Is Phu Quoc Basically Vietnam's Phuket Now?

People keep asking me this. And I keep giving the same annoying answer: kind of, yeah. And that's not really a good thing.

Phu Quoc island sits out in the Gulf of Thailand, actually closer to Cambodia than to the Vietnamese mainland. For a long time it was this quiet place known for fish sauce, black pepper farms, and a handful of low-key beach resorts where backpackers would wash up for a week and forget what day it was. That version of Phu Quoc is mostly gone now as of 2026.

What happened? Money happened. By the end of 2025, the island pulled in over 7.5 million visitors. Nearly 1.6 million of those were international, an 81% jump from the year before. There are 286 tourism investment projects in the pipeline right now, covering 9,600 hectares, with over $14 billion in capital behind them. Fourteen. Billion. Dollars. It's a lot of money and the zeros are sometimes hard for me to comprehend and I am sure for a lot of people like me unless you already are a billionaire reading our blog haha

Here's exactly what gets lost in all that. Over half of this island is still a UNESCO-recognized Biosphere Reserve. The national park covers something like 54% of the land. There are beaches up in the north where you can walk for twenty minutes and not see another person. The problem isn't that Phu Quoc has been ruined. It's that the good parts and the bad parts are sitting right next to each other, and if you don't know where to go, you'll end up at the wrong ones.

That's really what this Phu Quoc beach travel guide is about. Not selling you on some fantasy island. Just telling you where to actually go.

One of the absolute biggest reasons tourists love Phu Quoc? You don't need a visa to visit! Seriously. Most foreign visitors can enjoy up to 30 days on the island completely visa-free, which takes a huge headache out of planning and is one of the top things that draws so many international guests to this stunning spot.

What's the Deal with Development of this Island?

I'm going to be straight with you because a lot of tour guides won't be.

The western coast, especially the 20 kilometer stretch everyone calls Long Beach running south from Duong Dong town, looks nothing like it did even five years ago. Intercontinental, Hyatt, Pullman, Novotel, rows of faux-Roman villas courtesy of Vinpearl. You know the vibe. The northern bit near town is the old tourist strip and it's fine, a bit worn in, budget hostels across from beachside resorts. The middle section south of the airport? Basically a construction site with resort walls on both sides of the road. The far south still has some quiet stretches, but trash is becoming a problem.

And then there's Dai Beach. This one genuinely makes me sad. A few years back it was one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Vietnam. Just seafood shacks under old-growth tropical trees. Then Vingroup came in and leveled thousands of those trees to build an entire entertainment complex. Theme parks, aquariums, a safari, casinos, golf courses, massive hotels. All very impressive if you like that sort of thing. Less impressive if you saw what was there before.

Oh and the Russian thing. You'll notice it pretty quickly. From October through April, charter flights bring in around 60,000 Russian and CIS tourists, filling something like 1,200 to 1,500 hotel rooms every single night, with an average stay of over 10 nights each. Whole stretches of the coast have Cyrillic signage, Russian-speaking staff, and menus in Russian. Not a criticism, just something worth knowing so you're not confused when you land.

The point is this. If you show up expecting a sleepy fishing island and you plant yourself on Long Beach, you're going to feel let down. But Phu Quoc is a big island. The mega resort zone and the empty beaches are separated by maybe a 40 minute ride. You just have to actually make that ride.

Get a Scooter. Seriously. I'm Not Being Dramatic.

If you take one thing from this entire article, let it be this.

Bus connections on Phu Quoc are basically nonexistent for anything useful. Taxis exist but they're pricey, and once you're outside the main resort areas, good luck finding one. Grab works okay in Duong Dong but the coverage dies fast as you head north or east. Unless you genuinely enjoy spending half your vacation figuring out transport logistics, just rent a scooter.

They're absurdly cheap. We're talking 120,000 to 250,000 VND a day, so roughly $5 to $10. Most shops will drop the bike at your hotel and come grab it when you're done. You'll usually leave your passport as a deposit, though some places accept a copy. The main roads are well-paved. Even the road out to Rach Tram at the far northern tip, which used to be a nightmare, is now wide and fully surfaced.

