PULLMAN PHU QUOC BEACH RESORT
Located on the southwest coast of Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island just 10 minutes from the airport, this flagship resort by Pullman is a striking addition to the Long Beach scene thanks in part to a fluid, undulating design by Spanish architect and urban planner Salvador Pérez Arroyo. Another plus is the abundance of nature; greenery or golden sand makes up 80 percent of the six-hectare property, which looks out to the shimmering waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
The 331 stylish rooms and suites are bright, airy, and accented with touches of Vietnamese art and culture. Each features a spacious balcony or private terrace with views of either the ocean or the lush garden and its freeform swimming pool. Family Cabana Pool Access and Cabana Pool Access rooms come with the added benefit of a semiprivate outdoor pool; the latter category also entitles guests to complimentary access to the Beachfront Executive Lounge, as do all suite stays.
The resort has assembled an impressive lineup of restaurants. Perched on the rooftop, Mad Cow Wine & Grill serves prime cuts of beef and handpicked wines against a backdrop of panoramic views. Lighthouse Bar, located near the lobby and open 24/7, is where guests can unwind over a draft beer and enjoy high tea or tapas. All-day restaurant Salt ’n’ Pepper presents daily breakfast buffets and cooked-to-order à la carte dishes that make the most of local ingredients and produce, while Vietnamese seafood grill Sea Stars showcases Phu
Quoc’s marine bounty in an alfresco setting overlooking the pool, complemented by an impressive selection of champagnes, wines, and spirits. Then there’s the Beach House bar, where Asian tapas and tropical cocktails are the order of the day; after the sun sets, DJs spin upbeat music well into the night.
On-site activities revolve around the spa—try the Vietnamese coffee scrub—tennis courts, and the resort’s 170-meter stretch of Long Beach, which it shares with the occasional fisherman. There’s also a triangular outdoor space called The Hub, which serves as a venue for earlymorning HIIT classes, late-evening movies, Vietnamese dance classes, and the like. Family-friendly amenities include a kids club with an adjacent outdoor playground; parents will also appreciate that children under 12 stay for free, including complimentary breakfast buffets. And when it comes time to explore the island, a free shuttle service is on hand to whisk guests to the night market in Duong Dong, Phu Quoc’s main town, where they can sample local street food and pick up souvenirs such as rose-myrtle-fruit candy and bottles of the island’s famous fish sauce.