Phu Quoc Islands
5
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Five days on Phu Quoc and the surrounding islands gives you the complete extraordinary experience of Vietnam's finest tropical island, from the remarkable pepper and fish sauce production that made Phu Quoc famous to a full exploration of the extraordinary An Thoi Archipelago, the pristine northern beaches of the National Park and a day trip to the extraordinary Con Dao Islands, Vietnam's most remarkable and least visited island chain. This route covers the full Phu Quoc and island experience. Long Beach, the pepper and fish sauce trail, the An Thoi snorkelling archipelago, Sao and Khem beaches, the Phu Quoc National Park jungle trails, the Vinpearl Safari, the extraordinary northern beaches at Bai Thom and Cua Can and the remarkable cable car to the An Thoi Islands with the finest sea view in southern Vietnam.
Best Time To Visit
November to April
Getting There
Fly to Phu Quoc (PQC), 1 hour from HCMC
Getting Around
Rental motorbike or car across the island
Budget Per Day
Approx 55 to 130 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy
DAY 1
PHU QUOC ARRIVAL
MORNING
PHU QUOC EXPLORATION AND PEPPER PLANTATION
Phu Quoc is famous throughout Vietnam for two extraordinary products: pepper and fish sauce, both produced on the island using traditional methods. The Phu Quoc pepper plantations in the island interior have the finest black pepper in Vietnam, their extraordinary vines climbing poles in the red laterite soil giving a remarkable agricultural landscape. The Khai Hoan pepper farm and distillery is the finest visitor experience and the tasting of fresh green and dried red peppers is extraordinary. Entry approx 100,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
PHU QUOC FISH SAUCE FACTORY
The Phu Quoc fish sauce is the finest in Vietnam, an extraordinary product made from anchovies and sea salt fermented for 12 to 15 months in giant wooden barrels. The Khai Hoan Fish Sauce Factory is the finest visitor experience, its remarkable rows of 30,000-litre barrels and the extraordinary production process giving the finest insight into this remarkable culinary tradition. The tasting of different grades of fish sauce is remarkable. Entry free. Transfer: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
LONG BEACH AND THE EXTRAORDINARY PHU QUOC SUNSET
Long Beach on Phu Quoc's western coast is one of the finest beach sunsets in Vietnam, the extraordinary combination of the white sand, the warm Gulf of Thailand water and the sun setting directly over the Cambodian coastline giving the finest evening spectacle on the island. The sunset bar culture of Long Beach, with the remarkable beach chairs, cold Tiger beer and fresh seafood, is the finest tropical beach evening in southern Vietnam.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Phu Quoc Prison Museum documents the remarkable history of the island's use as a prisoner of war camp by the South Vietnamese and American forces, where remarkable Viet Cong prisoners were held in extraordinary conditions. The wax figure exhibits and the tiger cage replicas are the most powerful in southern Vietnam. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel on Phu Quoc Vietnamese breakfast with the tropical beach view. | Lunch: Pepper farm restaurant Local Phu Quoc food using the extraordinary island pepper. Fresh fish and pepper crab. | Dinner: Long Beach sunset bar Fresh seafood and cold beer as the extraordinary Gulf of Thailand sunset develops.
