Phu Quoc is a large island in Vietnam, located in the extreme southwest of the country and dependent on the province of Kien Giang. It has its nickname as the “emerald island” for its natural treasures and tourism potentiality. If you want to both relax and discover the best of this island on your tour to Vietnam, this stunning site is a better choice for you. In this very destination, you can not only taste the good dishes but also admire the beauty of the landscapes. Here are our recommendations for spending time on your vacation on this emerald island. Now, let’s dive into the top things to do in Phu Quoc!
Phu Quoc Island – a true paradise on Earth
General Information
Location of Phu Quoc Island
It is located in the extreme southwest of the country and dependent on the province of Kien Giang. Its area is 585 km² with a length of 50 km from north to south and a maximum width of 20 km. Besides, it has wooded hills culminating at an altitude of 603 m with Mount Chua.
On March 11, 2024, the travel magazine DestinAsian announced the list of the 10 most beautiful islands in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with Phu Quoc, Vietnam, ranking 6th. 2024 marks the 17th year of longstanding and reliable recognition of this annual award in the Asia-Pacific tourism industry.
Additionally, in 2024, the British magazine Tatler also included Phu Quoc in the list of the 8 beautiful beaches in the APAC region, along with Bali (Indonesia) and Krabi (Thailand).
Best time to visit Phu Quoc
You will feel there are two particular seasons on the island: the dry season and the wet season.
- Dry season: November to April
- Wet season: May to October
The best time to visit Phu Quoc is during the dry season from November to April. The sun is comfortably shining and the temperatures do not drop below 25 degrees! This is also the best time to go diving.
This period, which is also the high season, is perfect for a holiday in Phu Quoc, because the weather is very pleasant. The average temperature during the day is 30 degrees, there is less humidity and the sea is calm.
The wet season generally lasts from May to October. During this season, it will be rainy a lot, the temperatures are milder and ideal for people who fear the heat.
How to Get to Phu Quoc Island?
On a boat
From Rach Gia or Ha Tien, you can take a boat to Phu Quoc. It will take you about 2 and a half hours.
By plane
The Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) is located in the south of the island at the end of Long Beach, about 9 km from the city of Duong Dong. You can depart from several major cities in Vietnam such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Rach Gia and Can Tho but there is no regular international flight.
By motorbike & bicycle
You can get around the island by motorbike. If you are not comfortable on a motorbike, you may as well hire a bicycle. There are many agencies that provide this service. You can rent your vehicle in certain hotels and homestays. However, wandering around the island by this way will make you tired very soon; therefore, you had better choose another option for transportation.
By car and taxi
Getting around by car and taxi is certainly more expensive but more comfortable. The few taxi agencies in Phu Quoc are Vinasun Taxi, Phu Quoc Taxi, Phu Quoc Sasco Taxi, Mai Linh Phu Quoc Taxi, etc. If you want to rent a private car, you can contact a travel agency in Vietnam for the best arrangements and most reasonable price.
For car rental information: Vietnam Car Rental with Driver
Suggested Itineraries, Places to Sightsee & Best Food to Try
Things to Do in Phu Quoc In the Morning
Remains of Phu Quoc Prison
This place reminds us of a complicated period. For all those who want to know more about the Vietnam wars, don’t miss Phu Quoc prison. It was also known as the Coconut Prison during the Indochina War. The prison received more than 14,000 prisoners at that time. Nowadays, it reflects as evidence for how harsh the war had been and how terrible tortune that the Vietnamese soldiers had suffered was.
Admire the beauty of dawn at Phu Quoc
Sunrise in Phu Quoc
It’s always a good idea to start a great day by chasing the beauty of dawn. This island is very famous for its beautiful beaches with white sand and fresh air. You can walk in the dawn when it is shaded to welcome the weak rays of the sun that prepare to appear, trying to pierce the clouds on the horizon and creating magnificent pink lights. By waking up early and after doing some exercises, you will have a chance to witness this wonderful natural moment.
Sunbathe on the magnificent beaches
Phu Quoc Island attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. The island has splendid beaches such as Long Beach in the west, which is the largest beach with many hotels and resorts. Also, Bai Sao Beach to the east is the most popular beach here.
The fine white sand and turquoise water make a lot of people happy. Ong Lang, Bai Thom and Bai Dai are also very nice beaches that are definitely worth a visit. Most of the beaches on the island are not well marked on the maps. Therefore, do not hesitate to stroll and discover sumptuous paradise beaches on your tour to Southern Vietnam.
The unique and breath-taking beauty of Ong Lang Beach will make your speechless
1. Bai Dai Beach
This long sandy beach has often been the favorite beach for lovers of the sea and beaches. It is located in the north-west of Phu Quoc Island and is still in the wild. You can deviate from the beach, go off the beaten track and you will discover other isolated bathing places around.
2. Sao & Khem Beach
These two small white sand beaches are bordered by tropical trees which are in the south of the island. Sao Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. Meanwhile, Khem beach is rarely crowded with tourists as access is more complicated. These beaches are growing day by day; therefore, you can find many restaurants, bars and clubs here for an entertaining nightlife while on the island.
