Where is it?
On a quiet beach on the incredibly beautiful Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, Fusion has one of the best locations on the island. Whereas the southern end of Phu Quoc can get pretty busy, with plenty of resorts rubbing shoulders on the sand, Fusion’s only neighbours are a couple of low-key beach shacks. The long stretch of white sand beach is nearly always empty, populated more by palm trees than people, and the water is pancake flat, with barely even a ripple made by the odd passing fishing boat.
Style
So as to minimise its environmental and aesthetic impact on the beach, Fusion has been thoughtfully designed with most of the one-story buildings set well back from the sand. Pathways run through the grounds linking the individual villas, the walls of which are hidden behind thick grassy banks to give each one a feeling of seclusion and privacy. It also helps to blend the whole place into the landscape a bit more rather than just plonking a great big multi-storey tower on the beach, as has been done on other parts of the island. It’s low on any big statements design wise but the villas are not short on luxury – each comes with a private pool – and the less-is-more approach helps to keep the zen factor high throughout.
Facilities
The morning we were due to check in, a WhatsApp message from a strange number pinged my phone. It was our ‘Fusionista’, our personal concierge for our stay, introducing himself. It was a great service and much easier to communicate via WhatsApp than visiting the concierge desk or calling – booking everything from dinner to spa appointments through him was a breeze.
The fact that the spa is the single biggest building at Fusion tells you how central this is to the whole experience. Fusion offers an ‘all inclusive’ spa programme whereby each guest is guaranteed two treatments a day, plus any more they wish if there’s availability. The spa complex is huge with rooms running off from the main reception area in all directions, plus there are a gym and medium-sized pool. There is a range of massages, body scrubs and other treatments available and you’ll soon be wondering how you ever lived without two spa treatments a day.
Elsewhere, should you tire of your private pool, there’s a huge circular communal pool set just back from the beach, bikes and canoes for hire, a tennis court, and daily yoga classes.
Of the resort’s two restaurants, we think Pezcá has the edge both in terms of food and setting. Close to the beach, it has great views of the ocean and at sunset, it’s a prime spot to watch the sun go down over the water. The menu is all about the seafood, something there’s plenty of in Phu Quoc, and there’s a good selection of local fish cooked whole on the barbecue. The Secret Garden has more of an international vibe in the evening but is also the setting for a predictably epic breakfast spread. As well as eggs, coffee and fresh fruit, there’s a Vietnamese section serving fresh seafood pancakes (Ban Xeo) and pho noodle soups.
Which room?
With every single villa having its own private pool, you really can’t go wrong. You’ll pay a little more if you’re facing the ocean but really the only reason to not go with the cheapest villas will be if you need more bedrooms. The two and three bedroom villas can sleep up to six and nine guests respectively and some come with pools bigger than most you’d find in your average hotel. Across the board the villas are very luxurious with loads of open space, sliding glass doors out to the gardens, big lounge areas, and an incredible wooden bathtub sunken into the floor. It’s a no-expense-spared kind of place.
The view looking down the long curved stretch of white sand is pretty spectacular – the hotel has even created a perfect little Instagram moment for guests by building a swing right on the beach looking out to sea.
Best for
Given the range of villa sizes, things to do, and the incredible setting, Fusion Phu Quoc is a great all-rounder that should keep everyone happy. The only drawback for some people might be that it’s a 20-minute drive to town but for others, this distance from the crowds may be the best thing about it.
Details
One-bedroom villas with breakfast included a start at £250 a night.
Vung Bau Bay, Cua Can Village, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province.
