1. General introduction about Phu Quoc pepper garden
The special climate and soil of Phu Quoc make the peppercorns have a characteristic pungent spiciness. (Source: Collected)
The pepper cultivation in Phu Quoc was established in the early 20th century and developed strongly in the communes of Cua Duong, Ganh Dau, and Khu Tuong – areas with soil and climate particularly suitable for this plant.
Phu Quoc is nicknamed the “pepper kingdom” – the largest pepper-growing area in the Mekong Delta. The pepper here is likened to a “black pearl” due to its high economic value and unique flavor that is hard to find elsewhere. Phu Quoc has two distinct rainy and dry seasons; locals usually plant pepper during the rainy season and harvest at the beginning of the dry season. Thanks to the sandy basalt red soil and hot, dry climate, Phu Quoc peppercorns have a characteristic pungent spiciness, rich aroma, and sweet aftertaste.
Today, besides its economic value, Phu Quoc pepper gardens have also become attractive tourist destinations, where visitors can stroll among lush green pepper rows, take photos, learn about pepper cultivation, and buy local specialties as gifts.
2. Ideal time to visit Phu Quoc pepper gardens
Phu Quoc pepper gardens can welcome visitors year-round, with each season offering its own unique beauty. To fully admire the beauty of the lush green pepper gardens and personally pick ripe red pepper clusters, visitors should choose the right time of year.
2.1. Harvest season at Phu Quoc pepper gardens
Peppercorns turn bright red and plump when ripe. (Source: Collected)
From February to June annually is the peak harvest season for pepper gardens. The entire garden seems to don a vibrant outfit with the green of its leaves, dotted with the bright red of ripe pepper clusters.
This is also when visitors can experience picking peppers, learning about the drying and processing of peppercorns – an interesting and rare activity during the journey to explore the Jade Island.
2.2. Dry Season in Phu Quoc
If you love photography, visit the Phu Quoc pepper gardens during the dry season from November to April next year. The weather at this time is clear, with gentle golden sunshine, very convenient for moving, sightseeing, and taking photos amidst the fresh natural space. Under the early sun, the straight rows of pepper plants shimmer with a refreshing green, creating a beautiful backdrop for unique check-in photos.
3. How Phu Quoc Pepper Gardens Became Famous
Phu Quoc pepper gardens are mainly concentrated in the areas of Cua Duong, Ganh Dau, and Khu Tuong. Each pepper garden has its own characteristics, from the scale of cultivation to care methods and visiting space, creating interesting experiences for tourists.
3.1. Khu Tuong Pepper Garden
Address: Cua Duong, Phu Quoc special administrative region, An Giang province
Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM daily
Khu Tuong Pepper Garden is a large and long-standing pepper cultivation area on Phu Quoc Island, and also a familiar tourist destination for visitors to the Jade Island. With hundreds of lush green pepper trees stretching out in neat rows, the garden creates a fresh natural landscape, suitable for strolling, taking photos, and learning about the traditional pepper cultivation craft.
Here, visitors will hear locals share about pepper cultivation and care techniques, from selecting seeds, fertilizing with organic matter, to harvesting and drying. After the tour, you can buy dried pepper, red pepper, or candied pepper, beautifully packaged, as gifts for relatives and friends.
Lush green pepper columns at Khu Tuong pepper garden. (Source: Collected)
3.2. Duc Thanh Pepper Garden
Address: Duong Dong, Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province
Opening hours: 8h00 – 17h00 daily
Duc Thanh pepper garden is one of the cool and vast pepper growing areas in Cua Duong, famous for its peaceful, fresh, and nature-friendly atmosphere. Upon arriving here, visitors will be amazed by the straight rows of pepper plants stretching across the hillsides, creating a vibrant and lively natural landscape.
Notably, visitors can witness firsthand the process of growing, caring for, and harvesting pepper, experience picking bunches of green or ripe red pepper, and listen to farmers share traditional farming secrets passed down through generations.
Besides visiting, the garden also allows visitors to try products made from pepper such as candied pepper, salted pepper, roasted pepper salt…
3.3. Ngoc Ha Pepper Garden
Address: Provincial Road 47, Suoi Da hamlet, Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province
Opening hours: 8h00 – 18h00 daily
Entering the Ngoc Ha pepper garden, visitors are impressed by the strong aroma of pepper spreading through the space. (Source: Collected)
Located about 5 km from Duong Dong center, Ngoc Ha pepper garden is one of the specialty sightseeing and shopping spots loved by many tourists on Ngoc Island. It impresses with long rows of lush green pepper plants, a spacious atmosphere, and many unique photo opportunities that tourists cannot miss.
Ngoc Ha pepper garden is famous for its product diversity, from green pepper, peeled pepper, fresh pepper pickled in vinegar, dried pepper, to pepper salt and wellness pepper salt. Tourists can taste the pure pepper flavor, learn about the traditional pepper drying process, and choose the type that suits their taste.
4. Interesting experiences at Phu Quoc pepper gardens
4.1. Learn about the process of growing and harvesting pepper
At Phu Quoc pepper gardens, visitors will be enthusiastically introduced by the locals about the traditional process of growing and caring for pepper, from nurturing young plants, setting up poles, tying vines for the pepper to climb, to the stage of harvesting the ripe red pepper clusters.
