc [[Travel visa|visa]]-free for a period of up to 30 days.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vietnamvisaexpert.com/Vietnam-immigration-and-visa-news/news15/ |title=Visa no longer needed to enter Phú Quốc by sea |access-date=2014-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222739/http://www.vietnamvisaexpert.com/Vietnam-immigration-and-visa-news/news15/|archive-date=2014-05-12 |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/96352/phu-quoc-giving-free-30-day-visas.html|title=Phu Quoc giving free 30-day visas - News VietNamNet|last=vietnamnet.vn|access-date=2014-05-09|archive-date=2019-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331115551/https://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/travel/96352/phu-quoc-giving-free-30-day-visas.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 2017, the government of Vietnam planned to set up a Special Administrative Region which covered Phú Quốc Island and its peripheral islets and upgrade it to a provincial city with special administration.

The historical [[Phú Quốc Prison]] was based here, the prison was built by the French to detain captured [[Viet Minh]] fighters. Continuing into the [[Vietnam War]], [[Viet Cong]] and [[North Vietnamese Army]] POWs were monitored by South Vietnamese soldiers.
[[File:2023-07-30 Grand World Phú Quốc DSCF2045.jpg|thumb|right|Grand World Phú Quốc]]

==History==
[[File:Ở khu vực chợ Dương Đông.jpg|thumb|In the area of Dương Đông town market]]

The earliest Cambodian references to Phú Quốc (known as Koh Tral) are found in royal documents dated 1615.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://khmerbuddhistrelief.org/khmerinstitute/articles/art09.html|title=The Khmer Claim to Koh Tral (Phu Quoc)|website=Khmer Institute|access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref>
, however no one has offered compelling evidence that Khmers have ever had a substantial presence there, or that a state exercised authority. Until modern day, the local Khmers still call Koh Tral island in its ancient name.<ref name="thediplomat1">{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/06/cambodias-impossible-dream-koh-tral|title=Cambodia's Impossible Dream: Koh Tral|publisher=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]|date=June 17, 2014}}</ref>{{Close paraphrasing inline|date=May 2025}}

Around 1680, Phú Quốc was part of the [[Principality of Hà Tiên]], a maritime polity founded by Chinese merchant and explorer [[Mạc Cửu]] under the patronage of the Cambodian king.

Mạc Cửu later switched allegiance to the [[Nguyễn lords]] and recognized the authority of the Vietnamese sovereign.<ref name="thediplomat1"/><ref name="Coedes 1966 213">{{citation|last=Coedes|first=George|year=1966|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-05061-7|title=The making of South East Asia|page=213}}</ref> He sent a tribute mission to the Nguyễn court in 1708, and in return received the title of ''Tong Binh'' of Hà Tiên<ref>{{citation|title=Water frontier: commerce and the Chinese in the Lower Mekong Region, 1750-1880|first1=Nola|last1=Cooke|first2=Tana|last2=Li|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7425-3083-6|pages=43–44}}</ref> and the noble title ''Marquess Cửu Ngọc'' ({{langx|vi|Cửu Ngọc hầu}}).

Mạc Cửu died in 1736, his son [[Mạc Thiên Tứ]] (Mo Shilin) succeeded. The Cambodian army attempted to liberate Hà Tiên in 1739 but was defeated. From then on, Cambodia did not try to retake Hà Tiên and it enjoyed full independence from Cambodia thereafter.<ref>{{citation|title=Water frontier: commerce and the Chinese in the Lower Mekong Region, 1750-1880|first1=Nola|last1=Cooke|first2=Tana|last2=Li|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7425-3083-6|pages=43–46}}</ref>

