Top 20 Things to Do in Phu Quoc (2026)

Phu Quoc is one of those places where you can easily spend a week and still feel like you’ve barely scratched the surface.

You can spend the morning on a quiet beach, take a cable car across the sea in the afternoon, eat seafood at night, and then realise you haven’t even explored the northern part of the island yet.

I’ve put together 20 experiences that cover a bit of everything: beaches, islands, food, nature, local life and some of Phu Quoc’s newer attractions.

You definitely don’t need to do all 20. In fact, I’d recommend against trying. Pick the ones that fit the kind of holiday you want. If you need a day-by-day plan, the Phu Quoc itinerary guide is a good starting point.

1. Watch the sunrise at Sao Beach

Sao Beach is one of the beaches people usually associate with Phu Quoc, and there’s a good reason for that.

The sand is incredibly white and the water can be beautifully clear when conditions are right.

My advice is to come early.

By late morning, Sao Beach can feel very different from the peaceful tropical beach you see in photos. If you arrive around sunrise, you’ll have a much better chance of enjoying it before the day-trippers arrive.

And honestly, there’s something quite nice about having a beach almost to yourself before breakfast.

2. Ride the Hon Thom Cable Car

This isn’t just a way of getting from A to B.

The Hon Thom Cable Car crosses the sea for almost 8 km, connecting Phu Quoc with Hon Thom Island.

The views are the real attraction. From above, you can see small islands scattered across the turquoise water and boats moving between them.

If you’ve never taken a cable car over the ocean before, it’s worth doing even if you’re not particularly interested in cable cars.

3. Go snorkeling around the An Thoi Archipelago

The waters around southern Phu Quoc are some of the best places on the island for snorkeling.

There are plenty of boat trips heading into the An Thoi Archipelago, usually stopping at several islands and snorkeling spots along the way.

Don’t expect the Great Barrier Reef, but on a good-weather day, the clear water and shallow reefs make this a fun half-day or full-day trip.

It’s also a nice excuse to get away from the main island for a while.

4. Look for sea turtles

If you’re visiting during the right season, you may have the opportunity to learn about or observe sea turtle nesting and conservation activities.

This is very different from simply going on a snorkeling trip.

If you do encounter turtles, follow the local conservation rules and don’t disturb them. Don’t touch them, chase them or use bright lights around nesting animals.

For me, this is one of those experiences where seeing less can actually be better. The animals should always come first.

5. Spend an evening at Phu Quoc Night Market

Eventually, you’ll probably end up at the night market.

It’s busy, touristy and sometimes a little chaotic, but that’s part of the experience.

You’ll find seafood, snacks, souvenirs, drinks and plenty of things that make you stop and think, “Do I really need this?”

And yes, you’ll probably end up buying something anyway.

I’d go hungry and just walk around first. Look at what’s being grilled, see what the locals are eating, then decide what you actually want.

6. Watch sunset at Sunset Town

Phu Quoc’s southwest coast is one of my favorite places for sunset.

Sunset Town has been designed around the idea of an Italian-style Mediterranean town, so it’s definitely not traditional Phu Quoc.

But whether you love or hate the architecture, the location is hard to argue with.

Come in the late afternoon, walk around, find somewhere overlooking the sea and stay until sunset.

The light can be beautiful.

7. See Grand World after dark

Grand World is another side of modern Phu Quoc.

During the day it can feel relatively quiet, but things come alive in the evening with restaurants, entertainment and light shows.

It’s one of those places I’d visit after dinner rather than making it the main attraction of your day.

If you like colourful lights, big entertainment complexes and plenty of photo opportunities, you’ll probably enjoy it.

If you’re looking for authentic island life, this probably isn’t it.

8. Visit Vinpearl Safari

Travelling with children?

Put this one fairly high on the list.

Vinpearl Safari is one of Phu Quoc’s major family attractions, with a large collection of animals including giraffes and big cats.

Even if you’re not travelling with kids, it can make a good break from beaches and boat trips.

Just give yourself enough time. This isn’t somewhere I’d squeeze into a two-hour gap between other activities.

9. Spend a day at VinWonders

VinWonders is essentially the place to go if you want a full theme-park day.

There are rides, water attractions and entertainment, so it can easily take most of the day.

Again, I’d mainly recommend it for families or people who genuinely enjoy theme parks.

If you’re coming to Phu Quoc hoping to lie under a palm tree with a book, you can safely skip this one.

One thing worth flagging separately: inside the VinWonders complex is Phu Quoc Aquarium, one of the largest in Southeast Asia. The walk-through ocean tunnel — sharks, rays and large reef fish overhead — is genuinely impressive and works as a standalone visit even if the theme park isn’t your thing.

10. Kayak around Hon Thom

Once you’ve travelled all the way to Hon Thom, don’t just rush through the island.

Getting out onto the water by kayak gives you a completely different perspective.

It’s slower, quieter and gives you a chance to explore the coastline at your own pace.

