Phu Quoc
Photo: Vivu Vietnam / Unsplash
Key Facts
Best Time to Visit
November to March for dry, sunny weather and calm seas; April-October is the wetter monsoon season
Language
Vietnamese; English spoken at resorts and tourist venues
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND); US dollars accepted at some resorts
Time Zone
ICT (UTC+7)
Airport
Phu Quoc International (PQC), 10 km southeast of Duong Dong, with domestic and regional flights
Population
Approx. 180,000 (island); Duong Dong, the main town, is the largest settlement
Climate
Tropical monsoon; hot and humid year-round (26-32°C), with a wet season May to October
Safety Rating
Generally Safe (Level 1) — low crime; main hazards are traffic, jellyfish, and rip currents in low season
Visa Note
Phu Quoc allows visa-free entry for up to 30 days for most nationalities arriving directly to the island
Top Highlights
Sao Beach (Bai Sao)
The island's most famous beach, a curve of powder-white sand and clear turquoise water on the southeast coast. Free public access; beach loungers and seafood shacks charge a small fee. Best in the dry season when the water is calm. About 30 minutes from Duong Dong. Allow a half day.
Hon Thom Cable Car
The world's longest non-stop three-rope over-sea cable car, gliding 7.9 km from An Thoi to Pineapple Island with dazzling views over fishing boats and islets. A round-trip ticket (around 600,000 VND / ~$24) includes the Aquatopia water park. Runs daily; allow a half to full day.
Dinh Cau Night Market
Duong Dong's bustling evening market, where dozens of stalls grill fresh seafood — sea urchin, grouper, prawns — alongside tropical fruit and souvenirs. Free to enter; a seafood dinner runs 150,000-400,000 VND. Opens around 5PM nightly. Point at your catch and agree the price first. Allow 1-2 hours.
Phu Quoc Prison (Coconut Tree Prison)
A sobering museum at the site where tens of thousands of prisoners were held during the French and American wars, with reconstructed cells and the notorious 'tiger cages'. Entry is free; open daily roughly 8-11:30AM and 1:30-5PM. A powerful, respectful stop. Allow 1 hour.
Fish Sauce Factories (Nuoc Mam)
Phu Quoc's prized nuoc mam fish sauce ages for a year in giant wooden barrels of anchovies and sea salt. Family distilleries near Duong Dong offer free short tours — expect a pungent aroma. You can buy bottles to take home (check airline liquid rules). Allow 30-45 minutes.
Sunset Sanato Beach & Long Beach
The west-coast Long Beach (Bai Truong) stretches for kilometres of golden sand and is the island's prime sunset strip, lined with beach bars. The quirky Sunset Sanato beach club has sculptures and swings for photos (small entry fee). Free public stretches abound. Allow an evening.
Suoi Tranh Waterfall
A gentle jungle waterfall and stream in the island's forested interior, reached by a short shaded walk through a small nature park (entry around 20,000 VND). Best after the rains when the cascade is fuller; the pools are good for a cooling dip. A nice break from the beaches. Allow 1-1.5 hours.
Planned Itinerary
7-Day Phu Quoc Itinerary
Arrival & Long Beach Sunset
Land at Phu Quoc International (PQC), clear the island's 30-day visa-free entry, transfer ~15-25 minutes to your Long Beach (Bai Truong) hotel, and ease into island time with an orientation walk and a first west-coast sunset.
Airport transfer to Long Beach(20 minutes)
Grab or a metered taxi from PQC to the Bai Truong / Duong Dong area runs ~150,000-250,000 VND (~$6-10). Most resorts (Salinda, La Veranda, budget guesthouses) cluster along the 20km golden strip.
Check-in and beach orientation walk(1.5 hours)
Drop bags, then stroll the soft sand of Bai Truong south from Duong Dong. Get your bearings: town to the north, sunset beach bars to the south.
Sunset at Sunset Sanato Beach Club(2 hours)
Whimsical sculptures, swings over the sea and a clear sunset view over the Gulf of Thailand. Small entry fee or buy a drink; cocktails ~120,000-180,000 VND (~$5-7).
Dinner at the Dinh Cau Night Market(1.5 hours)
On Vo Thi Sau St in Duong Dong (Grab ~50,000 VND). Pick fresh scallops grilled with spring onion and peanut (~80,000 VND/~$3.30 a plate) and a whole grilled grouper; agree the price before they cook.
Duong Dong Town, Fish Sauce & Pepper Heritage
A culture-and-flavour day around Duong Dong and the western interior — the island's working heart — keeping drives short and within the northwest cluster before an easy beach afternoon.
Sung Hung Pagoda(45 minutes)
The island's oldest and most revered pagoda, on Tran Hung Dao St in central Duong Dong. Free entry; cover shoulders and knees. A peaceful, incense-scented start.
