The Hotel It was my first time to Phu Quoc, Vietnam last month and one of the resorts I was really keen to stay is Regent Phu Quoc located on the Southwest coast of Phu Quoc Island. As the first Regent Hotels & Resorts property in Vietnam, Regent Phu Quoc is a mere 17km or 15 minutes’ drive from Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC), where there is direct flight from Singapore via Scoot or VietJet at the moment.

I had private transfer arrangement with the hotel which is typically Range Rover Sport vehicles or Mercedes-Benz Viano minivans depending on your party size. It was a professional meet and greet by the driver and the ride was comfortable with mineral water and cold towel in the car to refresh up as well. 

My first impression upon arriving at Regent Phu Quoc is how massive the land area is. The check-in lobby and reception are open air yet it does not feel hot or humid at all.

I like how understated and earthy the overall tone of the resort is. Welcome drink was served, and the check-in process was smooth.

I was also informed by the staff that there is a WhatsApp service if I need anything, which is a convenient way to request for any form of service easily, be it housekeeping, turndown service, or any other generic questions you might have. 

The resort’s landscaping is nothing short of amazing. Plenty of greenery everywhere, and it is very well-maintained by the staff.

The Room With different categories of suites and villas with private pools in this property, I checked into the King Sky Pool Villa. At 165 sq. m. / 1776 sq. f., this is a very spacious villa, and it is gorgeous.

Situated high on the Sky Wing building of the property, it is a contemporary look with an open-plan living room that comes with a beautiful dining area and a fully equipped kitchen. Another merit of staying in the Sky Wing is that it is fully sheltered from the reception, fitness centre and most of the restaurants, which is a merit in the event that it is pouring.

All the drinks (beer and soft drinks included) and snacks in the kitchen are complimentary to enjoy. 

The highlight of this villa has to be the private sheltered pool with a gorgeous view of the resort and the sea. 

It is a private infinity pool and double chaise lounge which is comfortable and spacious enough for two people to chill and lie down.

I love the firmness of the lounge area too which makes it very comfortable to lie on. 

The bathroom design and layout are another of my favourite part of this villa.

Double entry points, a big walk-in shower zone with resting bench, double vanity sinks, separate rain shower, and a deep soaking bathtub. 

The bedroom itself is very comfortable where the mattress is hard enough for my liking, with smart switches, automated switch to draw down the curtains, and sufficient charging points on both sides of the bed. 

Other notable amenities in the villa include high-end entertainment systems, a coffee machine, a complimentary refreshment gallery, and an extensive pillow menu. 

The Facilities I was lucky to have access to Regent Club Lounge, and I must I am very impressed with it.

Located at the highest level of the Sky Wing building on level ten, the space of Regent Club is gorgeous and intimate.    

Indoor seats and outdoor seats are available, and you get dedicated service here – Flexible check-in and check-out times (subject to availability) – and access to an all-day dining menu. 

One highlight at the lounge is that guests get to enjoy all-day complimentary beverages which include champagne and wines, which is a big perk if you are a big drinker. 

You can also choose to have breakfast here at Regent Club or Rice Market, though the selection for breakfast is definitely less than Rice Market, but you get to enjoy the dining privacy. 

There is also daily Champagne afternoon tea where bite-size snacks are presented in a mini three-tier stand. 

I must say the wine list is a good quality mix of red, rosé, and white wines, unlike other hotel lounges which only carry a few labels. For non-alcoholic drinkers, there is also a selection of Jing tea and specialty coffees. 

The other aspect of the lounge I enjoyed during my stay is the all-day menu, which offers a good variety of dining options including high quality steak, burgers, wagyu beef pho, and more. I must also commend the team here that each dish is prepared ala minute and it really puts club lounges which serve a buffet spread to shame. In fact, the quality of the food here is on a par with a good restaurant in Singapore that you can literally have all your three meals a day at the lounge. 

The other key facility I must highlight are the number of pools in this resort, which is awesome since it really spreads the crowd out. 

There is the resort’s Main Pool right beside Rice market and comes complete with a separate children’s pool. This is the zone where I spotted most families with kids and is not so ideal if you want to enjoy some peaceful moments. It is also the least private pool since you get other guests walking past to get to Ocean Club or the beach area. 

The Ocean Club Pool is right beside Ocean Club and it exudes a beach club vibe since it is the nearest pool to the beach and you get to enjoy the nice beach and sea view at the closest proximity. 

The third pool is the Health Club Rooftop Pool located on level 8 of the Ocean Wing. This pool is convenient fort guests staying in the Ocean Wing, or if you want to have a dip post your workout at the gym, this is convenient. There are ample beds here to relax too. 

One of my favourite hangouts is the adults only Sky Wing Rooftop Infinity Pool located on level 10, right beside Fu Bar and on the same level as the Regent Club. As the highest pool in the whole resort, you get a panoramic aerial view of the whole resort and the vast sea view.

It is also quite peaceful during the times I visited this pool, though I can also imagine that if Fu Bar is full of people, they are literally staring out at you in the pool. 

The Health Club or gym is another spot I spent time much time at, as there is no reason not to make use of such a well-equipped space for a good workout. Good range of Technogym equipment, 24 hours and there is also an array of daily scheduled activities available for guests to join free of charge. 

