Life on Phu Quy Island is inseparable from the sea, and seafood has long been the heart of the islanders’ daily meals. Sometimes it is just a pot of boiled fish, a simple steamed dish, or something lightly grilled over charcoal—yet the freshness and pure ocean flavor leave a deep impression on every visitor. Those who come to the island are quickly captivated by its signature seafood delicacies such as spiny lobster (cua huỳnh đế), moon crab, red grouper, cone snail salad, and many other dishes prepared in the simplest yet most flavorful ways.
Spiny Lobster & Moon Crab – Ocean Sweetness at Its Best
Spiny lobster and moon crab are among the finest treasures of Phu Quy’s waters. These crabs are typically steamed and served with lime–pepper salt or cooked into a fragrant rice porridge.
Spiny lobster is available year-round, but it is most abundant—and at its tastiest—in the twelfth lunar month, when the meat is firm, sweet, and the roe is full.
Red Grouper – A Premium Island Specialty
Red grouper is regarded as one of the island’s most exquisite seafoods. Its meat is naturally sweet and aromatic, and the bright-red skin becomes wonderfully tender when steamed with ginger and scallions.
Phu Quy is also the only island district in Binh Thuan Province that successfully raises red grouper in floating sea cages, ensuring freshness and stable supply year-round.
Sea Snail Salad – Fresh, Fragrant, Unforgettable
Sea snail salad is another signature dish, prepared from freshly caught snails such as thorn snails, helmet snails, cone snails, ban tay snails, and vu nang snails.
The salad is mixed with herbs, chili, roasted peanuts, and a tangy dressing, then enjoyed with crispy grilled rice paper.
The combination of sweetness from the snails, the herbal aroma, and the spicy kick makes it a dish visitors can eat endlessly without ever tiring of it.
Other Beloved Island Specialties
Beyond its famous crabs and snails, Phu Quy offers many other fresh delights:
- Fresh squid
- One-sun dried squid (mực một nắng)
- Mackerel and mackerel-based dishes
- Lobster
- Seaweed salad
- Grilled geckos and dông dishes (a special island lizard)
Each dish reflects the freshness of the sea and the resourcefulness of local fishermen.
Sea Cucumbers – The Island’s Most Valued Delicacy
Sea cucumbers are among the most prized ingredients on Phu Quy. They are believed to nourish the kidneys, strengthen the body, and restore vitality. Thanks to their medicinal value, sea cucumbers are often served in ceremonial feasts and are a major export product, highly sought after in Southeast Asia, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Local fishermen say the waters around Phu Quy contain around 100 species of sea cucumbers of various sizes and colors. Among them, about 10 main types are regularly harvested, including white, black, brown, spiky, and toí phương, each with distinct characteristics.
Mackerel – The Fish of Phu Quy
No conversation about Phu Quy cuisine is complete without mentioning mackerel, the fish that made the island famous under its old name Cù Lao Thu – the island of mackerel. Mackerel provides exceptionally flavorful, firm meat and is used in a variety of dishes—from grilled, steamed, and stewed to fish cakes and soups.
Phu Quy Hot Beef – A Unique Island Experience
Beyond seafood, Phu Quy hot beef (bò nóng) is a must-try. The island’s cows are raised free-range, feeding naturally on local grasses, which makes the meat especially fragrant and tender.
The eating experience is unique:
Visitors choose the cut they want, the shop owner slices it fresh on the spot, and guests are charged only for the market price of the beef. Everything else—herbs, rice paper, dipping sauces, congee—is served free of charge, as part of Phu Quy’s warm hospitality.
Island Fresh Herbs – Simple Yet Exceptional
Phu Quy’s fresh herbs also deserve special mention. Unlike herbs grown on the mainland, the island’s herbs are cultivated naturally without chemical stimulants. Their clean, refreshing taste perfectly complements seafood dishes and leaves a lasting impression on visitors.
A Taste of Phu Quy – Fresh, Honest, and Full of Heart
Visiting Phu Quy means more than sightseeing, fishing trips, and swimming in turquoise waters. It is also a chance to understand the island’s cultural soul—simple, sincere, and welcoming.
Above all, it is a journey of flavors, where fresh seafood and traditional dishes become unforgettable memories, even for those who visit only once.