Khai Hoan fish sauce (nuoc mam) factory tour(45 minutes)
Towering wooden barrels of anchovies and sea salt ageing for a year. Free short tour; pungent but fascinating. Buy a bottle (~60,000-150,000 VND) but pack it well for the flight.
Phu Quoc pepper farm visit(1 hour)
A family pepper garden (several dot the Khu Tuong / Suoi Da area, ~20 min drive). See red, black and white peppercorns drying; small tasting and shop. Entry usually free / tip-based.
Coi Nguon Museum(1 hour)
A quirky private museum on Bach Dang St covering the island's natural history, shipwreck pottery and traditional life, with a rooftop sea view. Entry ~50,000 VND (~$2).
Afternoon rest at Long Beach(2.5 hours)
Back to Bai Truong to swim and read on a lounger; round off with sunset drinks at Rory's Beach Bar or the Chuồn Chuồn Bistro deck.
An Thoi Island-Hopping & Snorkelling
Head ~45 minutes south to An Thoi harbour for a classic three-island speedboat snorkel tour through the southern archipelago — the island's signature day on the water.
Speedboat to the An Thoi islands(1 hour)
Join a 3- or 4-island tour (Hon May Rut, Hon Gam Ghi, Hon Dam Ngang). Group trips ~600,000-900,000 VND (~$24-36) with gear and lunch; book the day before via your hotel.
Snorkelling over coral reefs(2.5 hours)
Clear, calm water (dry season) with hard and soft corals, parrotfish and sea urchins. Hon Gam Ghi has the most reliable reef. Reef-safe sunscreen appreciated.
Seafood lunch on the boat / a beach islet(1 hour)
Included grilled fish, squid and rice; pay a little extra for fresh sea urchin if offered.
Swimming and kayaking at Hon May Rut(1.5 hours)
Powder-white sand and shallow turquoise shallows — the prettiest swim stop. Some tours include kayaks.
Return and casual dinner near the harbour(1.5 hours)
Back to An Thoi by late afternoon; eat cheap, fresh seafood at a local quan in An Thoi town before the drive back.
Hon Thom Cable Car & Aquatopia
Stay south for the headline ride: the world's longest non-stop three-rope over-sea cable car from An Thoi to Pineapple Island, plus its water park — an easy, spectacular day on the south end.
Hon Thom 3-wire cable car (round trip)(30 minutes each way)
Glides 7.9km over fishing boats and islets. Combo ticket ~600,000 VND (~$24) includes Aquatopia water park. Go early to beat heat and queues; drive from Duong Dong ~45 min.
Aquatopia Water Park(3 hours)
Slides, wave pool and a lazy river on Pineapple Island, included with the cable-car combo. Lockers and lounge chairs available.
Beach time and lunch on Hon Thom(1.5 hours)
Quieter beach coves on the island; seafood and Vietnamese dishes at the on-site restaurants (~120,000-250,000 VND).
Sunset and seafood back at An Thoi / Bai Sao road(2 hours)
Cable car back, then drive toward Sao Beach side for a sundowner; light dinner at a roadside quan.
Sao Beach & Southeast Coast
A slower beach day on the island's most famous sand — Bai Sao on the southeast coast (~30 min from Duong Dong) — with a sobering history stop nearby.
Sao Beach (Bai Sao)(3 hours)
Curve of powder-white sand and clear turquoise water. Free public access; loungers/umbrellas from shacks like Paradiso or My Lan ~50,000-100,000 VND. Try the rope swings and a coconut (~30,000 VND).
Seafood lunch at a Bai Sao beach restaurant(1 hour)
Grilled squid, garlic prawns and morning-glory at My Lan or Paradiso, toes in the sand (~250,000-400,000 VND for two).
Phu Quoc Prison (Coconut Tree Prison)(1 hour)
A powerful war-history museum ~10 min from Bai Sao with reconstructed cells and 'tiger cages'. Free entry; open roughly 8-11:30AM and 1:30-5PM. A respectful, sobering stop.
Ho Quoc Pagoda (Truc Lam Ho Quoc)(45 minutes)
A grand hillside Buddhist temple with sweeping sea views over the southeast coast, on the road back. Free; modest dress.
Sunset dinner back on Long Beach(2 hours)
Return to Bai Truong for the west-coast sunset and a fresh-fish dinner.
Jungle Interior, Suoi Tranh & Free Beach Afternoon
Cool off inland in the forested national-park fringe before a deliberately unhurried beach-and-spa afternoon — your scheduled rest period.
Suoi Tranh Waterfall(1.5 hours)
Short shaded jungle walk to a gentle cascade and stream pools in the island's interior (~10km from Duong Dong). Entry ~20,000 VND; bring water shoes for a cooling dip.
