10 Best Things to Do
Phu Quoc invites a holiday shaped around the sea, but choosing the right part of the island makes the difference between a pleasant stay and a memorable one. On the western coast, beaches and resorts face the evening light. In the south, Khem Beach and the surrounding resort areas offer another style of escape, while the north has its own collection of coastal retreats and landscapes. The island’s hotel scene now ranges from substantial villa resorts to smaller properties with gardens and a more personal atmosphere. We would begin with the kind of day you want to have: a private pool with family, a long beach afternoon, or a comfortable base from which to explore. Dining deserves the same attention, with French and Japanese-led special-occasion restaurants alongside independent kitchens and relaxed coastal tables. Leave time beyond the hotel for the island’s food traditions and natural setting. A well-planned stay can balance resort comfort with a market visit, an outing on the water and a quieter glimpse of local life. The most rewarding itinerary gives each of those experiences room to breathe.
Hon Thom cable car
An Thoi to Hon Thom, Vietnam
The Hon Thom cable car turns a journey across the southern archipelago into the main attraction. Leaving An Thoi, the route passes above fishing boats and offshore islands before reaching Hon Thom. Choose it for the changing perspective over the water, with time on the island as an optional extension. Check the operating schedule and the exact inclusions of your ticket before booking, since park access and packages can vary, and keep a weather-dependent plan flexible.
Island views from above
Snorkel the An Thoi islands
Southern archipelago, Vietnam
A boat day among the An Thoi islands is a natural way to leave the main resort strip behind. Arrange a trip built around current visibility and sea conditions, with a manageable number of stops and time to enjoy the water. Equipment, supervision and the balance between boat travel and swimming matter more than the number of islands advertised. Choose an operator who explains its reef practices, keeps guests away from coral and provides suitable flotation and assistance.
A tailored day on the water
Spend a beach day around Ong Lang
Western coast, north of Duong Dong, Vietnam
Ong Lang rewards a slower beach day among small sandy bays, dark rock shelves and leafy stretches of shoreline. Its character comes from this changing coastline and relatively low-rise setting, with places to eat and pause nearby. Choose a cove to suit the day’s sea conditions, then settle into a rhythm of walking, reading and time by the water. Some facilities belong to resorts, so ask about access or day-use arrangements rather than assuming every lounger is available.
Small coves and a quieter beach day
Explore Phu Quoc’s forested north
Northern Phu Quoc, Vietnam
The forested north offers a valuable contrast to Phu Quoc’s developed beaches. Plan an outing around an authorised route with local guidance, allowing time to notice the vegetation and the quieter inland landscape. This is most rewarding when treated as a nature visit with realistic expectations about heat, terrain and access. Ask your guide to confirm which areas are currently open, choose a walk matched to your fitness and leave a generous margin for transport back to your accommodation.
Forest landscapes
Visit Ho Quoc Pagoda
Southeastern Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Ho Quoc brings a contemplative pause to a southern island day. The contemporary Truc Lam monastery draws on older Vietnamese architectural traditions, with curved roofs, timber halls and a broad stone approach set between wooded hills and the sea. Take the steps slowly and look back toward the coastline before entering the worship areas. Dress respectfully, keep voices low and let ceremonies determine where you can linger. A driver makes it easy to combine the visit with one nearby coastal stop.
Buddhist architecture and coastal views
Discover fish sauce and pepper production
Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Fish sauce and pepper provide a practical introduction to what Phu Quoc grows and makes. Arrange a visit to a working barrel house and a pepper garden where a host can explain the processes, rather than treating the outing solely as a shopping stop. Ask how ingredients are selected and how flavours change through production, then taste where offered. Confirm visitor access in advance and check your carrier’s rules before buying liquids to take home.
The island’s food traditions
Phu Quoc Prison historical site
An Thoi, Vietnam
Phu Quoc Prison adds an important, sombre dimension to a southern island itinerary. The historical site addresses imprisonment and suffering, and deserves time for reading and reflection rather than a cursory photo stop. Visit with a guide if you want help understanding the wider context and the presentation of the exhibits. Some displays can be distressing, so families should judge suitability before entering. Pair the visit with a quieter interval afterwards and approach the site respectfully.
Modern history and remembrance
Explore Ham Ninh fishing village
Eastern Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Ham Ninh introduces the working shoreline of eastern Phu Quoc, with fishing traditions and seafood forming the centre of a visit. Go for a change of rhythm from resort life, allowing time to look around before settling on lunch. Choose a restaurant with clearly explained prices and ask what is fresh that day. A driver can make the outing easy to combine with the eastern coast, while leaving you free to enjoy the scenery without watching the road.
Fishing culture and a seafood lunch
Walk to Tranh Waterfall
Southeastern interior, Vietnam
Tranh Waterfall is a modest inland excursion through vegetation to a series of rock ledges and flowing water. Its appeal is the change of setting and the short journey through greenery, rather than the scale of the falls. Conditions depend on recent rainfall, so ask locally whether there is worthwhile flow before making a special trip. Wear shoes suitable for wet surfaces, take your time on uneven ground and judge any water activity by the conditions on arrival.
A shaded nature stop
Watch sunset on Long Beach
Western Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Long Beach makes an uncomplicated setting for the close of a Phu Quoc day. The west-facing shoreline offers plenty of ways to pause, from a simple walk on the sand to a reserved table overlooking the water. Choose the stretch and venue to suit the atmosphere you want, as quieter pockets and lively bars share the coast. Arrive before the light begins to change and leave the evening open; cloud and weather are part of the experience.
An easy end to the day