Island Tranquility

Until recently, only the truly adventurous traveller made it to Phu Quoc Island, which lies 120km from Vietnam's southern shores. Technically part of the Mekong Delta, in terms of culture and topography Phu Quoc is closer to Cambodia-not surprising given that the Cambodian coast lies just nine km away.

Given that the island's beaches are as fine as those in the south of Thailand, you'd expect Phu Quoc to be overrun by holidaymakers. What kept visitors away was the difficulty of getting there. Time was, you had to endure an eight-hour boat trip from Rach Gia. Now Vietnam Airlines offers daily flights from Ho Chi Minh City, making Phu Quoc the next big thing on Vietnam's tourism scene.

For the time being, the 48-km-long island has retained its sleepy, end-of-the-world atmosphere. You'll find rolling, tree-covered hills, pepper plantations, red-dirt roads, Khmer-style stilt houses, and some of the finest, coconut-lined beaches in Southeast Asia. The sand is like icing sugar.

The two main settlements on the island are Duong Dong, where the airport is located, and An Thoi, where the ferries from Rach Gia land. Duong Dong offers delicious seafood and a colourful market. At the mouth of the Duong Dong River sits Dinh Cau Rock, home to a small Buddhist shrine erected in the 1930s.

Just a 45-minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City, this island is the ultimate escape from modern life. When your meetings are over, Phu Quoc is the perfect place to unwind.