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Phu Quoc travel guide · the island cheat sheet

Sunsets, snails and a little crazy.

What your money is worth today, how far the island really is, and which coast is calm this month. Then the bún quậy, herring and late-night snails the island queues for, thirteen places to eat without meat, the bars and massages for your evenings, twenty check-in spots, the DIY trips worth a morning, and five mini maps to walk or ride.

Put together by the Vietnam Crazy Tour team, the locals behind our tours in Saigon, Da Nang and Hoi An. Checked 6 November 2026.

25,370VND for 1 US dollar today
26places to eat, 13 vegetarian
20check-in spots, 5 mini maps
HON THOM · 7.9 KM CABLE CAR GULF OFTHAILAND ↑ CAMBODIA 1Duong Dong2Long Beach3Grand World4Starfish Beach5Ham Ninh6Sao Beach7Kiss Bridge 10 km N
Island time
Updated6 November 2026
01

Know before the island slows you down

Four things every guest asks us before they land: what's my money worth, what are the island's rules, how far is everything, and which months are good.

Money: today's rate, and what you'll really get

Vietnam runs on the dong (VND), and on an island of seafood priced by the kilo you will want to know what a number means. These are Vietcombank's counter rates, the benchmark that banks and exchange shops price against.

1 unit ofBank buys your cashBank sells
USDUS dollar25,37025,780
EUREuro27,86229,332
KRWSouth Korean won16.3619.73
GBPBritish pound33,38534,804
AUDAustralian dollar17,14517,874
SGDSingapore dollar19,45220,319
CNYChinese yuan3,7393,897
JPYJapanese yen155.67166.40
HKDHong Kong dollar3,1723,327
THBThai baht672.48778.92
CADCanadian dollar17,72218,475
CHFSwiss franc30,49331,789

Vietcombank, updated 6 Nov 2026, 23:00 (Vietnam time), in VND. “Bank buys” is what the bank pays for your foreign notes, and that is the number that matters to you. US dollars and euros are the easiest to change. Rates move every day: check today's Vietcombank table.

Heads up: you will get a little less than the bank rate

The Vietcombank rate is for clean, crisp notes. Exchange counters and gold shops inspect every bill before they quote, and they pay less, or hand it back, if a note is:

  • torn, taped or missing a corner
  • stained, stamped or written on
  • heavily creased, faded, or an old design
  • small: $1–$20 bills get a lower rate than $50s and $100s

So bring recent, large, unmarked notes. Ask for the final rate for your notes before you hand them over, and count your dong at the counter.

What's it worth?

2,537,000 VNDat Vietcombank's cash rate, for clean notes

What things cost on Phu Quoc

  • A bowl of bún quậy at the original shop60,000 VND≈ US$2.36
  • A plate of herring salad (gỏi cá trích)180,000 VND≈ US$7.09
  • One grilled sea urchin at the night market30,000 VND≈ US$1.18
  • GrabCar, airport to Duong Dong (fixed fare)180,000 VND≈ US$7.09
  • Scooter rental, one day, fuel not included150,000 VND≈ US$5.91
  • 60-minute massage in town400,000 VND≈ US$15.77
  • Hon Thom cable car, return, water park included850,000 VND≈ US$33.50
  • Vinpearl Safari ticket, adult850,000 VND≈ US$33.50

Typical 2026 prices. The quick trick: drop three zeros and divide by 25 to get US dollars.

Where to change

The island has fewer exchange counters than the mainland, so the gap between buying and selling is wider. Change a little at the airport if you must, then do the rest in Duong Dong: banks on weekdays with your passport, or the licensed gold shops around Duong Dong market with a rate board in the window (look for “Thu đổi ngoại tệ”). Resort desks pay the least. From November to March, when the island is full, change early in your stay.

Cash or card

Resorts, Grand World, the cable car and the theme parks take cards. The night markets, bún quậy shops, crab rafts in Ham Ninh, scooter rentals and most massages are cash. ATMs cluster in Duong Dong, along Long Beach, in An Thoi and at Grand World; the north (Ganh Dau, Rach Vem) has very few, so carry cash for a day up there. Paying by card abroad? Always choose dong, never your home currency.

Rupees, roubles, ringgit

Vietcombank buys the twelve currencies in the table as cash. It does not buy Indian rupees, Russian roubles or Malaysian ringgit in cash, and most counters on the island won't either. Bring US dollars or euros as your backup, or use a card at an ATM.

The island rulebook: four things nobody tells you

Phu Quoc plays by its own rules, starting at passport control. Learn these four and you'll spend the trip on the beach, not at the counter.

30 daysvisa-free, island only

The island has its own visa rule

Visitors of any nationality who fly or sail straight into Phu Quoc from abroad can stay up to 30 days without a visa, as long as they stay on the island and leave from it. The moment your plan includes Saigon, the Mekong Delta or anywhere on the mainland, normal Vietnamese visa rules apply.

  • Arriving through Saigon or Hanoi? Then you need a visa or a visa exemption first
  • A boat to Ha Tien or Rach Gia counts as going to the mainland
  • Since 1 June 2026 arriving passengers also fill in a free online arrival declaration
West / Easttwo coasts, two seasons

Pick your beach by the wind

A ridge of forested hills runs down the island. From November to April the wind blows from the north-east, the west coast goes glassy calm and every sunset is on show. From May to October it swings round: Long Beach turns choppy and murky, and the east and south-east coast, Sao Beach and Ham Ninh, are the sheltered side.

  • Sunset is on the west coast, sunrise on the east
  • A red flag on the beach means no swimming. Rip currents are real on Long Beach in the wet season
  • The island is 50 km long, so a beach change is a 40-minute ride, not a walk
Per kghow seafood is sold

Weigh it before they cook it

Live seafood comes out of the tank priced per kilo or per 100 grams, and that is where bills go wrong. Ask the price, watch the scale, and agree the total, cooking included, before anything goes to the kitchen. Good places weigh in front of you without being asked.