Nice touches of service by the gym staff was when cold towels are handed out intermittently, and the staff made the effort to address me by my last name. Perhaps the only downside is that there is no bathroom within the gym, and you have to use the nearest on the same level at the Health Club Rooftop Pool area. 

If you are coming here with kids, you will be pleased to know that there is a Regent Kids zone located right below Rice Market. This is probably the spot to keep your young ones entertained and engaged as there are a wide range of activities for them from arts and crafts to sports and ocean exploration. Inside, there are also a variety of stations, including swings, climbing structures, a treehouse, a napping area and a theatre for movie screenings. In the reading nook, kids can find Time’s 100 Children’s Books of All Time in many languages. The club also boasts an array of board games, toys and puzzle games. 

On the wellness space, the Spa is spot to check out which boasts a good mix of various treatments.

The spa reception is elegant, where welcome drink and cold towel are served while you wait for your treatment to start.

I managed to try one of their signatures which is the Quartz Sand Cocoon Therapy. The most unique part about this treatment is that I was literally lying on a bed of sand, which the therapist shared that it is sand from Germany.    

The quartz bed contours the body and is supposed to alleviate any muscle stiffness by creating a cocoon effect with the warm quartz sand surrounding the entire body. Of course, a towel is placed over the sand, and I was basically lying on the towel in case you are wondering if sand is stuck to your skin. 

In addition to the Quartz Sand Cocoon Therapy, there are other standard looking treatment rooms with ensuite bathroom, including couples’ room.

Post spa, I was brought to a relaxation lounge to have some hot tea.

Private Beach? You have it here. The beach is very empty when I visited and there are ample beds to get a tan or relax. It is also very well-maintained and clean.

The beach is also a great photo spot since the logo of the hotel is also found here.

Bikes are also available to rent for free, and it is a good and relaxed way to get around the huge resort.

The Restaurants With such a big resort, there are five distinct dining concepts here. 

Oku is the resort’s signature dining restaurant featuring an Omakase Atelier and Salon de Boeuf, and it serves contemporary Japanese-French cuisine showcasing the finest techniques and ingredients from both worlds. 

Ocean Club is a Balearic-inspired, laid-back beachfront venue featuring an assortment of Mediterranean cuisine, rum-inspired cocktails, craft beer, and an international wine list. It is a beautiful restaurant with a view of the infinity pool and Phu Quoc’s beautiful Long Beach which is fitting for lunch or dinner. 

Rice Market is the spot where breakfast takes place, and its menu is also a reflection of Vietnamese and Asian cuisines. It is a huge space with different dining zones, be it for indoor or outdoor dining. 

The breakfast spread at Rice market is very extensive and I love how the food is being organized so neatly. 

There is the bakery zone where fresh bakes are displayed beautifully. Pick up your favourite pastry here. 

The pantry zone is a huge area where you can get your cold cuts, wide range of fruits, fruit juices, kombucha, fresh young coconut, and more. I love how everything is displayed so neatly, and it is also noteworthy for me that each ingredient is replenished so efficiently such that there is no moment where any item is out of stock. 

The cooked food zone showcases a mix of local and International delights – Korean dishes, Vietnamese pho and bánh mì, Chinese dim sum, and more. 

On top of the above, there is also a menu where you can simply order with the staff, such as different types of eggs, scrambled egg tart, and more. 

If you are looking for lunch or dinner options in the resort, Rice Market serves up an extensive menu as well.

Bar Jade is a speakeasy cocktail bar concept discreetly tucked away in a hidden nook within the resort. My hint? It is very close to where Rice Market is. 

Fu Bar is an exclusive adults-only sky pool terrace and bar with gin-focused cocktails. It overlooks the infinity pool and this a good spot to catch the sunset too. 

The Experience I must also mention that guests can sign up for some unique activities, where I managed to do a Sunset Champagne Cruise. This cruise activity lasts from 3.30pm to 7.30pm, where the pickup at 3.30pm brings guests to a pier which is about 15-20 minutes’ drive away from the hotel. From the pier, I boarded the yacht which carries the Regent logo. I checked with the crew onboard and it is a maximum of 12 guests and a minimum of 1 for this cruise to take place, and of course, it is also subjected to the weather conditions of the day. 

The moment I boarded the yacht, we were told to remove our footwear which turned out to be more comfortable as I felt like I was very at home. I also have to praise the cleanliness of the yacht which is very clean as I stepped around barefooted. 

I like that there are different zones in the yacht to explore and take pictures, and it doesn’t get too crowded at any point. you can even take a picture with the captain and go behind the wheel to ‘steer’ the yacht. 

Canapes and drinks are provided, including champagne.

I was really fortunate that the weather cleared up and I managed to catch the sunset while it cruised along the eastern side of Phu Quoc Island. It is quite a unique experience to consider if you want to do something fun out of the resort. 

Rants I struggle to find something to nitpick.

Overall Experience This is one of the best resort stays I had for a long time. Regent Phu Quoc exceeded my expectations in many ways – the high maintenance of every part of the vast resort, the good service, high quality of food at the Regent Club, the numerous pool options, well-equipped gym, a clean and beautiful private beach – and I can go on. I highly recommend a stay here. 

Regent Phu Quoc 
Bai Truong, Dương Tơ, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang 92509, Vietnam 

For more information, check out Regent Phu Quoc Website.

Ranted by The Ranter