The peppercorns after being picked will be naturally dried under the golden Phu Quoc sun, creating a beautiful glossy color and a characteristic rich aroma.
4.2. Check-in amidst the lush green pepper gardens
Tourists take unique photos at the pepper garden. (Source: Collected)
During the harvest season, the green of the leaves and the red of the ripe pepper clusters blend under the golden sunlight, creating a vibrant natural picture. Just raise your camera, and you'll get vivid shots with the unique imprint of Ngoc Island.
4.3. Enjoy and buy specialties from pepper
After visiting the Phu Quoc pepper garden, visitors can taste characteristic products from pepper such as: fresh pepper, salted pepper, dried pepper, candied pepper, or pepper pickled in fish sauce…
At the garden's display and sales area, you can easily choose and buy beautifully packaged pepper varieties, with clear labels and genuine Phu Quoc origin. This is not only a rich culinary gift but also a part of the flavor of Ngoc Island that you can bring home.
Tourists can buy candied pepper specialty as gifts for relatives. (Source: Collected)
5. Notes when visiting Phu Quoc pepper gardens
To make your visit to the Phu Quoc pepper gardens comfortable and complete, tourists should carefully prepare a few small but useful things. When visiting, you should wear neat, comfortable clothing, and wear sports shoes or low sandals to easily move on the dirt paths. Don't forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, and drinking water because Phu Quoc's weather in the sunny season is quite hot and stuffy.
If you want to buy Phu Quoc pepper products as gifts, choose products with clear labels, packaging, and origin. Prioritize buying at reputable gardens to avoid purchasing counterfeit Phu Quoc pepper garden brand products.
Tourists should buy pepper products with OCOP certification to ensure quality and origin. (Source: Collection)
Suggested Phu Quoc 2-day 1-night itinerary
Day 1: Explore Sun World Hon Thom and Sunset Town
Morning:
Tourists can enjoy breakfast with hot local specialties such as: bun quay, bun ken, crab noodle soup... at a local restaurant.
The cable car route takes visitors across the spectacular southern island sea. (Source: Collection)
After that, you travel to Sun World Hon Thom by a 3-wire cable car line of 7,899.9 m, recognized by the Guinness World Records Organization as the world's longest 3-wire cable car over the sea. The cable car journey will open up a majestic view of the southern island's sea and sky with azure waters and glimpses of islands.
Upon arriving at Hon Thom island, visitors can freely enjoy playing at Aquatopia water park with 20 games on an area of 8 ha. Visitors can relax with their families in the cool water, gentle waves in the “Lazy River” game. Additionally, you should not miss the challenging thrilling games at the Exotica Village theme park.
Lunch:
You can enjoy hundreds of unique dishes at the Mango buffet restaurant. The Mango restaurant has a spacious sea view, making your meal even more complete.
Afternoon:
Hoang Hon Town with buildings shimmering with vibrant colors facing the sea. (Source: Collected)
You take the Hon Thom cable car to return to the mainland, then visit Hoang Hon Town located near the An Duong station. This is one of the most beautiful sunset viewing spots on Ngoc Island, with a Mediterranean-style design, buildings shimmering with vibrant colors facing the sea.
Visitors can stroll across the Cau Hon Bridge to admire the sunset sinking into the shimmering sea, with warm golden-orange light enveloping the entire space.
Evening:
Visitors can enjoy the multimedia art show Kiss of The Sea – The Kiss of the Sea, with spectacular fireworks displays illuminating the entire southern sky of the island.
6.2. Day 2: Visiting Phu Quoc Pepper Gardens
Morning:
Start the day by visiting Phu Quoc Pepper Gardens – known as the 'kingdom of pepper' of Vietnam. Rows of lush green pepper plants stretching across the hillsides create a peaceful and fresh natural landscape.
Here, visitors can learn about the process of growing, caring for, and harvesting pepper, listen to locals share stories about the century-old pepper farming trade, as well as experience picking pepper and taking photos amidst the garden.
Noon:
Move to Phu Quoc fish sauce facilities, which preserves the traditional fish sauce making craft for over 200 years. Here, you can witness firsthand the process of fermenting anchovies in boi loi wooden barrels, experience the rich, distinctive aroma, and gain a deeper understanding of the dedicated work of the local people.
Fish sauce barrel houses are interesting destinations that help tourists understand more about the traditional craft of the people of Ngoc Island (Phu Quoc). (Source: Collected)
After visiting, you enjoy lunch with delicious fresh seafood dishes at a local restaurant such as: herring salad, grilled fish, grouper sour soup, combined with sipping a cup of rich Phu Quoc fish sauce.
Afternoon:
Before leaving the island, you can visit Duong Dong night market to buy more Phu Quoc specialties such as: sim wine, dried seafood, fish sauce, pepper as gifts for relatives.
Afterwards, tourists check out and conclude the 2-day 1-night journey exploring Ngoc Island.
Phu Quoc pepper gardens are not only green destinations in the heart of Ngoc Island but also a journey to discover unique agricultural culture. Each spicy peppercorn is the crystallization of sun, wind, and the dedication of farmers. You should add this interesting stop to your upcoming Phu Quoc travel itinerary, to make the trip more complete and gain useful knowledge about the traditional craft of the farmers of Ngoc Island.
