A first-time guide to Phu Quoc, Vietnam

About the size of Singapore, teardrop-shaped Phu Quoc (pronounced foo kwok) is Vietnam’s largest island, and its best-loved beach escape. In fact, there are 22 islands in the Phu Quoc archipelago, spilling into the Gulf of Thailand like brilliant jewels, all calling out to be explored. 

Despite being part of Vietnam, Phu Quoc is actually closer to the Cambodian mainland – just 15km (9 miles) from the shoreline near Kampot – but this idyllic getaway is best reached by ferry from the Vietnamese port of Ha Tien, or by plane, with direct flights from cities across Asia.

What's the appeal? Well, Phu Quoc is blessed with 150km (93 miles) of gorgeous coastline, dusted with fine sand beaches and fringed by coral reefs. Then there's the heavily forested interior (more than half of the island is a national park), and the bountiful seafood hauled in by local fishing boats. It’s also the only place in Vietnam where tourists of any nationality can visit for up to 30 days visa-free. It's little wonder Phu Quoc is one of the most popular places to visit in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese government has set its sights on developing the island as a premier beach playground, so you can expect excellent infrastructure, abundant accommodation and dining options, and plenty of tourist attractions, including the nation's most spectacular cable car ride. If you’re visiting Phu Quoc for the first time, here’s everything you need to know.

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When should I go to Phu Quoc?

Tropical Phu Quoc has just two seasons – six months of dry, sunny weather between November and April and six rainy months between May and October. The dry months from November to April bring the best weather for relaxing on the beaches, diving and snorkeling, and exploring the interior of the island. However, this is also the busiest time for tourism, with peak prices for transport and accommodation. 

During the quiet wet season, the southwestern monsoon brings frequent and sometimes heavy rain interspersed with sunny spells. You can still get a lot out of a rainy season visit, but consider a hotel with a swimming pool, so you can duck out for quick swims in between rain showers.

Despite its tropical paradise reputation, be aware that Phu Quoc has something of a trash problem, producing more waste than the island can process. Around October and November, the northeast winds are known to wash garbage from fishing boats, the island itself, and from other places around the Gulf of Thailand onto Phu Quoc’s eastern beaches. Most mid-range and high-end hotels and resorts do a good job of cleaning their own strips of sand, but for spotless beaches, you may want to visit outside of this season.  

How much time should I spend in Phu Quoc?

If you’re looking for a quick beach break to start or end your trip to Vietnam, three days should be enough to see the island’s highlights while fitting in some R&R. Those looking to spend longer by the sand should consider breaking up their trip into two parts to appreciate all the island has to offer. 

Start by taking a few nights in Duong Dong (the main town) to enjoy the abundant restaurants and seaside city vibe, then escape for a few nights to the Vinpearl resort with its amusement park, safari zone, and Venice-inspired Grand World complex, or head to the beautiful beaches on the south shore.

Is it easy to get into and around Phu Quoc?

The island's small international airport receives direct domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong, and international flights from many larger cities in the region, including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei and Beijing.

Flights from Ho Chi Minh City take just an hour, and are probably the most convenient way to reach the island. There are also regular ferries from Ha Tien (one hour by speedboat or three hours by ferry) or Rach Gia (around 2.5 hours by ferry) in the Mekong Delta.

The 14km (9-mile) drive from the airport to the main town of Duong Dong takes 15 to 20 minutes. Most hotels will include at least one one-way transfer in the room price; otherwise, taxis are cheap and plentiful. If you’re staying right in the center of Duong Dong, you'll have restaurants, spas and shops within walking distance.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps (Grab and XanhSM are popular) are useful for short distances. A trip across Duong Dong to the Phu Quoc night market should only cost a few dollars. However, fares for longer journeys can add up. If you’re licensed to ride a motorbike, scooters are available for rent on the island.

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Top things to do in Phu Quoc

There's plenty to keep you busy in the Phu Quoc archipelago, from island tours to some of Vietnam's best amusement parks. 

Go on an island-hopping snorkeling tour

Excellent value, full-day snorkeling tours typically visit two to three islands, with time for snorkeling, swimming and relaxing on the beach. You can usually fish along the way (with a spool of line and a baited hook rather than a fishing rod). Lunch is a raucously fun affair, served family-style with your fellow day trippers.

Pocket-friendly group trips involve sharing a boat with lots of fellow sightseers. You can pay more for a smaller group or a trip visiting more islands, or charter a boat for a private tour. One popular option is to end the day on Pineapple Island, returning to the main island via the cable car. John’s Tours is a popular tour operator.

Take the cable car to the amusement park on Hon Thom (Pineapple Island)

The trip to Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) takes about 15 minutes from the main island, and you'll cover the 8km (5-mile) distance via the world’s longest non-stop three-rope cable car. The views over fishing boats and forested islands alone are worth the price of a ticket.

Once you reach the island, a day of family-friendly fun awaits at the Sunworld amusement park, with water slides, a wooden roller coaster, a lofty observation deck and more. Sea walking (with a pumped air diving suit), paragliding, and sea kayaking are available for an extra charge.

