Around Suối Tranh Waterfall, jar after jar of deep-purple rose myrtle wine sits aging, fruity aromas mixed with a faint alcohol tinge — rượu sim is one of Phu Quoc's most representative souvenir liquors, made from a wild fruit that only grows in this island's hill country.
A winery's story backed by official tourism pages and OCOP certification
Vietnam's National Administration of Tourism's official rural-tourism promotion page (nongthon.vietnamtourism.gov.vn) has a feature introducing this drink, and the state outlet Dân Việt has also reported on the founder of Bảy Gáo winery and its OCOP three-star certification. Long-established wineries such as Bảy Gáo and Sim Sơn cluster around Suối Tranh Waterfall, with Bảy Gáo documented across multiple reports as a pioneer of the traditional brewing method. English and Chinese Wikipedia entries for 'Rhodomyrtus tomentosa' also record this plant's use for winemaking on Phu Quoc, though these are general plant entries, not ones specific to this drink.
Honest clarification: a local-level certification, and its claimed health benefits should be taken with a grain of salt
It has to be clarified honestly that rose myrtle fruit grows wild in the island's northern hill country, harvested only around April to July each year, and most brands hold a local OCOP (One Commune, One Product) certification at the three- to four-star level — not a national or international award, a distinction worth understanding clearly before buying. It's also worth noting that folk claims about the drink 'aiding digestion' or 'improving circulation' are a matter of traditional folk belief, with no credible clinical research found to support them so far — such health claims are best treated with a skeptical eye rather than taken as medical advice.
How to Buy It Well
- The winery cluster around Suối Tranh Waterfall is open for visits, letting you see the brewing process and compare brands along the way.
- The fruit is harvested only from April to July, so it's worth checking the batch date before buying.
- Check that the packaging is well-sealed if carrying it as a souvenir, to avoid leakage in transit.
An Honest Look at the Certification and Health Claims
- Most brands hold only a local OCOP three- to four-star certification, not a national or international award — worth understanding clearly before buying.
- Claims of 'aiding digestion' or 'improving circulation' are a matter of traditional folk belief, with no credible clinical research found to support them.
- Health claims are best treated with a skeptical eye when drinking or buying, not taken as medical advice.
A bottle of rose myrtle wine carries a wild fruit found only in Phu Quoc's northern hills for four months a year — OCOP three-star is the certification it actually holds today, and as for the folk tales of its health benefits, they're best enjoyed the same way as the wine itself: with a light buzz and a grain of salt.