3. Thom Beach
This shore is very calm and sparsely populated that you can even hear the cicadas singing. Most of the beaches are hidden from forest views and are accessible by small dirt roads.
Things to Do in Phu Quoc In The Afternoon
Discover the life of the inhabitants in the fishing village of Ham Ninh
On the east coast of the island is Ham Ninh, a picturesque and peaceful fishing village. The locals here are always smiling and happy when seeing tourists. Also, there are a lot of nice souvenirs and pearls for you to choose and bring home as souvenirs from Vietnam.
See more: 17 Best Vietnam Souvenirs Ideas for Kids and Adults
Admire the beauty of sunset at the beaches of Phu Quoc
“Just hold hands and gaze at the sunset,
You feel that everything is perfect.
When two hands have met,
Evenings are truly magic!”
As a compulsory stop for those who stroll by the Phu Quoc seaside, Bai Truong Beach is the promise of unforgettable moments of a magical sunset. In the same vein, other places that have the rock coast are Dinh Cau, Ong Lang Beach and Cape Ganh Dau. All of them will provide you with the most gorgeous and romantic views of sunset on this beautiful island.
Visit Phu Quoc pepper production farm
The island owes its reputation also to the pepper plantations whose products are appreciated by travelers from all corners. After visiting the sumptuous farms that house the pepper kingdom, you will have enough to bring back as gifts for a sum between 250,000 – 450,000 VND / kg.
Things to Do in Phu Quoc In The Evening
Take part in the night market at Phu Quoc Island
This is a market not to be missed during your visit to Phu Quoc. While other night markets in different cities are only open on Saturday and Sunday night, this night market is held every evening during the week. This is a good opportunity to taste the right dishes and buy souvenirs for your family or friends. It is organized every evening in the market town of Duong Dong.
- Address: Vo Thi Sau Street, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc
- Opening hours: 7 AM – 11 PM
Gallivant stores for pearl cultivation
It is on Dai Beach that lovers of pearl oysters can satisfy their curiosity by stopping at the most famous farms on the island such as Phu Quoc Pearls and Ngoc Hien Pearls. A tour of the farm to understand the stages of production and then some of the most beautiful collections in the pearl world will indeed leave you with unforgettable memories.
Best Gastronomy to Experience in Phu Quoc
Herring salad
Herring salad, one of the must-try and most popular dishes in Phu Quoc
This dish covers an abundance of seafood and the unique preparation of dishes. The salad has become one of the most popular dishes on the island. Herring is very nutritious and provides essential nutrients to the body. This dish is also called by many customers the “special dish of Phu Quoc”, enriching the cuisine and heritage of the island.
Myrtle alcohol
This drink is a special Phu Quoc wine which has a very special flavor. Here, the myrtles are ripe in January while in northern Vietnam they are ripe in July.
Local people make mash with ripe berries and they are then incubated with yeast and sugar for 40-45 days. After fermentation, the wine turns pink. That’s when the drink tastes sweet, sour and spicy.
Phu Quoc tylopilus felleus
There are a lot of mussels growing on the island. The locals here often mix them with chicken soup, boiled fish, and fried barracuda. And they taste amazing! The mushrooms only grow after the first rains in the mangrove, that’s why they are very rare and delicious.
“Mat Cat” Tet Cake
In Phu Quoc, the Tet cake wrapped in Mat Cat leaves is a specialty with bean flavors. Browse the market of Phu Quoc Island, you will not be able to resist the various products imported from the land or the sea. But the most attractive of the products is the “Mat Cat” Tet cake. The Mat Cat is a plant and its leaves extend like palm leaves. They grow everywhere in the Ham Ninh mountain. This plant is also used to make conical hats.
To wrap this cake, the Mat Cat leaves are dried, washed and wiped with oil to make them softer. The baked cakes have the color of jade. It is the green beans that give this color to the cake. They are cooked with meat inside the cake.
Phu Quoc fish sauce
This is a must-try specialty that gets famous in many countries. Phu Quoc has long become the capital of fish sauce. It is made from small anchovies from this island, and the recipe dates back over 200 years. Here, about 6 million liters of fish sauce are produced per year. If you are looking for a perfect combination of smell, color, flavor and nutrition that fit almost every dish, this fish sauce is ideal for you.
Phu Quoc pepper
This is also one of the specialties of Phu Quoc Island, because the pepper has a spicy taste that is not found anywhere else. Locals harvest pepper all year long and by hand. There are 3 types of Phu Quoc pepper for you to choose: white, black and red.
Sea food
Street seafood at night on the island
Needless to say, seafood is what most visitors expect to taste while visiting this island and they are never disappointed as there is a wide variety of dishes made from fresh and delicious seafood. You will see that local dishes made from fresh ingredients are worth a try.
Obviously, Phu Quoc has an abundant supply of seafood. The excellent quality of seafood on Phu Quoc remains almost the same, no matter where you eat, that the surroundings are different and the restaurants are priced to the environment and decoration. You will also find your favorite Western food in some restaurants.
