Phu Quoc map: areas, distances and getting around in 2026

Finding your way around Phu Quoc is easy once you get the logic: nearly everything lines up along the west coast, and distances are measured in minutes on one road rather than kilometres. Your choice of area decides how much of the day you spend travelling to food, the beach and the sights. The classic mistake is booking a hotel off the photos without checking the map — and ending up 30 km from the nearest restaurant. For the wider picture of the island, see our full Phu Quoc guide.

Information current as of July 2026. Prices are converted at roughly 26,000 VND = $1 — check the live rate before you go.

• Duong Dong (Dương Đông): The island's capital — night market, — cafés, banks, hotels of every class
• Long Beach (north) (Bãi Trường): 20 km beach, best stretch to the north, — full infrastructure
• Ong Lang (Bãi Ông Lang): Quiet family area, — rocks + sand, 15 min from the centre
• Bai Dai (Bãi Dài): 15 km of white sand, Vinpearl zone, — family holidays
• Ganh Dau (Gành Dầu): North — Grand World, VinWonders, — view across to Cambodia
• Marina / Duong To (Dương Tơ): Premium resorts — InterContinental, — Novotel, empty beaches
• An Thoi (An Thới): Port, cable car, — Sunset Town, cheaper than the centre
• Cua Can (Cửa Cạn): Nature and seafood, — minimal infrastructure
• Bai Sao (Bãi Sao): White sand, turquoise water, — 28 km from the centre
• Bai Khem (Bãi Khem): Premium beach by JW Marriott, — white sand
• Starfish Beach (Bãi Rạch Vẹm): Red starfish, shallow water, — day-trip spot
• Night Market (Chợ Đêm Phú Quốc): Daily 18:00–23:30, — seafood and souvenirs
• Grand World (Grand World Phú Quốc): Themed town, — evening show, gondolas

Where Phu Quoc is

Phú Quốc is Vietnam's largest island. It lies in the Gulf of Thailand off the southwest of the country, part of An Giang province. Coordinates: 10.29° N, 103.98° E. A fun fact: mainland Vietnam is 45 km away, and Cambodia is even closer. Geographically the island is closer to Phnom Penh than to Ho Chi Minh City.

Size: 50 km north to south and 25 km at its widest. Area is about 575 km², and more than half of it (54%) is national park. If you need a mental picture — Phu Quoc is a little smaller than Singapore, but far less populated. Around 180,000 people live here, most of them in the town of Duong Dong on the west coast.

Phu Quoc was named the world's best nature island destination at the 2024 World Travel Awards.Time Out, timeout.com, 2024

The island is part of the Kien Giang biosphere reserve, on the UNESCO list since 2006.

The island looks like a stretched triangle with a mountain ridge down the middle. The mountains are jungle-covered; the high point is 603 m. The west coast is gentle, with long sandy beaches. The east is rocky and largely unswimmable because of strong tides. The practical takeaway is simple: stick to the west, and save the east for a crab run.

How to orient yourself: one axis, one road

Picture Duong Dong in the centre — everything is measured from there. One road runs north to the Vinpearl parks (Ganh Dau, Bai Dai) and another south to the port, the cable car and An Thoi. The airport is 10 km south of town, between Duong Dong and An Thoi. A couple of cross-island roads cut east through the national park, but you will rarely need them. Fix that north–centre–south axis in your head and the map of Phu Quoc clicks into place in a minute.

Times are for a scooter; on a taxi add 5–10 minutes for the pickup. End to end — from the northern parks to the southern port — is about an hour and a half of riding, so pairing the far north and far south in one day takes planning.

From Ho Chi Minh City it is a one-hour flight (400 km); from Hanoi about two and a half. Direct flights are run by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet and Bamboo Airways, and there are seasonal international routes from cities across Asia. The airport sits in the middle of the island, 10 km from Duong Dong. A taxi to the centre is 15 minutes and 80,000–120,000 VND (~$3–5).

