Boasting spectacular mountain scenery, friendly, laid-back locals and arguably the country's best beaches, Phu Quoc is Vietnam's very own tropical paradise. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, 45km from Vietnam and just 15km from Cambodia, the island is home to a growing number of luxury resorts and welcoming an increasing number of visitors, while retaining much of its sleepy rural charm. Capital Duong Dong is home to most of the resorts as well as some superb seafood restaurants, a lively night market and what passes for the island's nightlife; elsewhere you'll find deserted beaches, dirt roads, rainforests, and fishing villages exhibiting a way of life unchanged for centuries. Local specialties include black pepper from the island's many plantations and Phu Quoc fish sauce, claimed by many to be the world's finest. It's a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City or an even shorter one from Can Tho for those who want to combine a few days' relaxing on the beach with a visit to the fascinating Mekong Delta.