Phú Quý Island has recently gained a new specialty: the stone crab. This crab species is beloved by both locals and visitors for its sweet, subtly fragrant meat…

The stone crab looks similar to other common crabs but is only about the size of a fist. It has a brownish-purple color, with the underside of its belly showing a golden yellow hue. Stone crabs are very strong and fast, living in rocky caves and crevices around the island, especially abundant in the Hòn Tranh area. They usually come out of their burrows to forage at night.

Currently, locals have discovered that the meat of this crab is very delicious — white, firm, and with a delicate, hard-to-describe aroma. Stone crab has become a popular specialty served in many local eateries on the island.

Wild stone crabs breed from June to September. During the breeding season, female crabs often move to watery areas, usually the beach, to release their eggs. From October to December, they typically molt inside their caves.