Every beach worth visiting on Phu Quoc is at least 30 to 45 minutes from Duong Dong. Every single one. Without a scooter, you're stuck on Long Beach watching jet skis. With one, you're pulling off the road down some random sandy lane because you spotted a glimpse of turquoise through the trees. That's the whole experience. That's the entire point of coming here.

The Beaches That Are Actually Worth Your Time

Right, forget the famous ones for a minute. Let's talk about where you actually want to be.

Ong Lang

About 15 minutes north of Duong Dong, and honestly? Probably where most people should stay. It's not one big beach, it's a series of connected coves separated by black rock slabs and little jungle bluffs. The water is that vivid blue you see in the photos and yes, it actually looks like that in person.

What makes Ong Lang work is that the development here happened slowly and stayed small. Boutique resorts, not tower blocks. There's a decent little scene of cafes and bars in the lanes between the beach and the main road. The sunsets are ridiculous. And you're close enough to Duong Dong for a night market run but far enough away that it doesn't feel like you're sleeping in a tourist zone. Best balance on the island, hands down.

Starfish Beach (Rach Vem)

Okay so this one has become a bit of an Instagram thing, which, fair, it photographs well. You get there via a sandy lane off a red-dirt road cutting through dense forest on the northern coast. The draw is the hundreds of bright red starfish sitting in the shallow water and a handful of excellent floating seafood restaurants.

The southern end of the beach can get a bit scruffy and littered, especially during busy periods. Walk further north and it cleans up. Go early if you can, because by midday the domestic tour groups arrive and it gets loud. Budget about 45 minutes on the scooter from Duong Dong. Eat lunch at one of the floating restaurants. That part is genuinely great.

Rach Tram

This is the one. This is the reason you rented the scooter.

Right at the northern tip of the island, Rach Tram is by far the most remote beach on Phu Quoc and also probably the most beautiful. We're talking kilometers of fine white sand under coconut palms, calm turquoise water, and essentially nobody. There's a small fishing hamlet at the southern end that's a bit rough around the edges, but walk north along the sand and you're completely alone. On a clear day you can see the Cambodian coast in the distance.

There's no accommodation out here. No beach bars. No sun loungers. If you've got a tent and some nerve, camp. Otherwise, pack water and snacks, spend a few hours, and ride back feeling like you found something real. Because you did.

Cay Sao (East Coast)

The east coast has been quietly opening up since the road was paved, and Cay Sao is the most interesting spot right now. It's not your typical long sandy beach. It's rockier, more intimate, with this laid-back, slightly scruffy energy that feels refreshingly uncontrived.

Rory's Beach Bar relocated here from the west coast a few years back, which kind of put the area on the map. Small resorts like The Pier and Kiki Coconut have popped up along the rocky coastline. It's the type of place that grows on you. And given what's happening to the west coast, more and more people are ending up here and staying.

The Famous Beaches: An Honest Assessment

Long Beach

Twenty kilometers of sand, hundreds of hotels, and the most accessible beach on the island. The sand is golden, the sea is calm from November to May, and there's a coconut palm for every selfie. It's fine. It's convenient. There are restaurants and bars for every budget.

But special? Not anymore. The northern section near town is the best bet if you're staying here. It's lived-in and a bit rough but it works. The central section is resort walls and construction noise. The southern end has some quiet pockets but the trash situation is real. Stay on Long Beach if you need to be central. Just don't expect it to blow your mind.

Sao Beach (Bai Sao)

This one genuinely bums me out. Sao Beach used to be called the best beach in Vietnam, and honestly the northern end near the Paradiso Restaurant still has that kind of beauty. White sand, turquoise water, the whole deal.

