Phu Quoc is a tropical island near the coast of Cambodia. It offers soft white sand beaches, clean turquoise waters and lush green landscapes. It’s amazing holiday destination that fits every budget. Phu Quoc also offers a delicious cuisine and dishes you won’t find anywhere else in Vietnam. Let’s take a closer look at all the amazing things to do on Phu Quoc island in Vietnam.
How to get to Phu Quoc
Since Phu Quoc is an island, there are only two ways of getting here – by plane or ferry.
Traveling by plane
Phu Quoc island has it’s own international airport. There are direct flights from every major city in Vietnam. You can get your plane tickets at skyscanner.com. Flights are usually not too expensive. It is the most convenient mode of transport.
How to get from the airport to town or your hotel
You have two options – taxi or a bus shuttle. If you decide to use taxi, we recommend Grab app. It offers much better prices than taxi services offered at the airport. There is also a shuttle bus service. It goes through the airport, Duong Don city, Ong Lang beach all the way to Grand World. It departs every few minutes and ticket costs around 60 000 – 80 000 VND depending on where you are going. Check the bus route here.
Traveling by ferry
Price: 330 000 – 340 000 VND from Rach Gia, 230 000 – 250 000 VND from Ha Tien
Duration: 2.5 hours from Rach Gia or 1.5 hour from Ha Tien
There are two sea ports that provide ferry services to Phu Quoc – Ha Tien and Rach Gia. All the ferries departing from Ha Tien are a bit cheaper than Rach Gia. There are two companies to choose from – Superdong and Phu Quoc Express. Both ferries offer similar prices. With around 8 ferries departing each day you should be able to get your tickets on the spot.
If you want to get your ferry tickets in advance, check the following links:
How to get from port to town or your hotel
Once you arrive to Phu Quoc island you have two options to get to your final destinations:
- taxi or Grab
- bus shuttle
If you are traveling with a group taxi might be a good option. We recommend using Grab since you can get the best prices there. You can also travel by a shuttle bus. It is usually waiting at the port once ferry arrives. The ticket to Duong Dong town costs around 60 000 VND and bus also stops along the Long Beach. If your hotel is further north there is a bus connecting Duong Dong town and Grand World. It has various stops along the main road. It goes every few minutes. Check the route of shuttle bus here.
How to get to Ha Tien or Rach Gia port
The closest biggest city or tourist destination is Ho Chi Minh city. There are direct buses going all the way to the ports for Phu Quoc ferry. You can check the bus tickets below. If you are coming from Cambodia there is a shuttle bus going to the port from Kampot. It might take around 1 hour and cost around 10$.
Best time to visit Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc has two seasons – rainy and dry. The best time to visit is during dry season between December and March. The weather is the most stable and you will get a lot of sunny days. The water is the clearest. It’s a high season so it might be more crowded and expensive. The rainy season is between May and October. The island can be very humid with a lot of rain. If you come at the beginning or the end of rainy season you can still enjoy your holiday
We visited Phu Quoc in May and had a really good time. It was sunny most of the time with afternoon showers. The only downside is that most of the beaches are not very welcoming. The sea is very harsh with a lot of waves. This season also brings a lot of trash from Mekong river. The water is not so clear anymore and there is more trash than usually. But even during this time Khem beach and Sao beach were beautiful!
How to get around Phu Quoc
- Bus shuttle – it’s quite convenient if your budget is low or if you don’t want to ride a motorbike. The bus runs very often. This is the route. I am not sure if there is any other bus line.
- Motorbike – the best way to discover the island and be independent. The bike rental starts from only 100 000 VND per day. There is many rentals around the island. There is almost no police and we were never checked. You might be okay even without international driving license.
- Grab – if you want to be independent but avoid riding a bike grab is a good option. It will cost you more if you use it a lot since it’s not so cheap.
14 Things to do on Phu Quoc
If you book any of the tours below, we will earn a small comission. You still pay the same.