  • A board saying 100g is not a board saying 1 kg. Read it twice
  • Choose your restaurant yourself: some drivers earn a commission for bringing you
  • Prices jump at Tet and New Year. Ask, every time
0 mlfish sauce in your cabin bag

The best souvenir can't fly with you

Phu Quoc fish sauce is protected by the EU like Champagne, and you will want to take some home. It never goes in hand luggage. In checked bags each airline sets its own rule, and the shops sell sealed plastic bottles in a box made for flying. Or ask them to ship it.

  • Ask the shop for the airline-ready pack, sealed and boxed
  • Check your airline's limit before you buy five litres
  • Pepper and sim wine are easier: dry pepper flies anywhere

Since 1 July 2025 Phu Quoc is no longer a city of Kien Giang province: it is the Phu Quoc Special Zone of An Giang province. Hotel bookings, ferry tickets and Google Maps still mix “Kien Giang” and “An Giang”. Same island, same sunsets.

Getting here, and how far everything is

Phu Quoc looks small on a map of Vietnam. It isn't: 50 km from the starfish in the north to the cable car in the south. This is how far the famous places really are from Duong Dong, the island's main town.

By air

Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) is 10 km south-east of Duong Dong, 15 to 20 minutes by road. Grab lists a fixed fare of 180,000 VND for a four-seat car to Duong Dong, before airport and toll fees; metered taxis at the exit cost about the same. Flights take an hour from Saigon and just over two from Hanoi, and there are direct flights from Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei.

By sea

Fast boats from Ha Tien (about 1 hr 15 to 1 hr 45) and Rach Gia (about 2.5 hrs) dock at the ports on the east coast, around 30 minutes from Duong Dong. Car ferries cross from Ha Tien too. In the wet season, check the sea forecast: rough days cancel sailings.

Getting around

No trains, no metro, and the island is 50 km long. Grab cars and bikes work across most of it; scooters rent for about 100,000–200,000 VND a day. VinBus runs a few routes between the airport, the towns and the big resorts in the north and south: check routes and fares in its app before you rely on it.

Near Duong Dong: under 20 minutes

Khai Hoan fish sauce barrels1.8 km5 min

Free to walk through. Follow your nose.

Su Muon Pagoda5.3 km10 min

A hilltop pagoda east of town.

Long Beach, Sunset Sanato end8.7 km15 min

The southern end of the 20 km beach.

Suoi Tranh stream8.9 km15 min

Waterfalls in the wet season only.

Ong Lang Beach9.4 km15–20 min

Quiet bays and resorts, north of town.

Phu Quoc Airport (PQC)10.4 km15–20 min

Allow 30 minutes in the evening rush.

Cua Can river and beach12.2 km20 min

Kayaks, mangroves, a fishing village.

Ham Ninh fishing village13.1 km20 min

Straight across the island to the east coast.

Across the island: plan a half day

Grand World21.7 km30–35 min

The canal town in the north-west.

VinWonders theme park23.3 km35 min

Next door to Grand World.

Sunset Town and the Kiss Bridge23.8 km35 min

The cable car station is a short walk away.

Ho Quoc Pagoda24.7 km40 min

On the east coast, facing the sunrise.

Vinpearl Safari25.5 km40 min

Inland from VinWonders.

Phu Quoc Prison26 km35 min

On the way to Sao Beach.

Sao Beach26.5 km35–40 min

The white-sand beach of the south-east.

Ganh Dau Cape26.7 km40 min

The north-west tip, facing Cambodia.

Rach Vem (Starfish Beach)23.3 km50–60 min

Short on the map, slow on the road: the last stretch is narrow.

OSRM driving distance from Duong Dong night market on OpenStreetMap data. Times are what we'd plan on a scooter or in a car on a normal day, a little slower than the router's. The islands off An Thoi are 20 to 40 minutes further by boat.

Flying on

ToBest wayHow long
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)Flight, many a dayabout 1 hr
HanoiDirect flightabout 2 hrs 10
Da Nang and Hoi AnDirect flight to Da Nangabout 2 hrs

Saigon, Da Nang or Hoi An next? That's where we ride. Saigon guide · Da Nang guide · Hoi An guide · Hanoi guide

By boat to the mainland

ToBest wayHow long
Ha TienFast boat1 hr 15 – 1 hr 45
Rach GiaFast boatabout 2.5 hrs
Can Tho, the Mekong DeltaBoat to Rach Gia or Ha Tien, then by roada full day

Remember the visa rule above. The Mekong Delta, Ha Tien and the rest of the south: Southern Vietnam guide

Seasons: one island, two coasts, two weathers

Phu Quoc is warm all year, 25 to 35°C. What changes is the wind, and with it which coast is calm. Here is every corner of the island, month by month.

Month by month
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Best timeGoodSo-soWet and choppyBoats often cancelled
Dec – Mar

Peak season, and it shows

Dry, sunny, 26–32°C and a flat sea on the west coast. The island fills up: book rooms and boat trips early, especially around Christmas and Tet, the Lunar New Year, which falls on 6 February 2027.

Apr – May

Hot and still

Up to 35°C, almost no wind, the clearest water of the year for snorkelling. The first afternoon storms arrive in May, and the prices start to fall.

Jun – Sep

The green season

Short, heavy downpours, then sun. The west coast gets rough, boat trips get cancelled, and room rates can halve. Swim on the east coast, visit the waterfalls, and leave a spare day in your plans.

Oct – Nov

The turn

October is still wet. Through November the wind swings round to the north-east, the west coast calms down and the sunsets come back.

02

Where Phu Quoc actually eats

Not the resort buffet. These 26 places are where the island eats: noodles you season yourself, herring rolled at the table, snails until 3 am and, yes, wood-fired pizza. Thirteen of them cook without meat.

Bún quậy: the noodle you finish yourself

Phu Quoc's own bowl, and nobody else in Vietnam makes it. Fresh rice noodles are pressed straight into the pot, then come springy balls of prawn and fish paste and a clear, sweet broth. The bowl arrives unseasoned on purpose: at a counter by the kitchen you build your own dipping sauce from salt, sugar, chilli, kumquat and fish sauce, and stir. Quậy means “to stir”.

How to eat it: Sauce first: a spoon of sugar, a pinch of salt and pepper, squeeze in the kumquats, add chilli to taste, then stir until it turns into a thick, sweet-sour paste. Dip the prawn balls in it, or pour a little into the broth.

Start here

Bún quậy Kiến Xây

The original, on the river road a few minutes from the night market. Big, loud, open from breakfast to almost midnight, with more than six thousand reviews and a queue in the evening. The sauce counter is the show.

  • Order
    Bún quậy with prawn and fish balls (tôm cá)
  • Price
    About 45,000–95,000 VND a bowl, by size and topping
  • Hours
    6:50–22:30
  • Where
    28 Bạch Đằng, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps

Bún Quậy Bạch Đằng

Two doors along and newer, smaller and calmer, with a near-perfect rating from a few hundred guests. Same idea, same DIY sauce counter, less waiting.

  • Order
    The mixed bowl (thập cẩm)
  • Hours
    6:00–22:00
  • Where
    32A Bạch Đằng, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps

Herring salad, Ham Ninh crab and the night market

Gỏi cá trích is the dish the island is proudest of: raw herring fillets cured in lime, tossed with grated coconut, onion and herbs, then rolled in rice paper and dipped in a thick peanut and fish-sauce dressing. Its partner is ghẹ Hàm Ninh, the small blue crab from the east-coast fishing village, simply steamed. Eat both on a wooden raft over the water.

How to eat it: Rice paper, a lettuce leaf, a few herbs, a spoon of herring salad: roll it tight like a spring roll, then dip. Crab: crack, pull, dip in salt, pepper and lime. Napkins are part of the meal.

Start hereOn the water

Nhà bè Thảo Nhi

A small family raft off Ham Ninh, reached along the pier. The crab comes from the pens under your feet and the herring salad is made to order. Go at lunchtime or just before sunset.

  • Order
    Steamed Ham Ninh crab, herring salad, grilled sea urchin
  • Hours
    Listed as open all day; lunch and early dinner are the best bet
  • Where
    Rạch Hàm, Ham Ninh (east coast)
Open in Google Maps
On the water

Thuận Kiều 2

The big raft restaurant at the end of Ham Ninh pier: more tanks, more tables, tour groups at lunch. Pick your crab, watch the scale, agree the price.

  • Order
    Crab fried rice and a plate of herring salad
  • Hours
    10:00–23:30
  • Where
    Ham Ninh fishing village pier
Open in Google Maps
Open late

Dinh Cau night market

Seafood on ice down both sides of the street from the temple: point, weigh, they grill it. Touristy, yes, and still the easiest place to try grilled sea urchin, pen-shell scallops and squid in one go.

  • Order
    Grilled sea urchin with spring-onion oil, scallops, a squid on a stick
  • Price
    20,000–500,000 VND (about US$0.79–19.71)
  • Hours
    From about 17:00 until late
  • Where
    Võ Thị Sáu and Bạch Đằng, by Dinh Cau, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps

Ốc: a night of snails, Phu Quoc style

In Vietnam, “going for ốc” means an evening of shellfish on plastic stools with cold beer and too many small plates. On Phu Quoc they come off the boats that afternoon: sweet whelks, scallops, clams, razor clams and snails, grilled, steamed, or stir-fried with tamarind, garlic or lemongrass. Locals arrive after 8 pm and stay late.

How to eat it: Order four or five plates for the table. Start with ốc hương nướng muối ớt (whelks grilled with chilli salt), sò điệp nướng mỡ hành (scallops with spring-onion oil) and nghêu hấp sả (clams with lemongrass). Use the little pin to twist them out.

Start hereOpen late

Ốc Hải Sản KTIN 1

The busiest snail house on the Long Beach strip: a long menu of shellfish cooked every way, big tables, and a kitchen that keeps going until 3 am.

  • Order
    Whelks with chilli salt, scallops with spring-onion oil, tamarind crab claws
  • Hours
    10:30–3:00
  • Where
    147A Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps
Open late

Ốc Nhi

A family snail-and-grill house in the east of town, popular with Korean visitors, so the menu has pictures and the staff are used to pointing. Open until the small hours.

  • Order
    Mixed shellfish grill for two
  • Hours
    Until about 3:00
  • Where
    363 Nguyễn Trung Trực, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps

Ốc Ní

A small neighbourhood place on 30 Tháng 4 street that opens when the boats are in. Few tourists, fast plates, cheap beer.

  • Order
    Ask what came in today
  • Hours
    17:00–24:00
  • Where
    163 Đường 30 Tháng 4, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
Open late

Quán Ốc Mập

Another evening-only local: grilled snails, scallops with spring-onion oil, razor clams with morning glory.

  • Order
    Ốc móng tay xào rau muống (razor clams with morning glory)
  • Hours
    17:00–1:00
  • Where
    138 Đường 30 Tháng 4, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps

Pizza, yes, on a Vietnamese island

Years of long-stay visitors gave Phu Quoc a pizza scene you won't find in most Vietnamese towns: wood-fired ovens, Neapolitan dough, Italian owners and, here and there, a local twist with herring, pepper or sim berries. When you have eaten your body weight in seafood, this is where you go.

Start here

The Home Pizza

A big, cheerful wood-fired place on the Long Beach road and one of the most reviewed restaurants on the island, with thousands of five-star notes. Craft beer, generous pies, a local herring-salad pizza for the curious.

  • Order
    The herring salad pizza, if you dare
  • Hours
    11:00–22:30
  • Where
    129 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps

Pizza Camia

An Italian wood-fired oven a few minutes south of town, with a couple of Vietnamese experiments on the menu (H'Mong duck, Phu Quoc durian) next to the classics.

  • Order
    Margherita, then something brave
  • Hours
    12:00–22:00
  • Where
    89 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps

Pizzamo

Neapolitan pizza and panuozzo, the oven-baked pizza sandwich, in a small place on the main road. Late lunch to dinner.

  • Order
    A panuozzo to share
  • Hours
    From 13:00
  • Where
    71B Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps
North of the island

Midori House

Wood-fired pizza in a garden up in Ong Lang, the quiet coast north of town. Pair it with the Ong Lang sunset.

  • Order
    Whatever comes out of the oven next
  • Hours
    12:00–22:00
  • Where
    Lê Thúc Nha, Ong Lang
Open in Google Maps

Vegetarian and vegan: thirteen kitchens, zero meat

Two traditions meet on Phu Quoc. The island's Buddhist families run chay kitchens: rice buffets, tofu, mushrooms and mock meat so convincing you will check twice. And the boom in visitors from India has brought a row of pure-vegetarian Indian restaurants to the Long Beach road. Between them, nobody goes hungry.

Say it: Tôi ăn chay, không nước mắm: “I'm vegetarian, no fish sauce, please.” Show this at any stall. Chay on a sign means vegetarian.

Start hereVegetarian

Bếp Chay Nhà An

A small vegetarian bistro with a near-perfect rating: Vietnamese home dishes, a banana-flower salad, spring rolls, hot pot, almost everything under 100,000 VND. Closed in the afternoon.

  • Order
    Banana-flower salad and the clay-pot tofu
  • Hours
    9:00–14:00 and 17:00–21:00
  • Where
    29 Trần Hưng Đạo, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
100% vegan

Nhà Hàng Chay Nấm

A fully vegan Vietnamese restaurant in the town centre, named after the mushrooms that carry half its menu.

  • Hours
    10:00–21:00
  • Where
    13 Nguyễn Trãi, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
Vegetarian

Bồ Đề Chay

A Buddhist family's self-service rice buffet: point at the trays, pay by the plate. A full lunch costs about 40,000 VND. Opens at 5 am for the monks' hour.

  • Order
    Point at four trays and say “cơm”
  • Hours
    5:00–22:00
  • Where
    189A Đường 30 Tháng 4, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
Vegetarian

Cơm Chay Hiền Đức

A tiny vegetarian rice shop on the Long Beach road that locals rate almost perfectly. Simple, cheap, all day.

  • Hours
    7:00–22:00
  • Where
    149 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps
Vegetarian

Tiệm Chay Tâm An

A small vegetarian shop in the residential streets north of the market. Noodle soups in the morning, rice later.

  • Hours
    From 6:30
  • Where
    38 Hoàng Văn Thụ, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
100% vegan

Nhà hàng Chay Minh Tâm

A long-running vegetarian restaurant on 30 Tháng 4 with a long menu: rice plates, mock-meat dishes and vegetarian hot pot for a group.

  • Order
    Lẩu chay (vegetarian hot pot) for the table
  • Hours
    From 7:00
  • Where
    245 Đường 30 Tháng 4, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
100% vegan

Khánh Ly

A vegan buffet a few steps from the night market: vegetables, soups and mock meats in trays, popular with travellers.

  • Hours
    From 8:00
  • Where
    35 Nguyễn Trãi, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
Vegetarian

Nora's Café

A vegetarian café-restaurant down the lane to Chua Ong temple on Long Beach, with more than a thousand happy reviews. Good for breakfast before the beach.

  • Hours
    From 8:00
  • Where
    Hẻm Chùa Ông, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps
Pure-veg Indian

Rasoi

Pure-vegetarian Indian cooking, part of a small chain that also runs kitchens in Da Nang and Hoi An. Open from breakfast to midnight.

  • Order
    Thali
  • Hours
    8:30–24:00
  • Where
    97 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps
Pure-veg Indian

Maharaja Lounge

The most reviewed vegetarian restaurant on the island: 100% vegetarian Indian, tandoor dishes, big portions. There are branches at Grand World and Sunset Town too.

  • Order
    Paneer tikka from the tandoor
  • Where
    107 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps
Pure-veg Indian

Krishna Garden

Pure-vegetarian Punjabi, Gujarati and South Indian food on the Long Beach strip. Busy on weekend evenings, so be patient.

  • Order
    Masala dosa
  • Where
    118 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach
Open in Google Maps
Pure-veg Indian

Benaras Pearl

Vegetarian Indian on 30 Tháng 4 street, a short walk from the town centre. Lunch and dinner.

  • Hours
    From 11:00
  • Where
    179 Đường 30 Tháng 4, Duong Dong
Open in Google Maps
Pure-veg IndianIn the south

Maa Indian 100% Vegetarian

The vegetarian answer in Sunset Town, right by the Kiss Bridge, with a separate Jain menu.

  • Order
    Jain thali
  • Where
    Sunset Town, An Thoi (south)
Open in Google Maps

Ratings, addresses and hours come from each place's Google Maps listing, read on 6 November 2026. Where we only know when a place opens, that's all we tell you. Seafood is priced by weight: ask, watch the scale, agree the total.

Rather have a local do the ordering?

We don't run our own tours on Phu Quoc, so we won't pretend to. Message us your dates and what you like to eat, and we'll tell you honestly what we can set up and what you're better off doing alone.

03

Chill bars and massages worth your evening

The short version, one line each and a map pin each: where to sit with a drink when the sun goes down, and where to get the kinks out after a day on a scooter.

11

Bars for sunset and after

Beach bars, a rooftop, a hilltop, a speakeasy and the late ones on the Long Beach strip.

  1. OCSEN Beach Bar & ClubBeanbags on the sand for sunset, a DJ later, a fire show around 10 pmAlley 124 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · Until about 1 am
    Map
  2. Sunset Beach BarBig, busy and right on the sand: the classic sunset beer100C/2 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · Until about 1 am
    Map
  3. Sunset Sanato Beach ClubGiant sculptures standing in the shallows, day-beds and a sunset viewSouth end of Long Beach · From 9 am
    Map
  4. INK 360Nineteen floors up on the InterContinental: the island's best-known rooftop for sunset cocktailsBai Truong, south Long Beach · 5–11 pm
    Map
  5. Chuồn Chuồn Bistro & BarOn a hill above Duong Dong: the whole west coast and the sunset in one viewOff Trần Hưng Đạo, Duong Dong · Lunch to late evening
    Map
  6. Origin 1982Coffee by day, a speakeasy at night in one of the last old wooden houses on the strip149 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · 7:30 am – midnight
    Map
  7. DUSKCocktails built on Vietnamese rice spirits, by people who know themCầu Bà Phong, Trần Hưng Đạo · Until about 1 am
    Map
  8. House No. 1A small cocktail bar on the river road in town, classics done properly58 Bạch Đằng, Duong Dong · Until about 2 am
    Map
  9. Blue Monkey BarA live band every night, cheap drinks, tables on the pavement116 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · Until about 2 am
    Map
  10. Highball BarDJs and the last bar standing on the strip118/3 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · Until about 4 am
    Map
  11. Ocean Night BarNext to Dinh Cau: sea view, a live band and a fire show01 Võ Thị Sáu, Duong Dong · From 5 pm
    Map

Sunset is the main event on the west coast, so the beach bars fill from 5 pm. Some charge an entry fee or a minimum spend after dark: ask at the door.