Mạc Thiên Tứ's reign saw the golden age of Hà Tiên. In 1758, Hà Tiên established [[Outey II]] as puppet king of Cambodia. After [[Burmese–Siamese War (1765–67)|War of the second fall of Ayutthaya]], Mạc Thiên Tứ tried to install Prince Chao Chui ({{lang|th|เจ้าจุ้ย}}, ''Chiêu Thúy'' in Vietnamese) as the new Siamese king, but was defeated by [[Taksin]].<ref name=dai313/> Hà Tiên was completely devastated by Siamese troops in 1771, Mạc Thiên Tứ had flee to Trấn Giang (modern [[Cần Thơ]]). In there, he was sheltered by Nguyễn lord. Two years later, Siamese army withdrew from Hà Tiên, and Mạc Thiên Tứ retook his principality.<ref name=dai313>{{citation|first1=Kelai|last1=Dai|first2=Baoyun|last2=Yang|title=Ling nan zhi guai deng shi liao san zhong|publisher=Zhongzhou gu ji chu ban she|location=Zhengzhou|year=1991|isbn=7534802032|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/11838010?q&versionId=13948492|language=zh|pages=313–319}}</ref>

The [[France|French]] [[missionary]] [[Pigneau de Behaine]] used the island as a base during the 1760s and 1780s to shelter [[Nguyễn Ánh]], who was hunted by the [[Tây Sơn dynasty|Tây Sơn]] army.<ref>Nick Ray, Wendy Yanagihara. [https://books.google.com/books?id=eB_kEfBlMUEC&dq=phu+quoc&pg=PA445 Vietnam]. Retrieved 2015-10-09. p.445</ref> Descriptions of this mission make reference to the local Vietnamese population of the island but not the Khmer.<ref name="thediplomat1"/>

The British envoy [[John Crawfurd]] en route to Siam from [[Singapore]] in 1822 made a stop at Phú Quốc which he transcribed as ''Phu-kok'' in March. His entry is as follows:
{{cquote|The place which we had now visited is called by the Cochinchinese, Phu-kok, and by the Siamese Koh-dud... In the Kambojan language it is called Koh-trol... It is the largest island on the east coast of the Gulf of Siam, being by our reckoning not less than thirty-four miles in length. It is commonly bold high land, the highest hills rising to seven or eight hundred feet. A few spots here and there on the coasts only are inhabited, -the rest being, as usual, covered with a great forest, which we were told, contained abundance of deer, hogs, wild buffaloes, and oxen, but no leopards or tigers... The inhabitants of Phu-kok were described to us as amounting to four to five thousand, all of the true [[Vietnamese people|Cochinchinese]] race, with the exception of a few occasional Chinese sojourners. They grow no species of corn and their husbandry is confined to a few coarse fruits and esculent green vegetables and farinaceous roots..."<ref>Crawfurd, John. ''Journal of an Embassy to the Courts of Siam and Cochinchina''. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press, 1967. p64-5</ref>}}

Western records in 1856 again mentioned the island: "... King [[Ang Duong]] (of Cambodia) apprize Mr. de Montigny, French envoy in visit to [[Bangkok]], through the intermediary of Bishop Miche, his intention to yield Phú Quốc to France."<ref>"Le Second Empire en Indo-Chine (Siam-Cambodge-Annam): l'ouverture de Siam au commerce et la convention du Cambodge”, Charles Meyniard,  1891, Bibliothèque générale de géographie</ref> Such a proposition aimed to create a military alliance with France to avoid the threat of Vietnam on Cambodia. The proposal did not receive an answer from the French.<ref>"La Politique coloniale de la France au début du second Empire (Indo-Chine, 1852-1858)", Henri Cordier, 1911, Ed. E.J. Brill</ref>  An 1856 publication by The Nautical Magazine describes Phú Quốc to still be part of Cambodia even though it was occupied by the [[Vietnamese people|Cochinchinese]].  The quote from the publication is:

{{cquote|The whole of the island is thickly wooded, and only the shore parts appear to be inhabited, principally by [[Vietnamese people|Cochinchinese]], for although in the empire of Cambodia it has been seized upon by the unscrupulous inhabitants of Cancao."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=aoQEAAAAQAAJ&dq=koh+tron+cambodian+empire&pg=PA693 Remarks on the East Side of the Gulf of Siam. (1856). In The Nautical Magazine: A Journal of Papers on Subjects Connected with Maritime Affairs (p. 693). Brown, Son and Ferguson.]</ref>}}