DAY 2
AN THOI ISLANDS
MORNING
AN THOI ARCHIPELAGO FULL DAY SNORKEL
The full day An Thoi Archipelago boat trip visits the finest snorkel sites in Vietnam, multiple stops at the extraordinary coral reefs surrounding the 18 southern islands with the finest water clarity and coral diversity in the Gulf of Thailand. The remarkable coral gardens of Hon Dam and Hon Roi are the finest in the archipelago, with extraordinary reef fish diversity, sea turtles and the remarkable variety of hard and soft corals. Full day tour from approx 500,000 VND. Transfer: On boat
MIDDAY
KHEM BEACH AND THE JW MARRIOTT COVE
Khem Beach on the southern tip of Phu Quoc is the finest swimming beach on the island, its extraordinary shallow warm water and the remarkable fine white sand giving the finest afternoon beach experience in Vietnam. The public section of Khem Beach is freely accessible. The view over the An Thoi Archipelago from the beach with the islands in the distance is extraordinary. Transfer: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
PHU QUOC CABLE CAR, THE LONGEST SEA CABLE CAR IN THE WORLD
The Phu Quoc cable car from the An Thoi mainland terminal to the Hon Thom Island is the longest cable car over water in the world at 7.9km, giving extraordinary views over the An Thoi Archipelago, the southern Phu Quoc coast and the Gulf of Thailand. The Hon Thom Nature Park on the arrival island has the finest beach and waterpark in the Phu Quoc area. Cable car return approx 400,000 VND.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary dive sites of the An Thoi Archipelago including the remarkable Rainbow Reef and the Shark Point are accessible to certified scuba divers through the Phu Quoc dive centres. The Rainbow Reef has the finest biodiversity in the Gulf of Thailand and is one of the finest dive sites in southern Vietnam.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel on Phu Quoc Early breakfast before the boat departure. | Lunch: On the An Thoi boat Grilled fish and rice on board during the snorkel trip. | Dinner: Hon Thom cable car area Seafood restaurant with the extraordinary archipelago view.
DAY 3
NORTH PHU QUOC
MORNING
PHU QUOC NATIONAL PARK NORTHERN SECTION
The northern section of the Phu Quoc National Park above the island centre contains the most pristine tropical forest in Vietnam, old-growth trees of extraordinary size, the remarkable gibbons audible at dawn and the most diverse bird community on the island. The Ganh Dau cape at the northern tip gives the finest view over the Cambodia coastline visible just 15km across the Gulf of Thailand. The quiet north of the island has the finest natural atmosphere on Phu Quoc. Transfer: 30 min drive east
MIDDAY
BAI THOM BEACH, THE FINEST HIDDEN BEACH ON PHU QUOC
Bai Thom beach on the northeastern coast of Phu Quoc is the finest hidden beach on the island, a long stretch of white sand backed by the national park forest with remarkable fishing village atmosphere and almost no resort development. The extraordinary combination of pristine forest, white sand and the Gulf of Thailand water gives the finest natural beach experience on the island. The fishing boats pulled up on the beach in the morning are extraordinary. Transfer: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
CUA CAN RIVER AND MANGROVES
The Cua Can River in the north of Phu Quoc flows through extraordinary mangrove forest before reaching the sea in a remarkable estuary beach. The kayak trip up the river through the mangroves is the finest nature experience in northern Phu Quoc, the extraordinary birdlife of the mangrove ecosystem including kingfishers, egrets and the remarkable variety of herons giving the finest bird watching on the island. Kayak hire approx 150,000 VND.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Suoi Tranh waterfall in the heart of Phu Quoc National Park is the finest waterfall on the island, a 4-metre cascade through extraordinary boulder formations in the forest accessible by a 15-minute walk from the road. Entry approx 5,000 VND. Swimming in the natural pool below is extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel on Phu Quoc Breakfast before the northern park drive. Pack water and sun protection. | Lunch: Bai Thom fishing village Fresh grilled fish directly from the fishing boats on the extraordinary beach. | Dinner: Duong Dong waterfront Phu Quoc pepper seafood and cold local beer with the waterfront view.
DAY 4
SAFARI AND MARKET
MORNING
PHU QUOC NATIONAL PARK JUNGLE TREK
The Phu Quoc National Park covers 37,100 hectares of extraordinary primary tropical forest in the northern half of the island, the most intact forest ecosystem in southern Vietnam. The park trails give access to remarkable old-growth forest with extraordinary biodiversity including gibbons, macaques, hornbills and the remarkable variety of endemic plant species. The Suoi Da Ban stream in the park is the finest natural swimming pool in northern Phu Quoc. Entry approx 30,000 VND. Transfer: 30 min drive south
MIDDAY
VINPEARL SAFARI PHU QUOC
The Vinpearl Safari on Phu Quoc is the finest open-plan wildlife park in Vietnam, its extraordinary collection of Asian wildlife including tigers, elephants, rhinos, giraffes and the remarkable collection of Southeast Asian species in large natural enclosures. The safari tram tour gives the finest close encounter with Asian wildlife available in southern Vietnam. Entry approx 800,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
DINH CAU NIGHT MARKET AND DEPARTURE
The Dinh Cau Night Market on the Duong Dong waterfront is the finest food market in Phu Quoc, its extraordinary seafood stalls offering fresh grilled lobster, prawns, squid and fish at the remarkable prices of the island's extraordinary fishing economy. The market at the base of the extraordinary Dinh Cau Rock temple gives the finest farewell meal on the island before the flight back to the mainland.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Phu Quoc fish sauce tasting at the night market gives the finest direct comparison of different grades of the island's most remarkable product. The 40-degree fish sauce is the most extraordinary and the Phu Quoc premium grade is the finest condiment in Vietnamese cuisine. Buy a bottle to take home.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel on Phu Quoc Tropical breakfast with fresh island fruit before the jungle trek. | Lunch: Park cafe or nearby Simple Vietnamese food after the morning forest trek. | Dinner: Dinh Cau Night Market Grilled lobster, pepper crab and fresh seafood at the finest prices in Vietnam.