But the rest of the beach? It's gone downhill. Haphazard construction of temporary bars and shacks. Trash piling up in the creeks that drain onto the sand. Jet skis turning the water into a gas-scented racetrack. Massive resort development is apparently on the way, which could fix things or could just make the chaos permanent. If you go, go early in the morning, stick to the northern end, and keep your expectations realistic.

Any hidden gem to visit in Phu Quoc which is not just another beach?

 While you're cruising past empty beaches and palm trees, it's easy to forget that this island has a heavy, essential history. Before it was a 'Pearl Island' for tourists, Phu Quoc was home to a notoriously brutal prisoner-of-war camp called Phu Quoc Prison (also known as Coconut Tree Prison). 

It's located down in the south of the island, near An Thoi, so it's a perfect detour if you want to actually know the history of this place besides just the beaches! During the Vietnam War, the US-backed South Vietnamese government held tens of thousands of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers here.

Today, it's a sobering but essential place to visit. The site has been preserved as a museum where you can walk through reconstructed barracks, guard towers, and horrific, realistic displays showing the unimaginable torture methods used on the prisoners.

Why should you go? If you're looking for the real Phu Quoc and not just the resorts. Spending an hour or two here gives you a profound, gut-punching perspective on the incredible resilience and suffering that shaped modern Vietnam. It's not a fun day out, but it is deeply moving and genuinely unforgettable. I personally think everyone should visit here if they are on the island to learn about the resilience of Vietnamese people in the face of insurmountable odds!

The Night Market: Go Once, Then Find Something Better

Everyone will tell you to go to the Duong Dong night market. It's on Vo Thi Sau Street near Dinh Cau Temple, opens around 5 PM, gets packed between 7 and 9, and winds down by 10. The main attraction is the seafood. Big iced displays of prawns, fish, squid, and scallops. You pick what you want, they weigh it, you tell them how to cook it.

To be very honest, the first time is fun. Smoke pouring off the grills, the energy of the crowd, a cold beer with a plate of grilled prawns. Good time.

But the prices are inflated, sometimes weirdly even higher than at the resort restaurants, and bargaining is expected. The souvenir stalls are forgettable. And by your second visit you realize you've basically seen it all.
My recommendation? Go once for the experience. After that, eat seafood at the local places in Ham Ninh fishing village or at the floating restaurants up near Starfish Beach. Better food, better prices, better atmosphere.

When to Show Up (And How to Get In Without a Visa)

The Weather on Phu Quoc island

Two seasons, pretty straightforward. The dry season runs from about October or November through April. Temperatures sit around 25 to 28 degrees, hardly any rain, calm seas, great visibility in the water. This is when you want to be here. Full stop.

The rainy season is May through October. Cheaper, emptier, but the western beaches get rough seas and more trash washes up. If you have any flexibility, aim for November through March. That's the sweet spot.

No Visa required for Phu Quoc

So here's one of the best parts about Phu Quoc. Under a standing policy that's been in place since 2005, every foreign national on earth can stay on the island for up to 30 days without any visa. It doesn't matter what passport you hold. You need your passport valid for at least six months and proof that you're leaving within 30 days, like a return flight.

The catch: you have to stay on Phu Quoc. Want to hop over to the mainland? You'll need a separate visa for that, though you can actually arrange one while you're on the island. You can also transit through Ho Chi Minh City airport on your way in, you just need to stay in the transit zone and continue to Phu Quoc the same day.

For a lot of international travelers, especially from countries where getting a Vietnamese visa is annoying or expensive, this 30 day exemption is the entire reason they pick Phu Quoc over, say, Da Nang or Nha Trang. It's a genuinely big deal.

Where to Stay in Phu Quoc (Without Regret)

This comes down to what kind of trip you want.

Want bars, restaurants, and easy access to everything? Northern Long Beach near Duong Dong. It's the classic tourist base. Thanh Kieu and Lahana Resort are solid mid-range picks. 9Station Hostel works for budget travelers. It's not glamorous but it's functional.

