Resting in the Mekong Delta, Kien Giang province is situated on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand and hosts the largest island in Vietnam, Phu Quoc, also known as the ‘Emerald Island’. This is where the famous Phu Quoc fish sauce comes from. Sharing a border with Cambodia, its main activities are fishing and rice farming, but also craftsmanship of products made from turtle shell.
The capital of the province is Rach Gia, known among local tourists for the temple and tomb of national hero Nguyen Trung Truc and for its small museum. It is a lively little seaport town with good accommodation and food, and ferry boats plying the route to Phu Huoc Island depart from here.
The beautiful Phu Quoc Island is the place to head for quality excursions and beach activities all year round. Other attractions in the province include the stunning landscapes of Ha Tien, the Thach Dong stone grotto and the Ao Sen lotus pond. Jean-Jacques Annaud, a French film director, chose Ha Tien for his movie L’Amant (The Lover).
Dong Ho bay is also worth a visit and is bordered by two mountains, Phao Dai and To Chau. Other sites include the 200-year-old Tam Bao pagoda, the Tanh Hoi pagoda, the Mac Cuu tomb and bird sanctuaries.
The province is easily reached by road (250kms/155 miles from Ho Chi Minh City), by air from Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia or Phu Quoc airports, or by waterway.