Phú Quốc is a forested island in the Gulf of Thailand, off Vietnam's south-west coast, known for its beaches, fish sauce and black pepper. It lies about 40 km west of Hà Tiên on the mainland, and the main island stretches roughly 50 km from north to south. With about twenty smaller islets it covers some 575 square kilometres. Since July 2025 it has been a special administrative zone of An Giang province, and Dương Đông, on the west coast, is its main town.
Visitors come for sandy beaches on every coast, sunsets over the sea, boat trips among the An Thới islands in the south and the forest of Phú Quốc National Park in the north. It suits couples, families and anyone looking for warm sea in the northern winter. Vacation rentals range from apartments and townhouses in Dương Đông to villas along Long Beach and quieter houses near the northern beaches.
Dương Đông, the island's administrative centre and largest town, is the practical base. The night market, the river harbour, the Dinh Cậu temple and plenty of places to eat are close at hand, and apartments and townhouses here suit travellers who enjoy town life or are staying only a few nights.
Long Beach, called Bãi Trường in Vietnamese, runs south from Dương Đông along the west coast. It is the main resort strip, with villas and apartments near the sand, sunset views and the airport a short drive away. North of town, the Ông Lang area is greener and calmer, with garden bungalows and family homes set back from small beaches.
In the south, An Thới is the port for boat trips to the islands and the nearest town to Bãi Sao and Bãi Khem. The far north, around Gành Dầu and Bãi Dài, is the quietest choice and works best for travellers with their own transport.
Phú Quốc has beaches on all its coasts, and each has a different character. Bãi Sao, on the south-east coast, is admired for its pale sand and calm turquoise water and is quietest early in the day. Bãi Khem lies nearby in the south, while Long Beach on the west coast is the long, easy-going strip where many visitors swim and gather for the sunset. In the north-west, Bãi Dài backs onto forest and feels far from town.
Off the southern tip, the An Thới archipelago is a scatter of small, largely uninhabited islands visited on boat trips for snorkelling, swimming and fishing; one of them, Hòn Thơm, is also linked to the main island by cable car. The surrounding waters have been a marine protected area since 2007, with coral reefs and seagrass beds where dugongs and sea turtles feed. Sea conditions change with the monsoon, so follow local flags and advice.
Phú Quốc National Park, established in 2001, protects much of the forested northern half of the island. A ridge of hills, known as the island's ninety-nine peaks, runs along its length, and the highest summit, Núi Chúa, reaches about 603 metres. Trails lead through the forest to streams, viewpoints and quiet beaches, and the wider area is home to more than 200 bird species as well as macaques, lorises and langurs.
Together with the surrounding sea, the park belongs to the Kiên Giang Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO in 2006, which also covers stretches of the mainland coast. The north is farming country too: black pepper is grown around Gành Dầu and Cửa Dương, and visitors can walk through the pepper gardens. Bring water and start early, as the forest is hot and humid, and stay on marked paths.
Fish sauce, nước mắm, is one of the island's traditional products. Anchovies caught in the surrounding waters are salted and left to ferment in large wooden barrels, and several traditional barrel houses welcome visitors who want to see how it is made. Black pepper is another traditional crop, and the island is also known for pearls, farmed here with Australian and Japanese expertise, which earned it the nickname Pearl Island.
In the evening, the Dương Đông night market is the place to try grilled seafood, tropical fruit and local snacks; you can often pick fish, squid or shellfish from the display and have them cooked on the spot. Squid and cuttlefish are mainstays of the local catch. Everyday Vietnamese dishes such as phở noodle soup, bánh mì sandwiches and fresh spring rolls are easy to find in town and near the beaches.
Cambodian royal records mention the island in the early 17th century, and in the late 17th century it became part of the principality of Hà Tiên, founded by Mạc Cửu, who later became a vassal of the Nguyễn lords. In the 1780s Phú Quốc sheltered Nguyễn Ánh, the future emperor Gia Long, during his war against the Tây Sơn, with help from the French bishop Pigneau de Behaine.
Under French rule a prison camp was set up near An Thới, and it was greatly expanded during the Vietnam War, when around 40,000 prisoners passed through it. Once known as the Coconut Tree Prison (Trại Cây Dừa), the site is now a national historic monument and memorial. Local religious life is visible at Dinh Cậu, a temple on a rock at the mouth of the Dương Đông River dedicated to spirits who protect fishermen; its main festival falls in the tenth lunar month.
Phú Quốc International Airport (PQC), opened in 2012, lies about 9 km south of Dương Đông. It has domestic flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese cities, and international routes from many Asian cities and beyond, some of them seasonal. Ferries link the island with Rạch Giá and Hà Tiên on the mainland.
Foreign visitors who fly in directly from abroad, or who clear immigration in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and continue on a domestic flight, can stay on Phú Quốc without a visa for up to 30 days; continuing to the rest of Vietnam needs the usual visa or exemption. Rules change, so confirm them with official sources before travelling. On the island, taxis and ride-hailing cars are the easiest way to get around, and scooters can be rented if you hold the right licence. Traffic drives on the right.
Phú Quốc has a tropical monsoon climate and is warm all year. The dry season, roughly November to April, brings calm seas, clear skies and the best beach weather, and it is the busiest time on the island. April and May are the hottest months, with temperatures that can reach about 35 °C.
The rainy season, about May to October, brings short, heavy showers, humid air and rougher seas, and annual rainfall is high, close to 3,000 mm. Days are often bright between the showers, and the island is quieter and greener, but boat trips to the southern islands can be cancelled when the sea is rough. Travellers visiting in these months should keep their plans flexible and check the marine forecast before booking island excursions.
Dương Đông suits travellers who want restaurants, the night market and town life on the doorstep. Long Beach, just south, is the main strip of villas and apartments with sunset views. Ông Lang, north of town, is calmer, and An Thới in the south is closest to Bãi Sao and the island boat trips.
The dry season, roughly November to April, has calm seas and the most reliable beach weather. April and May are the hottest months. From about May to October showers are frequent and the sea can be rough, but the island is quieter and greener.
Foreign visitors who arrive directly from abroad, or who clear immigration in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and fly straight on, can stay on Phú Quốc visa-free for up to 30 days. Visiting the rest of Vietnam needs the normal visa or exemption. Check the current rules with official sources before you travel.
Phú Quốc International Airport (PQC) is about 9 km south of Dương Đông, a short drive by taxi or ride-hailing car. Long Beach lies between the airport and the town, so many rentals there are even closer.
Phú Quốc is known for its beaches, especially Bãi Sao and Long Beach, its fish sauce and black pepper, pearl farming, the Dương Đông night market, the forest of Phú Quốc National Park and boat trips among the small islands of the An Thới archipelago.
Four or five days allow for a boat trip to the southern islands, a morning at Bãi Sao, a visit to a pepper garden and fish-sauce house, and evenings at the night market. A week or more suits travellers who mainly want to rest by the sea.
Usually, yes. Vietnamese law requires the place where a foreign visitor stays, whether a hotel or a private host, to declare that stay to the local police. Expect to show your passport when you check in, and again each time you move to new accommodation.
Phú Quốc uses the Vietnamese đồng (VND), the national currency. Cards are accepted in many places in Dương Đông and along Long Beach, but carry some cash for markets, street food, taxis and small shops.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .