A to Z travel tips to explore Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

10 min readMay 20, 2020

Travelers should totally read this ultimate guide to Phu Quoc before visiting Vietnam’s pearl island. In this article, we will provide all the information you need so as to have a memorable trip with friends and family in Phu Quoc. Let’s get started!

When to travel to Phu Quoc?

There are 2 main seasons in Phu Quoc: rain and dry season. The dry season is from October to March, and the rain season is from April to October. This ultimate guide to Phu Quoc will let you know when is the most suitable time for a Phu Quoc trip. Based on some characteristics of the seasons in Phu Quoc, you can choose the most suitable time for you and your family to go on this trip.

The most suitable time to visit Phu Quoc is in the dry season when the weather is nice, the sea is peaceful, and less rain — an ideal time to relax and have fun. However, the price in this period of time is rather high. During the holiday seasons, hotels will be quickly out of stock. If you do not book the room in advance, you and your family might not have room to stay or have to pay an extremely high price. If you travel in the rush season, you might want to book the room and restaurant in advance in order to get the best service at a reasonable price.

Going in the rain season is also a good choice if you have a tight budget. Although there might be a lot of rain, this is also the reason for the lower price. You can have an amazing experience in Phu Quoc with your family and still save up your money.

How to travel in Phu Quoc?

1/ MOTORBIKE

If you go with a small group of friends, motorbikes will be proactive, dynamic, and fun. Especially, going on a motorbike with your partner will tighten your relationship with those heart-racing, youthful feelings. Most hotels, hostels in Phu Quoc provide motorbike hiring services. You can contact the receptionist for the support. Additionally, there are a few places where you can hire a motorbike at a reasonable price.

Mr. Tinh

Price: 5–7 USD/ 1 motorbike
Where: Phu Quoc airport
Phone number: 0909 895 959 or 0987 441 799

Mr. Muoi

Price: 5–7 USD/ 1 motorbike
Where: Phu Quoc ship port
Phone number: 0917 774 228 or 0939 371 122

Mr. Cuong Thinh

Price:5–7 USD/1 motorbike
Where: Phu Quoc airport
Phone number: 0981 214 344

2/ CAR

Hiring a car or going by bus are the perfect choices for families or groups of friends. Here are some places where you can hire cars:

Phu Quoc tourism cars and buses:

4–45 seats
Phone number: 0983 966 936 or 0963 966 936
Address: Tran Phu, KP 10, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc.

Mai Thao cars:

4 seats, 7 seats, 16 seats, and 29 seats.
Phone number: 0901 015 431–0931 770 162–0776 616 311
Address: Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc exploring company:

4–45 seats
Phone number: 0123 455 2255 — (0297)3 977 977 — (0297)6 615 615
Address: №26, Hung Vuong, street no.5, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc.

Puolo Trip tourism company:

4–45 seats
Phone number: 0901 002 919
Address: №16, KP 10, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc.

Where to explore in Phu Quoc?

When you visit Phu Quoc, you will definitely be stunned by the beauty of this island. In Phu Quoc, breath-taking scenery is everywhere you go, from the north of the island with Ganh Dau, Khu Tuong pepper garden, to the south with An Thoi archipelago, Ham Ning fishing village, etc. Below are the ultimate guide to Phu Quoc and its most outstanding places you might want to visit

1/ THE NORTH ISLAND

Ganh Dau: Ganh Dau is a pearl in the north of Phu Quoc. You will be amazed by the untouched nature, the waves on the sea, and the delicious seafood.

Khu Tuong pepper garden: If you are into the spicy taste of pepper, you should love this place. In Khu Tuong there are beautiful pepper gardens along the road. You can also buy some pepper as gifts for family and friends.

Hon Thom: On Hon Thom island, you will explore the colorful coral under the sea, and the aquiculture of Phu Quoc citizens. A 10-minute transport from Hon Thom will lead you to where you can get yourself some cuttles from the sea.

Dinh Cau: If you visit Phu Quoc with your other half, you definitely don’t want to miss Dinh Cau. Sunsets in Dinh Cau will make your trip extra sweet and romantic. Some fruits, champagne, and a love song will make your sunset in Dinh Cau the most memorable moment between you two.

