APT And Other Reasons To Visit Phu Quoc Island In Vietnam

The island of Phú Quốc is located in the Gulf of Thailand and not far away from Cambodia, widely known in Vietnam for its white-sand beaches and resort hotels. Easily accessible from numerous neighboring countries, its tropical jungle and wildlife occupies more than half of the island and promises plenty of adventures for tourists from near and far.

In November 2024, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) will be visiting the island and below are an additional five reasons why poker enthusiasts should be checking for flight tickets right now.

APT Phú Quốc 2024

The return of the APT and first-time visit under new ownership brings with it the largest live poker series of the brand in Phu Quoc. Taking place from November 8 to 17, 2024 at the Corona Resort & Casino, an action-packed schedule with 82 trophy events await with all buy-in levels covered.

Flagship tournament is the Main Event with a buy-in of VND 36 Million (~ USD 1,450) and guarantee worth VND 25 Billion (~USD 1 Million). As if that wasn’t enough reasons to book flight tickets yet, there are plenty of other key events on the schedule with affordable buy-ins and large guaranteed prize pools.

The Vietnam National Cup kicks off the series on the very first day with a price tag of VND 9 Million (~USD 363) and VND 5 Billion (~USD 200,000) guarantee. Half of that amount will be up for grabs for certain in the Zodiac Classic, which clocks in at an entry fee of VND 50 Million (~USD 2,000).

High Roller regulars will have plenty of opportunities to showcase their talents in tournaments such as the APT Super High Roller and Baby Superstar (VND 120 Million / ~USD 4,800 buy-in each), as well as the APT High Roller (VND 80 Million / ~USD 3,200) on the tail end of the series.

Vietnam Poker Tour – APT Phu Quoc Early Bird Specials
APT Phu Quoc – Schedule

Corona Resort & Casino

Situated in the north west of the island between the Vung Bau and Ganh Dau beaches, the Corona Resort and Casino Phu Quoc is the host venue of the upcoming APT stop. This luxurious resort hosts more than 3,000 hotel rooms and villas with world-class restaurants, various entertainment attractions, a golf course and modern casino.

It’s around 45 minutes drive away from the airport and offers an electric shuttle to get around the vast property. The properties include the two five-star hotels Radisson Blu and Wyndham Grand with various entertainment facilities in close proximity. It is actually the biggest casino in all of Vietnam with more than 18,000 square meters, on which more than 1,000 casino slots and 100 gaming tables can be found such as Baccarat, Roulette, and Blackjack.

Grand World, 4D Light Show in the evening

Away from the poker tables, there are plenty of other things to explore. One of them is a fascinating world of lights and arts at the Grand World Phu Quoc. The entertainment and shopping complex very much reminds of Las Vegas and comes with a laser light show in the middle of the water every evening at around 9.30 p.m. local time.

You don’t even need to purchase any ticket for this spectacle as the program is free to attend and runs for approximately half an hour. It is a water, light and fire show extraordinaire with 3D and 4d mapping that will catch your attention for sure.

Vin Safari and VinWonders

If half an hour in the evening is not enough entertainment, there is even more to see at VinWonders – an amusement park in the north west of the island. Widely considered as one of the top theme parks in the country, VinWonders Phu Quoc is the place to be. More than 100 indoor and outdoor activities await including a Water Park with dolphin shows.

There is also a marine life Aquarium, fantasy town, vast Adventure World with ferris wheel, vintage express train, Viking Village, roller coaster rides and water slides. In a nutshell, everybody will find one of their favorite activities no matter what age.

The Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc is a semi-wild animal care and conservation park where you can see free-roaming animals from up close. Bird shows, animal feeding and night safaris are available as well. The kids can take part in the Kid Zoo where they take on the role of junior zookeepers.

Twenty rare primate species can be found there, along with many rare species such as Bengal tigers, lions, white rhinoceros, leopards, and hundreds of colorful birds. Reptiles such as tortoises, geckos and pythons are not missing either, though, the latter should probably not be investigated from up close.

White-Sand Beaches

When it comes to South East Asia, many of the islands boast beautiful white-sand beaches and Phu Quoc is no exception. More than a dozen of them can be found spread across the coastline with Khem Beach boasting pristine clear blue waters while Bai Sao is known for its starfish. It stretches up to 7km along the coast and is accompanied by coconut trees to grab a refreshing drink right from the source.

Other places such as Khem, Bai Truong, Ong Lang, and Cua Can are worth a visit as well. Coral diving is available at Bai Dai Beach and provides an absolutely stunning view from above and below the water. Back in 2017, the National Geographic Magazine described this paradise location as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

The dry season on the island is from October until April and thus, the trip would come at a perfect time to hang out on the stunning beaches, whether that be for swimming, sun-bathing or snorkeling.

Modern KTV System at Windy Club

Situated inside of Vinpearl Ganh Dau, the Windy Club Karaoke & Lounge offers a modern high-tech karaoke system. Even if you can’t really sing, it’ll certainly be a fun group activity after a long day of outdoor adventures. Drinks and food are available at Windy Club to unwind in style while trying to figure out which of your friends is the best singer after all.