Visa rules depend on your passport. Phu Quoc has its own rule: according to Vietnam Airlines, visitors of any nationality who fly to Phu Quoc from abroad — directly or with an airside transfer in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi — can stay visa-free for up to 30 days, but only on the island: this regime does not cover travel to the mainland. For the rest of Vietnam, citizens of the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea and 18 EU countries (including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland) get 45 days visa-free. Most others, including US, Australian and Canadian travellers, apply for the e-visa at evisa.gov.vn: up to 90 days, $25 single entry or $50 multiple entry. Full rules — visa guide

Areas of Phu Quoc — where to stay and swim

The island has seven main zones, and the difference between them is huge. The north is Vinpearl's parks and entertainment. The centre is the town of Duong Dong with its nightlife. The south is quiet bays and the port. Without a scooter or taxi, hopping between areas is a pain: it is 40 minutes from Duong Dong to An Thoi in the south, and half an hour to Ganh Dau in the north.

Duong Dong and Long Beach — the centre of the island

Dương Đông is the capital and the only real town on Phu Quoc. Everything you need for daily life is here: banks, pharmacies, grocery shops, dozens of cafés and bars. The night market by the Dinh Cau temple runs daily from 18:00 to 23:30 — hundreds of stalls with seafood, pearls, souvenirs and street food. Dinner for two averages 300,000–500,000 VND (~$12–20).

Long Beach (Bãi Trường) runs along the west coast — a 20-km strip of sand. But not all of Long Beach is equal. The northern part (from the Dinh Cau lighthouse to the Eden hotel) is clean, with beachfront restaurants and a gentle entry into the water. The middle is one continuous building site — new towers and battered sand. Southern Long Beach, closer to the Marina, is good again but far from town.

Guesthouses in Duong Dong start at 400,000 VND (~$16) a night. Beachfront 3–4-star hotels start at 800,000 VND (~$32). It is the ideal area for a first visit, for anyone without a scooter, and for budget travellers.

The main downside is noise. In the evening scooters buzz around the market, music spills from the bars, and there is a smell of fried fish. If you are the kind who needs silence to sleep, book a hotel away from the centre.

Ong Lang — a quiet family area

Ông Lang is a beach and area 15 minutes' drive north of Duong Dong. There is no town bustle here: villas behind green fences, small resorts, a couple of roadside cafés. The beach is not continuous — rocks alternate with sandy stretches, but the water is clearer than at Long Beach. The entry is gentle and the depth builds slowly — good for kids.

Renting a 2–3-bedroom villa with a pool starts at 18 million VND/month (~$720). Hotels start at 1,000,000 VND (~$40) a night. Families with small children, couples after quiet, and long-stayers who come for a month or more love this area.

The downside is obvious: weak infrastructure. No big shops, no nightlife. Without a scooter or regular Grab it is inconvenient to stay here — it is 6–8 km to Duong Dong.

Ganh Dau and VinWonders — entertainment in the north

The northern tip of the island is Vinpearl territory. In recent years an entire ecosystem has grown here: Grand World Phú Quốc (a themed town with Venice-style architecture, evening shows and gondola rides), the VinWonders water park with dozens of rides, a safari park with giraffes, zebras and white tigers, and a huge aquarium.

The beach Bãi Dài stretches for 15 km: fine white sand, clear water, a gentle entry. One of the best on the island. Most of the coast belongs to Vinpearl, but there are public stretches.

Hotels here are 4–5 star: Vinpearl Resort, VinOasis. Prices from 2,500,000 VND (~$100) a night. Great with kids: parks, aquarium, beach — a week's programme without leaving. But it is 25–30 km to Duong Dong, and outside Vinpearl there is nothing at all. The whole area is one big resort complex.

Marina and Duong To — quiet premium

Dương Tơ is the area on the southwest coast between Duong Dong and An Thoi. Modern villas, five-star resorts: InterContinental Long Beach Resort, Novotel. The beaches are long and almost empty — in the morning you can walk for half an hour without meeting a soul. The contrast with the packed northern Long Beach is stark.

This area is for people who came to lie on the beach and not rush anywhere. Rooms from 3,000,000 VND (~$120) a night at the InterContinental, from 2,000,000 VND (~$80) at the Novotel. Outside the resorts there is practically nothing. The nearest shop is a 10–15 minute drive, and there is nowhere to go in the evening. If you want an active trip with daily outings, the Marina is not the best pick.

An Thoi — the south of the island

An Thới is the second-largest settlement on Phu Quoc. This is the port where boats leave for the southern islands (snorkelling, diving, fishing). Nearby is the cable car to Hon Thom island: 7.9 km over the sea, a Guinness record. The cabins run 160 m above the water, and in 15 minutes you reach a separate island with a park and a beach.

Sunset Town is a new promenade zone in a mock-Italian style. A bell tower, colourful façades, photogenic lanes. In the evening the lighting and fountains come on.

