Leisurely Exploring Phu Quoc Island: 5 Days and 4 Nights

First of all, I’m truly grateful to have made it to Phu Quoc Island safely, especially since a super typhoon was forecasted to hit on the day of departure. 🙏🏻

I love sunshine and beaches ☀️🏖 even though I can’t swim 🤣. Since it was my first time visiting Phu Quoc Island, I did a lot of research online and asked friends for recommendations beforehand. However, instead of staying at a luxurious hotel, I opted for a small resort.

📍 Address: Canaan Beach Resort
🏖️ Environment/Facilities: Just step outside the door, and you’ll see the beach. Every night, you can hear the sound of waves. Although the facilities can’t compare to those of a hotel—there’s no large TV, swimming pool, or smart appliances—the basics are all there. Coming from a fast-paced and stressful city life, I found the tranquility here truly appealing. Let’s relax 😌.
💞 Why I recommend it: This resort just opened this year, and its simple and minimalist design is exactly my style. The price is super affordable, and the location is convenient—it’s only a 12-15 minute drive from the airport, and most attractions are about 30 minutes away by car, whether heading north or south. Plus, it’s just a 7-8 minute walk to the large supermarket KINGKONG MART. There are many restaurants and massage places nearby. The owner is a lovely young lady who speaks Mandarin and English, so communication is no problem.

🗓️ Itinerary: Day 1 – Phu Quoc United Center
Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by the grandeur of Bamboo Legend. After taking some photos, I bought a ticket at the entrance to ride the gondola. There are options for one-way or round-trip tickets. From the moment you step onto the gondola, you’ll feel the romantic atmosphere as you slowly admire the European-style architecture on both sides, making you feel like you’re in Venice ❤️. The gondolier was very enthusiastic, even helping with photos and guiding poses 😅. At sunset, there are musical and laser performances 👍🏻. Families can bring kids to the Teddy Bear Museum. The area has many dining options, including seafood, Western, and Korean restaurants, though they’re relatively pricey since it’s a tourist area. After dinner, you can relax with a massage 😌 at a reasonable price or stroll around to take photos, check in, or shop for souvenirs. I bought some fruits and drinks before heading back 😊.
💞 Why I recommend it: Unique attractions, spectacular live performances, and it’s open 24 hours, so there’s no rush 😂.

🗓️ Itinerary: Day 2 – Overwater Cable Car
This was the part of the trip I was most looking forward to 😊. After all, it’s the world’s longest overwater cable car. As the cable car ascends, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the endless ocean. The ride takes about 20 minutes to reach the park (I bought a package ticket that includes round-trip cable car rides, water park access, and admission to Kiss Bridge). Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate—it started raining heavily 🥲. After a brief visit, I returned. Despite the rain, I managed to visit Kiss Bridge, which offers stunning sea views. On sunny days, it’s a great spot to watch the sunset. For better photos of Kiss Bridge, I recommend heading to the beach in the nearby town. Since the rain disrupted my plans, I couldn’t explore Sunset Town and instead went to the large supermarket KINGKONG MART 😜. If you spend over 5 million VND, you’ll get an 8% discount coupon for KINGKONG Coffee. Don’t worry—you’ll definitely exceed that amount 🤭. After shopping, I enjoyed a cup of coffee to relax 🥰.
💞 Why I recommend it: The cable car ride is awe-inspiring, and the water park is great for both adults and kids.
➡️ Tips: If you plan to visit the water park, take the cable car early. The park closes at 4:30 PM, and the last cable car departs at 5:00 PM. If you miss the 11:30 AM cable car, you’ll have to wait until 1:30 PM for the next one.

🗓️ Itinerary: Day 3 – Duong Dong Town Night Market
Duong Dong Town is an old city area reminiscent of Bangkok’s Chinatown. The town is filled with markets, grocery stores, and old shops. The night market starts daily at 4 PM and features many seafood restaurants, fruit vendors, local snacks, massage parlors, and shops selling handicrafts.
➡️ Tips: If you’re ordering seafood, choose items from the fish tanks rather than those stored in ice water, as you won’t know how long they’ve been there 😩. Also, the cooking style for grilled seafood at the night market often includes lots of scallions and peanuts. Grilled oysters will have cheese added by default, so if you’re allergic to nuts or don’t like scallions or cheese, make sure to specify 🙏🏻.

🗓️ Itinerary: Day 4 – A Packed Day
I joined a local tour, which initially planned to visit four attractions. However, the guide added stops at a pearl exhibition center, a winery, a pepper farm, and a fish sauce factory. While these are sales points, there’s no pressure to buy 😊. The highlights were definitely White Sand Beach and Sunset Town (finally made it here 😭). The guide arranged lunch at White Sand Beach, which was self-funded but worth it—the beach was stunning, and dining by the sea was refreshing 👍🏻. The last stop was Sunset Town, a must-visit for photography enthusiasts. Every corner is a photo spot. If you have time, consider having dinner in the town, as some restaurants offer views of the nightly fireworks display. It’s best to book in advance, though the fireworks start around 9 PM. I didn’t stay until evening, but I hope to catch the show next time ❤️.

🗓️ Itinerary: Day 5 – Departure
It’s time to say goodbye to this beautiful island nation, but I’m sure I’ll return.
➡️ Tips for visiting Phu Quoc Island:
📌 Best time to visit: November to April, as it’s not the rainy season. The weather during my trip was quite unstable, with sudden rain even when the sun was shining, and at times, strong winds and heavy rain 😖.
📌 Bring enough cash, as Alipay isn’t accepted anywhere, and credit card usage isn’t widespread.
📌 Use Grab for transportation 🚙🚗 as it’s safe and has transparent pricing. Taxis often charge “seafood prices” 😣.

Phu Quoc Island is a place I’ve fallen in love with. It’s affordable, offers both relaxation and activities, and is suitable for travelers aged 3 to 80. If you haven’t been, start planning your trip 😜.

Due to photo limitations, I couldn’t include everything 🙏🏻.