Tranh stream, Da Ban stream, Da Ngon stream: If you go in the period from June to September, you and your family should explore the beauty of the three streams in Phu Quoc, where you will be stunned by the untouched scenery of the mountains, the trees, and flowers.

Bai Dai: Bai Dai has been voted as the most untouched and beautiful beach in the world. On this beach, you can enjoy nature that has not been affected much by the human.

Other than the above-mentioned places, you can also visit Nguyen Trung Truc temple and Coi Nguon museum to understand more about Vietnamese culture.

2/ WEST AND SOUTH ISLAND

Bai Sao beach: This is the most beautiful beach in Phu Quoc, which is suitable for swimming. Here you can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and sightseeing with the breath-taking view of Bai Sao beach.

Ham Ninh fishing village: Temporarily leaving behind the crowded and stressful city life, Ham Ninh fishing village will bring you back to the pristine beauty. You can enjoy the thatched cottage, along with the life of pearl diving, sea cucumbers catching, and crabs hunting. Enjoying the freshly hatched crabs dipped with some lemon salt will help you forget all the daily stress and fatigue.

You can also explore two other beautiful beaches: Bai Khem, locates in South Island Phu Quoc, 25 km away from Duong Dong, 5 km away from An Thoi. Bai Truong: locates in Duong Bao, Duong To, Phu Quoc.

Fish sauce manufacturing house: Phu Quoc fish sauce is one of the most famous fish sauce brands in Vietnam. During the time here, you can observe the manufacturing of this delicious fish sauce.

An Thoi archipelago: An Thoi archipelago consists of 15 large and small islands, with crystal beaches. The largest islands in this archipelago are Hon Dan, Hon Dua, Hon Ro, Hon Thom, Vang, Mong Tay, Gam Ghi, May Rut, and Chan Qui.

Mong Tay island: This is an unspoiled island, untouched by human, and the visitors will be completely immersed in nature. When you come here, in addition to interesting activities such as camping, swimming, exploring nature, you can not miss the experience of scuba diving. 17 types of corals along with a variety of colorful anemones will leave an unforgettable impression on you.
Gam Ghi island: Gam Ghi Island is attracting tourists with its poetic beaches, long and thick coral reefs. You only need to look at the bottom of the sea to explore the colorful coral reefs.
May Rut Island: May Rut Island is also known for its clear blue beaches, fine sandy beaches that you don’t want to leave.

Cay Dua Prison (Phu Quoc Prison): Visiting Cay Dua Prison, you will witness the ups and downs of Vietnam’s history of fighting against the enemy.

What to do in Phu Quoc?

Traction experience: Coming to Phu Quoc Island, you cannot miss a day of being a fisherman, pulling traps full of fish. After the fishing activity, you and your family can enjoy the fish in your lunch.

Hon Thom Cable Car: What is more wonderful than watching the beautiful scenery on the south of Ngoc Island from above on the up to 7.8 km cable car crossing the sea?

Walking on the ocean floor: This will be a unique experience when visiting Phu Quoc. No need to be able to swim, you can still explore the ocean floor and colorful coral reefs.

Aquatopia Water Park: Aquatopia Water Park includes all the exciting entertainment activities, from adventurous games to family bonding activities, promising to be a place to help you and your family have the most comfortable moments.

Discover Phu Quoc National Forest: Escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life, Phu Quoc National Park will bring you a sense of tranquility, relaxation, immersion in nature with birds, insects, and the sound of leaves rustling in the forest.

Vinpearl Phu Quoc: Vinpearl Phu Quoc has a complex of entertainment such as water parks, aquariums, indoor amusement parks, outdoor play areas,… Especially, there are dolphin performances at Vinpearl Phu Quoc and water music stage with the capacity big enough for world-class cultural events.