The nearby beach Bãi Khem is one of the loveliest on the island: fine floury white sand, turquoise water. The entrance is officially through the JW Marriott grounds, but there is a way around. Premier Residences stands nearby too.

Accommodation in An Thoi is cheaper than in the centre: guesthouses from 300,000–500,000 VND (~$12–20). The downside: few restaurants, quiet in the evenings. But the port is close — you can head out to the islands on a boat trip every day.

Cua Can and the east — for explorers

Cửa Cạn is a former fishing village in the northwest, on the edge of the national park. Mangrove forests along the river, silence, minimal crowds. A few eco-lodges and campsites. This is the area for anyone who wants to wake up to the sound of the jungle rather than scooters.

The east coast is another world. The village of Hàm Ninh is famous for fresh crab and shellfish at prices three times lower than in Duong Dong. A palm-sized crab costs 80,000–120,000 VND (~$3–5). But do not swim here: at low tide the water retreats hundreds of metres, exposing a muddy bottom.

People come here for crab and quiet, not for a beach holiday. There is no tourist infrastructure. Without a scooter there is nothing to do.

Areas at a glance

Tip: if it is your first time on Phu Quoc and you are staying up to a week — pick Duong Dong or the northern end of Long Beach. If you are here for a month — Ong Lang. With kids and a bigger budget — the north, Vinpearl.

Phu Quoc beaches on the map

There are more than 20 beaches on the island, but not all of them are for swimming. The key rule: the west coast is the sunset side, and the water is usable all day. The east has strong tides — the sea retreats so far that swimming is impossible. Almost every resort hotel sits on the west, and that is no coincidence.

Western beaches — the sunset side

All the main resort beaches face west. The sea is calm, the tides minimal. Every evening the sun sets straight into the water, and hundreds of people come down to the shore for it.

Long Beach (Bãi Trường) — 20 km. The island's main beach, but quality depends heavily on the stretch. The best is the northern part, from the Dinh Cau lighthouse to Eden Resort: firm yellow sand, clean water, sun loungers from 50,000 VND (~$2). The middle stretch is building sites and murky water. The southern part, closer to the Marina, is good again but far from town. The sand is yellow, not white — that is normal for Long Beach.

Ong Lang (Bãi Ông Lang) — 4 km. Rocks alternate with sandy coves, and the water is clearer than at Long Beach. Resorts have their own sections with loungers. Public zones are few, but they exist. Good for snorkelling — fish come right up to the rocks by the shore.

Bai Dai (Bãi Dài) — 15 km. Northwest coast, white sand, gentle entry. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Most of the coast is Vinpearl land, but near Ganh Dau village there are public sections. Infrastructure: beach cafés, loungers from 100,000 VND (~$4).

Ganh Dau (Bãi Gành Dầu) — a small beach (500 m) on the northern tip. From the shore you can see Cambodia across the water. Fishing boats, few people, a couple of seafood cafés. Not worth the trip for the beach alone, but a great spot for photos and lunch.

Southern and eastern beaches

The southeast has the two most photogenic beaches on the island. The sand is white, the water turquoise. But it is 30–40 minutes from Duong Dong, so it is very much a half-day trip.

Bai Sao (Bãi Sao) — 28 km from the centre. A postcard beach: floury white sand, coconut palms, water like an advert. On Tripadvisor it rates 4.5 out of 5 across more than 3,000 reviews. But there are catches. Before 10:00 it is beautiful and empty. By lunch the tour buses arrive, vendors appear, and litter shows up on the sand. Travellers report the right-hand side (facing the sea) is cleaner and calmer.

Bai Khem (Bãi Khem) — 25 km from the centre. Arguably the most beautiful beach on Phu Quoc. Fine white sand, clear water, almost no waves. The beach officially belongs to the JW Marriott, but you can get in — look for the path to the left of the hotel gate. Few people even in high season.

Starfish Beach (Bãi Rạch Vẹm) — 20 km from the centre, in the north of the island. Shallow water where red starfish lie on the sandy bottom — dozens, sometimes hundreds. Photogenic, but you must not touch the starfish (there are fines). The last 3 km to the beach are a dirt track — manageable on a scooter, tricky on a bicycle. There are several floating seafood cafés nearby.

