5 Days in Phú Quốc: Beaches, Coral Reefs, and Vietnam’s Longest Over-Sea Cable Car
Phú Quốc, in Kiên Giang Province, floats in the Gulf of Thailand with powdery beaches, fish-sauce heritage, and warm waters ideal for snorkeling. Once a quiet fishing outpost, the island has grown into Vietnam’s favorite beach break while keeping its village rhythms in Ham Ninh and Duong Dong.
Beyond brilliant bays like Sao and Khem, Phú Quốc offers coral gardens around the An Thới Archipelago, the record-breaking Hon Thom cable car, and a northern playground of Vinpearl Safari, VinWonders theme park, and the lakeside show at Grand World. Seafood is the daily poetry here—grilled sea urchin, scallops with scallion oil, and “bún quậy,” a stir-and-eat noodle bowl born on the island.
Practical notes: Dry season (November–April) brings calm seas and dreamy visibility; rainy months (May–October) mean lusher jungles and possible squalls. Getting around is easy by Grab taxis or scooter. Bring cash for markets, reef-safe sunscreen for snorkeling, and never lift starfish from the water at Rạch Vẹm.
Phú Quốc
Picture an island where mornings smell like pepper farms and fish sauce, afternoons glow turquoise along Sao Beach, and sunsets burn gold at Dinh Cậu Rock. Duong Dong is your friendly hub—night market snacks, cafés, and a temple-topped cape for sunset.
- Top sights: Sao Beach, Khem Beach, Hon Thom cable car, An Thới islands, Dinh Cậu Rock & Night Market, Ham Ninh fishing village, Suối Tranh waterfall, Rạch Vẹm (starfish), Vinpearl Safari, VinWonders, Grand World night show.
- Great bites: Bún Quậy Kiến Xây (stirred noodle), Xin Chào Seafood (seaview catch), Ra Khơi Seafood (classic platters), The Pepper Tree (island fine dining), OCSEN Beach Bar & Club (beanbags at sunset), Chuồn Chuồn Bistro & Skybar (panoramic cocktails).
- Fun facts: Phú Quốc produces Vietnam’s most prized nước mắm (fish sauce). The Hon Thom cable car once held the Guinness record for longest non-stop three-rope cable car over the sea.
Where to stay (mid-range budget): Base yourself on Long Beach (Bãi Trường) for easy dining and sunsets; families love Ong Lang’s gentler shore; couples eye Khem Beach or the south near An Thới for island-hopping. Browse stays on VRBO or Hotels.com—expect ~$35–$120/night for comfortable rooms or apartments close to the beach.
Getting there & around: Fly into Phú Quốc (PQC). Typical flight times: Ho Chi Minh City (≈1 hr, ~$25–80 one-way), Hanoi (≈2 hr 10 min, ~$50–120). Search fares on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com (flights). Taxis/Grab from PQC: 10–15 min to Long Beach ($6–10), 25–35 min to An Thới ($12–18), 40–50 min to Grand World ($18–24). Scooter rental runs ~$6–10/day; ride defensively and helmet up.
Day 1: Arrival, Duong Dong Sunset, and the Night Market
Afternoon: Land at PQC and check in near Long Beach. Shake off travel with a swim, then a Vietnamese iced coffee at Cộng Cà Phê along Trần Hưng Đạo. Stroll to Dinh Cậu Rock Temple for a postcard sunset over fishing boats.
Evening: Dinner at Xin Chào Seafood—order grilled scallops with scallion oil and tamarind crab—or try Ra Khơi Seafood for steaming clams and hotpots. Wander Phú Quốc Night Market for rolled ice cream, coconut candy, and souvenirs; pick up island pepper or sim wine to take home.
Night: Grab a beach beanbag at OCSEN Beach Bar & Club for cocktails and live music. Prefer a view? Chuồn Chuồn Bistro & Skybar sits on a hill with the town’s lights sparkling below.
Day 2: An Thới Archipelago Snorkeling + Hon Thom Cable Car
Morning: Fuel up with bún quậy (island “stirred noodle”) at Bún Quậy Kiến Xây—mix your own dipping sauce with lime, chili, and MSG-free stock. Head south to An Thới. Ride the Hon Thom cable car over emerald islets to Sun World Nature Park; the sea-meets-sky panorama is a highlight. Tickets are commonly ~500,000–650,000 VND.
