Coi nguon Museum

 This is actually a private museum that is a MUST SEE when you’re visiting Phu Quoc. The building commands a road side location set on a hill, South of the town of Duong Dong.

This is a six floor structure that is modern in design and has great functionality…it’s a fairly new building….as is the museum itself…its barley a few years old, some parts of it are still under construction , at least were when I visited in January of 2010. Its design is such that you can move easily around from display to display and the continuity is great.

There are sections that deal with the history of Phu Quoc, including ceramics, bronze and stone tools, and animal and sea mammal skeletons.

There are sections that deal with the historical development of the people in connection to Phu Quoc.

You can see art work made by people from Phu Quoc..works using materials that are specific to Phu Quoc., sea shells and drift wood for example.

There are displays of boats here and examples of housing structures that are or were commonly used here on the island. There’s also the obligatory Shrine to Ho Chi Min and a fairly interesting display relating to the Coconut Tree Prison that I’ve mentioned earlier..

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There is in fact various structures on the property and once you finish indoors and leave the main building there’s a walkway that takes you up the hill to some of the other buildings that are a part of the museum. There is quite an elaborate Temple here, and example of a stilted house used even today by some people here on Phu Quoc.There are gardens and even an aviary where a breed of sea eagles are kept and a kennel where they are keeping a few of the “Phu Quoc” dogs, a breed that’s particular to Phu Quoc. The sea eagles are being bred here as part of an effort to save them from extinction.

It’s an interesting place to spend some time…and it was NOT busy…I was able to wander around without any worries about being crowded into a corner…I'm not sure that many people know of its existence...when I was asking people about it...before I visited the museum...no one seemed to know anything about it..

For a condensed look at the culture and history of Phu Quoc you really must make this museum a “thing to do” while you are visiting.

Access to the museum costs about $ 1.00...and access is available EVERY day from 0730 AM- 1100 AM and again from 1300 Pm - 1700 PM...

Address: No. 149, Tran Hung Dao St.,Duong Dong.

Phone: 84-77 3980206

(Source: virtualtourist.com)