Perfection at InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort
It’s a month into the school year when suddenly a new kid shows up in class, a pretty boy with effortlessly cool hair and stylish but not too flashy digs. Pretty soon, he’s everyone’s best friend, including yours, equally loved by the preps, the jocks, and the nerds.
With a soft opening in late June, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is one of the newest kids on the Phu Quoc block. Fanning out from a central Sky Tower like the arms of a starfish, IHG’s landmark 1,000th InterContinental, in the Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa region, has 459 rooms, neatly creating three distinct spaces: one for families with a Planet Trekkers Children’s Club for kids up to 12, including Splash! family pool, cooking school and games room; one for Club InterContinental guests featuring private spaces, exclusive benefits and premium amenities; and one for discerning travelers looking for a touch of understated luxury with their beach vacation.
While the resort has all the accoutrements expected from an international 5-star chain, from a contemporary-chic lobby burstingwith tropical fresh flowers and a jawdropping 130-seat theater screening family-friendly movies to motion sensor lights in the dressing area and electric louvered blinds showcasing sweeping beach views from the soaking tub, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach is more about quiet elegance. In a “less is more” approach, the beauty of the resort is found equally in the myriad of tiny touches that may go unnoticed until you suddenly do – a choice of still or sparkling water in the airport Images by James Pham and Mott Visuals Perfection at InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort shuttle, the fresh take on ao dai-inspired uniforms for the staff as they serve up welcome drinks of jasmine, lemongrass and fresh lychee, and the guest-friendly layout of the resort built around a central courtyard with a distinctly Hawaiian vibe. It’s the type of place where you can just “be”, without needing to plaster every moment on social media.
Located on the tail end of Long Beach, InterContinental Phu Quoc also serves up a healthy dose of Vitamin “Sea”. Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to enjoying the outdoors, whether in an oversized cabana by the two infinity pools, lazing by the wide, sandy beach, or taking in a Phu Quoc sunset brilliantly reflected in the lagoon by HARNN Heritage Spa.
Even the resort’s restaurants take inspiration from the tropical surrounds. Meaning “Sky and Sea”, Sora & Umi, the resort’s all-day dining venue features gorgeous blue-on-blue views through double-height, floor-to-ceiling windows. We savored blissfully prolonged breakfasts in this large contemporary space, noshing on flaky croissants slathered with homemade apple compote and wandering around the five open kitchen stations serving up delectable selections.
The restaurant also serves a la carte and set meals, focusing on delicate Japanese and fresh Vietnamese flavors starring Phu Quoc’s famed seafood as well as its excellent free-range chicken and beef, as in the succulent Grilled Chicken served with sticky bamboo rice and a lovely Pomelo Salad with beef jerky and a tropical dash of fresh shredded coconut.
Lazy afternoons were spent by the freeform Oasis pool, dipping into the climate-controlled water and hanging by Ombra, the Italian-inspired pool bar. True to its name, a gorgeous bamboo canopy with seriously sexy curves shaded us overhead while we feasted on upscale Italian comfort food, including a succulent Lobster Linguini with a rustic, earthy Arrabiata sauce, and Sea Urchin Tonnarelli, hand-made pasta simply tossed with olive oil and garlic, and generously topped with golden nuggets of Japanese uni. The Phu Quoc Seafood Pizza was some of the best we’ve had anywhere in Vietnam, loaded with meaty chunks of crab, shrimp, and calamari atop a thin, Neapolitan-style pizza crust baked in a wood oven right on site. Surrounded by nautical blue tones and the salty sea air, it didn’t take much to transport us somewhere on the Med.
Our favorite venue, however, was the Sea Shack with its distressed wood floor and gorgeous single-plank wood tables. Encased in glass to better show off panoramic beach views, the restaurant serves up some beautifully presented beach favorites. We enjoyed dinner on the outdoor terrace, sand between our toes and hands grimy in the best way possible from picking apart the luscious Grilled Seafood Platter with oysters, lobster, baby octopus and more, accompanied by a heavenly coconut curry dipping sauce that enhanced the natural sweetness of the seafood, a wonderful way to get our daily dose of Vitamins “Be” and “Sea”.
Enjoy the Opening Special Offer at the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort at just VND5,400,000++ per room per night, including daily breakfast for 2 at Sora & Umi, VND2,500,000 per stay to spend in the resort’s spa and restaurants, return airport transfer and an additional 2,000 IHG® Rewards Club Points. A minimum 2-night stay is required and rates are subject to 5% service charge and 10% VAT. For more information and reservations, contact the Reservations Team by phone +84 283 978 8888 or by email: reservations.icpq@ihg.com
Images by James Pham and Mott Visuals
