Phu Quoc Itinerary: How to Spend 7 Days on Vietnam’s Largest Island

Phu Quoc is Vietnam‘s largest island, yet many visitors to this incredible Southeast Asian country don’t know about it. Off the country’s southern coast, right by Cambodia, it’s a superb tropical escape. Like Phuket, Bali, or Koh Samui, it offers an exciting mix of things to do on a week-long holiday. White-sand beaches, vibrant night markets, luxurious megaresorts, snorkeling excursions, jungle treks, thrilling amusement parks, and the world’s longest cable car await.

While Phu Quoc feels overly commercialized at times, with gargantuan town-copies of Venice and Amalfi that may seem bizarre and out of place, the island is large and diverse enough to offer something for every kind of traveler. What you can’t deny is that Phu Quoc has radiant vacation energy. Also, it’s Vietnam’s only visa-free zone, where visitors from all countries can stay for up to 30 days.

I love coming to this island, and here’s my guide to spending a perfect week on Phu Quoc. 

Phu Quoc has a tropical monsoon climate. This means there are two distinct seasons. The dry period is from November to April. That’s when it’s best to travel to the island for sunny weather and calm seas. Just keep in mind that December, January, and February are peak tourist season, when accommodation prices soar, beaches get packed, and you will have some queues at the top attractions. While Phu Quoc is relatively unknown globally, it’s among the most popular destinations for the Vietnamese from the mainland. 

Shoulder season (November, March and April) is a superb time to visit the island. Prices are lower than during the winter months, and the crowds aren’t there. April is the hottest month of the year. The shoulder season is perfect for beachgoing as the weather is mostly dry and sunny.  

The rainy season in Phu Quoc is from May to October, and you can expect frequent, often intense downpours. The storms bring rough seas, which can affect boat excursions and cable car operations. While it’s a very tranquil time to visit—the prices are at their lowest—I’d discourage you from coming in the rainy season. Downpours turn white-sand beaches into muddy fields with murky waters, and you won’t be able to swim and snorkel. That’s a serious downside. 

Ong Lang is my favorite part of Phu Quoc. It’s a charming beach town (or more accurately, a beach village) between the island’s capital, Duong Dong, and the Grand World area. This area will ensure you have a positive first impression of Phu Quoc. Book a beachside eco-resort and stay among the leaning coconut trees and mango orchards. Ong Lang Beach, with its golden sand, is also among the island’s best. Violet sunsets here are one of the reasons why I love Phu Quoc so much. You will also find many rustic restaurants and specialty coffee shops around Ong Lang. It just feels nice being here, a true hassle-free escape. 

When the evening arrives, hop on a bus and head to Duong Dong’s Night Market. Alternatively, you can use Grab (Vietnam’s most popular ride-hailing service). It’s about 30 minutes from Ong Lang. The night market greets you with neon lights and a never-ending choice of foods to try. Taste all the classics, such as bahn mi (a traditional baguette sandwich), pho soup, and fresh spring rolls. You will also find many skewer stalls, grilled seafood restaurants, and some unconventional (for Western palates) snacks like grilled frog and sea urchin. 

How about riding the world’s longest non-stop cable car going over several islands? Phu Quoc has one, and it’s an ultra-scenic experience. The cable car connects the main island to Hon Thom (Pineapple Island). The most thrilling part of the ride is going up and down over the blue sea. The highest point is at 571 feet, and you’ll get a fantastic view. The ride terminates at Sunworld, a sprawling amusement park that basically took over the whole island. It’s also home to Aquatopia water park, with over 20 rides, kayak rentals, and paragliding. 

Take the cable car back to Sunset Town and discover why this Amalfi Town clone on steroids has this name. The best spot for sunset-watching is around the Kiss Bridge, one of Phu Quoc’s symbols, where two bridge tips meet one another at a distance that’s just right for a kiss. As romantic as it is, be prepared for queues to snap the picture. For a more tranquil way to watch the sun going down, settle at one of the scenic cafes and lounge bars along the promenade. 

