Vietnam's largest island, with long sandy beaches, forested hills, fishing villages and famous fish sauce and pepper
Phu Quoc lies in the Gulf of Thailand, closer to the Cambodian coast than to the Vietnamese mainland. A range of forested hills runs down its length, and around it some 150 kilometres of coast hold beaches ranging from the long, developed stretch of Long Beach on the west coast to quieter bays in the north and the white sand of Sao and Khem beaches in the south. The water is usually calm and clear in the dry season, which makes the island one of Vietnam's main places for swimming, snorkelling and diving.
The northern half of the island is protected as Phu Quoc National Park, part of the UNESCO Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, with evergreen forest, streams and short trails to waterfalls and rock pools. Off the south coast lie the An Thoi islands, reached by boat or by a long cable car from the south of the island. Large resorts and theme parks have grown quickly in recent years, but fishing harbours such as Ham Ninh and the pepper gardens inland keep a strong local character.
Cambodian records mention the island from the early 17th century, and around 1680 it became part of the Ha Tien principality founded by Mac Cuu, which accepted Nguyen authority. In the 1780s the future Emperor Gia Long, Nguyen Anh, sheltered here while fleeing the Tay Son armies, with the help of the French bishop Pigneau de Behaine. Cambodia long claimed the island, but accepted Vietnamese sovereignty in later agreements.
During the 20th century the French and then the South Vietnamese government held prisoners on the island; the Phu Quoc prison, also known as Coconut Tree Prison, was South Vietnam's largest prisoner camp from 1953 to 1975 and is now a historical site. Tourism grew rapidly after a new international airport opened in 2012, and in 2025 the island became a special administrative zone of An Giang Province.
Fishing and farming were the island's mainstays before tourism, and they remain visible. Fish sauce made from local anchovies is the island's best-known product, black pepper is grown across the interior, and pearl farming began here in recent decades. In fishing villages such as Ham Ninh, families sell crab, squid and sea urchin straight from the boats, and locally made sim berry wine is a common souvenir.
Most visitors divide their time between beach days and island excursions. Boat trips visit the An Thoi archipelago for snorkelling, the cable car crosses the sea to Hon Thom, and motorbike or car tours loop through pepper farms, fish sauce workshops, pearl farms, the Coconut Tree Prison and the north's quieter beaches. Inland, short walks lead to streams and waterfalls in the national park, while evenings centre on night markets and seafood restaurants.
The cooler, drier months from October to March are the best for beaches and sea trips, with calm water on the west coast. April and May are the hottest months, and the rainy season peaks from July to October, when seas can be rough and some boat trips are cancelled.
Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Ferries link Phu Quoc with Ha Tien and Rach Gia, gateways to the Mekong Delta. Flights connect the island with Ho Chi Minh City, from where Con Dao and Cat Tien National Park are within reach.
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Vietnam · 11 nights4★ HotelVietnam · 7 nights4★ ResortThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 29 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
