Known as one of the most popular islands in Vietnam, Phu Quoc Island attracts a large number of tourists every year not only by scenic beauty but also by the variety of unique specialties. You can buy them to be a gift for family or friends. Find out the specialties tourists love and choose most when they travel to Phu Quoc down here.

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 the local fishermen. After fermenting according to a standard and traditional method, Phu Quoc fish sauce is created with a completely different taste. The process is handmade. You can identify the standard sauce base on its color and taste. For example, fish sauce is puce, has a very unique light aroma, a salty taste, a little sweetness, and a little fat.

The price of Phu Quoc fish sauce ranges from 140.000 VND ($6.07) – 160.000 VND ($6.94) per liter. 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 specialty from popular fish sauce manufacturers to ensure quality. 

Phu Quoc Pepper

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

Tourists can buy pure pepper when visiting the locals' gardens. Also, it is quite easy to find out pepper that has been processed at specialty stalls in markets or supermarkets there. Phu Quoc pepper’s price ranges from 200.000 ($8.67) VND to 250.000 VND ($10.84) per kilogram. The pepper harvest is from May to Jun, so it is the best time to collect the gift.

Phu Quoc dried seafood

It is understandable when you can see dried seafood anywhere. There are a lot of kinds and the price ranges in a large number. To buy the cheap one you can choose mackerel, squid,… or the more expensive ones like crabs, abalone, holothurian,… If you want to get seafood as a gift, you should choose the dried ones because it is easier to store and transport than fresh ones. Ham Ninh Commune is an ideal place to buy this specialty, especially dried squid, dried shrimp. The price here is much cheaper than at the markets or supermarkets in the center.

If you prefer fresh seafood, there will be a lot of strict regulations on luggage you should pay attention to. Please carefully consider the information of the airline to be able to transport them properly. 

Phu Quoc Myrtle Wine

Another Phu Quoc specialty that many tourists often buy is the rose myrtle wine. This alcohol has a characteristic sweet flavor, made from rose myrtle - a famous fruit that grows a lot in the mountains or along the rocky streams on Phu Quoc. Myrtle alcohol has some special uses as stimulating digestion, supporting to cure of some diseases of kidney stones, gallstones, bones, and joints,...

There are two kinds of myrtle used to make the wine: pink rose myrtle and mini rose myrtle. The use and taste of these two kinds are similar, only the color of the wine is different. The price of this specialty is about 240.000 VND ($10.43) per liter. 

Phu Quoc Pearls

Phu Quoc Pearls are a significant souvenir for grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and any loved ones. However, it is a very valuable item and therefore, it’s quite expensive. You should choose carefully and ask someone who knows this item for help to avoid buying a fake one.

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