The north of the island, with a guide and a car

Step 1

08:00 · Pick-up and the road north

Your guide and driver collect you from the lobby. The road leaves Duong Dong on DT973 and heads north. On the way the guide explains how the island is laid out and why the north stayed forested while the west coast filled with resorts.

Step 2

08:30 · The national park edge at Xom Moi

An hour in the forest before the heat, when birds are most active

About 13 km north of town the road reaches the Xom Moi forest ranger station, described as the park entrance. Phu Quoc National Park was upgraded from a nature reserve in 2001 and covers over 31,422 hectares; it lies in the core zone of the Kien Giang biosphere reserve recognised by UNESCO in 2006. About 200 bird species are recorded. You walk a short stretch of forest path with the guide, long enough to see the canopy and hear it, not a summit trek.

Step 3

10:00 · Rach Vem fishing settlement

Rach Vem is a fishing settlement of about 180 households known for fishing and net-making, with floating fish farms offshore. From roughly February to April, starfish gather in the shallows off its beach. Look, do not lift them out of the water: the guide will explain why.

Step 4

11:00 · Ganh Dau cape, then lunch

Ganh Dau is about 30 km from Duong Dong. From the cape you can see the small islands on the Cambodian side; agency sources put the border about 4 km away by sea. The beach below is clear and usually calm in the dry season, with rocks at the point. Lunch is at a seafood restaurant in Ganh Dau; the guide translates the menu and the market prices by weight.

Step 5

13:30 · A pepper garden

Phu Quoc is known for black pepper, and the north has gardens that welcome visitors. The guide explains how the vines are trained and harvested and how pepper is graded. Buying is your choice; there is no commission arrangement on our side.

Step 6

14:30 · Vung Bau beach

A crescent of sand between Ong Lang and Bai Dai. Half an hour to swim or sit in the shade before the drive south.

Step 7

15:15 · Cua Can river and village

The Cua Can river reaches the sea at a sandbar. The guide walks you over the village bridge and talks about life on the river. Some operators sell kayak and basket-boat paddles here; we do not arrange them, but the guide can point out where they start.

Step 8

16:00 · Back at your hotel

From Cua Can to central Duong Dong is a short drive. If you want to end the day at Dinh Cau for sunset instead, tell us when you book; it adds time, charged as overtime.