Want the best mix of beauty and convenience? Ong Lang Beach. Not even close. Mango Bay is one of the most atmospheric resorts in the entire country. Camia, Chen Sea, and The Shells cover mid-range to upscale. Island Lodge and Coco Garden are good for smaller budgets.

Want actual quiet? East coast. Cay Sao's small resorts like The Pier and Kiki Coconut deliver genuine seclusion. Or go far northwest to Gành Dau, where Gold Coast Resort sits on a beautiful little beach with a wooden restaurant by the water and sunset cocktails served on a pier. Hardly anyone goes there.

 Want the mega resort experience? The central and southern Long Beach corridor has every international chain you can think of. It'll be comfortable and predictable. Just know what you're signing up for.

A Few Things not many people know about when coming to Phu Quoc island

• The main north-south road is good. The side roads to northern beaches can be sandy or muddy after rain, so take it easy on the scooter.

• Fish sauce production is serious business on Phu Quoc, and the smell around An Thoi in the south is, uh, assertive. You notice it less after a day or two. Probably.

• The cable car from the southern tip to Hon Thom island is genuinely impressive as an engineering thing. The Sun Group mega-development on the other end is less charming. But the ride itself, soaring over the sea with islands spread out below you, is worth doing once.

• Travelling in 2027? Phu Quoc is gearing up to host APEC 2027, which means a fresh wave of infrastructure spending is already underway. Roads are being upgraded, public areas cleaned up, service standards pushed higher. If you're thinking about timing, the window between now and 2027 might actually be a smart bet. Things are improving but the next big tourist wave hasn't fully arrived yet.

Answer to all your Phu Quoc travel queries

Is Phu Quoc too touristy now?

Depends where you go. Long Beach and the southern resort corridor? Yeah, it's pretty heavy with mega-resorts, theme parks, and casinos. But the north and east coasts are still quiet and largely undeveloped. The island is about 50km long, so you can go from a Vinpearl theme park to an empty beach in about 30 minutes on a scooter. Where you base yourself makes all the difference.

Which side of the island has the best beaches?

West coast has the famous ones (Long Beach, Ong Lang) and the sunsets, but also the most development. The North coast has the most stunning, empty beaches like Rach Tram and Starfish Beach. East coast is rockier but has a quiet, up and coming feel. If white sand and turquoise water with nobody around is what you're after, go north.

Do I need a visa for Phu Quoc?

Nope. Everyone gets 30 days visa-free as long as you arrive by air or sea and stay on the island. Passport valid for six months, proof of departure within 30 days, and you're in. Want to visit mainland Vietnam after? You'll need to sort out a separate visa for that.

What's the best time of year to visit?

November through March. Dry, calm seas, 25 to 28 degrees. October and April work too with lower prices and thinner crowds. Avoid June through September unless you enjoy rain and rough water.

How much does a motorbike rental cost?

Between 120,000 and 250,000 VND a day, so $5 to $10 USD. Most places deliver to your hotel. Passport as deposit usually. Helmet and some fuel included. The main roads are easy. Even if you're not a confident rider, you'll be fine on the paved routes.

Is the Duong Dong night market worth it?

First time, absolutely. The seafood is genuinely good and the atmosphere is fun. But the prices are tourist-inflated, the souvenirs are generic, and it feels samey after one visit. For better, cheaper seafood, try Ham Ninh fishing village or the floating restaurants near Starfish Beach.

Is Sao Beach still worth visiting?

The northern end near Paradiso Restaurant is still gorgeous. The rest of the beach has gotten rough with construction debris, trash, and jet skis. Go early in the morning, stick to the north end, and don't expect what the old blog posts promised.

Can I get around Phu Quoc without a scooter?

You can. You'll just miss most of the good stuff. Taxis are expensive for beach-hopping, Grab fades outside Duong Dong, and buses barely exist. A scooter is the only realistic way to reach the northern and eastern beaches. If riding isn't your thing, hire a private car with a driver for day trips, but it'll cost you more and you lose the spontaneity that makes exploring this island worth it.