While the war between [[Vietnam]] and France was about to begin, Ang Duong sent another letter, dated November 25, 1856, to [[Napoleon III]] to warn him about Cambodian claims on the lower [[Cochinchina]] region: the Cambodian king listed provinces and islands, including Phú Quốc, as being parts of Vietnam for several years or decades (in the case of [[Saigon]] some 200 years). Ang Duong asked the French emperor to not annex any part of these territories because, as he wrote, despite this relatively long Vietnamese rule, they remained Cambodian lands. In 1867, Phú Quốc's Vietnamese authorities pledged allegiance to French troops just conquering [[Hà Tiên]].

[[File:Carte de l'Indochine Routes chemins (...)Indochine française btv1b530574891 1.jpg|thumb|upright|left|French Indochina c.1933]]
In 1939, for administrative purposes, Governor General of [[French Indochina]], [[Jules Brévié]], drew a line demarcating maritime boundary between Cambodia and Cochinchina; and Phú Quốc remained under Cochinchina administration. After the Geneva Accords, in 1954, Cochinchina's sovereignty was handed over to Vietnam.<ref>Polomka, Peter. [https://books.google.com/books?id=pHWiI6JsNZcC&dq=phu+quoc&pg=PA19 Ocean Politics in Southeast Asia]. Retrieved 2015-10-09. p.20</ref>

After [[mainland China]] fell under the control of the [[Chinese Communist Party]] in 1949, General [[Huang Chieh]] moved 33,000+ [[Republic of China]] Army soldiers mostly from Hunan Province to Vietnam and they were interned on Phú Quốc. Later, the army moved to [[Taiwan]] in June 1953.<ref>2009年03月31日, [http://news.ifeng.com/history/1/jishi/200903/0331_2663_1084838.shtml 抗日名将黄杰与最后一支离开大陆的国民党部队], 凤凰资讯. There is currently a small island in [[Kaohsiung]], Taiwan's [[Chengcing Lake]] that was constructed in November 1955 and named Phú Quốc Island in memory of the Nationalist Chinese loyal soldiers who was detained from 1949-1953.</ref>

In 1967, the Vietnamese and Cambodian government accepted the "Brévié Line" as the maritime border. Later on, Sihanouk renewed his claim on Koh Tral. The Vietnamese also abandoned their previous acceptance of the Brevie Line.<ref name="thediplomat1"/>

From 1953 to 1975, the island housed [[South Vietnam]]'s largest prisoner camp (40,000 in 1973), known as [[Phú Quốc Prison]].<ref>Ngo Cong Duc, deputy of the Vinh Binh province, quoted in "Le régime de Nguyen Van Thieu à travers l'épreuve", Etude Vietnamienne, 1974, pp.&nbsp;99–131</ref> Phú Quốc was located in IV Corps Tactical Zone and was an integral part of South Vietnam's system for detaining enemy prisoners.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Berni |first=Marcel |date=October 2023 |title=Capture, classification and incarceration of Communist captives during Vietnam's American War |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-southeast-asian-studies/article/capture-classification-and-incarceration-of-communist-captives-during-vietnams-american-war/4F250B76999277463A9AFFFDD54A83D3 |journal=Journal of Southeast Asian Studies |language=en |volume=54 |issue=3 |pages=526–547 |doi=10.1017/S0022463423000449 |issn=0022-4634|hdl=20.500.11850/650693 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

On May 1, 1975, a squad of [[Khmer Rouge]] soldiers raided and took Phú Quốc, but Vietnam soon recaptured it. This was to be the first of a series of incursions and counter-incursions that would escalate to the [[Cambodian–Vietnamese War]] in 1979. Cambodia dropped its claims to Phú Quốc in 1976.<ref>Hanns Jürgen Buchholz. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2KZEEuaS6RIC&dq=phu+quoc&pg=PA41 Law of the Sea Zones in the Pacific Ocean]. Retrieved 2015-10-09. p.41</ref> But the bone of contention involving the island between the governments of the two countries continued, as both have a historical claim to it and the surrounding waters. A July 1982 agreement between Vietnam and The [[People's Republic of Kampuchea]] ostensibly settled the dispute; however, the island is still the object of [[Irredentism|irredentist]] sentiments.<ref name=Ramses>Amer, Ramses. 2002. ''Claims and Conflict Situations'' in "War or Peace in the South China Sea?" edited by Timo Kivimaki. Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS), Copenhagen, Denmark</ref>