Sim wine tasting at a Sim winery(45 minutes)
Phu Quoc's rosy-myrtle 'sim' berry wine, made at small wineries near the Suoi Da / town road. Free tasting and shop; a bottle ~150,000-250,000 VND makes a fun souvenir.
Free beach and spa afternoon(3 hours)
Rest day: laze on Long Beach, take a dip, and book a Vietnamese massage at your resort or a town spa (~300,000-500,000 VND / ~$12-20).
Farewell sunset dinner on the west coast(2 hours)
A final golden-hour drink, then a relaxed seafood dinner — perhaps the Crab House on Tran Hung Dao for soft-shell crab and clams.
Last Swim & Departure
A gentle final morning on the beach, last-minute pepper-and-fish-sauce shopping, then the short transfer back to PQC for your flight.
Morning swim and breakfast(1.5 hours)
One last dip in the calm morning sea and a leisurely Vietnamese coffee (ca phe sua da) on the sand.
Souvenir shopping in Duong Dong(1 hour)
Grab vacuum-packed Phu Quoc black pepper, dried seafood and fish sauce from the day market or a town shop. Haggle politely at stalls; fixed prices at supermarkets.
Transfer to Phu Quoc International (PQC)(25 minutes)
Grab or hotel car ~150,000-250,000 VND. Allow buffer for check-in; note liquid limits on fish sauce/sim wine in carry-on.
14-Day Phu Quoc Itinerary
Arrival & Long Beach Sunset
Land at Phu Quoc International (PQC), clear the island's 30-day visa-free entry, transfer ~15-25 minutes to your Long Beach (Bai Truong) base, and settle in with an orientation walk and a first west-coast sunset.
Airport transfer to Long Beach(20 minutes)
Grab or metered taxi from PQC to Bai Truong / Duong Dong ~150,000-250,000 VND (~$6-10).
Check-in and beach orientation walk(1.5 hours)
Drop bags and stroll the soft sand of Bai Truong to get your bearings: Duong Dong town north, sunset bars south.
Sunset at Sunset Sanato Beach Club(2 hours)
Sculptures, sea swings and a clear Gulf-of-Thailand sunset. Small entry or buy a cocktail (~120,000-180,000 VND).
Dinner at Dinh Cau Night Market(1.5 hours)
Vo Thi Sau St, Duong Dong. Grilled scallops with peanut (~80,000 VND a plate), whole grouper and fresh coconut; agree prices first.
Duong Dong Culture, Fish Sauce & Pepper
A short-drive heritage day around Duong Dong and the western interior, ending with an easy beach afternoon.
Sung Hung Pagoda(45 minutes)
The island's oldest pagoda on Tran Hung Dao St. Free; cover shoulders and knees.
Khai Hoan fish sauce (nuoc mam) factory(45 minutes)
Giant wooden anchovy barrels ageing a year. Free tour; buy a well-packed bottle (~60,000-150,000 VND).
Phu Quoc pepper farm(1 hour)
A family garden in the Khu Tuong area showing red, black and white peppercorns drying; small tasting and shop.
Coi Nguon Museum(1 hour)
Private museum on Bach Dang St with shipwreck pottery and a rooftop sea view. Entry ~50,000 VND.
Sunset drinks at Long Beach(2 hours)
Rory's Beach Bar or Chuồn Chuồn Bistro for the west-coast sunset.
Sao Beach & Southeast History
A beach-and-history day on the famous southeast sand of Bai Sao (~30 min south) with two meaningful stops nearby.
Sao Beach (Bai Sao)(3 hours)
Powder-white sand and turquoise water. Loungers from Paradiso or My Lan ~50,000-100,000 VND; rope swings and coconuts.
Seafood lunch on the sand(1 hour)
Grilled squid and garlic prawns at My Lan or Paradiso (~250,000-400,000 VND for two).
Phu Quoc Prison (Coconut Tree Prison)(1 hour)
War-history museum ~10 min away with 'tiger cages'. Free; open ~8-11:30AM and 1:30-5PM.
Ho Quoc Pagoda (Truc Lam Ho Quoc)(45 minutes)
Grand hillside temple with sweeping sea views on the road back. Free; modest dress.
An Thoi Island-Hopping & Snorkelling
Head ~45 min south to An Thoi harbour for a classic three-island speedboat snorkel tour through the southern archipelago.
Speedboat to the An Thoi islands(1 hour)
3-4 island tour (Hon May Rut, Hon Gam Ghi, Hon Dam Ngang). Group ~600,000-900,000 VND with gear and lunch.
Snorkelling over coral reefs(2.5 hours)
Calm, clear dry-season water with coral, parrotfish and urchins; Hon Gam Ghi has the best reef.
Seafood lunch on the boat(1 hour)
Grilled fish, squid and rice included; extra for fresh sea urchin.
Swimming and kayaking at Hon May Rut(1.5 hours)
The prettiest swim stop — white sand and shallow turquoise; kayaks on some tours.
