Phu Quoc

Vietnam's largest island and a visa-free resort zone, with a sea-crossing cable car, Grand World and Sunset Town; direct flights and charters from China are fast growing in popularity.

Phu Quoc lies in the Gulf of Thailand at Vietnam's southernmost tip, only a dozen or so kilometres off the Cambodian coast. With an area of about 574 sq km, it is Vietnam's largest island and, in 2020, became Vietnam's first "island city." The whole island is a visa-free zone (foreign visitors may stay 30 days without a visa, and Chinese travellers flying directly to Phu Quoc don't need a Vietnamese visa). The island is about 50 km from north to south and divides into four main areas. Duong Dong town in the centre-west is the administrative and everyday hub, with a night market, Dinh Cau Temple and the hotel strip along Long Beach (Bai Truong). An Thoi town in the south is a fishing port and departure point for boat trips, and Sao Beach, the Hon Thom sea cable car, Sunset Town and the southern archipelago island-hopping tours are all in this area. In the north, Grand World, Vinpearl Safari, VinWonders and the Vinpearl resorts form a "Vietnamese Disney-style" resort complex. Phu Quoc National Park covers more than half the island across the north and centre. Climate: November to April is the dry season, with clear weather and calm seas, and is the best time to visit, with December–February the peak season. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings the rainy season, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and big waves on the west coast, but prices are lower, and Sao Beach on the east coast is relatively calm. Getting there and around: Phu Quoc International Airport is in the middle of the island, with direct and charter flights (3–4 hours) from Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Kunming, Hong Kong and elsewhere. There is no public transport on the island, so rely on Grab cars, taxis (Mai Linh), hotel transfers and rented motorbikes (about VND 150,000 per day). It takes about 20 minutes from the airport to Duong Dong and about 40 minutes to An Thoi in the south. Recommended stay: 4–5 days, with 1 day for the southern cable car and Sunset Town, 1 day for island-hopping and snorkeling, 1 day for Grand World and the safari in the north, and 1–2 days relaxing on the beach and at the night market. Good to know: sunset on the west coast is Phu Quoc's biggest draw, so leave your evenings free for Long Beach and Sunset Town; boat activities are often cancelled in the rainy season; seafood at the night market is priced by weight, so confirm the price before ordering; sun protection and mosquito repellent are essential.

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Itineraries