In 1999 the Cambodian representative to the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Border Commission affirmed the state’s acceptance of the Brevie Line and Vietnamese sovereignty over Phú Quốc, a position reported to and accepted by the National Assembly.<ref name="thediplomat1"/>

==Geography==
{{See also|Phú Quốc National Park}}
===Topography===
Phú Quốc lies south of the [[Cambodia]]n coast, south of [[Kampot Province|Kampot]], and {{convert|40|km|nmi|lk=on}} west of [[Hà Tiên]], the nearest coastal town in Vietnam. Roughly triangular in shape the island is {{convert|50|km|mi}} long from north to south and {{convert|25|km|mi}} from east to west at its widest. It is also located {{convert|17|nmi|km|lk=on}} from [[Kampot (city)|Kampot]], {{convert|62|nmi|km|lk=on}} from [[Rạch Giá]] and nearly {{convert|290|nmi|km}} from [[Laem Chabang, Thailand]].
A mountainous ridge known as "99 Peaks" runs the length of Phú Quốc, with Chúa Mountain being the tallest at {{convert|603|m|ft}}.

Phú Quốc Island is mainly composed of sedimentary rocks from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic age, including heterogeneous conglomerate composition, layering thick, quartz pebbles, silica, limestone, [[rhyolite]] and [[felsite]]. The Mesozoic rocks are classified in Phú Quốc Formation (K pq). The Cenozoic sediments are classified in formations of Long Toàn (middle - upper Pleistocene), Long Mỹ (upper Pleistocene), Hậu Giang (lower - middle Holocene), upper Holocene sediments, and undivided Quaternary (Q).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258698786|title=Biển đảo Việt Nam - Tài nguyên vị thế và những kỳ quan địa chất, sinh thái tiêu biểu (Vietnamese sea and islands – position resources, and typical geological and ecological wonders)}}</ref>

===Administration===
The city of Phú Quốc is officially divided into nine commune-level sub-divisions, including two urban wards ([[Dương Đông]], [[An Thới, Kiên Giang|An Thới]]) and seven rural communes (Bãi Thơm, Cửa Cạn, Cửa Dương, [[Dương Tơ]], Gành Dầu, Hàm Ninh, [[Thổ Châu]]).

==Economy==
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
[[File:Phu quoc bateau de peche 2.jpg|thumb|Fishing has historically been the dominant industry in Phú Quốc.]]
[[File:Fish sauce factory, Phu Quoc.jpg|thumb|A traditional [[fish sauce]] factory in Phú Quốc]]

Phú Quốc is famous for its two traditional products: [[fish sauce]] and [[black pepper]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnams-phu-quoc-island-key-investment-destination-tourism-industry.html/|title= Phú Quốc Briefing|date= July 2021}}</ref> The rich fishing grounds offshore provides the [[anchovy]] catch from which the sauce is made. As widely agreed among the Vietnamese people, the best fish sauce comes from Phú Quốc. The island name is coveted and abused in the fish sauce industry that local producers have been fighting for the protection of its appellation of origin.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wan |first1=Julie |title=The best of Vietnamese fish sauce comes from Phú Quốc |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042001193.html?noredirect=on |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=11 February 2019 |date=21 April 2010}}</ref>
Pepper is cultivated everywhere on the island, especially at Gành Dầu and Cửa Dương communes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pepper cultivation area halved on Phu Quoc - Pepper cultivation area halved on Phu Quoc - News from Saigon Times |url=https://english.thesaigontimes.vn/2105/Pepper-cultivation-area-halved-on-Phu-Quoc.html |website=The Saigon Times |access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref>
The [[pearl]] farming activity began more than 20 years ago when Australian and Japanese experts arrived to develop the industry with advanced technology. Some Vietnamese pearl farms were established at that time including Quốc An.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tran |first1=Ngoc |title=Pearl farming on Phu Quoc Island - Pearl farming on Phu Quoc Island - News from Saigon Times |url=https://english.thesaigontimes.vn/28531/Pearl-farming-on-Phu-Quoc-Island.html |website=The Saigon Times |access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref>

