13 Things to do in Phu Quoc - Vietnam Travel Guide

​When you're planning a trip to Vietnam, there is so many beautiful places and things to do to choose from it's hard to decide exactly where to visit. We did a little bit of everything and we can tell you that if a relaxing beach side setting is what you're looking for, you will want to make one of your stops on Phu Quoc Island.
 
Our first stop in Vietnam was a complete success, we fully enjoyed our time on Phu Quoc taking advantage of all the activities in the area. Keep reading for a list of all the things to do on Phu Quoc island!

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Things to do in Phu Quoc - Vietnam Travel Guide

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Before we get  into the Things to do, here is a little bit of info on the logistics of traveling to Phu Quoc.​
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How to get to Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Phu Quoc is a small island located on the southern tip of Vietnam, and is actually closer to the Cambodia border. The island has an international airport, so the easiest way to get here is by plane. Reserve your flights in advance and you will find the prices more than reasonable. For a one way flight from Ho Chi Minh City, we paid a measly $25 CAD!
 
You can also take a ferry from mainland Vietnam or Cambodia, although not as easily accessible. Since the prices of flights are so affordable, we don't recommend this option unless you're already in southern Cambodia or Vietnam visiting that part of the country.
 

Where to Stay in Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Phu Quoc is small but there are still different regions in which you could stay. We recommend avoiding the city center of Duong Dong and staying close to the beaches either north or south of the town. The city is busy and loud due to the constant honking of cars and mopeds, but being close to here makes it easy to get around the entire island. 
 
For a medium budget hotel, we recommend trying the lovely Praha Hotel. It's near the beach, has a pool, the staff is lovely and the rooms are spacious and clean.

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There are so many beautiful places to visit in Vietnam, Click here for a list of the best places to stay in Vietnam for visiting all of the best attractions!

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It's a lovely balcony view at the Praha Hotel Phu Quoc!

Things to do in Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Visit Phu Quoc Bee Farms

A lot of attention has been given to bees in recent years due to their depleting numbers and their essentialness to the survival of our food supplies. Any chance we have of supporting bee farmers, we will take advantage of it.

There are two bee farms on Phu Quoc and you can visit the farms to learn all about the honey bees. Make sure to stop by the café to try a few honey products.
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The Sim Garden where you can see the myrtle tree where the fruit from which Sim Wine is made

Wine Tasting

Sim wine is made on Phu Quoc using the fruit from the myrtle tree. A surprisingly good liquor, this strong wine has a lovely sweet herbal smell and a fruity taste. Some are stronger than others, it's a good idea to stop by the tasting station before buying yourself a bottle to see which you like best!

Don't skip the lovely garden area either where you will find the myrtle tree from which the Sim Wine is made, amongst other beautiful trees and flowers.
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Get a Mud Bath

Visit the Galina Phu Quoc Mud Bath and Spa to enjoy some truly energizing treatments. A popular place to stop by on the island, your hotel can easily organize transport for you to get there.
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If you're wanting for a spa day with mud baths, you'd be hard pressed to find better prices than is offered in Southeast Asia. It was over our Dime Travelers budget for this time around, but a reasonable cost regardless. A spa day is something everyone can get onboard with!
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The beautiful Ho Quoc Pagoda on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam

Visit Ho Quoc Pagoda

Asia is well known to have temples, pagodas and ancient worshiping sites almost everywhere, but what made the Ho Quoc Pagoda one special was the incredible view from atop of its hill. If you have enough energy left in you to climb up all the way to the pagoda, make sure you turn around towards the sea and take in the view. Or better yet, come here early in the morning to witness the rising sun.

The pagoda itself is also very beautiful. In the typical intricately detailed style, it stands proudly overlooking the ocean. Trees and ornaments decorate the area and it's well worth a look whether you are there to worship or to admire

Remember to always be respectful in places of worshiping - loud music, for example can be disruptive to people who are there for more than just sight seeing. Take off your shoes when entering rooms and dress appropriately.
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Visit a Pearl Farm

We are mentioning it because you will no doubt be offered a tour of this pearl farm for super cheap by your taxi driver, your hotel reception or even random people on the street. However, it's not necessarily something we recommend you to add to the list.

We decided to go check it out because of all the commotion about it, and we had already hired a car for the day. In reality though, it's only a jewelry store with a few aquariums and signs explaining the creation process of pearls.
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Unless you're looking to buy something, you should probably skip it. The information is very minimal and the salesperson are quite aggressive.
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A private boat tour is the best way to snorkel around Phu Quoc

Go Snorkeling

When you go to Phu Quoc, you absolutely cannot miss out on the opportunity to snorkel. We headed out on a slightly cloudy day and as soon as we hit the water, the sun peaked out and shined its light down below the surface. If you have some choice in the matter, definitely try to head out when the sun is shining and there are no clouds, it truly illuminates the underwater world!

We opted for a private snorkel tour as we didn't want to have to wait around for others and it was a perfect time! We stopped at quiet places around Finger Island, Dam Ngang Island and May Rut Island. Note that even if you have never snorkelled before, don't worry, it's a very easy sport to catch on. If you're not a comfortable swimmer, you can always wear a life vest! 

