Visit Phu Quoc

Sunsets over the sea on the west side, a white-sand beach on the east, an archipelago of small islands to the south and protected forest to the north: Phú Quốc is made for beach stays, as long as you choose your season and your coast well.

When and why go to Phú Quốc?

Phú Quốc is Vietnam's largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand close to the Cambodian coast. Its dry season, from November to April, brings calm seas and clear skies, while the south-west monsoon churns up the west coast from May to October. Foreign travellers arriving directly can stay up to 30 days without a visa.

Phú Quốc's must-sees

Beyond the beaches, an island of fishermen, pepper vines and historical memory.

Hòn Thơm cable car

Leaving from An Thới, this line of nearly 8 km flies over the archipelago to Hòn Thơm island, one of the longest cable cars over the sea.

Dinh Cậu shrine

A small temple on a rock at the mouth of the Dương Đông river, where fishermen pray before heading out to sea, beautiful at sunset.

Dương Đông night market

Seafood picked from the stall and grilled on the spot, pearls and local produce: lively every evening, it is the place to try gỏi cá trích, raw herring salad.

Coconut Tree Prison

A former detention camp from the Indochina and Vietnam wars near An Thới, now a memorial site with sometimes graphic reconstructions, unsuitable for young children.

Hộ Quốc Pagoda

A large Buddhist complex backed by forest and facing the sea on the east coast, quietest early in the morning, covered clothing required.

Nước mắm workshops

Fish sauce makers open their large wooden vats to visitors; Phú Quốc fish sauce has a protected designation of origin.

Pepper farms

Pepper vines climb stakes in the island's gardens; several farms explain the harvest for free and sell green, black or red pepper.

How to choose your coast on Phú Quốc?

Dương Đông and Bãi Trường, the west coast

The main town, Dương Đông, holds the night market, the fishing port and lively local life. South of town stretches Bãi Trường, the beach some twenty kilometres long where most hotels are found, 10 to 20 minutes from the airport. This is the sunset coast, ideal from November to April. From May to October the monsoon brings waves, seaweed and floating rubbish: at that time, stay on the east side or in the sheltered bays of the south.

The south: An Thới and the archipelago

The southern tip groups An Thới port, the pedestrian Sunset Town district and the cable car station for Hòn Thơm. Offshore, the An Thới archipelago has around fifteen islands and islets whose clear waters suit snorkelling. Day boat trips take in three or four islands; visibility is best from December to April. Avoid trips that promise sea-urchin fishing or picking up starfish, which harm the seabed.

The east coast, from Hàm Ninh to Bãi Sao

Less built up, the east coast faces the mainland. The fishing village of Hàm Ninh, 20 minutes from Dương Đông, is known for its crabs and stilted pier. Further south, Bãi Sao is the island's most photographed beach, with very white sand and shallow water, ideal with children. This coast becomes the most pleasant from May to October, when the monsoon hits the west. Bring repellent in the late afternoon: sandflies bite here.

The north: forest and leisure parks

Much of the northern half of the island is covered by a national park, part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve, with trails and waterfalls that only really flow in the rainy season. In the far north-west, around Gành Dầu, large complexes have appeared with a wildlife park, an amusement park and a shopping town. This area is 45 minutes from Dương Đông and takes a day. From there, on clear days, you can make out the coast of neighbouring Cambodia, with no crossing available to travellers.

Frequently asked questions about Phú Quốc

West coast or east coast: where to stay on Phú Quốc?
From November to April, the west coast around Bãi Trường, for sunsets and proximity to Dương Đông. From May to October, choose the east coast or the southern bays, more sheltered from the monsoon and the rubbish the sea washes up in the west.
Can you go to Phú Quốc visa-free and then visit the rest of Vietnam?
The 30-day exemption only covers the island. To continue to Ho Chi Minh City or elsewhere, you need a visa or must qualify for the national exemption that applies to your nationality. Check with the Vietnamese authorities before booking domestic flights.
Is the Hòn Thơm cable car worth it?
For the view over the An Thới archipelago, yes, on a clear day. The ticket usually includes access to the island's water park. Go in the morning to enjoy Hòn Thơm beach before the afternoon crowds, heavier at weekends.
Where can you snorkel on Phú Quốc?
Around the islands of the An Thới archipelago, such as Hòn Móng Tay or Hòn Gầm Ghì, on boat trips from the south. The reef varies by site and by year: a local operator with recent reviews will pick the best spots of the moment.
Can you bring Phú Quốc fish sauce home?
In practice, no: Vietnamese airlines ban it on board, even in the hold, because of the smell if it leaks. Go for pepper, cultured pearls or myrtle wine instead, other island specialities that travel easily.
Is Phú Quốc too built up?
The south and north-west have seen very large resort and leisure park projects. The interior, the east coast around Hàm Ninh and part of the national park remain unspoilt: hire a car with a driver for a day to tour the island.
Is Phú Quốc suitable in August?
Yes, if you accept showers and rough seas on the west side. Prices drop and the vegetation is at its greenest. Stay on the east side, save boat trips for calm days and never swim under a red flag.
How many days should you spend on Phú Quốc?
Four to five days allow a trip around the archipelago, the cable car, a tour of the island and beach time. A week suits a proper beach rest at the end of a tour of Vietnam.

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