Phu Quoc Island Vietnam: Best Things to Do & Top Things to See

Phu Quoc Island Vietnam - What Things to Do and Best Places to Visit? Tourist attractions in Phu Quoc prove that there’s plenty of things to do during your tropical vacation besides relaxing on its pristine beaches. Situated 45 kilometres west of Ha Tien, Phu Quoc Island is home to unique Cao Dai and Buddhist temples, vibrant markets, traditional fishing villages, and pepper plantations – perfect for travellers looking to experience the local lifestyle.

Despite the growing number of tourist accommodation and modern facilities along its expansive coastline, more than half of this tropical island is still a UNESCO-listed national park, where you can enjoy a full-day of spotting rare wildlife species, hiking, camping, photography and bird-watching. Read on for our list of the most popular things to do and best time of year to visit Phu Quoc Island for nice weather and climate.

1. Phu Quoc National Park:

• Location: 26 kilometres north of Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc National Park takes up more than half of Phu Quoc Island, where nature lovers can spot rare wildlife and plants such as long-tailed macaques, silver langurs, otters, and hornbills. Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2010, a part of this verdant landscape is open to a wide range of activities such as camping, hiking, bird-watching, and photography.

If you’re looking to test out your endurance level, Mount Heaven in Phu Quoc National Park is accessible within a challenging four-hour trek through the evergreen forest followed by a 10 metre-tall bamboo ladder.

2. Phu Quoc Prison:

• Address: 350 Highway 46, Phu Quoc Island
• Opening Hours: Daily 07:30 – 11:00 & 13:30 – 17:00
• Price Range: VND 3,000

Phu Quoc Prison is a bleak reminder of Vietnam’s turbulent history, where over 40,000 North Vietnamese soldiers were imprisoned during the Vietnam War. Built in 1949 by French colonists, this war museum now houses torture instruments, photographs of former detainees and exhibits of brutal punishments such as crucifixion, food deprivation, and electrocution.

A prominent site in Phu Quoc Prison is the row of tiger cages, where prisoners were kept in total darkness and subjected to extreme heat and cold for a prolonged period of time. Entrance fee is priced at VND 3,000 per person, with tours available in English, French and Vietnamese.

3. Long Beach

Long Beach on Phu Quoc Island is divided into 2 parts: the northern and southern ends, with the former housing most of the luxury resorts, restaurants, and tourist facilities on the island. There’s also a backpacker’s area called Long Beach Village located behind Tran Hung Dao Street. You can still find several public areas towards the south, while most of the beachfront are owned by various five-star resorts.

Long Beach is easily navigated on foot with walking distance, but we highly recommend you taking a motorbike or bicycle to explore traditional fishing villages and pearl farms, wchich is located on the southern end of the beach. As Long Beach is located on the west coast of Phu Quoc Island, many travellers usually make their way here during the late afternoon to enjoy breathtaking sunset views. It’s also an ideal place for sunbathing, snorkelling, and swimming, especially for those staying at the high-end hotels abd resorts.

4. Suoi Tranh Waterfall

• Location: 7 kilometres west of Duong Dong
• Price Range: VND 5,000

Suoi Tranh Waterfall is a 4 metre-tall waterfall that’s surrounded by lush greenery, numerous walking paths, natural caves, and rock pools. Located 7 kilometres west of Duong Dong, nature lovers can enjoy recreational activities such as picnicking, jungle-trekking, camping and bird-watching.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike further up from the main waterfall site to visit Hang Doi (Grotto of Bats), which measures 200 metres in height and houses unique stalactites. Due to its close proximity to the main town, Suoi Tranh Waterfall is usually packed with locals during weekends and national holidays.

5. Duong Dong Market

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 18:00
• Address: Tran Phu Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island

Duong Dong Market, located along Tran Phu Street, is Phu Quoc Island’s busiest and largest outdoor market. The best time to visit is in the early morning, where you can see the locals bargaining hard for household items, fresh and dried seafood, meats, sweets and fruit from mainland Vietnam.

Duong Dong Market also houses plenty of food stalls serving fresh seafood, fruit juices, and Vietnamese cuisine at relatively low prices. As the island is renowned for its mushroom, pepper and cashew nuts, we highly recommend picking up a few as souvenirs for loved ones back home.