6

Massage and spa

Well-reviewed spas in town and on the Long Beach road, plus one up north.

  1. YUJU SpaThe most reviewed spa on the island; Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese techniques. Book ahead99A Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · From 6 am, until about midnight
    Map
  2. FIONA SpaThousands of reviews for careful full-body and foot massages at fair prices20 Trần Hưng Đạo, Duong Dong · From 10 am
    Map
  3. Glow Day SpaHot-stone, body and foot massage, popular with Korean visitors108 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · From 10 am
    Map
  4. Phu Quoc Day SpaA calm day spa set back from the main road100/3 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · 8 am – 11:30 pm
    Map
  5. Massage Hoàng CungFor when the day ends late: open until the small hours128 Trần Hưng Đạo, Long Beach · Until about 3 am
    Map
  6. Lotus SpaUp in Ong Lang, for the quiet north coast. Nearly perfect reviewsLê Thúc Nha, Ong Lang · From 9 am
    Map

What to expect: a 60-minute body or foot massage in town costs about 300,000–500,000 VND; resort spas charge several times more. Many spots pick you up free for 90 minutes or longer. A 50,000–100,000 VND tip is normal and appreciated.

04

20 check-in spots, zero filters needed

From a bridge that doesn't meet in the middle to starfish in knee-deep water. For each one: when the light is right, what it costs, how to get there, and how to get the picture without a tour bus in it.

1
SUNSETwhere the island watches it go down
Duong Dong & Long Beach

Dinh Cau Rock Temple

A small temple and a white lighthouse tower on a rock at the mouth of the Duong Dong river, built for the spirit who protects fishermen. Every evening, half the town walks out along the breakwater to watch the sun drop into the Gulf of Thailand.

  • Best light
    The last 30 minutes before sunset, and blue hour straight after
  • Cost
    Free
  • Get there
    End of Bach Dang Street, Duong Dong, two minutes from the night market

Photo tip: Climb the steps to the temple and shoot back towards the river mouth: the blue fishing boats and the sky in one frame.

Google Maps
2
5 PMwhen the grills are lit
Duong Dong & Long Beach

Duong Dong Night Market

A street of seafood on ice, rolled ice cream, pearl stalls and fish-sauce shops that comes alive at dusk. Loud, smoky, a little touristy and full of life.

  • Best light
    Blue hour, about 6 to 7 pm, when the lights come on and the sky is still blue
  • Cost
    Free to walk; dinner priced by weight
  • Get there
    Vo Thi Sau and Bach Dang streets, behind Dinh Cau, Duong Dong

Photo tip: Stand at the gate and shoot down the street: the smoke from the grills catches the light.

Google Maps
3
1 YEARanchovies and salt, in wood
Duong Dong & Long Beach

Fish Sauce Barrel House

Rows of giant wooden barrels, taller than a person, each filled with anchovies and sea salt left to ferment for about a year. Phu Quoc fish sauce holds a European protected origin, and this is where it is made.

  • Best light
    Morning, before the day's heat makes the smell heroic
  • Cost
    Free. Khai Hoan is open roughly 7:30 am to 7 pm
  • Get there
    Khai Hoan barrel house, Hung Vuong bridge, 5 minutes east of Duong Dong

Photo tip: Shoot down the aisle between the barrels with someone at the far end for scale. Then taste the grades at the shop.

Google Maps
4
20 KMof west-facing sand
Duong Dong & Long Beach

Long Beach at Sunset

The long beach south of Duong Dong, lined with bars, resorts and fishing boats. In the dry season the sea is flat and the sun sets straight ahead of you.

  • Best light
    Sunset, from November to April
  • Cost
    Free. Beach bars want you to buy a drink for a sunbed
  • Get there
    Any lane off Tran Hung Dao road, between Duong Dong and Sonasea

Photo tip: Get low, shoot into the sun with a silhouette in the foreground: a fishing boat, a palm, or a friend mid-jump.

Google Maps
5
GIANTstatues standing in the sea
Duong Dong & Long Beach

Sunset Sanato Sculptures

A beach club at the southern end of Long Beach with huge sculptures in the shallows: a face rising from the sand, an elephant, figures half in the water. It is the most photographed beach on the island.

  • Best light
    Late afternoon to sunset, at low tide
  • Cost
    The beach club charges at the gate; ask what is included that day
  • Get there
    South end of Long Beach, about 15 minutes from Duong Dong

Photo tip: Wait for the waves to pull back, then shoot the reflection of a statue in the wet sand.

Google Maps
6
VINESPhu Quoc's other famous export
Duong Dong & Long Beach

Pepper Farm

Pepper vines climb tall wooden poles in long green rows, and the island's pepper is prized across Vietnam. Most family farms let you walk through for free and sell bags at the door.

  • Best light
    Morning light between the rows. The red berries ripen in the dry season
  • Cost
    Free to walk through; buying is optional
  • Get there
    Farms line the Ham Ninh road (TL47), 10 minutes east of Duong Dong

Photo tip: Shoot down a row with the poles converging to a point. Pick a berry and bite it: hot.

Google Maps
7
2halves that never quite touch
An Thoi & Sunset Town

The Kiss Bridge

A long walkway built out over the sea in two arms that stop a hand's width apart. Couples lean across the gap, and at 9 pm the Kiss of the Sea show lights up the water beside it.

