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Phu Quoc - Spoiled paradise?
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bretandgerri
longtail driver
Posts: 8
We arrived in Phu Quoc after the 3-day Mekong - PP - Rach Gia mission, and many months of looking forward to this island paradise! And it is, it's stunning, squeaky white sand, turqoise waters, and very little development.
Sadly though, the beach (Long Beach) is literally COVERED in rubbish. We went for a romantic sunset stroll for miles down the beach yesterday, and saw a dead dog floating in the waves, light bulbs, millions of plastic bags, and acres of detritus. We have no problem at all with where we're staying, it's clean, friendly, has great food and is good value for money. But with nothing to do here but swim & sunbathe, it's a real turn-off to go swimming in filthy water full of rubbish and dead animals!
I realise we're so lucky to come from a wealthy country where we have the luxury of being able to be 'clean & green', but if this place is relying on tourism to get by, you'd think they'd care more about this sad problem...
#1 Posted: 6/3/2010 - 11:48
somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 5862
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Sounds disappointing. Was the rubbish you describe in front of the resorts etc on Long Beach , or further to the south?
The problem being that most places clean in front of their property, but nothing else and plastic bags and other flotsam will wash up on any beach and become unsightly if not cleaned up -- but Long Beach is, well, a LONG beach -- and much of it remains undeveloped.
#2 Posted: 6/3/2010 - 15:00
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KazAussie
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 219
That's terrible. We loved Phu Quoc... plastic bags in the water (probably thrown off fishing boats) was the worst we saw. Other than that the beach was tout free, fantastic sunsets, great food, drinks and bars along the foreshore... Mai Tai's at sunset to die for.
The worst for me was the diving... the fish population has been decimated (who'd have thought given the proximity of the fish sauce factory). Some nice corals but no fish life.
It has made me (a seafood lover) swear to only eat farmed prawns and salmon, and to find an alternative for fish sauce (which I love).
#3 Posted: 6/3/2010 - 20:13
chrispyrolls
tuk tuk driver
Posts: 198
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Hi
Have you (or did you) go to Bai Sao? That is the postcard image of PQ... not much in the way of accommodation but good for a days loungin... we got there in a US Army jeep hired for the day.
Also if you haven't yet, eat at Mai House ... mmmm best food :)
Chris
#4 Posted: 7/3/2010 - 03:32
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caseyprich
som tam seller
Posts: 541
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We found Sao Beach (in the Southeast) was a bit rubbishy, but the sand was gorgeous - not a place i'd really want to stay though because of the lack of cleanliness of the beach. We just visited it as the end of a snorkeling trip to the islands in the south.
However, we stayed at Ong Lang Beach at Thong Loi - sharing a beach with Bo Resort. Overall the beach was clean - especially near the water line - I assume someone actually cleans it because it was so nice. However, getting up to the 'dune grass' there was a lot of rubbish - obviously long accumulating. However, out of site out of mind - and considering from Bo Resort you've got not a single structure for 5km and a beach all to yourself, I have to admit the rubbish up and away from teh beach line isn't very easy to notice.
We loved our time on that beach, we wanted the secluded quiet time and didn't mind not having all the bar and restaurant options you get staying at Long Beach. Better to have sunsets to yourself.
#5 Posted: 8/3/2010 - 15:14
bretandgerri
longtail driver
Posts: 8
Thanks for the advice all, yep we've spent the last few days at Ong Lang beach (Mango Bay) and it's a different world, crystal-clear water and much cleaner! Go for a walk 500m to the south though, and the rubbish starts again.
I had a chat with the lovely Mike at the Beach Club in Long Beach about it, and yeah it's just rubbish being thrown off the myriad of fishing boats working the Gulf of Thailand. Not much that can be done about it, would take a massive re-education campaign! They've also fished the place dry apparently, so long-term sustainability of this gorgeous and bountiful place not high on the agenda, sadly. Easy for me to say though, realise how spoiled-rich-kid I must sound, coming from a country who can afford to think this way!
#6 Posted: 11/3/2010 - 10:04
caseyprich
som tam seller
Posts: 541
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still plenty of delicious squid!
#7 Posted: 12/3/2010 - 10:32
vietjuls
newbie
Posts: 3
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Try the Thang Loi "resort" (Ong Lang beach) for very rustic, serene, gorgeous get-away. The owners are so nice and can arrange scuba, snorkeling etc trips for you. http://www.phu-quoc.de/
I just spent 7 days there and would go back in a heartbeat.
#8 Posted: 19/3/2010 - 06:48