Hon Thom Cable Car & Aquatopia
Stay south for the world's longest non-stop three-rope over-sea cable car to Pineapple Island and its water park.
Hon Thom 3-wire cable car (round trip)(30 minutes each way)
7.9km over fishing boats and islets. Combo ~600,000 VND (~$24) includes Aquatopia. Drive from Duong Dong ~45 min; go early.
Aquatopia Water Park(3 hours)
Slides, wave pool and lazy river included with the combo ticket; lockers available.
Beach and lunch on Hon Thom(1.5 hours)
Quiet coves and on-island restaurants (~120,000-250,000 VND).
Evening back on Long Beach(2 hours)
Cable car back and an easy seafood dinner on Bai Truong.
Jungle Interior, Suoi Tranh & Sim Wine
A cooler inland day in the forested park fringe, with a tasting and a relaxed evening.
Suoi Tranh Waterfall(1.5 hours)
Short shaded walk to a gentle cascade and stream pools (~10km from Duong Dong). Entry ~20,000 VND; water shoes for a dip.
Sim wine tasting(45 minutes)
Rosy-myrtle 'sim' berry wine at a small winery on the town road; free tasting, bottle ~150,000-250,000 VND.
Suoi Da Ban stream walk(1 hour)
Granite-boulder stream nearby (entry ~20,000 VND), good in/after the rains for a quiet forest dip.
Free afternoon and town spa(3 hours)
Rest: beach, pool and a Vietnamese massage (~300,000-500,000 VND).
Beach Rest & Sunset Cruise
A deliberately slow rest day on the west coast, capped by a sunset boat ride — your first proper downtime.
Free morning on Long Beach(3 hours)
Sleep in, swim, read on the sand; a long Vietnamese coffee on the beach.
Lunch at a Bai Truong beach bar(1 hour)
Fresh spring rolls and a bun cha or seafood noodle at Rory's or a local quan.
Sunset booze cruise / squid-fishing taster(3 hours)
Evening boat from Duong Dong harbour with drinks and a sunset over the Gulf; some include basic squid jigging (~400,000-600,000 VND).
VinWonders & Vinpearl Safari (North)
Move focus to the north end (~40 min drive) for the island's biggest theme park and open-zoo safari at the Vinpearl complex near Ganh Dau.
Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc(2.5 hours)
Vietnam's first open safari park — drive-through bus past giraffes, rhinos and lions, plus a walking zoo. Ticket ~650,000 VND (~$26); go at opening for active animals.
VinWonders Phu Quoc(3.5 hours)
Huge theme park with roller coasters, an aquarium tunnel and a water park. Ticket ~880,000 VND (~$35); combo tickets with the Safari save money.
Dinner at Grand World(2 hours)
The 'Venice of Phu Quoc' nearby — Venetian canals with gondolas, the bamboo Teabesland dome, street-food and a nightly water-music show. Browse and graze (~150,000-300,000 VND).
Far North: Ganh Dau, Bai Dai & Rach Vem Starfish Beach
Explore the quiet, wild north tip — Ganh Dau headland, long Bai Dai beach and the famous starfish at Rach Vem floating village.
Ganh Dau Cape and viewpoint(1 hour)
Northwest headland with views toward Cambodia and quiet coves; a fishing-village feel. Drive ~50 min from town.
Bai Dai (Long Beach North)(2 hours)
Wide, calmer northern beach near the resorts; swim and a seafood lunch at a beach restaurant (~200,000-350,000 VND).
Rach Vem starfish beach and floating village(2 hours)
Shallow flats dotted with red starfish (look, don't lift them out of the water) and stilt-house seafood shacks; order steamed clams and snails over the water (~150,000-250,000 VND).
Sunset back on the northwest coast(1 hour)
Catch the sunset from a Ganh Dau / Vung Bau beach bar before the drive back.
Scuba Diving in the An Thoi Archipelago
A full day on the water with a PADI dive operator from An Thoi — two dives (or a Discover Scuba intro for beginners) over the southern reefs.
Two-tank fun dive / Discover Scuba(4 hours)
Operators like Flipper or Rainbow Divers run boats to Hon Thom, Hon Dam and Hon Roi. Two dives ~1,800,000-2,200,000 VND (~$72-88); Discover Scuba intro for non-divers ~2,000,000 VND.
Surface lunch on the boat(1 hour)
Vietnamese lunch and fresh fruit between dives; soft corals, moray eels and seahorses on a good day.
Return and easy beach evening(2 hours)
Back by late afternoon; a quiet dinner and early night to off-gas (no flying for 24h after diving).
Vietnamese Cooking Class & Town Food Crawl
A hands-on food day — market shopping and a cooking class by day, a Duong Dong street-food crawl by night.