Be transported to the Amalfi Coast at Sunset Town

Opened at the end of 2023, the entertaining Sunset Town complex recreates a slice of the Italian coast on tropical Phu Quoc. While it sounds completely kitsch (the façade of the cable car station looks like Rome’s Colosseum), this themed town is surprisingly well done, complete with pastel-colored houses and terracotta-tiled roofs, cobblestone lanes, and cute boutiques and cafes.

In addition to the surreal setting, the big draw is Sunset Town's plethora of tourist attractions, including the Kiss Bridge, a nightly fireworks show, free water puppet shows and street performances, a beachfront night market, and the multi-sensory Kiss of the Sea show, with acrobatics, pyrotechnics and lights projected onto falling curtains of water.

Catch an amazing sunrise or sunset

The Emerald Island – as Phu Quoc is known locally – is renowned for its brilliant sunrises and sunsets, often featuring flaming oranges, pinks and purples. Wake up early on the east coast to catch the sunrise or head to the west coast for brilliant sunsets.

Any spot on the beach will do, but the views from INK 360 on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort are unbeatable. Go early for a cocktail inside the spectacularly whimsical Ashley Sutton-designed, Jules Verne-esque bar, with its tangle of giant octopus tentacles, before heading out to the terrace in time for sunset.

Visit some of the region’s best beaches

Phu Quoc has nearly two dozen beaches – some of the best in Vietnam – ranging from wild and secluded strands spilling out from the trees to picture-perfect stretches of powdery sand bordered by clear, turquoise waters at swanky beach resorts.

Two of the best beaches are in the island's southeast. Sao Beach is home to restaurants and beach clubs, making it popular with tour groups who pour onto the sand just before noon for a few hours of basking. To avoid the crowds, come early or walk towards the beach club at the north end of the beach and either rent a (rather expensive) chair or lay down your towel.

The next beach over, Kem Beach (also spelled Khem), is quieter. There’s a public section next to the Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, but if you’re a beach lover, consider splurging for a few nights at one of the appealing hotels on this stunning ribbon of sand.

Sample some of Phu Quoc's specialties on an island tour

Phu Quoc has a surprising number of local specialties for such a small island. On a tour of the southern part of the island, you can visit a factory making sim wine (a sweet liquor made from the fruit of the rose myrtle), a pepper farm (producing the strands of fresh peppercorns used in island stir-fries), a pearl farm (where the process of cultivating pearls is explained), and a plant producing Phu Quoc's famous fish sauce.

Alternatively, rent a scooter and drive through the dense forest of Phu Quoc National Park at the island’s northern end to sample local honey and enjoy a seafood lunch on the quiet, less developed shoreline at Bai Thom. 

Have a fun-filled family day at Vinpearl

Dominating the northwest tip of the island, the Vinpearl resort complex includes some of Phu Quoc's most popular visitor attractions. Just back from the shore, you'll find rides aplenty at the VinWonders theme park, complete with waterslides, looping coasters, an aquarium and a fairytale castle. Then there's Grand World, a massive shopping and entertainment complex themed like Venice in Italy.

Inland is the Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc, with a drive-through zone full of African wildlife, live bird shows, and more. All the attractions are open to non-guests; book ahead online for the best prices. Get here by taxi from Duong Dong. 

My favorite thing to do in Phu Quoc

After a day swimming in the sea, there’s nothing I love more than sitting down to a meal of fresh seafood cooked to order. You’ll find a few seafood joints at the night market, but visiting Vietnamese tend to favor the row of seafood restaurants in the fishing village of Ham Ninh or the more conveniently located Nhà hàng hải sản Làng Cá Phú Quốc just south of central Duong Dong.

Pick your choice of protein from the tanks filled with live seafood and have it cooked to order. I like my shrimp stir-fried with Phu Quoc peppercorns or steamed in beer, while crab gets the wok treatment in a tangy tamarind sauce.

How much money do I need for Phu Quoc?

Since Phu Quoc is an island and many goods are imported, expect prices to be 10-20% higher than on the mainland. ATMs can be found in the main town, higher-end hotels and at tourist attractions; smaller restaurants and convenience stores only take cash. Meal prices tend to be lower in less touristy locations, such as the fishing villages of Rach Vem, Ham Ninh and Ganh Dau. 

Here are some sample prices:

• Taxi from the airport to Duong Dong: 200,000d (US$7.60)

• Taxi from Duong Dong to VinWonders Phu Quoc (each way): 350,000d (US$13.30)

• Taxi from Duong Dong to Sunset Town (each way): 280,000d (US$10.60)

• Full-day three-island snorkeling tour with lunch: from 734,000d (US$28)

• Ticket on the cable car to Hon Thom (Pineapple Island): 750,000d (US$28.50) for adults and 600,000d (US$22.80) for kids under 1.4m

• Basic room for two (not on the beach): 500,000d (US$20)

• Motorbike rental per day: from 150,000d (US$5.70)

• Seafood meal at a local restaurant: 250,000d (US$9.50)

• Cocktail at a beach club: 180,000d (US$6.80)

• Local beer at a beach bar: 40,000d (US$1.50)