Vietnam - Fit Phu Quoc Gym and Yoga, Phu Quoc Island

Location: Fit Phu Quoc Gym and Yoga, 100 Trần Hưng Đạo, Cửa Lấp, Dương Tơ, Tp. Phú Quốc, tỉnh Kiên Giang
Google maps: Click here
Tel: 094 977 55 62
Website: Facebook
Opening hours: 6am to 12pm and 1pm to 9pm
Price: 80,000 VND (approx £2.75) 


Review: Phu Quoc is an island off of the coast of Cambodia, which actually belongs to Vietnam. Despite its terrible history during the Indochina War, AKA the Vietnam War, the island is heralded as being home to some of the best beaches that Vietnam has to offer. Given that the nearby islands of Koh Rong were amongst the most beautiful that we had found on our trip, I has high hopes for Phu Quoc. 

It is perhaps because of these hopes, that I was so bitterly disappointed. I hate to sound so negative, but perhaps after 6 months of travelling around Asia my standards have risen a little. Phu Quoc is basically a giant building site at the moment. Perhaps 5 years ago is was filled with tranquil beauty and perhaps in another 5 years it will be a well developed tourist destination like southern Thailand. But right now, I would honestly tell you not to bother with it. Whilst it was interesting to visit the prison, and to drive around the island, there was nothing here to get excited about on this island. The sea at the time we visited was cloudy, but the sun did shine during the day and it was nice by the beach. Just nothing special.

Perhaps one of my highlights of this destination was finding Fit Phu Quoc Gym and Yoga. The gym is relatively new and well equipped with wifi and air conditioning throughout. Entrance on a day pass is 80,000 VND and comes with the benefit of a sweat towel. 

The gym is a medium size and contains:

• Dumbbell up to 30kg
• Easy bar
• Preacher curl bench 
• Flat barbell bench
• Incline barbell bench 
• Decline barbell bench
• Olympic bars
• Smith machine 
• Cables 
• Lat pulldown machine 
• Leg press machine 
• Chest press machine 
• Abs machine 
• Glute machine 
• Pec Dec 
• Shoulder press machine 
• Skipping rope
• Swiss balls 
• Yoga mats 
• Resistance bands
• Wobble boards 
• Lower back raise thing  
• Static bikes 
• Treadmills 
• Cross-trainers

The only major things that this gym is missing are heavy dumbbells and a squat rack, meaning that you will have to put up with doing squats on the smith machine, doing something like a goblet squat with the dumbbells if you want to train legs. 

The gym also has a small studio room from which the gym runs regular classes. You can check their website for details of the classes they run. Personal training sessions are also available from the gym, so if you need a little extra help with your plan or motivation, you should speak to the reception staff who are very helpful.

As well as water and isotonic drinks, the gym also sells protein shakes for 100,000 VND each (approx £3.50) which is good if you don't like having to carry protein with you. The gym also carries a small selection of supplements, such as protein powder, weight gainer, BCAAs and creatine. This may well be the only place on the island to stock up, so grab it if you need it. 

Who is this gym for? The set up in this gym felt professional, clean and safe. The gym is located on the south side of town on the main road. The path from town is lit with street lights, but lone female travellers might want to consider a taxi if they have far to go. I would recommend this gym to anyone looking to train whilst in Phu Quoc. 

Tips: Apparently, there is another gym on the island, and I did go looking for it. Sadly, I couldn't find it, but from having spoken to a few other travellers who did, they all agreed that this is the best public gym on the island. Overall, Phu Quoc is pretty much just a building site at the moment, and for what it is worth, my general tip would be it is probably best to avoid it altogether and head to Hoi An. 

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