To organize your own snorkel experience in Phu Quoc, check out this post for everything you need to know about snorkeling in Phu Quoc! 
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Halong Bay is another must see of Vietnam! Click here for everything you need to know to visit the Halong Bay UNESCO Site on a modest budget!

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Get a Massage... or 5!

Getting massages in Vietnam can be intimidating. We've all heard of those red light district stories, and they do happen all the time, even to people who are not looking for those "happy endings". But the affordable cost makes it ever so enticing. It's for this reason we decided to experience our massages on a beach, in broad daylight. The prices were on par to other places we had seen and the open air made us feel much more comfortable that no funny business would occur!
 
It can seem weird at first that anyone can just look at you, especially for those who are used to receiving massages in dark rooms, with that little tranquil music playing. However, once their experienced hands start rubbing your feet like they've never been before, that's quickly forgotten. And if you're still uncomfortable at the idea of getting a full body massage in front of other people, you can always opt for a simple, though no less amazing, foot massage.
 
Here are a couple of tips if you decide to go: bring your own beach towel to lay on during the massage, unfortunately it seemed to us that they reuse the same ones. Also, the earlier in the morning you go the better it will be, I found that (understandably) they were getting tired by the afternoon and didn't make as much as an effort.
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Phu Quoc is the perfect place to try renting a scooter in Vietnam

Ride a Scooter

Phu Quoc has some of the best and quietest roads we witnessed in Vietnam which makes it a great place to try riding a scooter of moped if it's your first time. If you're inexperienced, as we were, definitely try your hand on a side road to start. The city centre is probably not where you want to be when you're learning to break and speed up!

The scooters are available for rent at most hotels, as well as independent shops around the island. No need to book in advance, there is usually always lots of choice. Remember, whenever you are driving in a foreign country, to get to know the local laws and driving requirements for foreign visitors beforehand.
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Vietnam War Prison Memorial

Visiting war memorials or other such monuments are definitely not our favorite kind of things to do, but we think it's important to acknowledge actions from the past in order to make better, informed decisions in the future. The Vietnam war prison memorial was sad, eye-opening, and not for the faint hearted.

As you walk in, the statues of the prison guards are so eerie I thought they were real for a moment. Torture methods are described and statues of prisoners are erected in some of the long but small cabins in which hundreds were detained at a time.
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Although a sad site to visit, it made us feel thankful for our privileged upbringing and empathy and understanding for the Vietnamese people.
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Sao Beach is a must see on Phu Quoc Island!

Beaches of Phu Quoc

As mentioned before, Phu Quoc is the relaxing beach destination of Vietnam. So evidently, one of the musts on this list is the beach! Being an island, Phu Quoc has no shortage of beaches, and you will run into one pretty quickly as soon as you get away from the city center.

You can fin some beaches right around the town of Duong Dong. Towards the South, the beach here is called Bà Kèo, but the waters can be quite rough - be careful of the rip tide! It's more of a suntanning place to hang out. North of Duong Dong, there are some calmer beaches where locals often hang out. 

Our favorite by far though was the must see Sao Beach. Although totally a tourist location, the white sand and the warm crystal clear waters are completely worth it!  You will likely need a taxi to get here as it is located on the Southeast side of the island, near An Thoi. The beach is big enough for you to find a quiet place to lay your towel even if it's full of tourists, and it has a few adrenaline inducing activity options such as parasailing or kite surfing. There is also a restaurant and a few beachy shops if you've forgotten anything.

Make sure you bring reef safe sunscreen or UV blocking clothing as there is not much shade on the beaches!
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Go on the World's Longest Oversea Cable Car

The longest oversea cable car in the world is located in Phu Quoc! Leaving from the southern tip of the island in An Thoi, it crosses over a few smaller islands and lands again on the second largest island of the district, Hon Thom, also known as Pineapple Island.

The ride is about 15 minutes from one end to the other, and once on Pineapple Island, you can enjoy the beach, snorkel and enjoy the Hon Thom Nature Park. Tickets to ride the cable car are currently just under $30 CAD (500,000 VND).
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The Phu Quoc Night Market has so many different sea food to try or simply look at

Shop at the Night Market

The night market in Duong Dong is a good place to try some different delicacies and get some souvenirs as well. Grab a taxi from your hotel and it's a quick ride up into town.

You can expect lots of seafood, souvenirs and entertainment keeping the tourists very busy. You will also find that there is a premium on prices due to the fact that this is a tourist market. Come for the experience and try other local markets for cheaper prices.
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Waterfall Trekking

There are a handful of beautiful waterfalls on Phu Quoc island where you can hike, swim, have lunch and hang out. Check out the Phu Quoc Island Guide website here for more information on exactly where they are. It's recommended to visit the waterfalls in the Fall during wet season for fuller streams.

It's important to note that the government of Phu Quoc is working on educating the inhabitants that trash should not be left behind, however, this is a long standing habit through generations that will not be remedied over night. Don't place judgement on the uneducated, rather be responsible yourself and make sure to leave no trace behind. And while you're at it, why not grab an empty bag and pick up a few extra pieces of trash to drop in a bin.
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