The pearl island of Phu Quoc - where nature & paradise come together!

Turquoise seas, spectacular sunsets and lush rainforest await you at Asia’s emerging tropical island destination. This tear-shaped island provides an unbeatable combination of perfect silky soft white sand beaches, superb hospitality and great value accommodation. 

Fringed with white-sand beaches and with large tracts still cloaked in dense, tropical jungle, Phu Quoc rapidly morphed from a sleepy island backwater to a must-visit beach escape for Western expats and sun-seeking tourists. Plan your visit to Phu Quoc by exploring our comprehensive island travel guide and discover the beauty of Vietnam’s ‘pearl’ island. 

Phu Quoc is a very mountainous and densely forested Island, approx. 600 sq kms situated in the Gulf of Thailand, 45km west of Ha Tien on the Vietnamese mainland and 5km south of the coast of Cambodia. Shaped like a ‘tear’, it is approx. 48km in length south to north at its longest point and 19km at its widest point in the north. Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island – about the same size as Singapore. 

Although, this tear-shaped island considered as a part of the Mekong Delta but it is not really located in the heart of the Mekong Delta and also it doesn’t share the same extraordinary ability as the Mekong Delta to produce rice or fruit, this is mainly due to the lack of soil quality and the inaccessible terrain on the Island. The most valuable crop is black pepper with high quality that is exported all over the world, but the islanders here have traditionally earned their living from the sea. Phu Quoc is also famed across Vietnam for its production of high-quality fish sauce (nuoc mam).

This supernatural island has something for everyone -- really! Ringed by 28 smaller islands, more than a dozen bays and beaches, some yellow sand, others brilliant strips of white, with an archipelago of islets off its south coast, a jungle-covered interior and a handful of fishing villages, there is enough to do for a longer stay than you may be planning.

With a growing list of accommodation options – from affordable backpacker guesthouses through to fancy beach resorts and hotels, the island district also has Vietnam’s 5th international airport, an international standard (WHO recognized) hospital and an international cruise ship port. Designated as a ‘special economic zone’, tourist can stay for up to 30 days visa free.

Phu Quoc travel activities are abundant ranging from land, ocean and aerial tours to hiking, fishing, bird watching, trekking, snorkeling, dive the reefs, kayak in the bays, eat up the back-road miles on a motorbike, or just lounge on the beach, indulge in a massage and dine on fresh seafood.

On Phu Quoc Island you will find a large amusement park, safari zoo and world class golf courses. Shopping is plentiful and there are limitless options to enjoy the finest cuisines from around Vietnam and the world. Visit Vietnam’s most beautiful beach, tours historic prisons, discover sacred temple, trek through Nation Park, or simple enjoy the ocean sunset. With its beauty and tranquility, Phu Quoc is an undeniably one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam if not the world.

Read more: Things you must do whilst on Phu Quoc Island

The best time to visit Phu Quoc from November to March when the temperature hovers around 30 degrees celsius with the blue sky and the sea is calm – indeed, this is peak season. But it can get pretty damn hot around April to June, when temperatures rise and it still stays relatively dry. Phu Quoc’s rainy season darkens skies during July to October, when the monsoon drenches the island, the sea gets rough and a lot of diving stops.

Most of the action happens around Dong Duong town on the central western coast. Most of the tourist infrastructure is located on Bai Truong or Long Beach. The main strip is Tran Hung Dao and this is where you will find the bulk of tour operators, ATMs and hotels. Pretty much every hotel and resort have WiFi on premises. 

Dong Duong has a hospital but you will need a translator to help you out. We suggest flying out to Ho Chi Minh City where better medical facilities are available if you need anything serious looked at. 

As you already may know, flying or taking a ferry is only way to travel to Phu Quoc. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jetstar that are airlines that currently fly to the island and there are direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Can Tho, Rach Gia, Singapore and Siem Reap (Cambodia) with more routes to be added shortly. Tourist can also take a ferry from Vietnamese port of Ha Tien or Rach Gia directly to island as well.

If you traveling into Vietnam from Cambodia by land through the Prek Chak border and want to visit Phu Quoc, head over to the town of Ha Tien, which is only a few kilometers away. The ferries to Phu Quoc are located across the river that divides the town into 2 parts. Please take note that you will need a valid Vietnam visa in order to enter Vietnam if you plan on traveling by land.

Traveling around the island can be done by either bicycle, motorbike, car, jeep or by taking a taxi. If you stay in the Long Beach area, you can easily visit the beach, discover great local & international restaurants and explore few of major landmarks all by foot. 

Motorbike rental is readily available and prices seem to be arbitrary depending on where you go. Expect to be charged anywhere from 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND per day. Make sure to note any dings or scrapes on the bike – or take some photos -- as some unscrupulous rental shops will try to charge you for pre-existing damage.

Well, there is no excuse for not getting out there and seeing the best that Phu Quoc has to offer, although you might find it hard to drag yourself away from incredibly friendly & welcoming islanders, the weather’s fantastic (wet season downpours aside), the views are stunning, the local food and the beautiful pristine beaches dotted around the coast,…

Read more: Pearl farming on Phu Quoc Island