6. Sung Hung Pagoda

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 18:00
• Address: 7 Tran Hung Dao, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island

Sung Hung Pagoda is a combination of two shrines that were built in the early 10th century, making it the oldest of its kind on Phu Quoc Island. Set along Tran Hung Dao Street in Duong Dong Town, the front courtyard features a statue of the Goddess of Mercy, potted plants and Bodhi trees while the three-storey prayer hall houses three Buddha statues and intricate paintings of Buddhist mythical creatures and legends.

Open daily, visitors are advised to dress conservatively out of respect for the monks and locals who frequent Sung Hung Pagoda.

7. Vinpearl Land Amusement Park

• Opening Hours: Daily 09:00 – 21:30
• Address: Bai Dai, Ganh Dau, Phu Quoc island
• Tel: 1 900 6677 ext. 2
• Price Range: VND 500,000 for adults, VND 400,000 for senior citizens & children below 140cm

Vinpearl Land Amusement Park features thrilling water slides, rollercoasters, outdoor and indoor arcade centres, amphitheatre, 5D cinema, and a wide range of dining options. Accessible within a 20-minute drive from Ong Lang Beach, Vinpearl Land Amusement Park is set between Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort and Vinmec International Hospital.

Vibrant street performances, mermaid shows, and traditional dances are also held every day, making it an ideal destination for travelling families looking to enjoy a fun-filled day on Phu Quoc Island. Vinpearl Land Amusement Park also offers complimentary shuttle services for those who purchase tickets from travel agents within Duong Dong Town.

8. Cao Dai Temple

•  Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 18:00
•  Address: 40 Nguyen Trai Street, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island

Cao Dai Temple has two outlets in Duong Dong Town, with the main (and newest) shrine located along Nguyen Trai Street. Founded in 1919, Cao Daism is a monotheistic religion which combines Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity, and Islam. Currently, there are over two million people practising Cao Daism in Vietnam.

Cao Dai Temple easily stands out from other temples on Phu Quoc Island thanks to its technicoloured exterior and religious symbols such as Buddhist swastikas, Christian crosses, and Islamic crescent moons. The temple is open to the public, with worshipping ceremonies held between 06:00 and 12:00 every day.

9. Ham Ninh Fishing Village:

• Location: 15km northeast of Duong Dong

Ham Ninh Fishing Village attracts foreign visitors looking to experience the daily life of the local fishermen as well as enjoy authentic regional specialities. A 20-minute drive from Phu Quoc International Airport, there’s also a pier not far from the village, where you can enjoy relaxing views of colourful fishing boats, Ham Ninh Mountain range and coastline, and the Hai Tac Archipelago.

Ham Ninh Fishing Village is also renowned for its unique dishes such as sea cucumber soup, tram mushroom, and boiled flower crab as well as medicinal drinks made with seaweed, ginseng, seahorse, and rice wine.

10. Su Muon Pagoda:

• Opening Hours: Daily 07:00 – 18:00
• Location: 4 kilometres east of Duong Dong

Su Muon Pagoda sits atop a hill about four kilometres east of Duong Dong Town, where visitors can pay their respects, get fortunes told, or simply enjoy the peaceful ambience. Built in 1932 by accountant-turned-monk Nguyen Kim Muon, this pagoda is mostly frequented by locals thanks to its rather hidden locale.

The main hall is accessible via a 60-step stairway, housing colourful relics and golden statues of Buddha. As with most religious sites around the world, do dress conservatively and refrain from making noises during your visit to Su Muon Pagoda.

11. Sao Beach:

• Location: 25 km from Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc Island

The origin of the name Bai Sao Phu Quoc beach is also very interesting. According to the people here, from the old days, every time the sunset fell, a black color covered the white sand. At that time, thousands of starfish from the ocean flooded near the shore to "enjoy the moon", "bathe the moon". That's why this place is called "Bai Sao".

Bai Sao Phu Quoc is the first choice for vacation and discovery trips. Coming to Bai Sao Phu Quoc, you will be conquered by the creamy white sand, calm waves and other fun activities.

12. Enjoying Night Life Activities:

When the suns goes down, there will be plenty of things to do on the Phu Quoc Island. From night market to enjoy local food, relaxing on the beach to enjoy the sunset, having fun in night bars and dancing clubs, learn about local culture with water puppet show, or joining squid fishing tour with local people.

Wheather you are party animals, cultural lovers or adventure activities seekers. There will be somethings for everyone on the island to do. Some of them are unqiue and you can only find in this area.

Adventure Journey

See Also:

• Phu Quoc Island: Everything You need to know before You Go

• National Park on Phu Quoc Island - Things You Need to Know

• Long Beach - The Best Tourist Attractions on Phu Quoc Island