1. Relax on Khem beach - the most beautiful beach on the island
Many people regard Sao beach as the most beautiful beach on Phu Quoc. We dare to disagree. Khem beach has a beautiful white sand, clear turquoise waters (even in monsoon season) and it is very peaceful. It is in front of huge resorts but still public. That means you can be sure that the beach will look nice and clean. It offers a few restaurants, surprisingly cheap draft beer and some water activities (kayaking, paddleboarding). Sao beach is very visited and during our stay there there were several boats dropping off crowds of people. You won’t get that on Khem beach. And there are also palms!
2. Enjoy the white sands of Sao beach
Sao beach is a beautiful place. Probably one of the most famous spots on the island. No wonder. Clear waters and white sand guarantee a lovely day at the beach. It is also very nice and calm during monsoon season. There is a small selection with local restaurants for snacks and drinks. You can rent sunchairs. The only minus is that there is a lot of boats parked at the bay. It is also more crowded than Khem beach.
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3. Rach Viem floating village
An interesting insight into a daily life of local fisherman. Rach Viem village can be found right next to Starfish beach. It is a floating village meaning that houses are all built on the sea. You can park your scooter and explore the area for free. Get to know the locals and don’t be shy to start a conversation. It’s an incredible experience to see the humble lifes they lead.
4. Visit Starfish beach
Starfish beach is one of the top tourist attractions on island. Who wouldn’t want to see a beach full of starfish everywhere you look? Be careful not to step on them and do not touch them. It is also possible to rent a sunchair here. There are some small restaurants on the sea. There is no entrance or parking fee. If you’re coming in the dry season (May and onwards) do not even waste your time coming here.
5. Night market
We love night markets! And Phu Quoc has one of the best night markets we’ve experienced in Vietnam. You can buy multiple souvenirs here – Vietnamese hats, clothes, jewelry… They also sell pearl products, such as necklace, earrings etc but I really don’t think they are genuine. Night market is also perfect spot for delicious street food. Some of the meals you’ll find here are Banh Mi, Vietnamese pancakes, seafood, crepes and lots of roll ice cream stalls.
6. Ong Lang beach
Ong Lang beach is yellow sand beach. It also has some nice rock formations. It is very relaxed compared to Sao beach or Long beach. We came in May and the sea was rather harsh and not so clean. Yet it was one of the cleaner beaches on the island. You will have a completely different experience in dry season. Apart from a beautiful beach Ong Lang is also a great area to stay. It is only few minutes ride to town. You will also find some restaurants and shops here.
7. Sunworld cable car
Price: 25€ round trip on Klook (including Exotica village and Aquatopia water park)
Opening hours: check the recent cable car trips here
Sunworld cable car is relatively new. It was only open in 2018. It broke a Guiness record as the „world’s longest cable car“. A quick 20 minute trip to Son Thorn island offers picturesque views of the turquoise sea and lush greenery below. The Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park offers various activities, including a water park, a coral park, and a zoological garden.
8. Hon Thom Nature park
Exotica village
Opening hours: 09:30-16:45
Exotica village features one of the most thrilling rollercoaster rides in the world. And the rollercoaster itself is built from wood! There are a few other attractions still under connstruction.
Aquatopia water park
Opening hours: 10:00-16:30
Aquatopia water park is one of best in Vietnam! It features 20 incredible and thrilling waterslides. You can also have fun with other activities – kayaking or parachute flying.
Beach
Apart from all that, you can also find some peace and relaxation on the island. It has many pristine beaches.
9. Sunset town
You will find Sunset town at the Sun world cable car terminal. It’s a huge Mediterranean style town built on a cliff. Once we entered its area we couldn’t close our mouths from amazement. It is something you won’t see every day. The streets are lined with cute Italian buildings, flowers, cafes and different shops. During our visit huge part was still under construction and many buildings were empty inside. Almost no tourists come here which makes it feel like a strange ghost town. But that only makes it perfect photo spot!
