In the never-ending quest to discover the “Phuket of the ’80′s,” could it be that the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, just off the Cambodian border in the Gulf of Thailand, is the real thing? Years away from overdevelopment, Phu Quock is known for its peaceful white-sand beaches, laid-back atmosphere, and as the world’s premier producer of nuoc mam fish sauce, a fish sauce so pungent, “Vietnam Airlines is reputed to have installed special sniffers to prevent passengers taking it in their luggage and endangering the purity of the baggage hold,” as the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

And a quick check on Kayak today reveals flights in the $870 range from New York to Hanoi. Nothing extra for scentless flights.

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Matt Stabile