Several gentle bays of glowing sand, punctuated by black rocks, and lined with leaning palm trees make up Ong Lang Beach. On the central-west coast, just north of Phu Quoc Island’s main town of Duong Dong, this pretty beach is peppered with excellent value mid to high-end resorts

More vigorous activities here include snorkelling and boating to the offshore islands. Yes, it is true there more hotels and resorts here than other parts of the island, but this beach retains a pristine feel. Many of the resorts here strive to protect the environment. The esteemed Mango Bay Resort, for example, is located in a real mango orchard. As well as real nature, Ong Lang is a place where real humanity abounds. As in the rest of Vietnam, this beach is a place where people WORK. Women wearing conical hats and towels wrapped around their heads march in the hot sunshine, selling spicy seafood. Other women may attempt to sell you fruit or massages. Fishing boats float off the shore, red flags flying the breeze. Workmen toil in the distance, busy building a new resort. If you walk far enough along the beach you might encounter the peculiar native Phu Quoc dog, or be dive-bombed by migratory terns. These are all encounters with nature, Ong Lang style.