Phu Quoc is also affected by the coronavirus and such... but there's hope too! (Written by Ho)

Our year-end and New Year trip to Phu Quoc had plenty of shocking moments too. This time we stayed at a cottage close to the center, about 20 minutes by taxi from the airport, and we were completely satisfied! Being able to read a book in the gentle sunshine and breeze was just the best!!

But when I was looking for a hotel... actually, I was considering a different area too. The reason is that when I went on a motorbike trip in Phu Quoc last year, I had my eye on the Ông Lang Beach area, because it had some slightly edgy, artsy cafés and refined restaurants.

↑ (This is a photo from last year) The whole squid sauté I ate here was the best!! I want to eat it again!! I was really looking forward to coming back. This area also has art galleries, and stylish Vietnamese people were gathering there too. There was a strong feeling in the air that something interesting was about to happen here... I wanted to explore this area next time, so I was checking out hotels, thinking I'd stay overnight. In the end I chose to stay in the city center, and that turned out to be the right call. When I stopped by on this motorbike trip... It was terribly emptyyyy, emptyyyy — or rather, one shop after another had closed down. The restaurant I went to last year, too... The town had died. Turned into ruins. Whoaaa~~~ I was seeing the impact of COVID right before my eyes.

Stray cattle were wandering around... Normally this would be such a peaceful, idyllic scene, but... given the circumstances, it's hard to bear. There were some shops doing their best, but tourists were almost nonexistent. The Vietnamese people had been building new hotels in anticipation of the flood of tourists that would surely come once the pandemic was over... but honestly, I get the feeling a quick recovery is going to be really tough.

I'm not a business owner, but my heart is fluttering with unease. Because I love Phu Quoc so much, I truly feel from the bottom of my heart that I'll keep coming back from now on. Because... I discovered a super dynamic new kind of fun!! A paradise where you can feel Vietnam's momentum~ 🚠 Hop on the cable car and head to Thom Island — Thom Island!!

This was absolutely amazing. You should definitely go, right now the crowds are just perfect... Going forward, it's definitely going to get packed, it'll be insanely crowded!! (I have a feeling) I'll save the story about riding the cable car for next time~ 🚠 Relocation Life Ranking