Things to do in Phu Quoc: top sights and where to go
Phu Quoc is an island, not a walkable city: Duong Dong in the west has the Dinh Cau shrine and the night market, the north has the Safari, VinWonders and Grand World side by side, and the south has Sunset Town, the Hon Thom cable car, the Coconut Tree Prison and Sao Beach. Give the north one day and the south another — the two ends are about an hour apart by car.
Sights
Phu Quoc itineraries
Phu Quoc travel guide
Before you go: Sao and Starfish beaches, the sea cable car, Sunset Town, the safari and VinWonders, the airport, areas and weather.
Phu Quoc on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 5–10 days: beach, islands, parks
- When to go
- November–April, the dry season
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — Phu Quoc has its own 30-day visa-free rule
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Vietnamese dong (VND); cards at resorts
- Airport
- Phu Quoc (PQC) ≈ 10 km from Duong Dong
- Sea
- Gulf of Thailand: ≈ 27–30°, sunsets in the west
- Getting around
- Grab, scooter; VinBus between parks
- Rainy season
- May–October: rain, waves on the west coast
- Sunsets
- West coast — Duong Dong and Sunset Town
- Time zone
- UTC+7 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Hon Thom cable car”Sourcei
UNESCO Man and the Biosphere ProgrammeSourcei
Wikipedia, “Phú Quốc”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Phú Quốc”Things to do in Phu Quoc
The top things to do in Phu Quoc are Sao and Starfish beaches, the cable car over the sea to Hon Thom, Sunset Town and the Kiss Bridge in the south, Dinh Cau shrine and the night market in Duong Dong, and Ho Quoc Pagoda. In the north are the safari park, VinWonders and Grand World. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Duong Dong | Dinh Cau | sunset |
|---|---|---|
| South | Sunset Town, Hon Thom cable car | 1 day |
| Southeast | Sao Beach, Ho Quoc | ½ day |
| North | Starfish Beach | ½ day |
| Northern parks | Safari, VinWonders | 1 day |
| North at night | Grand World | evening |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Where to stay in Phu Quoc
Where to stay in Phu Quoc: on the west coast by Duong Dong and Long Beach for sunsets, cafés and the night market; in the south near An Thoi for Sunset Town and the cable car; in the north at Ganh Dau for the Vin parks and quiet beaches; or on the east coast for Sao Beach’s white sand, with fewer facilities.
| Long Beach, Duong Dong | Sunsets, cafés, market | Waves in the wet season |
|---|---|---|
| South, An Thoi | Sunset Town, cable car | ≈ 30 min to the centre |
| North, Ganh Dau | Parks, families | Far from town |
| East, Sao Beach | White sand, quiet | Few cafés |
Phu Quoc airport to your hotel
Phu Quoc International (PQC) is ≈ 10 km from Duong Dong, in the middle of the island. A Grab takes 15–20 minutes to Long Beach hotels, 25–30 minutes to the south and Sunset Town, and about 40 minutes to the northern parks.
| Grab | Long Beach, Duong Dong | ≈ 15–20 min |
|---|---|---|
| Grab | South, An Thoi | ≈ 25–30 min |
| Transfer | North, Vin parks | ≈ 40 min |
Phu Quoc weather by month
The best time to visit Phu Quoc is November to April: dry, ≈ 30–33 °C by day, with a calm sea at 27–29 °C. May to October is the rainy season, with downpours, wind and waves on the west coast; the east-coast beaches stay calmer.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 30° | 31° | 32° | 33° | 32° | 31° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 30° |
| Night | 23° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 23° |
| Sea | 27° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° |
| Rain | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 10 | 4 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: January–April and November–December
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 2 days
Dry, calm sea — the best time. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 2 days
Dry, ≈ 31°. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 3 days
About 32°, dry. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 7 days
The hottest month. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 30°
- rain 15 days
Rains begin. Warm for swimming, water — about 30°.
- day ≈ 31°
- night ≈ 26°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 19 days
Downpours, west-coast waves. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 22 days
Rainy season. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 22 days
Rain and wind. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 25°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 21 days
Rain. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 29°
- rain 20 days
Rains easing. Warm for swimming, water — about 29°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 24°
- sea ≈ 28°
- rain 10 days
The season opens. Warm for swimming, water — about 28°.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 23°
- sea ≈ 27°
- rain 4 days
Dry — a great time. Warm for swimming, water — about 27°.
Best beaches in Phu Quoc
The best beaches in Phu Quoc suit different tastes: white sand and turquoise water at Sao Beach in the southeast, Starfish Beach in the north, and long Long Beach with sunsets in the west. Swim in the dry season; in the wet season choose the east coast.
- Sao Beach — the island’s finest sand.
- Starfish Beach — shallow water with starfish; don’t lift them out.
- Long Beach — by the west-coast hotels, the best sunsets.
- An Thoi islands — snorkelling by boat; you see them from the cable car.
Phu Quoc ticket prices
Beaches, Dinh Cau shrine, Ho Quoc Pagoda and Grand World entry are free. You pay for the Hon Thom cable car, the safari park, VinWonders and boat trips to the islands.
| Hon Thom Cable Car | 19 | 3 h | 850,000 VND return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinpearl Safari | 16 | 4 h | 950,000 VND; under 100 cm free |
| VinWonders Phu Quoc | 16 | 4 h | 1,050,000 VND; under 100 cm free |
Free — 7 places: Dinh Cau Shrine, Coconut Tree Prison, Ho Quoc Pagoda, Starfish Beach (Rach Vem), Sunset Town, Grand World Phu Quoc, Sao Beach.
Tips
- Watch the sunset on the west coast — at Dinh Cau or in Sunset Town.
- The free VinBus links the northern parks with a ticket — it saves on taxis.
- At Starfish Beach, don’t lift starfish out of the water — air kills them.
FAQ
Is Phu Quoc worth visiting?
Yes, for white-sand beaches, sunsets, snorkelling off the An Thoi islands and big family parks in the north.
Do I need a visa for Phu Quoc?
It depends on your passport: Phu Quoc has a 30-day visa-free rule for most foreigners arriving directly, separate from mainland Vietnam rules. Check the official rules for your passport.
What is the best beach in Phu Quoc?
Sao Beach for sand and colour; Long Beach for sunsets; Starfish Beach for shallow water with kids.
What is the weather like in Phu Quoc in December?
Dry and sunny: about 30 °C by day with a calm sea near 27 °C.
When is the rainy season in Phu Quoc?
May to October, with rain, wind and waves, mostly on the west coast.
How long is the Hon Thom cable car ride?
About 15–20 minutes each way over the sea and islands.
Where to stay in Phu Quoc?
West coast near Long Beach for cafés and sunsets; the south for Sunset Town; the north for the parks with kids.
How do I get from Phu Quoc airport to my hotel?
By Grab: 15–20 minutes to Long Beach, 25–30 minutes south, about 40 minutes north.
What to do in Phu Quoc with kids?
The safari park, VinWonders, the Hon Thom cable car and Starfish Beach.
What to eat in Phu Quoc?
Seafood at the Duong Dong night market, herring salad and anything with local fish sauce.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Phú Quốc”; “Hon Thom cable car”; Phu Quoc climate (1991–2020 normals)
- UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme — Kien Giang reserve
- VinWonders Phu Quoc — official website