Mega-developments like Sunset Town and Grand World have closed off the sea from non-resort-staying visitors and shrunk the coastline. Fortunately, you still have gorgeous stretches to visit. Both are located in the southeastern part of the island and close to each other. You won’t find any resorts or even a town at Sao, the most enchanting of the island’s wilder beaches. It still retains the atmosphere of the pre-development Phu Quoc, a white-sand idyll. The crescent-shaped Sao is about 1.5 miles long, so it’s easy to find a spot on the sand. If you’re up for a jet ski ride or parasailing, you will find water sports rentals in the central part of the beach. 

Khem is next up. Unlike Sao, it’s the beach of a luxurious resort cluster developed by Sun Group, the one behind Sunset Town. It’s the cleanest of Phu Quoc’s beaches (every day the resort’s employees collect the seaweed) and also arguably the most beautiful—a lush coconut palm grove flanks the sugary sands. It can become very crowded during the dry season, so get there early. 

On Day 4, travel to the North Coast to see… Venice. Well, not a real Italian city, but a Vietnamese replica. Gondola rides, Rialto Bridge, the Clock Tower, and Venetian lions included. This curious attraction is part of Phu Quoc United Center, an ambitious project by the Vingroup conglomerate that turned a major section of the north coast into one big entertainment town. Beyond Venice, you can visit Shanghai Lantern Street, the Teddy Bear Museum, see the massive installation made from 42,000 bamboo canes, and catch the Quintessence of Vietnam show at the outdoor theater. The main jewel in Grand World’s crown is VinWonders Phú Quốc, the island’s answer to Disneyland, with its own castle and many cool rides. Relax at the nice Bãi Dài beach once you’re done with the entertainment. 

Wake up early and head to Vinpearl Safari. Close to Grand World, the complex is an open zoo and drive-through safari hybrid, which does both pretty well. Your kids will especially love the experience. In the open zoo, you can either walk or take an electric tram (4 USD extra). There are over 2000 birds, around 20 primate species (including yellow-cheeked gibbons and lemurs), white rhinoceroses, and hippos. The most interesting part is the feeding. You can give elephants bananas at the Elephant House. Then, dine next to giraffes and feed them carrots at the Giraffe Restaurant. But that’s just the rehearsal of the zoo’s main draw: the safari. You travel through the 30-hectare park grounds in an open-deck bus, with the animals roaming freely around. The drive takes about 25 minutes, and you pass by lions, tigers, black bears, and zebra herds. It’s quite magical. 

While a large area of Phu Quoc’s hinterland is a sprawling national park, it’s mostly off-limits to tourists as the land is military-owned. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find beautiful hikes and enjoy the island’s rainforest heartland. Suối Tranh Eco-Park is a charming hiking area outside of Duong Dong. The trail leads to a 2-meter-high cascading waterfall. Continue further to find a large cave with bats (Hang Dơi). The entrance to Suối Tranh features a sculpture park among lush nature. 

Less than two miles from Suối Tranh is another great trek. It starts at Cafe Tiên Sơn Đỉnh and takes around 40 minutes of moderate-level, steep ascent through the jungle. The walk terminates at the 360-degree viewpoint overlooking the island’s interior and the airport. Alternatively, you can take a boat to snorkel at the reef islands. Skip the 4-islands tour sold on the island’s every corner, and arrange a private tour from An Thoi Harbor to one of the coral reefs at the islands of Gam Ghi, Buom, or Xuong.  

While Sunset Town and Grand World are nice resort areas, you won’t find anything authentically Vietnamese out there. If you want to experience an actual living town, spend your last day in Duong Dong. Its symbol is Dinh Cậu, a scenic seaside shrine and a lighthouse that blends Animism and Taoist sea worship. Duong Dong’s main road is filled with seafood restaurants, lounge bars, and specialty coffee shops. Travel to Bãi Trường for a gorgeous white-sand beach. 

My favorite place to spend Phu Quoc afternoons is the sublime beach bar of the Balinesque five-star Salinda Resort. OCSEN Beach Bar & Club is another great pick for sunset-watching and the evening fire show by the bonfire. Finally, you will find a vast choice of Vietnamese products and souvenirs at Kingkong Mart, the island’s most popular supermarket.