Phu Quoc, Vietnam: Places to Visit & Things to Know

Phu Quoc is a beautiful island located far from the mainland in the southern part of Vietnam. It is highly regarded for its potential in developing beach resorts and recreational activities such as snorkeling to admire coral reefs, fishing, and enjoying local cuisine at the night market. However, before visiting Phu Quoc, it’s also essential to gather some useful information to choose the best time to go and gain a little experience when traveling to Phu Quoc.

Table of Contents

Overview of Phu Quoc island

Phu Quoc Island is the largest island of Vietnam, situated in the southwest. It is also the largest island among a group of 22 different smaller islands here. Phu Quoc is renowned as a tropical paradise located in the Gulf of Thailand, where there are many beautiful beaches and significant potential for developing resort tourism.

Thanks to its favorable natural conditions and stunning natural landscapes, Phu Quoc is gradually becoming a new resort paradise of the world, attracting a large number of domestic and international investors. Especially in the southern part of the island, there are 12 various small islands belonging to the An Thoi archipelago, and in the northern part of the island, places like Mong Tay Island, Doi Moi Island… are ideal locations for activities such as yachting, fishing, snorkeling, camping, and exploring deserted islands.

Best time to visit Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc has two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season in Phu Quoc lasts from October to March, and this is also the season with the most favorable weather. We highly recommend you visit Phu Quoc during this time.

On the contrary, the rainy season in Phu Quoc extends from April to September. Besides the unfavorable weather, this is also the peak season for domestic tourists, with a large number of visitors coming from all over Vietnam to Phu Quoc. If you are an international traveler, it’s not advisable to choose Phu Quoc for your vacation during this period.

Best time to visit Phu Quoc is from October to March

Transportation to Phu Quoc

There are two simplest ways for you to get to Phu Quoc Island:

By air

You can book a flight ticket from major airports such as Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City or Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi to Phu Quoc Airport. The flight will take around 1 to 2 hours depending on the departure point.

By boat

If you want to experience a unique journey, you can choose to travel by ferry from An Thoi Port in Kien Giang or from Ha Tien Port. The ferry ride usually takes from 2 to 2.5 hours.

Getting around Phu Quoc Island

The city of Phu Quoc has three main roads:

Tran Hung Dao Street: This road has the most hotels and resorts in Phu Quoc, most of which have beaches. It starts from the intersection and goes all the way to Bai Truong Beach, ending at An Thoi.

30/4 Street – Phu Quoc‘s dining street: There are numerous restaurants and eateries here, and you can try seafood at the roadside stalls for better prices than the night market.

Hung Vuong Street: This street forms a junction with April 30th Street.

Things to do in Phu Quoc

Apart from relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Phu Quoc island, you can also consider joining some interesting day tours as follows:

Snorkeling to admire coral reefs

The diverse marine ecosystem of the An Thoi archipelago in the south or the islands of Mong Tay, Doi Moi, and Thay Boi in the north of Phu Quoc are ideal places for exploring the ocean world. Especially, the coral reefs here are highly regarded as the richest in Vietnam, with 17 different types of hard, soft, and sea anemones.

Fishing and exploring deserted islands

If you take part in this activity, the rewards will be the fish you catch, which will be prepared and enjoyed right on the boat. It’s also an opportunity to experience the life of the local fishermen.

Apart from fishing, you can explore some island areas such as the An Thoi archipelago with 12 different small islands in the south, or Mong Tay, Doi Moi, Thay Boi islands in the north, which are still preserved in their pristine beauty, making them ideal places for camping.

Nighttime squid fishing

As the night falls, the entire Phu Quoc island becomes quiet, but far offshore, the activities of the fishermen are still bustling with the shimmering lights resembling a lively city.

This is the perfect time to experience relaxing and exciting moments with the crew while engaging in nighttime squid fishing. There’s nothing more exciting than catching squids swimming under the sea or snatching swordfish and bluebone fish floating on the surface. The caught squids and fish will be prepared and enjoyed right on the boat.

Explore the primeval forest

If you’re an adventurous person, this is the choice for you. The Da Ngon Stream ecological reserve is located at the foot of the streams originating from the Ham Ninh mountain range, which is an ideal place for outdoor activities, mountain climbing, exploring the primeval forest, and bathing in the stream.

Not only will you immerse yourself in the cool water, but you’ll also get to enjoy the refreshing feeling of the unique natural Jacuzzi in this place.

Explore the untouched North Island

The North Island of Phu Quoc is a rich land with primeval forests and a diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna, along with numerous beautiful beaches hidden behind the forests. Coming to the North Island means coming to the untouched nature. The journey to explore the North Island includes:

Khu Tuong Pepper Garden: Learn about the traditional method of growing the famous Phu Quoc pepper. You can also purchase pepper directly from the garden to take home.
Ganh Dau Ecological Reserve: Here, you can hike and explore the primeval forest.
Nguyen Trung Truc Temple: Learn about the heroic history of the national hero who fought against the French in Phu Quoc.
Ganh Dau Cape: This is the closest point to the sea with the Koh Seh national forest of Cambodia. You can come here to experience the simple life of the local fishermen.
Bai Dai Beach: Immerse yourself in the beautiful beach and white sand, which was voted by BBC as one of the 10 most pristine and beautiful beaches in the world.
Discover the fish sauce production: You will learn about the traditional method of fermenting fish to create the rich flavor of the famous Phu Quoc fish sauce.

Discovering the South Island

The South Island of Phu Quoc is a low-lying area interspersed with secondary forests and is the main residential area of the island. The beautiful beaches that captivate people’s hearts include Bai Truong, Bai Sao, Bai Khem, and Gieng Ngu, which are considered unique charms of Phu Quoc Island. The journey to explore the South Island includes:

Coi Nguon Area: Learn about the famous Phu Quoc dogs, visit the sea eagle garden, and explore the traditional houses of Phu Quoc.
Japanese pearl cultivation area: Learn about the process of pearl production, and you can buy cultured pearls from the island as souvenirs.
Historical site of Phu Quoc Prison: Visit the Phu Quoc Prison built by the American empire during the invasion of Vietnam.
Bai Sao beach: Immerse yourself in the cool water of the blue sea and white sand at the beautiful beach of Phu Quoc.
Tranh Stream: Explore the ecological conservation area of the primeval forest and enjoy the cool water that originates from the Ham Ninh mountain range (during the rainy season).

Sao beach - Phu Quoc island — Sao beach – Phu Quoc island

Conclusion

Phu Quoc not only has beautiful resort beaches and luxurious hotels but also offers many fantastic destinations and exciting activities for you to explore during your journey. Please contact our travel advisors if you want more detailed advice and to discover the hidden beauty of Phu Quoc island.

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