Market shop and Vietnamese cooking class(3.5 hours)
A Duong Dong cooking school (e.g. at a beach resort or a home kitchen) — shop the day market, then cook fresh spring rolls, pho or a Phu Quoc herring salad (goi ca trich) with the island's own fish sauce. ~700,000-1,000,000 VND (~$28-40).
Rest and beach afternoon(2.5 hours)
Digest with pool and beach time at your hotel.
Duong Dong street-food crawl(2 hours)
Bun quay (DIY noodle soup) on Bach Dang St, banh canh chua, and a che dessert; finish with egg coffee at a town cafe (whole crawl ~200,000-300,000 VND).
Scooter Loop & Hidden Beaches
An independent day exploring the quieter east coast and southern coves by scooter (confident riders) or hired car, chasing emptier beaches.
Scooter or car for the day(all day)
Scooter rental ~150,000 VND/day (helmets, mind sandy roads) or car-with-driver ~900,000 VND. Fuel up early.
Bai Khem (Khem Beach)(2 hours)
One of the island's most beautiful crescents on the south coast near the JW Marriott; soft sand and calm water. Some sections free, some resort-managed.
Lunch at a south-coast quan(1 hour)
Bun ken (coconut-curry noodle, a Phu Quoc specialty) or fresh seafood at a roadside spot (~100,000-200,000 VND).
Bai Vong / east-coast viewpoints(1.5 hours)
Quiet east-coast stretches and the harbour views; a calmer side of the island away from the resorts.
Return for sunset on the west coast(1.5 hours)
Loop back across the island (~50km long) in time for the Bai Truong sunset.
Spa, Beach & Farewell Seafood
Your final full day is unhurried — a spa morning, free beach time, and a celebratory seafood dinner.
Spa morning(2 hours)
A long Vietnamese massage and herbal bath at your resort spa or a town spa like Sao Mai (~300,000-600,000 VND).
Free beach and pool afternoon(3 hours)
Last proper rest day: laze, swim and pack the pepper and fish sauce.
Sunset at Sunset Sanato or INK 360(1.5 hours)
A final golden hour — beach swings, or sky-high cocktails at INK 360 bar in the Hon Thom tower for a panoramic finale.
Farewell seafood dinner(2 hours)
The Crab House on Tran Hung Dao for soft-shell crab and clams, or a final feast at Dinh Cau Night Market.
Last Morning & Departure
A gentle last swim and souvenir run before the short transfer back to PQC.
Morning swim and breakfast(1.5 hours)
Final dip in the calm sea and a ca phe sua da on the sand.
Last-minute souvenir shopping(1 hour)
Vacuum-packed Phu Quoc black pepper, dried squid and fish sauce from a town shop or supermarket (fixed prices, easy to pack).
Transfer to Phu Quoc International (PQC)(25 minutes)
Grab or hotel car ~150,000-250,000 VND; mind carry-on liquid limits on fish sauce and sim wine.
21-Day Phu Quoc Itinerary
Arrival & Long Beach Sunset
Land at Phu Quoc International (PQC), clear the island's 30-day visa-free entry, transfer ~15-25 minutes to your Long Beach (Bai Truong) base, and settle into island time with an orientation walk and first sunset.
Airport transfer to Long Beach(20 minutes)
Grab or metered taxi from PQC to Bai Truong / Duong Dong ~150,000-250,000 VND (~$6-10).
Check-in and beach orientation walk(1.5 hours)
Drop bags and stroll Bai Truong: Duong Dong town north, sunset bars south.
Sunset at Sunset Sanato Beach Club(2 hours)
Sculptures, sea swings and a clear Gulf-of-Thailand sunset; cocktails ~120,000-180,000 VND.
Dinner at Dinh Cau Night Market(1.5 hours)
Vo Thi Sau St — grilled scallops with peanut (~80,000 VND a plate), whole grouper and fresh coconut; agree prices first.
Duong Dong Culture, Fish Sauce & Pepper
A short-drive heritage day around Duong Dong and the western interior, ending on the beach.
Sung Hung Pagoda(45 minutes)
The island's oldest pagoda on Tran Hung Dao St. Free; cover shoulders and knees.
Khai Hoan fish sauce (nuoc mam) factory(45 minutes)
Year-aged anchovy barrels; free tour, bottle ~60,000-150,000 VND (pack well).
Phu Quoc pepper farm(1 hour)
A Khu Tuong family garden showing peppercorns drying; small tasting and shop.
Coi Nguon Museum(1 hour)
Shipwreck pottery and a rooftop sea view on Bach Dang St. Entry ~50,000 VND.
Sunset drinks at Long Beach(2 hours)
Rory's Beach Bar or Chuồn Chuồn Bistro for the west-coast sunset.
Sao Beach & Southeast History
Beach-and-history day on the southeast's famous Bai Sao (~30 min south) with two meaningful nearby stops.