DAY 5
FINAL PHU QUOC DAY
MORNING
SAO BEACH FINAL MORNING
The final morning at Sao Beach on Phu Quoc's southeast coast gives the finest version of Vietnam's most beautiful beach in the early morning before the boats arrive. The extraordinary white sand, the warm turquoise Gulf of Thailand water and the view over the An Thoi Archipelago with the morning light are the finest farewell to the island. The beach cafe breakfast at Sao Beach is the finest tropical morning meal in southern Vietnam. Transfer: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
DUONG DONG MARKET AND FINAL ISLAND EXPLORATION
The Duong Dong central market is the finest local market on Phu Quoc, its extraordinary array of fresh island produce including locally grown pepper in all stages of production, the finest fresh seafood from the morning catch, tropical fruit and the remarkable handmade Phu Quoc fish sauce products. The market gives the finest farewell experience to the island's remarkable food culture. Transfer: 30 min to airport
AFTERNOON
PHU QUOC DEPARTURE
The Phu Quoc International Airport is 20 minutes from Duong Dong town. Flights to HCMC take 1 hour and to Hanoi 1.5 hours with frequent daily connections. The extraordinary experience of five days on Vietnam's finest island, combining remarkable snorkelling, pristine jungle, extraordinary beaches and the finest tropical food in Vietnam, makes Phu Quoc one of the finest island destinations in Southeast Asia.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Hon Mot Island in the An Thoi Archipelago has the finest and most undeveloped beach in the entire Phu Quoc area, a small island with remarkable white sand on all sides and the finest coral directly from shore. Accessible by chartered boat from An Thoi port. An extraordinary final day option.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Sao Beach cafe Tropical fruit, fresh coconut and Vietnamese coffee on the extraordinary beach. | Lunch: Duong Dong market stall Final Phu Quoc pepper crab and fresh island seafood at the market. | Dinner: Airport or HCMC Post-flight dinner in HCMC or at the departure airport.
Where To Stay
Long Beach area JW Marriott or Salinda Resort. Approx 80 to 250 USD per night. Mid-range option Mango Bay or La Veranda. Approx 60 to 120 USD per night. Budget option Guesthouses near Duong Dong from approx 20 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Phu Quoc's finest season is November to April when the Gulf of Thailand is calm and the remarkable snorkelling visibility at the An Thoi Archipelago is at its extraordinary best.
2. The An Thoi Archipelago full day snorkelling trip visits the finest coral reefs in Vietnam. Book the trip that visits the most sites and snorkels at least 3 different reefs.
3. Sao Beach is the most beautiful beach in Vietnam and finest before 10am. The extraordinary white sand and turquoise water in the morning light are the finest beach scene in the country.
4. The Phu Quoc cable car over the sea to Hon Thom Island is the longest in the world and gives extraordinary views over the An Thoi Archipelago. Worth doing at sunset.
5. Phu Quoc pepper is the finest in Vietnam and among the finest in the world. Buy whole peppercorns and the extraordinary green pepper in brine directly from the Khai Hoan farm.
6. The Dinh Cau Night Market seafood prices are the finest in southern Vietnam. Grilled lobster at 300,000 VND, whole fish at 100,000 VND and pepper crab at 200,000 VND are extraordinary value.
Total Budget
55 to 130 USD/day