HO CHI MINH CITY, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- CNN has selected the top five up-and-coming Asia Pacific destinations to visit this autumn, including Phu Quoc island off Vietnam's southern Kien Giang province, Vietnam News Agency reported Monday.
"If you're dreaming of a beach getaway in Asia this fall, Phu Quoc in Vietnam should be a top contender. For starters, the dry season begins in November and runs till April," stated CNN.
Formerly a prison island during French colonial times, Phu Quoc, which is just an hour from Ho Chi Minh City and offers a 30-day visa exemption policy for all foreign passports, has photogenic setting and clear waters. There is plenty to do aside from lounging and snorkeling around Ong Lang Beach.
The Phu Quoc Prison Museum offers a peek into the island's dark history while the Phu Quoc National Park and Suoi Tranh Waterfall will spoil nature lovers.
"As for the food, this island is famous for its fish sauce, so don't miss every chance to try it -- which shouldn't be hard, seeing as it's a main ingredient of most Vietnamese dishes," CNN noted.
Apart from Phu Quoc, other destinations in the CNN list are Chengdu (China), Fukuoka (Japan), Jeju (Japan) and Perth (Australia).