Sao Beach (Bai Sao)(3 hours)
Powder-white sand and turquoise water; loungers at Paradiso or My Lan ~50,000-100,000 VND, plus rope swings and coconuts.
Seafood lunch on the sand(1 hour)
Grilled squid and garlic prawns at My Lan or Paradiso (~250,000-400,000 VND for two).
Phu Quoc Prison (Coconut Tree Prison)(1 hour)
War-history museum ~10 min away with 'tiger cages'. Free; open ~8-11:30AM and 1:30-5PM.
Ho Quoc Pagoda (Truc Lam Ho Quoc)(45 minutes)
Grand hillside temple with sweeping sea views on the road back. Free; modest dress.
An Thoi Island-Hopping & Snorkelling
Head ~45 min south to An Thoi harbour for a three-island speedboat snorkel tour through the southern archipelago.
Speedboat to the An Thoi islands(1 hour)
3-4 island tour (Hon May Rut, Hon Gam Ghi, Hon Dam Ngang); group ~600,000-900,000 VND with gear and lunch.
Snorkelling over coral reefs(2.5 hours)
Calm, clear water with coral, parrotfish and urchins; Hon Gam Ghi has the best reef.
Seafood lunch on the boat(1 hour)
Grilled fish, squid and rice included; extra for fresh sea urchin.
Swimming and kayaking at Hon May Rut(1.5 hours)
White sand and shallow turquoise — the prettiest swim stop; kayaks on some tours.
Hon Thom Cable Car & Aquatopia
Stay south for the world's longest non-stop three-rope over-sea cable car to Pineapple Island and its water park.
Hon Thom 3-wire cable car (round trip)(30 minutes each way)
7.9km over fishing boats and islets. Combo ~600,000 VND includes Aquatopia. Drive ~45 min from town; go early.
Aquatopia Water Park(3 hours)
Slides, wave pool and lazy river included with the combo; lockers available.
Beach and lunch on Hon Thom(1.5 hours)
Quiet coves and on-island restaurants (~120,000-250,000 VND).
INK 360 sundowner(1.5 hours)
Panoramic cocktails high in the Hon Thom tower bar before heading back.
Beach Rest & Sunset Cruise
A deliberately slow rest day on the west coast, capped by a sunset boat ride — your first downtime.
Free morning on Long Beach(3 hours)
Sleep in, swim, read on the sand and a long Vietnamese coffee.
Lunch at a Bai Truong beach bar(1 hour)
Fresh spring rolls and a seafood noodle at Rory's or a local quan.
Sunset cruise from Duong Dong harbour(3 hours)
Evening boat with drinks and a Gulf sunset; some include basic squid jigging (~400,000-600,000 VND).
Jungle Interior, Suoi Tranh & Sim Wine
A cooler inland day in the forested park fringe with a tasting and a relaxed evening.
Suoi Tranh Waterfall(1.5 hours)
Short shaded walk to a gentle cascade and stream pools (~10km from town). Entry ~20,000 VND; bring water shoes.
Sim wine tasting(45 minutes)
Rosy-myrtle 'sim' berry wine at a small winery; free tasting, bottle ~150,000-250,000 VND.
Suoi Da Ban stream walk(1 hour)
Granite-boulder stream nearby (entry ~20,000 VND), good in/after the rains for a dip.
Free afternoon and town spa(3 hours)
Rest: beach, pool and a Vietnamese massage (~300,000-500,000 VND).
Move North — VinWonders & Grand World
Relocate for two nights to the north end (~40 min drive) near Ganh Dau / Vinpearl. Drop bags, then take on the island's biggest theme park.
Transfer and north check-in(1 hour)
Move base to a Vinpearl / Ganh Dau resort or guesthouse for a north-island stretch; Grab or hotel shuttle.
VinWonders Phu Quoc(4 hours)
Roller coasters, an aquarium tunnel and a water park. Ticket ~880,000 VND (~$35); safari combos save money.
Dinner and water-music show at Grand World(2.5 hours)
Venetian canals with gondolas, the bamboo Teabesland dome, street food and a nightly multimedia show (graze ~150,000-300,000 VND).
Vinpearl Safari & Northern Beaches
Based in the north, do the open-zoo safari in the cool morning, then unwind on quiet northern sand.
Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc(2.5 hours)
Vietnam's first open safari — drive-through bus past giraffes, rhinos and lions plus a walking zoo. Ticket ~650,000 VND; go at opening for active animals.
Lunch near Ganh Dau(1 hour)
Seafood at a northern beach restaurant (~200,000-350,000 VND).
Bai Dai (Long Beach North) rest(2.5 hours)
Wide, calm northern beach by the resorts; swim and laze the afternoon away.
Northwest-coast sunset(1 hour)
Catch sunset from a Vung Bau / Ganh Dau beach bar.