Tourism plays an important role in the economy, with the beaches being the main attraction. Phú Quốc was served by [[Duong Dong Airport|Phú Quốc Airport]] with air links to [[Ho Chi Minh City]] ([[Saigon]]) [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport]], [[Hanoi]] ([[Noi Bai International Airport]]), [[Rạch Giá]] ([[Rạch Giá Airport]]) and [[Can Tho]] ([[Can Tho International Airport]]). Phú Quốc Airport was closed and replaced by the new [[Phu Quoc International Airport|Phú Quốc International Airport]] from December 2, 2012.<ref name="VOV">{{cite web|url=http://english.vov.vn/Travel/Vietnam-Airlines-capitalises-on-new-Phu-Quoc-airport/251013.vov|title=Vietnam Airlines capitalises on new Phu Quoc airport |date=2012-12-03|access-date=2012-12-03|publisher=[[Voice of Vietnam]]}}</ref> Phú Quốc is also linked with [[Rạch Giá]] and [[Hà Tiên]] by [[ferries]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://phuquocexpressboat.com/en/tour/phuquoc/|title=Travel to Phú Quốc|date=11 December 2024 }}</ref>
[[Air Mekong]] used to have its headquarters in An Thới.<ref>"[http://www.airmekong.vn/Sites/Web/en-Us/5/about-us About Us]." [[Air Mekong]]. Retrieved on December 21, 2010. "Headquarters: Hamlet 3, Village 7, An Thoi Town, Phu Quoc Island, Kiên Giang Province, Vietnam..."</ref><ref>"[http://www.airmekong.vn/Sites/Web/en-Us/Detail/389/23/website-usage-terms-and-conditions/website-usage-terms-and-conditions Website usage terms and conditions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903132425/http://www.airmekong.vn/Sites/Web/en-Us/Detail/389/23/website-usage-terms-and-conditions/website-usage-terms-and-conditions |date=2011-09-03 }}." [[Air Mekong]]. Retrieved on December 21, 2010</ref>

Many domestic and international projects related to tourism have been carried out, including the latest direct flights from Bangkok to Phú Quốc by Bangkok Airways, which could make Phú Quốc a new tourist hub in Southeast Asia.

With the combination of [[Vinpearl]] Phú Quốc Resorts and the opening of the new Vinmec Phú Quốc International Hospital in June 2015, Phú Quốc will add an additional source of revenue to the local economy in terms of medical services, medical tourism and medical education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phuquocislandguide.com/vinmec-phu-quoc-international-hospital/|title=Phu Quoc Island Vietnam Official Travel Guide - 2017 - 2018}}</ref>

==Climate==
The island's [[tropical monsoon climate|monsoonal]] sub-equatorial climate is characterized by distinct rainy (April to November) and dry seasons (December to March). As is common in regions with this climate type, there is some rain even in the dry season. The annual rainfall is high, averaging {{convert|3029|mm|ft|abbr=on}}. In the northern mountains up to {{convert|4000|mm|ft|abbr=on}} has just recorded. April and May are the hottest months, with temperatures reaching {{convert|35|C|F}}.

