Phu Quoc, an emerald island in the Gulf of Thailand, captivates visitors not only with its smooth white sand beaches and lush green primeval forests but also hides a sparkling treasure beneath the deep sea: pearls. Visiting Phu Quoc offers you the chance to admire the elegant beauty of pearls and explore the unique “pearl farming villages,” where the secrets of creating these precious gems are revealed. Join “Du lịch khắp thế gian” on a journey to experience Phu Quoc’s pearl farming villages, to better understand the unique culture and economic value that pearl farming brings to this beautiful island.
Phu Quoc Pearl Farming Village: A Blend of Culture and Marine Economy
For generations, the ocean has bestowed upon Phu Quoc abundant seafood resources, including pearls – the “jewels” of the ocean. Pearl farming in Phu Quoc is not only a vital economic activity but also a distinctive cultural aspect, closely linked to the lives of the local people. From rudimentary manual methods, Phu Quoc’s pearl farming has evolved into a professional pearl processing industry, generating stable income and contributing to promoting the pearl island’s tourism image.
Phu Quoc boasts ideal natural conditions for pearl cultivation. The sea around the island has suitable salinity, calm currents, clear and nutrient-rich water, creating an ideal habitat for pearl oysters to thrive. Thanks to this advantage, Phu Quoc has become one of the largest pearl farming and processing centers in Vietnam. Visiting Phu Quoc’s pearl farming villages, you will witness vast farming areas on the sea, learn about the elaborate cultivation process, and discover the secrets behind creating exquisite pearls.
Currently, Phu Quoc is home to many renowned pearl farming and processing establishments, each with its unique characteristics, but all aiming for the common goal of preserving and developing traditional crafts, while providing tourists with unique travel experiences and high-quality pearl products. Among them, three reputable and long-standing pearl farms are well-known and favored by many visitors: Long Beach Pearl Farm, Ngoc Hien Pearl Farm, and Quoc An Pearl Farm.
Exploring the Unique Pearl Cultivation Process
An experience in Phu Quoc’s pearl farming village would be incomplete without learning about the meticulous and unique pearl cultivation process. From selecting oyster breeds, nucleus implantation, nurturing, to harvesting and processing, each stage requires the meticulousness, skill, and experience of pearl farmers.
The pearl cultivation process begins with selecting healthy oysters of appropriate age and size. Then, skilled artisans perform the nucleus implantation into the oyster’s body. The nucleus is usually made of mussel shell or mother-of-pearl, in a round or oval shape. This is a crucial step, requiring absolute precision and dexterity, as even a minor mistake can injure the oyster or cause it to reject the nucleus.
After nucleus implantation, oysters are returned to the marine environment for nurturing. They are kept in mesh cages or hanging rafts, placed in sea areas with favorable natural conditions. During the nurturing process, pearl farmers regularly check and clean the cages, monitor the oysters’ health, and adjust the farming environment accordingly. The pearl cultivation period can last from several months to several years, depending on the oyster species, nucleus size, and desired pearl quality.
At harvest time, mature oysters are brought ashore to extract the pearls. The pearl extraction process also requires carefulness and meticulousness to avoid scratching or damaging the pearl inside. After harvesting, pearls are sorted, quality-assessed, and processed into exquisite jewelry products, showcasing magnificent beauty and high value.
Genuine pearls have varied shapes on a single strand.
Top 3 Places to Experience Phu Quoc Pearl Farming Villages
To fully experience the beauty and uniqueness of Phu Quoc’s pearl farming villages, visitors can visit the following three famous pearl farms:
Long Beach Pearl Phu Quoc Farm
Address: 124 Tran Hung Dao Street, Quarter 7, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang.
Opening hours: All day
Long Beach Pearl is known as one of the largest and most reputable pearl brands in Vietnam. Long Beach Pearl Phu Quoc farm has a large, modern scale, with a luxurious and diverse product display area. Here, visitors not only witness the closed pearl cultivation process, from offshore farming areas to modern processing workshops, but also admire thousands of exquisite and unique pearl jewelry designs. Long Beach Pearl is also famous for its rare Tahiti pearl products and high-end Akoya pearls.
Natural pearls exhibit a soft, non-uniform luster.
