Day Eight - 28/11/25
Day 8 rolled in gently, the way you hope a Friday on a tropical island might. We all had a light sleep-in and wandered down to the breakfast buffet right on 7am. The spread was incredible! Pravie flipping fresh omelettes, pancakes, noodle soup, fruit, salads, endless coffee, pretty much everything you could hope for. The kids doubled down on pancakes and fruit, and we all left very well-fed.
Back at our villa, the kids were keen to hit the pool immediately, but schoolwork came first. Our accommodation at Bambusa has two units joined by an open-air deck, which made the perfect little study nook for Kia and the kids. Meanwhile, I settled into the desk in our room and got four solid hours of work done. Emails, tasks, a few urgent items, the first proper work stretch in a couple of days.
By lunchtime, we grabbed bicycles from reception, the bikes were too big for Emmett, so he rode on the back of mine and we cruised the kilometre downhill to the beach. The road is lined with small restaurants, and we picked one at random. It turned out to be an absolute gem. The kids went for hamburgers, while Kia and I ordered banh mi… only to discover they were the most westernised banh mi we’ve had yet, complete with cheese. Still delicious though. Then came the avalanche: sweet potato discs in crispy batter, free battered zucchini with dipping sauce, fruit plates, water bottles, dish after dish we didn’t order but happily devoured. It was one of those beautifully chaotic Vietnamese meals where generosity is part of the experience.
After checking out the beach again, we made the ride back (mostly uphill). Maddie had tapped out on the bike enthusiasm. Tiny bikes plus uphill carrying the big fella, equaled burning quads. I had to tap out and swap with Kia, who finished the climb like a champion.
The afternoon was spent exactly how it should be: hours of swimming and floating around the pool, lounging in hammocks, and soaking in how lucky we are to be doing this trip with the kids. Dinner was at the resort restaurant. Simple, relaxed, and perfect after a full day outside. We aimed for card games afterwards, but once we landed in the room, we were done. Bedtime won.
A slow, satisfying day on Phu Quoc. The kind that fills your cup in the best way.