{{Weather box
| location     = Phú Quốc
| metric first = Y
| single line  = Y
| Jan record high C = 35.1
| Feb record high C = 35.3
| Mar record high C = 38.1
| Apr record high C = 37.5
| May record high C = 37.0
| Jun record high C = 34.0
| Jul record high C = 33.4
| Aug record high C = 33.4
| Sep record high C = 33.3
| Oct record high C = 34.5
| Nov record high C = 33.2
| Dec record high C = 34.6
|year record high C = 38.1

| Jan high C = 30.6
| Feb high C = 31.1
| Mar high C = 32.1
| Apr high C = 32.5
| May high C = 31.6
| Jun high C = 30.4
| Jul high C = 29.8
| Aug high C = 29.6
| Sep high C = 29.5
| Oct high C = 30.2
| Nov high C = 30.7
| Dec high C = 30.3
|year high C = 30.7

| Jan mean C = 25.9
| Feb mean C = 26.6
| Mar mean C = 27.8
| Apr mean C = 28.5
| May mean C = 28.6
| Jun mean C = 28.0
| Jul mean C = 27.6
| Aug mean C = 27.5
| Sep mean C = 27.2
| Oct mean C = 26.8
| Nov mean C = 26.9
| Dec mean C = 26.3
|year mean C = 27.3

| Jan low C = 23.0
| Feb low C = 23.7
| Mar low C = 24.9
| Apr low C = 25.6
| May low C = 25.8
| Jun low C = 25.6
| Jul low C = 25.2
| Aug low C = 25.2
| Sep low C = 25.0
| Oct low C = 24.5
| Nov low C = 24.4
| Dec low C = 23.4
|year low C = 24.7

| Jan record low C = 16.0
| Feb record low C = 16.0
| Mar record low C = 18.5
| Apr record low C = 21.0
| May record low C = 22.1
| Jun record low C = 21.2
| Jul record low C = 21.7
| Aug record low C = 21.6
| Sep record low C = 22.0
| Oct record low C = 20.8
| Nov record low C = 16.0
| Dec record low C = 17.1
|year record low C = 16.0
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 27.7
| Feb rain mm = 27.2
| Mar rain mm = 61.0
| Apr rain mm = 148.2
| May rain mm = 280.8
| Jun rain mm = 381.9
| Jul rain mm = 419.2
| Aug rain mm = 485.6
| Sep rain mm = 473.6
| Oct rain mm = 354.2
| Nov rain mm = 163.5
| Dec rain mm = 59.1
|year rain mm = 2881.9
| Jan rain days = 4.6
| Feb rain days = 3.7
| Mar rain days = 6.6
| Apr rain days = 11.7
| May rain days = 19.0
| Jun rain days = 21.0
| Jul rain days = 22.5
| Aug rain days = 23.6
| Sep rain days = 22.8
| Oct rain days = 21.5
| Nov rain days = 13.8
| Dec rain days = 6.2
|year rain days = 177.1
| Jan humidity = 75.9
| Feb humidity = 77.4
| Mar humidity = 77.5
| Apr humidity = 80.2
| May humidity = 83.2
| Jun humidity = 85.2
| Jul humidity = 85.9
| Aug humidity = 86.5
| Sep humidity = 87.5
| Oct humidity = 86.3
| Nov humidity = 79.5
| Dec humidity = 73.8
|year humidity = 81.6
| Jan sun = 247.5
| Feb sun = 232.4
| Mar sun = 256.5
| Apr sun = 246.4
| May sun = 195.8
| Jun sun = 148.0
| Jul sun = 146.9
| Aug sun = 137.1
| Sep sun = 137.9
| Oct sun = 169.8
| Nov sun = 210.1
| Dec sun = 240.1
| year sun = 2373.1
| source 1 = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology<ref name=IBST>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180722172120/http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf
| archive-date = 22 July 2018
| url = http://ibst.vn/DATA/nhyen/QCVN%2002-2009%20BXD%20So%20lieu%20tu%20nhien.pdf
| title = Vietnam Building Code Natural Physical & Climatic Data for Construction
| publisher = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology
| language = vi
| access-date = 22 July 2018}}</ref>
}}

== Protections ==
Phú Quốc has both a terrestrial [[national park]] and a [[marine protection]].

