Phu Quoc Grand World, Once by Day, Once by Night — Why You Should Visit Twice in One Day

Grand World is located within a Vingroup resort complex concentrated in the northern part of Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam (not An Thới, but toward Gành Dầu in the northern part of th…

Saddle · Grand World Phu Quoc

Grand World is located within a Vingroup resort complex concentrated in the northern part of Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam (not An Thới, but toward Gành Dầu in the northern part of the island). We went in once during the day but came back out after two hours because it was too hot, and returned again after dinner. To summarize upfront: this place is completely different by day and by night. By day it's a place to go for photos, and by night it's a place to go for a walk.

Welcome House — An Entrance Built from Bamboo

The first thing you see when stepping out of the taxi is this massive bamboo building. Everyone stops for a photo in front of the golden GRAND WORLD lettering before going in. We were no exception. It was around 1 p.m., with no shade anywhere, and our backs were completely soaked by the time we'd pressed the shutter twice standing there.

Getting closer, you realize this isn't decoration but an actual bamboo lattice structure. Each pillar is woven together in a grid pattern, with a pointed arch-shaped entrance in the middle. On the day we visited, workers were installing stage trusses and speakers in the courtyard, hanging lights for what appeared to be an evening performance. When we returned later, they had already packed up.

Once inside, when you look up, you see the most impressive scene we witnessed that day. Bamboo strips converge from the floor all the way to the ceiling in one direction, with white light pouring through a hole in the center. There's no air conditioning, yet it's noticeably cooler inside than outside. Air simply passes through the lattice. Everyone there was silently looking up.

Arch Gates, Teddy Bear Museum, and an Empty Traditional Village

Walking a little past the bamboo building, you'll see an arch gate painted in blue, yellow, and red. A hot air balloon sculpture sits in the center with "Phu Quoc United Center" written on it. That's the name for the entire complex. The children were holding drinks from a convenience store and hand fans—without those hand fans that day, we wouldn't have made it.

Heading toward the plaza, you'll see a round building with a golden exterior and blue triangular glass panels. It's the Teddy Bear Museum. Next to the entrance stands an angular white bear sculpture gripping the wall, and in front sits a fountain with a lion sculpture. We didn't go inside, just took photos and moved on. The kids' ages didn't really fit the venue. A yellow safety sign in front of the fountain made it a bit awkward for framing shots.

One section of the complex features a recreation of a traditional Vietnamese village. There's a herringbone pattern of red brick pathways, wooden houses with tiled roofs, and a tall wooden watchtower. Overhead, strings of green, red, and white ball decorations create nice photos. But at that time of day, we were the only people walking in this area. There was almost no shade, most shops were closed, and I wouldn't recommend visiting just this section during the day.

Canals and Bridges — During the Day, There Are Only a Few Boats on the Water

The heart of Grand World is an artificial canal running through the center of the complex. Pastel-colored buildings in orange, yellow, and light blue line both sides, with shops and cafes on the ground floor. Stone arch bridges are scattered throughout for crossing and taking photos. The golden railings catch light even when backlit, making every frame shine.

Honestly, the water isn't particularly clear. It's closer to a deep green, and if you look closely, there are floating particles on the surface. In photos it looks like Venice, but up close it's just an artificial canal. Still, on a day with good sky coverage, you can get a composition like this.

The middle of the bridge is where the crowd gathers most. If you frame with a planter column on the left, the canal recedes diagonally and the arch bridge behind fits in one shot. We waited for a gondola to pass by at just the right moment and snapped the shutter.

During the day, the terrace cafes along the canal have all their parasols folded up. There are plenty of places to sit, but it's not hot enough to sit comfortably. People congregate only under shaded bridges or under the arcade of shops.

Even during the day, gondolas run. A boatman in a straw hat and striped shirt rows past with a few passengers. A white metal arch bridge appears ahead, and on the left building wall you can see the COCONUT HOTEL sign. Noticeably fewer people ride during the day since there's no canopy on the boats.

Looking down from the bridge at a passing gondola, you can catch the gold ornament on the boat's prow and the boatman's red stripes in one frame. The best moment is just before the boat passes under the bridge. Keep an eye on your wrists when holding your phone over the railing.

Location and Getting Around

Grand World is quite far north from Phu Quoc Airport or downtown Dương Đông. If you're staying in town, plan your transportation in advance. After 10 p.m., it takes time to find a ride back. The complex is fairly large to walk around, so many people use the red electric carts to move between areas. Check the posted schedules and fares at the stations for current information.

After Sunset Is When It Really Comes Alive

After dinner, we went back in around 8 p.m. Standing on the same bridge again, I wondered if we were even in the same place. The entire building facades light up, and the lights wrapped around the trees stretch across the water in long yellow ribbons. With the water dark, the flaws disappear too.

At the far end of the canal is an arch bridge covered with turquoise glass panels. At night, lights illuminate it and reflect blue even into the water. Beyond it, the clock tower top glows orange. People line up on the bridge just to capture this single angle.

Shooting vertically brings more sky into the frame, stretching the water reflections longer. Even handheld with modern phones, you can get decent shots. The bridge sways though, so resting your elbows on the railing before pressing the shutter keeps things sharp.

The night gondolas have green neon trim on their sides, making them glide across the water in a way you can see from far away. You can hear the boatman singing across the water. A "GO LIVE" sign on the second floor of a shop glowed as live band music played. We didn't ride a gondola. The lines were long, and the kids were already exhausted.

On the promenade side, there's a sign on a shop wall written in Korean characters: "Youth Market." In English it's Youth Market. Finding Korean text somewhere unexpected felt amusing. Below it, trees are wrapped with lights making the entire street glow yellow.

Where the canal widens, two gondolas pass by heading in opposite directions. The left promenade is packed with people while the right is relatively quiet. At night, the left side is where the crowds congregate.

Looking down from the bridge at the lower promenade below is also fun. A yellow wooden kiosk stands there with people walking around it. The curved stair railing has planters and street lamps attached, so even photos without people make for nice shots.

On one side of the complex is a Japanese street section. Hundreds of white paper lanterns hang in the air above the road, each with Japanese katakana written on them. The pillars on both sides are bright red, and lights wrap around the trees too. Shops with vertical signs like 'だいきち' and 'ふく' line both sides, and so many people stand in the middle of the road to take photos that cars automatically go slowly. Since actual electric carts and cars drive through, it's best to hold children's hands.

What We Ate That Day

Walking around, we stepped into a Vietnamese restaurant on the ground floor of the mall and ordered bánh xèo. The portion completely covered the plate. Inside the golden turmeric crepe was bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and ground meat, with the edges crispy like crackling. A whole basket of lettuce came on the side—you tear off leaves, dip them in the nuoc mam sauce, and wrap them around the crepe. The first piece was too hot and burned the roof of my mouth. The mango smoothie one of the kids ordered had less ice than usual, making it a bit thick at the bottom.

We also ordered breaded shrimp tempura. They were served with the tails up and garnished with shiso leaf. The breading was coarse, so it was loud and crunchy, and the shrimp inside was plumper than expected. The sauce was sweet and tangy chili, but came in just one small bowl—after about four shrimp, we ran out. Interestingly, this was what the kids ate most of.

A Memo for the Next Person

• Between noon and 3 p.m., outdoor areas have almost no shade. Except for inside the bamboo building and shop arcades, there's nowhere to escape, so focus on indoor areas during these hours.
• If your goal is photos, go during the day. If your goal is atmosphere, go at night. If you want both, walk around during the day, rest at your accommodation, then return in the evening—it's better that way.
• Bring a hand fan and water in advance. You can buy them inside the complex, but lines are long.
• Gondola lines get longer at night. If you plan to ride, check the ticket booth location before sunset. Check fares and schedules on-site.
• The Japanese street lantern section is an actual roadway with vehicle traffic. Be careful backing up when taking photos.
• Decide your ride home in advance. Later in the evening, there can be wait times for rides heading downtown.