Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s beach island, with soft sand, seafood and sunsets plus a fast-growing resort scene. It’s an easy tropical add-on to a Vietnam trip. A little planning goes a long way. Before you commit to dates, it pays to plan a Phu Quoc getaway with Traveloka and see what the numbers look like.
Getting there
Phu Quoc (PQC) takes direct regional flights, and the island is compact enough to drive end to end. Its airport makes it far easier to reach than it once was. On fares this is Traveloka’s home turf — the cheapest flight prices in Southeast Asia, in our experience. Shifting the outbound to a Tuesday or Wednesday usually shaves a good chunk off the fare.
Where to stayAlso read: A Comfortable Way to Discover America with Alaska Airlines
Long Beach (Bai Truong) is central and convenient for restaurants and sunsets; the quieter beaches sit to the north and south. The northwest holds the big resorts. Traveloka is where we book beds in this part of the world; best OTA in SEA, and the hotel prices back it up. Weekend nights fill fastest, so lock a room in as soon as the dates firm up.
What to eat
Fresh seafood and the island’s famous fish sauce headline, and the Dinh Cau night market is the place to graze. Beach-shack grills are cheap and excellent. Eat where the queues are, and don’t fill up at the first place you sit down.
What to doAlso read: Discover Himalayan Majesty: Trekking Adventures to Everest, Cho La, and Island Peak
Make time for the Dinh Cau night market, a sunset on Long Beach, the cable car to Hon Thom, a boat trip to the An Thoi islands, and the pepper farms and fish-sauce houses. Keep one afternoon unplanned — the best finds tend to be the ones nobody wrote down.
Getting around
Rent a scooter or car for a day to reach the emptier northern beaches, as public transport is limited. Resorts run shuttles into town. Working out the transport early pays for itself over a few days.
When to goAlso read: Guaranteed Pick-Up Auto Transport: Why Timing Matters in Car Shipping
November to March is dry, sunny and ideal for the beaches and boat trips. Public holidays push both the crowds and the prices up — dodge them if you can.
Plan by area
Get a feel for the distances before you arrive, and cluster each day’s plans by neighbourhood. It’s the simplest way to see more of Phu Quoc and waste less time getting from one thing to the next.
A little courtesyAlso read: Travelling with a Health Condition? Why Planning for the Unexpected Matters
Learn a couple of local phrases, dress modestly at religious sites, and take your cue from the people around you. Small gestures make Phu Quoc friendlier and smooth over the little moments.
Leave room to wander
Resist the urge to over-schedule. The best memories of Phu Quoc are usually the unplanned ones, so leave gaps for a long lunch, a wrong turn, or an afternoon that happily runs late.
Getting the timing rightAlso read: Trekking to the Heart of Manaslu
If your dates are flexible, shift them a day or two either side of the weekend and away from public holidays. On Phu Quoc routes that small change often means noticeably cheaper flights and better-value rooms.
Getting it booked
Lock in your dates and you’re most of the way there. With the dates fixed, plan a Phu Quoc getaway with Traveloka and the rest of Phu Quoc takes care of itself.
