Phu Quoc – Haven of pearls

The Phu Quoc Pearl farm was established in 1998 under the Foreign Investment Law of Vietnam to cultivate South Sea Pearls for the local and international jewellery markets.

The company has a sea lease of 4km² and a land lease of 6,000m² granted by the Kien Giang Provincial Peoples' Committee. Situated on the West coast of Phu Quoc Island, the Pearl Farm is located 8km South of the main town, Duong Dong.Treasures from the Deep Ltd is a New Zealand registered company specializing in the Design and Hand Crafting of Pearl jewellery (set in 18k gold) Pearl Necklaces and Mother of Pearl Seashell (set in 925 Sterling Silver).

The company Owner / Director Grant Johnston has 25 years' Pearl Diving and Aquaculture experience and has been the General Director of Phu Quoc Pearls in Vietnam since 1998.

He provides the technical expertise and management to the venture and is also a major shareholder in the company. Treasures from the Deep was formed to create a marketing company for Phu Quoc Pearls who supply only the finest quality South Sea, Akoya and Mabe pearls to be handcrafted into exquisite designs for sale through out Pearl Galleries and website.

Fish Sauce in Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc fish sauce is one kind of fish sauce which is made in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. For years, Phu Quoc fish sauce has been considered as Phu Quoc speciality, it is famous both in Vietnam and all over the world.

Phu Quoc fish sauce is made from the main material is fish which is catch at Phu Quoc. Making Phu Quoc fish sauce has been over 200 years old. In Europe, Phu Quoc fish sauce has registered to keep the original name “Phu Quoc fish sauce”.

There are many kinds of fish can be used to make fish sauce but people there just only use rice fish to make Phu Quoc fish sauce. They mix 2 part of rice fish with 1 part of salt and keep them in jars for about 1 year. If the material is spoiled fish, time can be shorter but the fish sauce will not be as good as it uses.

The jars are very big. They are similar to fermentation tanks in beer, wine making industry but time for fermenting is longer. More time fish sauce is fermented, more protein it has. Phu Quoc fish sauce is the speciality which most of tourists when coming to Phu Quoc often bring back as gifts.

Black pepper in Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc produces over an incredible 400 tonnes of the best quality black pepper each year. You’ll find pepper plantations mostly around the central and northern parts of the island and most farmers won’t mind you stopping to take photo’s or viewing these amazing storks of pepper trees or the drying pepper. Organised tours also visit the Khu Tuong pepper gardens for a close look at the pepper gardens and cover the overall harvesting and drying process.

Vietnam is the leading global exporter of Black peppercorns with the best quality black pepper in Vietnam coming from Phu Quoc with big solid corns. Phu Quoc currently produces in excess of 400 tonnes of pepper every year, with the main harvesting season running from February through to July, however you can visit the farms all year round.

Peppercorn farmers have been struggling recently due to lower world pepper prices so some farmers are switching to other crops such as the Myrtle fruit for wine production which bring in more money.