Beaches, national park trekking, and An Thoi Islands — the full Phu Quoc experience in five days
Verified 2026 · Island Seeker Editorial
Day 1
Arrive & Long Beach
Fly into Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC). Grab to your hotel (80,000–120,000 VND). Rent a scooter on arrival — essential for 5 days of independent exploration. Buy a local SIM card (Viettel or Vinaphone, 50,000–100,000 VND for 7 days of data). Withdraw Vietnamese Dong at the airport ATM — most local restaurants and markets are cash only.
Phu Quoc arrival guide →Long Beach runs 20km along Phu Quoc's west coast — the northern section near Duong Dong is most accessible. Rent a sunbed, swim in the calm Gulf of Thailand water, and acclimatise. Duong Dong town's covered market is worth a walk-through for orientation — dried seafood, local spices, and fresh tropical fruit.
Watch the sunset from Dinh Cau Rock Temple promontory — the sea goddess temple perched on a rock at the north end of Duong Dong Beach. Then explore the adjacent Dinh Cau Night Market: grilled scallops with spring onion oil, sea snails, grilled corn, and fresh seafood by weight — all at very low prices. Budget 150,000–300,000 VND for a feast.
Tip: Phu Quoc is safe for scooter riding but the main island roads have heavy tourist traffic and some sandy patches. Take extra care at intersections and keep speeds low, especially at night. Always wear a helmet — it's the law and it's wise.
Day 2
An Thoi Islands Snorkelling & Squid Fishing
Morning speedboat departure from An Thoi Port (30 min south by scooter). The An Thoi archipelago's 18 islands have some of Vietnam's best remaining coral reefs — Gam Ghi Island has the clearest water and best hard coral coverage. Snorkelling gear is included in all group tours (200,000–350,000 VND per person).
An Thoi island hopping →The squid fishing stop is a highlight of any An Thoi tour — simple hand-lining from the boat in the afternoon when squid are most active. Whatever you catch is grilled immediately on the boat. Lunch is a full Vietnamese spread: canh chua (sour soup), grilled fish, and fried rice. Return to An Thoi around 4:30 pm.
Sao Beach is only 15 minutes from An Thoi Port by scooter — make the detour on the way back north for a late afternoon swim on the island's most beautiful beach. The east-facing beach has no sunset views but the light in late afternoon is golden and the water is exceptionally calm.
Best beaches in Phu Quoc →Tip: An Thoi Port is 30 km from Duong Dong — allow 40 minutes by scooter. The road south passes through the national park buffer zone and is scenic but has some rough sections. Don't rush it.
Day 3
Phu Quoc National Park Trek & Pepper Farm
Phu Quoc National Park covers 31,400 hectares — more than half the island — and is one of Vietnam's most intact island ecosystems. Several trekking trails are accessible from the park entrance on the west coast (around 10 km north of Duong Dong). A 2–3 hour guided trek through primary rainforest covers the park's diverse birdlife (kingfishers, hornbills) and flora. Hire a local guide at the park entrance (200,000–350,000 VND).
National Park trekking →Phu Quoc black pepper is among Vietnam's finest — grown in small family farms scattered across the island's centre and north. Several farms near Duong Dong welcome visitors and allow you to taste and buy directly (2,000,000–3,500,000 VND/kg for premium export-quality pepper). Combine with a quick visit to a traditional fish sauce (nuoc mam) factory — Khai Hoan Factory near Duong Dong offers free tours of the enormous fermentation barrels.
Ong Lang Beach (15 minutes north of Duong Dong) is one of Phu Quoc's quietest and most natural beaches — rocky coves, casuarina trees, and a handful of low-key resorts. The sunset from the beach's northern rocky section is more peaceful than Long Beach. Anantara Phu Quoc's open terrace is accessible to non-guests for sunset drinks.
Tip: The national park trails are poorly marked — a guide is genuinely useful rather than optional. The park ranger station at the main entrance can arrange guides on short notice for morning departures.
Day 4
Sao Beach & Hon Thom Cable Car
A full morning at Sao Beach — Phu Quoc's finest beach, with white sand, turquoise water, and the natural shade of casuarina trees. The water is calm on the east coast in the morning before the afternoon onshore breeze picks up. Swim, read, and eat fresh grilled seafood at one of the simple beach restaurants. Budget 2–3 hours here.
Sao Beach guide →The Sun World Phu Quoc Cable Car (7.9km over water) departs from An Thoi and reaches Hon Thom Island in 15 minutes — the aerial views over the An Thoi islands are extraordinary at this height. Hon Thom has a beautiful beach on the island's sheltered side plus the VinWonders theme park (separate ticket). Cable car return ticket: 750,000 VND adults.
Cable car booking →The seafood market stalls along the waterfront near Dinh Cau are best visited in the early evening when the catch is freshest and the atmosphere liveliest. Order whole grilled fish, mantis shrimp, blood cockles, and finished with a coconut ice cream — a quintessential Phu Quoc evening.
Tip: Buy cable car tickets online (VinPearl website) to avoid queues at the An Thoi departure terminal — the ticket office can have long lines during peak season (December–February). Online tickets are the same price.
Day 5
Ong Lang Beach, North Island & Departure
A final morning scooter ride along the northwest coast — past Ong Lang Beach, Cua Can River (the island's main river, good for kayaking), and the quieter beaches of the north. This part of the island sees far fewer tourists and retains a more natural character. Stop at any deserted cove that catches your eye.
North Phu Quoc beaches →Return the scooter, pack, and head to the airport. Phu Quoc International Airport is efficient — 45 minutes before departure is sufficient for domestic flights. Pick up last-minute Phu Quoc pepper, fish sauce, and cashews at the airport shops if you didn't buy at the market.
Fly from Phu Quoc (PQC) back to your onward destination. Evening flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or direct international routes are available most days.
Phu Quoc visa guide →Tip: If your flight is early morning, consider whether staying your last night near the airport (south of Duong Dong) saves stress. The airport is 10 km from Duong Dong town — a 15-minute scooter ride or Grab.
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common questions
5 days is very comfortable for Phu Quoc — you'll cover both major beaches (Long Beach and Sao Beach), An Thoi Islands, the national park, the cable car, and have time for slow evenings at the night market. Most visitors feel they have seen the island well in 5 days without feeling rushed.
Yes — Phu Quoc National Park (half the island) is one of Vietnam's finest island ecosystems with trekking trails through primary rainforest, diverse birdlife, and undisturbed coastal areas. The An Thoi coral reefs are among Vietnam's healthiest. The island offers significantly more nature than Bali or Phuket's equivalents.
Sao Beach (Bai Sao) on the southeast coast is consistently rated Phu Quoc's most beautiful beach — white sand, calm water, casuarina shade trees, and a fraction of the crowds of Long Beach. Long Beach (Bai Truong) is more convenient for accommodation and dining but the water can be rougher. Ong Lang Beach is the quietest of the accessible options.
Yes — the 15-minute cable car ride over the An Thoi archipelago offers views that are impossible to get any other way. The view from the top-most cabins looking down at the coral islands and clear water below is remarkable. Hon Thom Island's beach is a bonus. The 750,000 VND return ticket is reasonable value for the experience.
Budget: 600,000–1,000,000 VND/day (guesthouse, local food, group tours). Mid-range: 2,000,000–4,000,000 VND/day (3–4 star beachfront hotel, restaurant dining, guided tours). Luxury: 8,000,000+ VND/day. Island hopping (300,000 VND), cable car (750,000 VND), and scooter rental (150,000 VND/day) are the main variable costs.
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