  • Best light
    Sunset, then stay for the evening show
  • Cost
    Free to walk. The show is ticketed
  • Get there
    Sunset Town, An Thoi, about 35 minutes south of Duong Dong

Photo tip: Shoot from the beach below, side on, so the gap shows. Put two people at the tips at golden hour.

Google Maps
8
ITALY?no, An Thoi
An Thoi & Sunset Town

Sunset Town

A brand-new hillside town of pastel houses, stairways and a clock tower, built to look like the Amalfi coast at the southern tip of the island. Completely staged, completely photogenic.

  • Best light
    Early morning when the streets are empty, or late afternoon
  • Cost
    Free to walk around
  • Get there
    An Thoi, next to the Hon Thom cable car station

Photo tip: Climb the stair streets and shoot downhill towards the sea, with the colours stacked on top of each other.

Google Maps
9
9 PMfire, water and lasers
An Thoi & Sunset Town

Kiss of the Sea Show

A 30-minute night show on the water next to the Kiss Bridge: water screens, lasers, fireworks and a love story you don't need to follow.

  • Best light
    Every evening at 9 pm except Tuesdays, according to 2026 schedules. Check on the day
  • Cost
    About 950,000–1,000,000 VND a seat in 2026
  • Get there
    Sunset Town, An Thoi, by the Kiss Bridge

Photo tip: Sit in the middle rows for the whole stage; phones on night mode, no flash.

Google Maps
10
7.9 KMthe world's longest three-rope cable car
An Thoi & Sunset Town

Hon Thom Cable Car

From An Thoi the cabins glide 7,899.9 metres over fishing boats and turquoise water to Hon Thom island, where the ticket includes a water park and a beach. The ride takes 15 to 20 minutes each way.

  • Best light
    Morning, when the light is behind you and the queue is short
  • Cost
    About 850,000 VND return for adults in 2026, water park included
  • Get there
    Station in Sunset Town, An Thoi. Listed hours: 9:00 to 11:30 and 13:30 to 17:00

Photo tip: Face backwards on the way out: the fishing fleet and An Thoi harbour are the shot. Sunglasses help against the glass glare.

Google Maps
11
18islets off the southern tip
An Thoi & Sunset Town

An Thoi Islands

A scatter of small islands south of An Thoi, with the clearest water around Phu Quoc. Boats stop at places such as Hon Mong Tay, Hon Gam Ghi and Hon May Rut for snorkelling and a lunch on deck.

  • Best light
    December to April, in the morning before the wind picks up
  • Cost
    Boat trips from about a few hundred thousand dong a person, more for speedboats
  • Get there
    Boats leave from An Thoi port in the south

Photo tip: From the boat, shoot straight down into the water at noon: the colour is the picture. Never stand on the coral.

Google Maps
12
30,000+prisoners at its peak
An Thoi & Sunset Town

Phu Quoc Prison

The Coconut Tree Prison, the largest prisoner-of-war camp in the south during the war, now a museum of rebuilt barracks and life-size figures. Hard to look at in places, and important.

  • Best light
    Morning, before the midday closure
  • Cost
    Free
  • Get there
    350 Nguyen Van Cu, on the road to An Thoi

Photo tip: This is a place to remember, not a backdrop. Photograph the barbed-wire walls and the watchtowers; leave the selfies outside.

Google Maps
13
WHITEthe island's whitest sand
The east & south-east

Sao Beach

A long curve of fine white sand and shallow, pale-blue water on the south-east coast. In the wet season, when the west coast is rough, this is where everyone swims.

  • Best light
    Before 10 am or after 3 pm; the middle of the day fills with tour groups
  • Cost
    Free to the beach; sunbeds and showers are paid
  • Get there
    South-east coast, about 35 to 40 minutes from Duong Dong

Photo tip: Walk to the quieter southern end and shoot along the waterline, with the sand and the sea in two clean bands.

Google Maps
14
SUNRISEa temple that faces the sea
The east & south-east

Ho Quoc Pagoda

The island's largest Zen monastery, on a hillside above the east coast, with curved roofs, a bell tower and steps that look straight out to sea. It opened in 2012 and is still the calmest place on Phu Quoc.

  • Best light
    Sunrise, about 6 am, when the sun comes up over the water
  • Cost
    Free. Roughly 6 am to 6 pm. Cover shoulders and knees
  • Get there
    East coast, about 40 minutes from Duong Dong

Photo tip: Shoot up the central stairway towards the main hall, or from the bell tower back over the sea.

Google Maps
15
DAWNthe boats come home
The east & south-east

Ham Ninh Pier

A long pier into the shallow east-coast sea, lined with floating restaurants and crab pens. At sunrise the boats come in and the women sell crab straight off the deck.

  • Best light
    Sunrise, about 5:30 to 6:30 am
  • Cost
    Free
  • Get there
    Ham Ninh fishing village, 20 minutes across the island from Duong Dong

Photo tip: Shoot along the pier towards the sun with the stilt houses as a frame. At low tide, the mudflats shine.

Google Maps
16
MAY–OCTit only flows in the rains
The east & south-east

Suoi Tranh Stream

A forest stream with small waterfalls and rock pools in the hills, ten minutes from town. In the dry season it is a trickle, so time it right.

  • Best light
    June to October, mornings
  • Cost
    A small entry fee at the gate
  • Get there
    Off the road to Ham Ninh, about 15 minutes from Duong Dong

Photo tip: Slow shutter on a phone (live photo, long exposure) turns the water into silk.

Google Maps
17
24/7a Venice that never sleeps
The north

Grand World Canal

A shopping and nightlife town in the north-west built around a canal with gondolas, bridges and coloured facades. Free to walk, and the free water and light show on the canal runs late in the evening.

  • Best light
    Blue hour, then the night show, scheduled around 9:30 pm
  • Cost
    Free entry. Gondola rides and some shows cost extra
  • Get there
    North-west coast, about 30 to 35 minutes from Duong Dong

Photo tip: Stand on a canal bridge at blue hour and shoot along the water, with the gondolas' lights trailing.

Google Maps
18
950KVND, Vietnam's largest theme park
The north

VinWonders

A huge theme park next to Grand World: a castle gate, roller coasters, a water park and an aquarium. A full day out, especially with children.

