Despite being voted one of the most beautiful islands in South East Asia, I originally skipped Phu Quoc during my 3-week trip to Vietnam as I wasn’t interested in beach activities during that trip. I also wasn’t too keen on seeing the main attractions in Phu Quoc, meaning the amusement parks and fake European towns. But I got the chance to visit for 4 days during a work trip, and I had a fun time discovering the variety of activities on Vietnam’s tropical island.
You can experience so many different things in Phu Quoc: beach days and water adventures, trekking through the national park, sampling street food at night markets in Duong Dong, discovering Vietnamese culture in small villages, and exploring made-up towns like Grand World with fake European architecture. However, there are also places in Phu Quoc that I would avoid, mostly for ethical reasons.
Here are the best things to do in Phu Quoc for a 4-day trip, along with insider tips and activities I avoided and why.
Fun facts and insider tips about Phu Quoc
- Phu Quoc is a tropical Vietnamese island with 150km (93 miles) of coastline.
- It’s located closer to Cambodia than to Vietnam.
- It’s pronounced “foo kwok”.
- Phu Quoc’s nickname is Emerald Island, because of its colourful natural landscapes (blue water and green forests)
- Phu Quoc is an archipelago. There’s the main island, and about 22 small islets.
- Phu Quoc is famous for its fish sauce, black pepper, and pearl cultivation.
- The dry summer season in Phu Quoc is between November and April, and the rainy winter is between May and October.
- It takes about 1.5 hours to get from one side of the island to another.
- There’s an international airport in Phu Quoc, so you can fly directly there. You can also fly from mainland Vietnam or take the ferry from Ha Tien in Vietnam’s An Giang Province.
- Phu Quoc has its own visa requirements, which are generally easier than those of mainland Vietnam. For instance, if you’re flying directly to Phu Quoc from other countries, you can get a 30-day visa-free entry. This makes Phu Quoc a highly visited destination in Vietnam.
- You can use Grab (a ride-hailing app that works like Uber and Bolt) to get around in Phu Quoc.
- For flexibility, rent a motorbike. Though I personally don’t recommend driving in Vietnam, especially in cities like Hanoi, Saigon, or Hoi An, there are remote areas in Phu Quoc with very low traffic.
- There’s a bit of a trash problem in Phu Quoc, due to waste management issues and the northeast winds bringing trash to the island, particularly in October and November. Hotels clean up and maintain the beaches around them.
- At Starfish Beach, you’ll find lots of starfish; however, most have been transported there for tourists and Instagram photo ops. Please do not touch or remove them, even if just for a quick photo, as it’s harmful to them and most will likely die.
The best things to do in Phu Quoc
1. Go island hopping and relax on Phu Quoc’s beaches
One of the most popular things to do in Phu Quoc is to explore its beaches and go snorkelling. It is a tropical island after all. There are various types of beaches in Phu Quoc; some are what one pictures when thinking of tropical lagoons, meaning white soft sand and flat turquoise water surrounded by coral reefs, like Khem Beach and Sao Beach, while others are more wild and remote. We stayed in a beautiful hotel on Long Beach right on the Gulf of Thailand, and the beach was beautiful.
Eco tip: gentle reminder to not interfere with, touch, or chase marine life. Avoid touching or removing starfish from the sea, as they will die.
2. Enjoy a nature day in Phú Quốc National Park
With a unique and abundant ecosystem, Phu Quoc National Park is ideal for nature lovers and adventurers. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2010, it’s located in the northeast of Phu Quoc Island and accounts for 70% of the island’s land area. An evergreen forest makes up the majority of the park, and you can find endangered species like the crab-eating macaque and small-clawed otter.
Among the activities you can enjoy at Phu Quoc National Park are hiking and trekking through scenic trails, wildlife watching, and swimming in streams next to waterfalls.
Insider tip: make sure to bring natural sunscreen and insect repellent.
3. Feel the eeriness at the fake European towns in Phu Quoc
A somewhat unique but slightly bizarre activity in Phu Quoc is strolling through fake European towns. These attractions were mostly intended for local tourists rather than foreign tourists, providing a bit of variety for Vietnamese people who want to see more of the world.
The two most popular towns are Sunset Town, a resort and tourist area, and Grand World, which tends to be emptier than Sunset Town and more of a ghost town.
Insider tip: It’s best to visit at night for a livelier experience. During the day, these towns are like ghost towns because you won’t find locals exploring during the tropical daytime heat. You might see the occasional confused tourist, but that’s about it, hence the reason they’re often called ghost towns. At night, however, these places (more so Sunset Town) become lively with people venturing out to see the light shows and enjoy some music and food.