[[Phú Quốc National Park]] was established in 2001 as an upgrade of a former conservation zone. The park covers {{cvt|336.57|km2}} of the northern part of the island.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discoverphuquoc.com/nationalparks.html|title=National parks - Discover Phu Quoc - island paradise in the Gulf of Thailand, secluded and beautiful beaches, resorts and hotels on Phu Quoc island, Vietnam...|website=discoverphuquoc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vietnamdiscovery.com/phu-quoc-island/activities/phu-quoc-national-park/|title=Phu Quoc National Park - One of The Best Nature Wonders in Phu Quoc|date=November 8, 2019}}</ref>

Phú Quốc Marine Protected Area, or just Phú Quốc MPA, was established in 2007 at the northern and southern end of the island and covers {{cvt|187|km2}} of marine area. The sea around Phú Quốc is one of the richest fishing grounds in all of Vietnam, and the aim of the protected area is to secure [[coral reef]] zones, [[seagrass]] beds, and [[mangrove forest]]s, all key spawning and nursery grounds for aquatic species, including [[blue swimming crab]]s. Among the aquatic animals in the protected area are [[green turtle]], [[leather back turtle]]s, [[dolphin]] and [[dugong]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.protectedplanet.net/phu-quoc-marine-protected-area|title=Phu Quoc in Viet Nam}}</ref><ref>[https://www.mangrovesforthefuture.org/assets/Repository/Documents/MPA-MEE-final-report-22-Sep-Final-TA.pdf Vietnam Marine Protected Area Management Effectiveness Evaluation (2015)]</ref>

[[Plastic waste]] is a growing problem in Phú Quốc, and the local community has organized clean-up efforts.<ref>[http://vietnam.panda.org/en/?uNewsID=348410 Community cleanup efforts and local government commitment underway to tackle the mounting plastic waste issue on Phu Quoc Island]</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Phu_quoc_suoi_tranh.jpg|Suối Tranh Cascades
File:Phu_quoc_1.jpg|Phú Quốc's sandy beaches
File:Phu_quoc_village_de_pecheurs.jpg|Fishermen's village
File:Phu_quoc_plage_sao.jpg|Bãi Sao beach
File:Phu_quoc_vente_a_la_sauvette.jpg|Shellfish for sale by the roadside
File:Phu_quoc_2.jpg|Phú Quốc coastline
File:Phu_quoc_3.jpg|Phú Quốc coastline
File:Phu_quoc_bateau_de_peche_1.jpg|Fishing boat with its collection of basket boats (''thuyền thúng'')
File:Phu_quoc_fabication_de_nuoc_mam.jpg|Manufacture of [[fish sauce]]
File:Phu_quoc_plage.jpg|A beach in Phú Quốc
File:Phu_quoc_cau_sat.jpg|A bridge on Dương Đông river
File:Phu_quoc_embouchure_de_la_riviere_duong_dong.jpg|Dương Đông river's mouth
File:Phu_quoc_hotel_1.jpg|Hotel in Phú Quốc
File:Phu_quoc_hotel_2.jpg|Hotel in Phú Quốc
File:Phu_quoc_marche_1.jpg|Dương Đông market
File:Phu_quoc_marche_2.jpg|Fish stalls at Dương Đông market
File:Phu_quoc_pagode.jpg|Sùng Hưng pagoda
File:Star Beach (Bãi Sao).jpg|Bãi Sao beach
File:Phu_quoc_riviere_duong_dong.jpg|Dương Đông river
File:Phu_quoc_temple_nguyen_trung_truc.jpg|Nguyễn Trung Trực's temple
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Hà Tiên Islands]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}
{{Kien Giang Province}}
{{Cities in Vietnam}}
{{Districts of Mekong Delta}}
{{Portal bar|Vietnam|Geography}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phu Quoc special zone}}
[[Category:Communes of An Giang province]]
[[Category:Landforms of An Giang province]]
[[Category:Districts of Kiên Giang province]]
[[Category:Landforms of Kiên Giang province]]
[[Category:Islands of the Gulf of Thailand]]
[[Category:Islands of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Cities in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Fishing communities in Vietnam]]
[[Category:Cambodian–Vietnamese War]]
[[Category:Former disputed islands]]