Khu Tuong Pepper Garden

Description:

Khu Tuong is known as the largest area of growing pepper in Phu Quoc. Khu Tuong Pepper Garden contributes greatly in Phu Quoc economy. Now, it is a famous spot for tourist to visit, take photos, and explore the local life of pepper growers.

Phu Quoc Island is home to the largest pepper gardens in Mekong Delta. This island is dubbed the “kingdom of pepper”. Thus, pepper is one of local specialties and unique gifts for tourists when visiting Phu Quoc. Pepper is mostly grown in Ganh Gio Hamlet, Suoi Da Hamlet, Suoi May Hamlet, and especially in Khu Tuong Hamlet (about 15km from Duong Dong Town to the north).

Entering Khu Tuong Pepper Garden, you cannot help admiring while contemplating the red beam of ripe pepper. Ripe pepper is stored in large baskets, and then being poured out to dry in the sun. Almost garden owners here are Hai Nam people (Hainan people) who drifted to Phu Quoc Hainan by following merchant ships for a long time ago. Currently, Phu Quoc has given a common brand for this unique specialty – Phu Quoc Pepper, in order to ensure the value of this product in corresponding to its own quality.

Phu Quoc pepper is famous for its quality which can be found nowhere else. Pepper is grown all over the island with a total area of 470 hectares with an output of up to 1250 tons/ year (2007). The biggest volume is seen in Khu Tuong. Currently, Phu Quoc has given a worldwide famous brand for this unique specialty – Phu Quoc Pepper, in order to ensure the value of this product in corresponding to its own quality. Simultaneously, policies and mechanisms are given to maintain and develop this collective trademark, to meet expectations of farmers in Phu Quoc.

Authorities of this district also research and apply scientific and technical advances for improving product quality, reducing production costs, and increasing profits for growers such as applying technological drip irrigation of Netafim-Israel for pepper trees, building models of pepper production which is certificated by GlobalGAP. Today, the pepper plantation does not just bring great economic benefits, but it is also a valuable tourist attraction in Phu Quoc. In terms of economic field, the value of 1 kg of dry pepper is 6.7 times higher than 1kg of coffee. However, it is not easy to grow and take care pepper.

Phu Quoc pepper gardens become attractive spots in this island, which brings tourists unforgettable memories with pungent flavor, vast lush green gardens, and hospitable people. Visiting pepper gardens seems to be one of fascinating things to do in Phu Quoc. Tourists can pop in Khu Tuong Pepper Garden, take photos, and explore the local life of pepper growers on the way to the north of Phu Quoc Island. In addition, you will have a chance to understand more about growing methods of local people to create a special pepper. You can buy this specialty on-spot. Also, you can drop by pepper gardens in Suoi Da Hamlet. On the way to the northern area of Phu Quoc Island, apart from strolling in lush green pepper gardens, tourists can visit and explore primitive jungle in Ganh Dau Ecological Reserve, come over Nguyen Trung Truc Temple, Ganh Dau Headland, fish sauce village, or immerse in cool seawater of Long Beach.

Currently in Phu Quoc, there are hundreds of households opening tours on sightseeing and shopping home products such as fish cage farming, sweet snail, Ham Ninh crab, Sim wine, fish sauce produced in Duong Dong and An Thoi towns, ecological garden tours in Cua Duong and Duong To. These unique tours bring sustainable development of Phu Quoc tourism. In short, taking an eco-tour to Khu Tuong Pepper Garden is increasingly favored by tourists. Tourists coming to Phu Quoc not simply visit and explore beauty spots or unique cuisine in this “pearl island”, but also delve into cultural features as well as specialties.