Ganh Dau Cape & Rach Vem Starfish Beach
A full day in the wild far north — the Ganh Dau headland and the famous starfish at Rach Vem floating village — before returning south to your main base.
Ganh Dau Cape and viewpoint(1.5 hours)
Northwest headland with views toward Cambodia and quiet fishing coves.
Rach Vem starfish beach and floating village(2.5 hours)
Shallow flats dotted with red starfish (look, don't lift them from the water) and stilt-house seafood shacks; steamed clams and snails over the water (~150,000-250,000 VND).
Cua Can River and bridge(1 hour)
A quiet, palm-lined estuary on the way back — a calm, photogenic slice of old Phu Quoc.
Transfer back to Long Beach base(1 hour)
Return south (~45 min) and a relaxed dinner on Bai Truong.
Mainland Side Trip — Rach Gia & Mekong Delta (Day 1)
Take the high-speed ferry across to the mainland for a two-day Mekong Delta excursion from Rach Gia — a complete change of scene from island life.
Superdong ferry to Rach Gia(2.5 hours)
Fast catamaran from Bai Vong port to Rach Gia (~340,000 VND / ~$14). Book a morning sailing; seas calmest in dry season.
Rach Gia town and Nguyen Trung Truc temple(2 hours)
Stretch your legs in this delta port city; a riverside temple and a fresh-noodle lunch (bun ca Rach Gia).
Transfer to Can Tho(3 hours)
Private car or bus into the heart of the Mekong Delta (~3 hrs); check into a Can Tho riverside hotel.
Ninh Kieu Wharf and night market(2 hours)
Evening riverfront stroll, a Mekong-style hotpot dinner and people-watching along the Hau River.
Mekong Delta — Cai Rang Floating Market (Day 2) & Return
A dawn floating-market boat trip, then the journey back across to Phu Quoc by afternoon ferry.
Cai Rang Floating Market boat tour(3 hours)
Sunrise boat among wholesale barges trading pineapples and pomelos; coffee and a bowl of noodles passed boat-to-boat. ~150,000-250,000 VND shared, more private.
Drive back to Rach Gia(3 hours)
Return through delta rice country to the ferry port.
Superdong ferry back to Phu Quoc(2.5 hours)
Afternoon sailing to Bai Vong (~340,000 VND); transfer to your Long Beach base.
Easy dinner on Long Beach(1.5 hours)
A relaxed seafood dinner back on home turf after the round trip.
Recovery Beach & Spa Day
A full rest day to recover from the mainland trip — pure beach, pool and spa with no schedule.
Free morning on Long Beach(3 hours)
Swim, sunbathe and read; nothing on the agenda.
Spa session(2 hours)
Long Vietnamese massage and herbal bath at your resort spa or town spa (~300,000-600,000 VND).
Sunset at Sunset Sanato(1.5 hours)
Beach swings and a sundowner for the golden hour.
Scuba Course — Open Water Day 1
Begin a PADI Open Water certification with a Phu Quoc dive school (or a fun-dive day if already certified) — confined-water skills and theory.
Dive theory and confined-water skills(4 hours)
With Flipper or Rainbow Divers from An Thoi — equipment, theory modules and pool/shallow skills. Full Open Water course ~7,500,000-9,000,000 VND (~$300-360) over 3 days.
Lunch and surface interval(1 hour)
Vietnamese lunch with the dive crew.
Rest and study evening(2 hours)
Beach time and a quiet night reviewing knowledge reviews; no alcohol before diving.
Scuba Course — Open Water Day 2 (Boat Dives)
Two open-water training dives in the An Thoi archipelago, putting the skills to work over real reefs.
Two open-water training dives(4 hours)
Boat dives at Hon Thom / Hon Dam reefs — buoyancy, mask and navigation skills; soft corals, moray eels and seahorses on a good day.
Surface lunch on the boat(1 hour)
Lunch and fresh fruit between dives, watching the islets.
Logbook and easy evening(2 hours)
Log dives, sign off the day, and a relaxed dinner (no flying within 24h of diving).
Vietnamese Cooking Class & Food Crawl
A hands-on food day — market shopping and a cooking class by day, a Duong Dong street-food crawl by night.
Market shop and cooking class(3.5 hours)
A Duong Dong cooking school — shop the day market then cook fresh spring rolls, pho and goi ca trich (Phu Quoc herring salad) with the island's fish sauce. ~700,000-1,000,000 VND.
Rest and beach afternoon(2.5 hours)
Digest with pool and beach time.
Duong Dong street-food crawl(2 hours)
Bun quay (DIY noodle soup) on Bach Dang St, banh canh chua, a che dessert and egg coffee (~200,000-300,000 VND).
Free-Diving & Quiet Southern Coves
A niche water day — a guided free-diving / apnea taster session, then chilling on quieter southern beaches.