  • Best light
    Opening time, before the heat and the queues
  • Cost
    About 950,000 VND for adults (Vinpearl's 2026 list); combos with the Safari exist
  • Get there
    North-west, next to Grand World

Photo tip: The castle at the entrance is the shot. Get there at opening and it is all yours for ten minutes.

Google Maps
19
CAMBODIAon the horizon
The north

Ganh Dau Cape

The north-west tip of the island, where a rocky cape looks across the water to the islands and hills of Cambodia. Fishing boats, a few seafood shacks, and wind.

  • Best light
    Late afternoon to sunset
  • Cost
    Free
  • Get there
    End of the road past Grand World, about 40 minutes from Duong Dong

Photo tip: Use the rocks in the foreground and the Cambodian hills in the distance: it shows how close the border is.

Google Maps
20
REDstarfish in knee-deep water
The north

Rach Vem Starfish Beach

A fishing village on the quiet north coast where red cushion starfish lie on the sandy bottom in clear, shallow water. Floating fish-farm restaurants sit offshore.

  • Best light
    November to April, in the morning when the water is calmest
  • Cost
    Free; a small parking fee in the village
  • Get there
    North coast, 50 to 60 minutes from Duong Dong; the last road is narrow

Photo tip: Shoot them in the water, from above, with a polarising filter or sunglasses over the lens. Never lift a starfish out: they can't breathe in air.

Google Maps

Want the shot without the planning?

Tell us which spots you care about and when you're on the island. We'll suggest the order that beats the crowds and catches the light, north one day, south the next.

05

Don't just lie on the beach. Well, not all day.

Sorted the way we'd plan it for a friend: things you catch, roll or cook with your own hands, things that need a local, and the big-ticket sights that are easy on your own.

DIY: catch it, roll it, make it

Hands-on, small groups, and a good plan for a cloudy day.
Ask us

Night squid fishing

Head out at sunset with a hand line and a lamp. The squid come up to the light; you jig, you pull, you scream a little. The crew grills your catch on board. Wear the life jacket and check the sea forecast first.

3–4 hrs from late afternoon · shared boats from about 250,000–500,000 VND

Ask us

Roll your own herring salad

Order gỏi cá trích with rice paper and herbs, and roll it yourself the way the island does. Then crack a crab. It is lunch, but it is also a lesson.

1 hr · on a raft in Ham Ninh

Ask us

Fish sauce tasting

Fish sauce is graded by protein, written as 35N, 40N, 43N on the label. Taste three grades side by side at a barrel house and you will never look at the supermarket bottle the same way.

30 min · free at the barrel houses

Ask us

Kayak the Cua Can river

Paddle up the slow river in the north, between mangroves and fishing huts, to a village where nobody is selling you anything.

Half a day · calm water, any level

Ask us

Snorkel the An Thoi islands

Three or four islets, mask and fins, lunch on deck. Choose an operator with life jackets for everyone and a captain who will cancel when the sea says so.

Half or full day · December to April is best

Only with a local

Things that are hard to find, or to make sense of, without someone who knows the island.
Ask us

Ham Ninh at dawn

Be on the pier when the boats come in, watch the crab being sorted, and eat breakfast on a raft while the village wakes up.

5:30–8:30 am · crab boats and breakfast

Ask us

The north on the back of a bike

The roads up north are narrow and some are sand. On the back of a local's scooter you see the starfish, the cape and the villages without worrying about the potholes.

Half a day · Rach Vem, Ganh Dau, the forest road

Ask us

Duong Dong market at 6 am

The town market at the river, early, when the fishing boats unload, the herring is sold by the bucket and breakfast costs almost nothing. Bring small notes.

1–2 hrs · the real market, before the tourists

Easy to do yourself

Eleven things our team would tell a friend to do.
  1. Sunset at Dinh CauThe rock temple at the river mouth, with half the town. Free, every evening.See the spot
  2. The cable car to Hon Thom7.9 km over the sea, water park included in the ticket.See the spot
  3. Kiss of the SeaThe 9 pm show by the Kiss Bridge. Book a middle-row seat.See the spot
  4. Grand World by nightWalk the canal for free, watch the late water show, skip the gondola if you like.See the spot
  5. Sunrise at Ho Quoc PagodaBe there by 6 am. Cover your shoulders and knees.See the spot
  6. Starfish at Rach VemFrom November to April. Look, don't lift.See the spot
  7. Phu Quoc PrisonAn hour that explains a lot about the island's past. Free.See the spot
  8. Vinpearl SafariAn open-range park with a bus through the big-animal zones. A good half day with children.
  9. A beach day at SaoEarly or late, at the quiet southern end.See the spot
  10. Bún quậy for breakfastMake your own sauce at Kiến Xây, then walk it off by the river.See the shops
  11. The Mekong Delta on the wayFly to Saigon, or take a boat to Ha Tien, and see the delta.Read our Southern Vietnam guide

Flying via Saigon? This is where we ride

Phu Quoc is an hour from Ho Chi Minh City by plane. That's where we run our own tours: small groups, local guides, booked over a chat.
06

Five mini maps: two on foot, three on two wheels

Pick a route, follow the numbered stops, and open it in Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions. Two short walks for the evenings, three rides that cover the whole island.