Dinh Cau Night Market: Dinh Cau Night Market opens from 17:00 to 21–22 hrs. AtIn the market, there are handicrafts, cosmetics, jewelry, and Phu Quoc pearls. The most special thing is the area of fresh seafood that serves the night eaters dishes such as seafood rice, seafood porridge, seafood soup, …

Snorkeling to see corals: This will definitely be a very interesting experience in the southern An Thoi archipelago or Mong Tay, Doi Moi, and Thay Boi islands, which located in the North of the Island. Especially when the coral reefs here are the top in Vietnamese ranking with 17 different types of hard, soft, and anemones.

Night squid fishing: You will have the chance to catch squid, swordfish or bone-blue fish floating on the sea surface. The fished squid will be served on board.

What to eat in Phu Quoc?

Herring salad: This is a dish not to be missed when coming to Phu Quoc. Herring salad consists of herring rolled with vegetables, added grated coconut, eaten with premium fish sauce. Phu Quoc people often remind us that after eating this salad, we should sip a little sim wine, because the salad made from fresh fish, therefore it will be better for the digestive system when combined with sim wine.

Ham Ninh crab: Ham Ninh crabs that weigh from 6–7 kg are the best. Choose female crabs if you want to eat lots of bricks, choose male crabs if you want to eat a lot of meat. The average price of Ham Ninh crabs is about 4-9 USD/ kg.

Barracudas: The tough, very strange, and delicious fish ball, combined with sweet and sour fish sauce noodles will bring a truly unforgettable taste.

Nhum: Nhum is a specialty of Phu Quoc, can be processed in many different ways such as porridge, grilling with onion. There are many types of nhum but the best is black nhum, so when you come to Phu Quoc, you should try this strange dish.

Quay noodle: Quay noodle is a simple, rustic noodle that will leave an unforgettable taste in the hearts of diners, with the sweet and fresh taste of shrimp or squid patties, mingled with the broth bar, especially the pungent flavor of Phu Quoc pepper.

Bun ken: Bun ken is an extremely special type of noodle. The part of Noni or mercury fish is finely ground, stir-fried with lemongrass, chili, garlic until the fish is crispy and delicious, combined with attractive yellow broth, making it unforgettable.

Where to eat in Phu Quoc?

Phu Quoc is surrounded by the ocean. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is dominated by seafood restaurants. You should not miss the fresh, delicious seafood served by these restaurants. Below are some recommended restaurants you might want to try:

Quoc Anh food stall: center of Ngoc island, 30–4 road, I street, Duong Dong town, with dishes such as rice with crab, Tram mushroom hotpot, crab noodle. Seafood, etc.

Zen restaurant: 30–4 road, Dong Duong town. The restaurant serves dishes like seafood salad, seafood rice at a reasonable price.

Gio Bien restaurant: Mui Duong beach, Chuong Vich, Ganh Dau.

Viet Xua restaurant: Hung Vuong, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc.

Song Bien restaurant: 161, 30/4 road, Area 1, Phu Quoc.

Xin Chao seafood restaurant: 66 Tran Hung Dao street, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc.

Ra Khoi restaurant: 131, 30/4 road, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc.

Where to stay in Phu Quoc?

Accommodation is one of the most important parts of this ultimate guide to Phu Quoc. This article will guide you to both luxury resorts and budgeted hotels.

1/ LUXURY RESORTS

Phu Quoc Novotel resort

Address: Street no.5, Bao road, Duong To, Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc Sol Beach House

Address: Truong beach, Duong To, Phu Quoc.

Vinpearl Phu Quoc golf & resort

Address: Dai beach, Ganh Dau.

Phu Quoc the shells resort and spa

Address: Ganh Gio beach, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc Fusion resort
Address: Vung Bau beach, Phu Quoc.

2/ BUDGET-SAVING HOTELS AND HOSTELS

Thuan Hai hotel

Address: Nguyen Du road, near Dinh Cau.

Nhu Ngoc 666 homestay

Address: TL 47, Duong To, Phu Quoc

Yen Huynh hostel

Address: no.187, 30/4 road, area 1, Duong Dong town.

Phu Quoc birdhouse

Address: Bung Goi road, Ganh Gio, Cua Duong, Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc hostel

Address: 137 Tran Hung Dao, 7th street area, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc.

Contact us:

Website: https://www.phuquocdaytour.net/
Hotline: (+84) 935 23 00 11
Email: hello@sdisco.net