Guided free-diving taster(3 hours)
Breath-hold technique, equalisation and a few supervised descents over a shallow reef with a free-dive instructor (~1,500,000-2,000,000 VND); a calm, meditative alternative to scuba.
Lunch at a beach quan(1 hour)
Bun ken (coconut-curry noodle) or fresh grilled seafood (~100,000-200,000 VND).
Bai Khem (Khem Beach) rest(2.5 hours)
One of the island's loveliest crescents on the south coast near the JW Marriott; soft sand, calm water, slow afternoon.
Full Motorbike Loop of the Island
A self-drive loop (confident riders) or hired-car circuit linking east-coast viewpoints, interior forest and west-coast sunset — the slow-travel way to see the whole 50km island.
Scooter or car for the day(all day)
Scooter ~150,000 VND/day (helmets, mind sandy roads) or car-with-driver ~900,000-1,200,000 VND. Fuel up early.
Phu Quoc National Park forest road(1.5 hours)
Ride the quiet northeast park roads through dense forest — the island's protected green heart; watch for hornbills and macaques.
Bai Thom and east-coast viewpoints(1.5 hours)
Remote northeast beach and sea views toward the mainland; very few tourists.
Lunch at a roadside seafood quan(1 hour)
Wherever you land — fresh, cheap and local (~100,000-200,000 VND).
Loop back for the Long Beach sunset(1.5 hours)
Close the circle on the west coast in time for golden hour.
Squid Night-Fishing Trip
A laid-back beach day saving energy for the classic Phu Quoc experience: a traditional squid-jigging trip after dark with the fishing boats.
Free morning and late beach lunch(4 hours)
Rest, swim and a long lunch; conserve energy for the night trip.
Sunset on the west coast(1 hour)
An early sundowner before heading to the harbour.
Traditional squid night-fishing trip(3.5 hours)
Wooden boat from Duong Dong out under bright lamps that draw the squid; jig with hand-lines and have the crew grill your catch on board (~350,000-550,000 VND incl. dinner). A quintessential island night.
Free Beach Day & Farewell Feast
Your last full day is wide open — beach, last-minute shopping and a celebratory seafood dinner.
Free beach and pool morning(3 hours)
Final unhurried swim and sunbathing; soak up the last of the island.
Souvenir run in Duong Dong(1.5 hours)
Vacuum-packed Phu Quoc black pepper, dried squid, sim wine and fish sauce (fixed-price supermarkets pack easiest).
Farewell sunset at Sunset Sanato / INK 360(1.5 hours)
A last beach-swing sunset or a sky-high cocktail at INK 360.
Celebration seafood dinner(2 hours)
The Crab House on Tran Hung Dao for soft-shell crab and clams, or a final feast at Dinh Cau Night Market.
Last Morning & Departure
A gentle last swim before the short transfer back to PQC for your onward flight.
Morning swim and breakfast(1.5 hours)
Final dip in the calm sea and a ca phe sua da on the sand.
Pack and check out(45 minutes)
Stow the pepper and fish sauce safely; check carry-on liquid limits on fish sauce and sim wine.
Transfer to Phu Quoc International (PQC)(25 minutes)
Grab or hotel car ~150,000-250,000 VND; allow buffer for check-in.
Travel Tips
Visa & Entry
Phu Quoc's Visa-Free Exemption
Phu Quoc has a special policy: most nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 30 days if they fly directly to the island (including via an international transit at a Vietnamese airport without clearing immigration on the mainland). If you'll visit mainland Vietnam too, arrange a standard Vietnam e-visa instead.
transport
Rent a Scooter or Hire a Driver
The island's sights are spread out and there's no real public transport. Confident riders rent scooters for around 150,000 VND/day, but traffic and sandy roads catch out beginners — many visitors hire a car with driver for the day (roughly 800,000-1,200,000 VND) or use Grab where available.
Budget
Carry Cash and Small Notes
Outside big resorts and the cable car, many beach shacks, markets, and local eateries take only cash. Withdraw Vietnamese dong from ATMs (which dispense large notes) and break them early, as vendors often can't change a 500,000 VND bill. Agree seafood prices before ordering to avoid surprises.
Safety
Mind the Sea in Low Season
During the May-October monsoon, the west coast can have strong rip currents, rough surf, and jellyfish, and some boat tours to the An Thoi islands are cancelled. Heed red flags, swim where locals do, and rinse jellyfish stings with vinegar or seawater rather than fresh water.
Local Customs
Bargain Politely at Markets
Haggling is expected at night markets and souvenir stalls but not in shops with marked prices or restaurants. Start around 60-70% of the asking price and settle with a smile — staying friendly gets better results. Buying genuine Phu Quoc fish sauce or pepper makes a great, authentic souvenir.
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