Loading the map…

Use two fingers to move the map

On foot

Duong Dong: sunset, night market, noodles, cocktail

1.4 km one waydistance
5 stops20 min of walking, 3 hrs with stops
  • Best time
    Start 40 minutes before sunset at Dinh Cau
  • Going
    Flat and short. The night-market street is crowded after 7 pm: keep your phone in a front pocket
  1. Dinh Cau Rock TempleSunset from the rock, with half the town.
  2. Dinh Ba Thuy Long Thanh MauThe sea goddess's temple, lit up after dark.
  3. Night marketGrilled sea urchin and scallops. Agree the price first.
  4. Bún quậy Kiến XâyMix your own sauce. Small bowl if you just ate.
  5. House No. 1A proper cocktail on the river road.
On foot

Sunset Town: cable car, Kiss Bridge, show

1.6 km one waydistance
4 stops25 min of walking, half a day with the cable car
  • Best time
    Cable car after 1:30 pm, Kiss Bridge for sunset, show at 9 pm
  • Going
    Flat by the sea, stairs in the town. Bring water: there is little shade
  1. Hon Thom cable car stationOver the sea to Hon Thom and back.
  2. Sunset Town streetsPastel houses and stair streets.
  3. Maa Indian 100% VegetarianAn early dinner, vegetarian.
  4. The Kiss BridgeSunset at the gap, then the 9 pm show next to it.
By motorbike

The south: pagoda, white sand, prison, Sunset Town

67.6 kmdistance
7 stopsAbout 2 hrs of riding, a full day with stops
  • Best time
    Leave at 7 am; be back on Long Beach for sunset
  • Going
    Wide main roads, some trucks near the airport and An Thoi. The coast road back along Long Beach is the nicest stretch
  1. Duong Dong night marketStart in town.
  2. Ho Quoc PagodaThe temple above the east coast.
  3. Sao BeachSwim before the tour groups arrive.
  4. Phu Quoc PrisonAfter lunch, when it reopens.
  5. Sunset Town and the Kiss BridgeCable car if you have time.
  6. Sunset SanatoThe statues in the sea at sunset.
  7. OCSEN Beach BarA cold one on a beanbag to finish.
By motorbike

The north: starfish, the cape, the canal town

71.6 kmdistance
5 stopsAbout 2.5 hrs of riding, a full day with stops
  • Best time
    Leave at 7:30 am for calm water at Rach Vem; Grand World after dark
  • Going
    The road to Rach Vem is narrow and broken in places: slow down, and skip it after heavy rain
  1. Duong Dong night marketStart in town.
  2. Rach Vem Starfish BeachStarfish in the shallows. Look, don't lift.
  3. Ganh Dau CapeLunch with a view of Cambodia.
  4. Grand WorldCanal walk and the late water show.
  5. Midori House, Ong LangWood-fired pizza on the way home.
By motorbike

Fish sauce, pepper, waterfall and Ham Ninh crab

15.8 km one waydistance
5 stopsAbout 30 min of riding, half a day with stops
  • Best time
    Leave at 2 pm and eat crab in Ham Ninh at sunset; town is 20 minutes back
  • Going
    Easy, paved roads. The Ham Ninh road is straight and fast: watch the trucks
  1. Khai Hoan fish sauceWalk the barrels, taste three grades.
  2. Su Muon PagodaA hilltop pagoda on the way.
  3. Pepper farmWalk the vines, bite a peppercorn.
  4. Suoi Tranh streamWaterfalls in the wet season only.
  5. Ham Ninh pierCrab and herring salad on a raft.

Riding yourself? Read this first

  • Licence. Vietnam recognises a foreign licence only with an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, stamped for motorcycles. The 1949-convention permit issued in the US, Canada and Australia, among others, is not valid here.
  • Insurance. Most travel policies refuse motorbike claims if you weren't licensed. Unlicensed riding is fined and the bike can be impounded.
  • Distances. The island is 50 km long, and a day in the north or south is 60–80 km of riding. Fill up in town: petrol stations thin out in the north.
  • Sand and rain. Sand on the bends near the beaches and the first rain on dusty roads are both slippery. In the wet season, ride slower than you want to.
  • On the road. Helmets are compulsory, there is zero tolerance for alcohol, and trucks for the APEC 2027 building sites use the main roads. Ride in daylight.
  • The easy answer. Grab Bike or Grab Car: a local driver, a fixed price in the app. For the north, hire a car and driver for the day.

No licence? Ride on the back.

Grab Bike gets you around Duong Dong and Long Beach for a few dollars, helmet included. For the long rides north and south, ask us: we'll tell you honestly whether we can find you a local driver for your dates.

Ask on WhatsApp Our scooter tours in Saigon

Quick answers

Three days cover the south, Sao Beach, the cable car and a sunset in Duong Dong. Five let you add the north, a boat trip to the An Thoi islands and a lazy beach day. Longer is a holiday, and nobody here will judge you.

Not if you fly or sail straight to Phu Quoc from abroad, stay on the island and leave from it: visitors of any nationality can then stay up to 30 days without a visa. If your trip also includes Saigon or anywhere on the mainland, you need a normal visa or visa exemption.

In Duong Dong: banks on weekdays with your passport, or the licensed gold shops around Duong Dong market. The airport and resort desks pay less. The rate on any screen is for clean, new notes: torn, stained, marked or small bills get less, so bring recent $50 and $100 notes. Vietcombank does not buy rupees, roubles or ringgit in cash.

November to April: dry, sunny and calm on the west coast, with December to March the busiest. May to October is the green season, with heavy showers, a rough west coast and cheaper rooms; swim on the east coast at Sao Beach then.

It is 10 km and 15 to 20 minutes. Grab lists a fixed fare of 180,000 VND for a four-seat car to Duong Dong, before airport and toll fees, and taxis at the exit cost about the same.

Yes. This guide lists 13 vegetarian and vegan places, from Buddhist rice buffets and a vegan Vietnamese restaurant to five pure-vegetarian Indian kitchens. Anywhere else, say “Tôi ăn chay, không nước mắm”: I'm vegetarian, no fish sauce.

Never in hand luggage. In checked bags it depends on the airline, so check its rules, and buy the sealed bottles boxed for flying, or ask the shop to ship it.

Only with a motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 convention. The island is 50 km long, some northern roads are narrow and sandy, and trucks serve the APEC 2027 building sites, so many visitors use Grab or hire a car and driver for the long days.

Rates: Vietcombank, 6 Nov 2026, 23:00. Eateries, bars and spas: Google Maps listings, read on 6 November 2026. Ticket prices: Sun World and Vinpearl price lists as reported in 2026. Visa rule: Vietnam's Phu Quoc visa exemption. Distances and map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Prices and opening hours do change: tell us if you spot something out of date.

Tell us your dates. We'll tell you the truth.

Send us when you're on Phu Quoc and what you're after. We'll suggest which coast to stay on, which day for the north and which for the south, and where we'd eat tonight.

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