Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam
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Why in News
- A speedboat carrying passengers capsized near **Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island**, resulting in multiple casualties among **Indian** tourists.
Overview and Location
- People often call **Phu Quoc** as the **"Pearl Island"**. It is the largest island in **Vietnam** and attracts visitors with white sand beaches, clear waters, dense forests, and luxury resorts.
- The island sits very close to **Cambodia**, but it belongs entirely to **Vietnam**. It covers **574 square kilometres**, extends **50 kilometres** from north to south, and sits at the heart of an archipelago of **22 islands**.
Natural Environment
- **Phu Quoc** features over **150 kilometres** of coastline along with mountain ranges reaching heights up to **630 metres**, evergreen forests, waterfalls, caves, and rock pools.
- Authorities have protected more than half of the island under a **UNESCO Biosphere Reserve** designation since **2006**.
Economy and Local Products
- Fishing and farming continue to drive the local economy, while the island enjoys world fame for producing **fish sauce**, **black pepper**, and **pearls**.
Religious Heritage
- The island houses **Cao Dai** temples representing **Caodaism**, which is a Vietnamese religion that blends elements from **Buddhism**, **Taoism**, **Confucianism**, **Christianity**, and **Islam**.