10. Pearl farm
We only recommend this place thanks to incredible pearl exhibition. It is so stunning! There are wonderful carvings made in the pearls. You can stop by for a few minutes, it is worth it. We were also offered a presentation on how they make jewelry from pearls. Otherwise it feels more like a tourist trap. Many reviews claim they sell fakes. We do not want ot recommend shopping here. This is the map location of Ngoc Hien pearl farm.
11. Grand World
Price: 150 000 VND child and 200 000 VND adult
Opening hours: 24 hours a day
Yet another crazy multi-billion complex built on the island. Grand world is also called „Sleepless town“ due to it’s never ending entertainment and shows that go on all day and night. It is also built in a European or mostly Mediterranean style.
12. Suoi Tranh waterfall
Once you cross the entrance gate you will find yourself in a nice peaceful nature park. It is not very big but it’s pretty impressive. There are different plants, exhibitions and beautiful wooden furniture. Once you pass the park you have to walk for maybe 15 minutes uphill to reach the waterfall. It is also possile to swim in the stream.
13. Coconut prison
Price: free, 150 000 – 200 000 VND tip for guide
Opening hours: 8:30 – 11:30, 13:30 – 17:00
Time to visit: 2-3 hours
This tropical paradise island also houses a unique attraction known as the Coconut Prison. During the Vietnam War, this prison was used by the South Vietnamese government to imprison and torture political prisoners and suspected communists. The detainees were kept in small bamboo cages and were fed only coconut water and meat. Today, the prison stands as a reminder of the brutality of war and serves as a museum dedicated to the history of the island and its people. It is a sobering experience, but an important one to remember the sacrifices made by those who fought for their beliefs.
14. Ham Ninh fishing village
A great place to visit if you want to know more about life of fishermen. We advise you to come early in the morning (around sunrise) to witness all the fishermen leaving their homes and going for a hunt. Later in the day you can walk around the little village and their market. It’s right on the main street. Apart from fish, you will find a few vegetables stalls and some local restaurants here.
Where to stay on Phu Quoc
Mövenpick Waverly
Mövenpick Waverly (book here) is an incredible 5 star resort only few kilometers from Ong Lang beach. It has its own beach, villas and incredibly cozy and luxurious rooms. Be active in their fitness area, pamper yourself at their Elements SPA or have fun on a crazy foam party every Saturday. The fitness is really huge and offers a great variety of machines. SPA offers many different massages, manicure, pedicure, facial treatments and even steam bath or sauna.
Every day they organize a „Chocolate hour“ in the main lobby. It is an hour full of sweets, cakes and chocolates for everyone! We came here everyday and enjoyed it so much. Do not skip this. And we must recommend a romantic dinner on the beach for couples. It is the most perfect experience you can have especially when on a honeymoon.
M Resort
M Resort (book here) is a very unusual place to stay. It is in the city centre yet it feels like you’re in a secluded jungle. The whole area is full of green! There are palms and flowers absolutely everywhere. Even rooms have natural style with many details you will love! You will find tasty restaurant here, 2 swimming pools in lovely environment and a pool bar serving not only great cocktails but food as well. If you need some relaxation we recommend trying their SPA.
If you book anything through the map we will earn a small comission and you still pay the same. Thank you!
Where to eat on Phu Quoc
In Duong Dong town:
- Benz’s eatery – the most delicious local food
- Pho Bo Nam Dinh – the best Pho Bo in town
- Banh Mi and you – unusual Banh Mi
- Nora cafe – lovely smoothie bowls and toasts
- Xom cafe – cozy cafe
- The Home Pizza – the most delicious pizza and tiramisu
- Winston’s Burgers & Beer – draft beer and good burgers
- Canary Bungalow – tasty local meals for great prices
- Ganesh – delicious Indian food
Near Ong Lang beach:
- Eat Pray Love – great delicious local food and fresh juices
- Mai Jo restaurant – tasty Vietnamese and Portuguese cuisine
- Revived coffee corner – the most amazing cafe in the area
- Banh Mi – very tasty baguettes