Afternoon: Join a snorkeling boat to Mây Rút Trong, Mây Rút Ngoài, and/or Gầm Ghì for clear shallows and coral bommies. Expect group trips ~$30–50 with lunch; private boats ~$150–250 for small groups. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and avoid standing on coral.
Evening: Back on the main island, dine at The Pepper Tree for refined Vietnamese (banana blossom salad, Phú Quốc pepper steak) or keep it casual at The Fish Kitchen & Bar for modern Vietnamese plates. Nightcap on Long Beach; the sound of the surf does the rest.
Day 3: North Island—Safari, Theme Park, and Grand World
Morning: Head north to Vinpearl Safari, Vietnam’s largest semi-wildlife park, for a short “safari bus” through giraffes, rhinos, and more. It’s kid-pleasing and shady before noon. Tickets ~650,000–750,000 VND.
Afternoon: Choose your adventure: thrill rides and water coasters at VinWonders (combo tickets with Safari often ~1.2–1.4M VND), or a beach break at Ông Lãng’s mellow shore. Coffee break with coconut or cà phê sữa đá.
Evening: Explore Grand World’s canals, lantern lanes, and the lakeside “Tinh Hoa Việt Nam” night show (schedule varies; arrive early). Dinner options span Vietnamese barbecue to island hotpots; look for a Bún Quậy Kiến Xây branch here if you missed it in town. Sip a late cocktail at the Bittersweet Hidden Bar back in Duong Dong—bartenders tailor drinks to your taste.
Day 4: Ham Ninh Traditions, Pepper & Pearl, and Sao/Khem Beaches
Morning: Drive to Ham Ninh fishing village for a rustic pier walk and plates of sweet blue crab with salt-lime dip at local stilt restaurants. Continue to a pepper farm (learn why Phú Quốc pepper is prized), a pearl farm showroom, and the Khải Hoàn fish sauce house to see oak-barrel aging.
Afternoon: Beach-hop to Sao Beach for its floury white sand and turquoise shallows; try a kayak if seas are calm. Nearby Khem Beach curves in a postcard-perfect crescent with soft sand and swimming friendly waters.
Evening: Back in town, seek a simple, superb bowl of bánh canh ghẹ (crab noodle soup) at a local spot, then catch golden hour at Chuồn Chuồn. For dinner, book The Pepper Tree if you haven’t yet, or go seafood-grill style on Long Beach.
Day 5: Waterfalls, Starfish (Seasonal), and Departure
Morning: If it’s rainy season, walk to Suối Tranh waterfall (best flow May–Oct). In dry season, venture to Rạch Vẹm’s “Starfish Beach” when seas are calm—observe starfish gently, in the water only. Prefer to unwind? Try a mud bath and massage at a local spa or a final swim on Long Beach.
Afternoon: Last sips of Vietnamese coffee, pick up pepper/fish-sauce gifts, and transfer to the airport for your flight. Typical times: PQC–SGN ≈ 1 hr; PQC–HAN ≈ 2 hr 10 min. Check fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
Evening: If you connect via Ho Chi Minh City and have time, consider an optional tour before your onward flight (see below).
Optional add-ons in Ho Chi Minh City (before/after Phú Quốc)
Routing through Saigon? These well-reviewed activities fit neatly into a layover window and pair beautifully with an island trip.
Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour & Sightseeing By Motorbike — Taste 7–12 local dishes and zip through lively districts on the back of a motorbike with expert riders.
Premium Cu Chi Tunnels Tour with Local Expert by SpeedBoat — Beat road traffic by speedboat along the Saigon River and explore the historic tunnel network with a knowledgeable guide.
Ho Chi Minh City Private Half-Day Tour by U.S Army Jeep — A breezy open-top circuit of landmarks with time-efficient storytelling, perfect for families and couples.
Insider tips for this itinerary (mid-range budget ~53/100):
- Time the An Thới boat trip for calm mornings; winds tend to pick up after lunch.
- Pack light reef shoes for boat ladders and rocky entries near coral.
- Rạch Vẹm starfish appear most reliably in the dry season; always keep them submerged.
- Combo tickets (Safari + VinWonders) save money; check current day-of pricing at the gate.
- Night Market is cash-first; many stalls accept QR payments, but small bills speed things up.
With soft-sand beaches, island cuisine, and easy day trips by cable car or boat, Phú Quốc makes five days feel full yet unhurried. You’ll leave with sun-kissed shoulders, a pepper-fresh pantry, and a plan to return for the islands you missed this time.