4. Enjoy theme parks and rides at amusement parks
The two most popular amusement parks in Phu Quoc are Sunworld and Vinwonders, both of which are a hit among tourists with children. Vinwonders is one of the largest theme parks in Vietnam, where you will find a castle resembling the one at Disneyland, a waterpark, and rollercoasters. Sunworld is a waterpark, the Hon Thom cable car, and provides access to the beach.
Insider tip: plan to spend a whole day at Vinwonders, and expect to be exhausted at the end of the day. Sunworld requires half a day, though you can of course stay longer.
Note: Vinwonders is part of Vinpearl, the parent brand for resorts, hotels, golf, etc., while Vinwonders is the theme park. Then there’s Vinpearl Safari, also part of Vinpearl. It’s not a true safari in the wild, like in Kruger, South Africa (or many other African countries), but more like a zoo or even a circus, because the animals are forced to perform for our entertainment. It doesn’t seem ethical, and I would avoid visiting.
5. Taste Vietnamese food at night markets
Night markets in Phu Quoc are lively and fun, allowing you to sample various types of Vietnamese street food, fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and also shop for souvenirs. The most popular night market is Dinh Cau Night Market in Duong Dong, although it’s not the only one. Other night markets include Bach Dang Night Market and Ganh Dau Night Market.
Insider tip: the best time to visit night markets is between 7-9 PM for a livelier atmosphere. If you’d rather skip the crowds, go early, around 5 PM, when they open. And if you’re not sure what food to try, consider a guided food tour with a local, or check out our list of top Vietnamese dishes to sample/
6. Explore Vietnamese culture
One of the best things to do in Phu Quoc is to discover Vietnamese culture by visiting Buddhist temples and small villages. There are many traditional villages to explore to get a glimpse of Vietnamese traditions and culture. The villages are:
- Ham Ninh, famous for its wooden bridge, pearl cultivation, beaches, and seafood market
- Rach Vem, known for its starfish, beaches, and fresh seafood
- Cua Can, a peaceful riverside village
- Rach Tram, the most remote village, is by the beach and near an old forest
- Hon Thom, for unique seafood, coral reefs, and night squid fishing
- Ganh Dau, quiet and untouched by tourists
A Phu Quoc itinerary: spend 4 days in Phu Quoc
The best Phu Quoc itinerary includes a mix of cultural activities (including visits to traditional villages), beaches and snorkelling, and night markets.
How to spend 4 days in Phu Quoc
- Day 1 in Phu Quoc: beach day
- Explore beaches like Khem Beach and Sao Beach, or go island hopping and snorkelling in Phu Quoc.
- Day 2 in Phu Quoc: cultural day
- Take a day trip to visit traditional villages, learn about Phu Quoc’s pearl cultivation economy and black pepper farms.
- Explore the night markets in the evening.
- Day 3 in Phu Quoc: theme parks or national park
- Spend a day at a theme park (Vinwonders) or a water park (Sunworld), and finish off with some evening fun at Sunset Town or Grand World.
- Day 4 in Phu Quoc: national park
- Explore the national park. If you’re not keen to wander alone, book a group activity to explore Phu Quoc National Park.
What I skipped in Phu Quoc and why
- Vinpearl resorts and parks
- Vinpearl is the parent company which emcompasses Vinwonders (the theme parks) and Vinpearl Safari. The latter is mostly a zoo where you can interact with animals, and animals put on a show for our entertainment. It’s incredibly unethical and feels like a circus where animals are harshly trained to perform for our entertainment.
- Starfish beach
- Most starfish are placed there by locals to attract tourists, which is already harmful to the starfish, as they shouldn’t be touched or taken out of the water. Parts of the beach are quite dirty and full of trash, but the worst bit is the behaviour of tourists taking the starfish out for photos and inevitably harming them or even leaving them to die.
- Sunset Town and Grand World
- These are the fake European towns that are built for tourism. I’ve seen similar ghost towns in Ha Long Bay, and I wasn’t particularly interested in visiting unauthentic places like that again.
FAQs
- Is Phu Quoc worth visiting?
While I did enjoy my 4-day trip to Phu Quoc, my honest opinion is that it isn’t worth visiting unless you’re already in the area and really want a beach holiday. While Phu Quoc has a few beautiful beaches and is great for snorkelling (like many tropical islands), the fake European ghost towns and the lack of ethics around animal welfare (e.g. amusement parks where animals are forced to perform for our entertainment, starfish exploited for tourist photos) are the reasons I don’t think it’s worth visiting.
- Is Phu Quoc expensive?
Phu Quoc is one of the most affordable islands to visit in Southeast Asia, though you can also find luxury and high-end accommodation and activities. It really depends on where you stay, where you eat, and what activities you participate in.
- How many days should you spend in Phu Quoc?
The ideal number of days for Phu Quoc is about 4 days, though around 5-6 days is best if you want to explore leisurely.
