04 Mar2026
After traveling around Vietnam from North to South for a month I decided to spend another month on the Phu Quoc island and just chill. Which Phu Quoc Vietnam tips will I give you after 4 weeks there? Keep reading to find out what I liked and what I did not there.
My first impression was that the main Phu Quoc island reminded me of the Koh Samui island in Thailand: similar beaches, many restaurants, spas, small grocery stores, crazy traffic (both cars and motorbikes), similar weather, smaller hotels all around, many bars… I could just say that the two islands are very much alike.
Phu Quoc is the biggest island of Vietnam. In fact, it’s an archipelago. The international airport open since 2012 makes it a popular tourist destination. Phu Quoc is located closer to Cambodia than to Vietnam but it belongs to Vietnam.
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips – on the Phu Quoc beach
My tips about Phu Quoc Vietnam
What I liked on Phu Quoc Vietnam?
- easy to buy fresh fruit and young coconuts – there’s many fruit stalls all around and the prices were not bad, either. Cheaper than in Europe, for sure.
- nice locals – I was lucky to meet only good people while there. Not even one really bad experience with any local that would be worth mentioning.
- I could go to the beach and swim in the sea every single day. That’s something I truly enjoyed.
- it was rather easy to walk along the beaches. As a lover of long walks, especially beach ones, I would take a barefoot stroll along the beach every day.
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips – Phu Quoc beach
- Phu Quoc offers different kinds of accommodation – from cheaper basic ones to more luxury hotels. Everyone can choose depending on their budget and preferences.
- the Phu Quoc island have forests, mountains and beaches (the most famous beaches on Phu Quoc are: Long Beach, Sao Beach, An Thoi).
- I found some restaurants with vegan food.
I’ve been vegan since July 2013 – I do not eat any animal products (meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey etc). Follow my travel blog or my Instagram for more vegan, travel & yoga content from around the world.
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips – street fruit stalls
What I did not like on Phu Quoc Vietnam?
1. Karaoke and loud music
Some people call Phu Quoc the relaxing destination. However, I could not say the same. The main island is full of loud music. I changed the accommodation several times, stayed in different areas of Phu Quoc, but everywhere it was very difficult to sleep at night. So loud. My bed was shaking until very late at night/early morning. And my head was exploding even with ear plugs. That’s NOT relaxing to me at all.
2. Too touristy for my taste
I admit, I did know that Phu Quoc is a touristy destination. Not only for the Vietnamese but also for Europeans. But still… frankly, I still expected it to be less crowded. I was having a hard time finding a quiet spot on the beach just for myself. And that to me is a NO.
If you are introverted like me and need your peace and quiet, then Phu Quoc might NOT be your cup of tea. This would be one of my top Phu Quoc Vietnam tips.
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips – busy Phu Quoc beach
3. At many beaches they charge for sunbeds and umbrellas
Yes, I understand they are trying to earn more money that way. But not everyone wants to use sunbeds and umbrellas. For example, I do not. I like sunshine and laying on the sand directly to feel connected to the Earth. I want to have a choice and be able to do so if that’s my preference. Being forced to pay on the public beach is not really cool.
4. Sand flies on some beaches
I love relaxing on the beach, reading a book, looking at the sea waves, sunbathing, practicing yoga, eating fruit and just contemplating. However, some Phu Quoc beaches had sand flies. Their bites are extremely itchy for several days (worse than mosquito bites).
And those sand flies were making it difficult to spend as much time as I wanted to on the Phu Quoc beaches. To be honest, I went to Phu Quoc only to enjoy the coastline and sand flies were destroying my plan.
Some beaches on the Vietnamese Con Dao islands had annoying sand flies, too.
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips – at the night market
5. No public transport
When I visited Phu Quoc in 2023, it was almost impossible to take a local bus around the island. I asked at hotels and several places, even checked a bus stop I found but I never got any information about public buses. All I was told was to take a taxi if I wanted to get around the island. But traveling by taxi alone is not very eco-friendly, so unless I had to transport with my baggage to my next accommodation, I avoided taxis whatsoever.
6. Busy traffic
Traffic in some parts of Phu Quoc Vietnam was crazy. Typical Vietnam. I did not find courage to rent a scooter to ride around there on my own. And some roads outside of main towns were horrible – unpaved, or damaged, or very dusty etc. Thankfully, my friends who were visiting for a few days rented scooters so I had a chance to go with them to explore more of the island.
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips – Phu Quoc traffic
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips conclusion
As you can see, Phu Quoc has many advantages and disadvantages, depending on what you’re looking for. If you want a loud party/karaoke place at night with some beach or exploring during the day, then yes, it’s worth visiting. But if you prefer your peace and quiet, then it might not be the best destination to visit for longer.
I have to add one more important thing about Phu Quoc. Similarly to the rest of Vietnam, there was also load of plastic everywhere. It’s so upsetting to see that.
Phu Quoc Vietnam tips – the road
TIP 1: Not sure if to travel to Vietnam? Check my following article about 7 reasons to visit Vietnam.
TIP 2: Find out more about Vietnam travel budget here before you even plan your trip.
TIP 3: Looking for a luxury hotel on Phu Quoc? I stayed at the lovely Lahana resort.
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Would you like to visit Phu Quoc archipelago after reading my article?
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