Just keep an eye on the weather and sea conditions. The ocean can look calm from the beach and feel very different once you’re out on it.

11. Walk Khem Beach at low tide

Khem Beach is another beautiful stretch of sand in the south.

Try visiting around low tide when you can walk further along the beach and see the changing coastline.

This is one of those places where I wouldn’t over-plan anything.

Find a shady spot, walk barefoot, get something cold to drink and stay for a while.

Not every Phu Quoc experience needs to involve an organised tour.

12. Watch sunrise at Ho Quoc Pagoda

Ho Quoc Pagoda sits on the hillside overlooking the sea, making it a particularly nice place to visit early in the morning.

The combination of the temple, mountains and ocean makes it feel quite different from the beach resorts.

Go early if you can.

It’s cooler, quieter and much more pleasant than arriving in the middle of the day.

Remember that this is a religious site, so dress appropriately and keep the atmosphere respectful.

13. Try night squid fishing

This is one of the more unusual things to do in Phu Quoc.

You head out onto the water after dark, usually with a local boat operator, and try catching squid using lights and simple fishing equipment.

Don’t expect to come back with dinner for the entire island.

The fun is really in the experience: sitting on the boat at night, looking out over the dark sea and trying your luck.

14. Visit Ham Ninh Fishing Village

For a glimpse of the island’s older fishing culture, head to Ham Ninh.

I’d recommend going in the morning when the village is active and fishermen are bringing in or preparing their catch.

And, obviously, this is a good place to eat seafood.

You don’t need an elaborate itinerary here. Walk around, see what’s happening and have breakfast or lunch.

Sometimes that’s enough.

15. Swim at Starfish Beach

Starfish Beach became famous on social media because of the bright orange-red starfish found in the shallow water.

It’s a beautiful spot, but there’s an important rule:

Don’t pick up the starfish.

They aren’t souvenirs or props for your Instagram photos. Taking them out of the water can seriously harm them.

Look, take your photo from above if you want, and leave them where they belong.

16. Explore Phu Quoc National Park

If you’ve had enough of beaches, head north.

Phu Quoc National Park covers a large part of the island and gives you the chance to see a much greener, wilder side of Phu Quoc.

There are forest roads and hiking opportunities, although conditions can vary depending on the season.

This is another reason I recommend not spending your entire trip around the southern beaches.

Phu Quoc is much bigger than it looks on a resort map.

17. Try sea walking

Not comfortable with scuba diving?

Sea walking is an interesting alternative.

You wear a special helmet that allows you to breathe while walking along the seabed.

You don’t need diving experience, which makes it accessible to people who want to see underwater life without committing to a full scuba course.

It’s touristy, yes.

But sometimes touristy things are popular for a reason.

18. Visit a Phu Quoc pepper farm

Phu Quoc is famous for its pepper, and visiting a local pepper farm gives you something you don’t get from the beaches and resorts.

You’ll see how the pepper is grown and can usually try different varieties.

I’d especially recommend this if you’re interested in food and local agriculture.

And yes, you’ll probably end up taking some pepper home.

It’s a much better souvenir than another fridge magnet.

19. Watch Symphony of the Seas

If you’re staying around Sunset Town, Symphony of the Seas is one of the big evening shows to consider.

It’s a large-scale production combining water, lights, music and projections.

It’s not traditional Vietnamese culture, and I wouldn’t pretend that it is.

Think of it more as a modern entertainment experience that happens to have a spectacular ocean setting.

20. Do absolutely nothing at Ong Lang Beach

And finally, my personal favorite type of activity:

nothing.

Ong Lang is a good place to slow down.

Find a beachside hotel, grab a book, swim, have lunch, take a nap and watch the sunset.

Don’t book a tour.

Don’t check Google Maps every 20 minutes.

Don’t worry about whether you’re “making the most” of your holiday.

After spending days jumping between islands, markets, beaches and attractions, sometimes the best thing you can do in Phu Quoc is absolutely nothing.

So, how many days do you actually need in Phu Quoc?

I’d say 4–5 days is a good starting point if you want to experience more than just your hotel and the beach.

With three days, I’d keep things simple: one beach day, one island/snorkeling trip and one day exploring the island.

With five days, you can mix in the north, the south, a boat trip and a couple of slower days.

And if you’ve got a week?

That’s when I’d stop trying to tick boxes.

Pick a nice beach, explore at your own pace and leave some time to do nothing.

Because that’s ultimately what I like about Phu Quoc.

You can make it as adventurous or as lazy as you want.

There are cable cars, theme parks, boat trips, snorkeling, forests and night markets. But there are also quiet beaches where the only thing on your schedule is deciding whether to order another coconut.

And after a few busy days travelling around Vietnam, that can be exactly what you need.

For a month-by-month look at conditions and what’s on, see the Phu Quoc monthly guides. For a ready-made day-by-day plan, the Phu Quoc itinerary guide covers 3, 5 and 7-day options.