Ngoc Hien Pearl Farm Phu Quoc
Address: Nguyen Van Cu Street, Group 2, Duong To Hamlet, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang.
Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Ngoc Hien Pearl Farm is one of the oldest pearl farms in Phu Quoc. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Ngoc Hien has built a solid reputation and brand in the market. Ngoc Hien Pearl Farm Phu Quoc is famous for its natural, environmentally friendly pearl cultivation process. Here, visitors will experience a space close to nature, learn about traditional pearl farming processes, and admire pearls with pure, natural beauty. In particular, at Ngoc Hien, visitors can witness firsthand the pearl extraction process and choose freshly harvested pearls.
Black pearls are highly valuable and the rarest type of pearls.
Quoc An Pearl Farm Phu Quoc
Address: Group 1, Suoi May Hamlet, Duong To Commune, Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Quoc An Pearl Farm is a popular destination for visitors to Phu Quoc’s pearl farming villages. Quoc An Pearl Farm impresses with its spacious, airy display area, beautifully and professionally decorated. Here, visitors will be enthusiastically advised and introduced in detail about the cultivation process, how to distinguish real from fake pearls, and diverse pearl products by a team of knowledgeable staff. Quoc An Pearl Farm also has a practical experience area, allowing visitors to try their hand at some stages in the pearl cultivation process, creating memorable moments.
Tips for Choosing Quality and Reputable Phu Quoc Pearls
Phu Quoc pearls are a meaningful and valuable souvenir that many tourists want to own when visiting the pearl island. However, fake and low-quality pearls are also present in the market today. To avoid buying counterfeits, visitors need to master some tips for distinguishing real and fake pearls:
- Observe the shape: Natural real pearls often have shapes that are not completely identical on the same strand. Each pearl will have a different shape and size, such as round, oval, teardrop, etc. Meanwhile, fake pearls are often mass-produced, so the pearls have uniform shapes and sizes.
- Check the luster: Real pearls have a natural, soft, and deep luster. The surface of real pearls is usually not perfectly smooth, and may have small ripples or unevenness. Real pearls have good light reflection, creating a gentle iridescent sheen. Fake pearls usually have an artificial glossy sheen, a smooth and uniformly shiny surface, and a gaudy iridescent sheen.
- Feel the coolness: When touching real pearls, you will feel a natural coolness, even in hot weather conditions. Fake pearls usually do not have this coolness.
- Test the hardness: Real pearls have a certain hardness. You can gently rub two pearls together by hand. If they are real pearls, they will not be scratched or only leave thin pearl powder marks that can be wiped clean. Fake pearls are easily scratched, and the outer coating peels off when rubbed.
In addition, to ensure purchasing quality and reputable Phu Quoc pearls, visitors should choose to buy at branded pearl shops and farms with clear addresses and product quality certifications.
Experiencing Phu Quoc Pearl Village: More Than Just a Tour
Pearls are cultivated in their natural seawater environment.
Experiencing Phu Quoc’s pearl farming village is not just a tourist visit, but also a journey to discover culture, learn about a unique traditional craft, and admire the quintessential beauty of nature. Visiting the pearl village, you will not only witness the meticulous pearl cultivation process but also immerse yourself in the vast ocean space, feel the simple rhythm of life of the fishing villagers, and choose meaningful souvenirs made from Phu Quoc pearls.
Pearl inspection before harvesting.
Artisan extracting a pearl from an oyster.
This pearl extraction process requires extreme care and precision.
Customer receiving advice on distinguishing real from fake pearls.
To make your Phu Quoc pearl farming village experience even more enjoyable, you can combine it with visiting other famous tourist attractions of the pearl island, such as Bai Sao beach, Bai Truong beach, VinWonders Phu Quoc, Safari Phu Quoc, Ho Quoc Pagoda, etc. Surely, your Phu Quoc exploration journey will bring you memorable moments and wonderful experiences.
Conclusion
Phu Quoc’s pearl farming village is a unique and attractive destination, offering visitors the opportunity to discover a distinctive cultural aspect of the pearl island. From the elaborate cultivation process to the magnificent beauty of pearls, everything creates a memorable travel experience. If you have the chance to visit Phu Quoc, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the pearl farming village and discover the secrets of the ocean’s “jewels.”