Which beach when

In high season (November–March) the best sea is in the west and north. The water is calm, clear, no wind. From April to June is a transitional period — the west coast can get choppy in the afternoon. In the rainy season (July–September) the west sees strong waves, but the southern beaches (Bai Sao, Bai Khem) stay calm.

Every beach in detail, with photos and reviews, is in our Phu Quoc beaches guide.

Where to stay — booking by area

On Phu Quoc, hotel = area. Stay in the Marina and you get an empty beach and silence. Stay in Duong Dong and the night market is five minutes away and the noise runs to midnight. There is no "perfect" option — only the one that suits you.

Budget guesthouses and mini-hotels cluster in Duong Dong and along the northern end of Long Beach — from 400,000–800,000 VND (~$16–32) a night. Search on Booking.com or Agoda — both aggregators work fine on Phu Quoc, and you can pay by card. In the south, in An Thoi, rooms start at 300,000 VND (~$12), but there are few restaurants and shops nearby.

If you are flying in over December–January or for New Year, book 2–3 months ahead. In March–April there are more free rooms and prices drop 20–30%.

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Sights on the map

The interesting places are scattered from north to south. You cannot see them in a day without a scooter: from Grand World to the cable car is 45 minutes. Below is a short map with prices, tied to the areas.

North (Ganh Dau area):

• Grand World (Grand World Phú Quốc) — a themed town with Venice-style architecture. Gondolas, photo spots. Entry is free. Open daily.
• VinWonders — a water park and amusement park with zones for kids and adults. Ticket: 950,000 VND (~$37). Allow at least 4 hours.
• Vinpearl Safari — an open-type zoo, 200+ animal species. Giraffes, zebras, white tigers. Ticket: 850,000 VND (~$33). Best in the morning, before it gets hot.
• Starfish Beach — free, but the last 3 km are a dirt track.

Centre (Duong Dong area):

• Night market — grilled seafood, pearls, souvenirs. Daily 18:00–23:30. Crab: from 150,000 VND (~$6) a piece.
• National park — 31,422 ha of tropical forest, trekking routes from 2 to 8 hours. Free entry.
• Pearl farm — free to visit; for pearl prices see our Phu Quoc pearl guide.
• Dinh Cau lighthouse — a small temple on a rock at the harbour mouth. A postcard sunset view.

South (An Thoi area):

• Cable car — 7.9 km over the sea (a Guinness record). The cabins climb to 160 m, with views of the southern islands. Check the current ticket price with Sun World before you go.
• Sunset Town — a promenade zone with a replica Italian bell tower, fountains and evening lights. This is where the evening "Kiss of the Sea" show runs.
• Southern islands — an archipelago of 18 islets. Snorkelling, diving, fishing. A boat trip from 500,000 VND (~$20).

Opening hours, current ticket prices and reviews are in our Phu Quoc attractions guide.

Navigation — which maps work on Phu Quoc

Google Maps is the one navigator that works properly on Phu Quoc. Roads, hotels, restaurants, travel times — it is all there, and much of it is in English. Download the offline map before you go: mobile data drops out in the north of the island and in the national park. In the mountains the signal can vanish for half an hour. Keep Organic Maps or Maps.me as an offline backup — both work with no connection and show tracks that Google misses.

It helps to save a few key coordinates in advance — you can route to them even offline: central Duong Dong is 10.217, 103.960; the airport 10.170, 103.993; the An Thoi cable-car station 10.043, 104.017; Bai Sao 10.058, 104.037; Grand World 10.325, 103.858.

How to download the Google Maps offline map: open the app → menu (three lines) → "Offline maps" → "Select your own map" → frame the whole of Phu Quoc island → "Download." Size: about 50 MB.

Getting between areas

To call a taxi, use Grab — the local equivalent of Uber. The other big player is Xanh SM, electric taxis and bikes: fares are often lower and the cars are newer. Both apps work on the island and show the fare before you ride, and both take cash or a linked card. Drivers arrive in 5–10 minutes in Duong Dong and 15–20 minutes in outlying areas. For rentals, fares and the finer points, see our Phu Quoc transport guide.

Scooter rental is 150,000–200,000 VND/day (~$6–8). You need a category A1 or A licence: an International Driving Permit under the 1968 Convention is valid only together with your national licence. Wear a helmet too: police on Phu Quoc do fine you for riding without one.

Car rental starts at 800,000 VND/day (~$32). You need an International Driving Permit together with your national licence. Cars are rarely taken — the island is compact, and a scooter is faster and easier.

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