CUBIC CoverDec08.indd - Colliers

From left: Bal Sao Beach;
a fishing boat off the
coast of Bal Thorn beach;
a crab farmer shows off
his catch
DESTINATIONS
THEY call it the Emerald Island – and it’s easy
to see why. Surrounded by the warm turquoise
waters of the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is
an Eden of pristine coastlines, lush rainforests,
rugged mountains and abundant wildlife.
Just an hour’s flight from the frenetic energy
and clamour of Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc is
located just off the south-western tip of Vietnam
and 15 km from the Cambodian coast. The
tear-dropped shaped island – once home to
sea cucumber traders, French missionaries and
rubber plantations – is Vietnam’s largest offshore
territory and home to some of the world’s
most beautiful and secluded beaches.
Blessed with a glorious coastline, the
island inland boasts majestic sandstone ridges
that span it from north to south – giving Phu
Quoc its other moniker of “99 mountains”.
Abundant rain gives life to forests that cover
most of the island, making it a haven for
exotic wildlife and plant species.
For all its beauty, this tropical island
remains relatively under the tourist radar
and sees little of the human traffic of other
getaways such as Phuket. But ambitious plans
by the Vietnamese government to develop
the island into a major eco-destination
may change the idyllic pace. While this
may be good for the economy, some
environmentalists are concerned about the
impact an influx of tourists and unchecked
development will have on this largely
untouched island haven.
SEAto help
Dominic Scriven OBE – the Director of Dragon
Capital – has co-founded Wildlife At Risk (WAR)
protect this tropical island eco-paradise
BY SHERALYN TAY
| January 2009 51