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Phu Quy Island is located in Binh Thuan province, about 120 km from the mainland. This beautiful island previously had an area of about 21 square kilometers.2; with approximately 33,000 inhabitants, but now only about 16 km remain due to erosion.2.
The island has three communes: Tam Thanh, Ngu Phung, and Long Hai. Tam Thanh is the commune with the passenger port and the most developed economic center of the island district. Ngu Phung is the administrative area in the middle of the island, and Long Hai is at the back, quite far from the center. Tourists visiting the island usually stay in the Tam Thanh area.
The island is small but very clean, the roads are spacious and mostly paved with concrete, although there are still some sections of gravel and red earth roads under construction.
Phu Quy Island is suitable for short trips, first-time visitors, and those who want to explore tourist attractions at a relaxed pace and take Instagram-worthy photos. However, the island still offers many interesting activities if you want to stay for a few days, such as: night squid fishing, catching crabs with the locals, and going out to sea on fishing boats to see dolphins. Visit the island on the 15th or 1st day of the lunar month to see shallow coral reefs when the tide recedes...
It's best to visit the island in the first half of the year because the weather is at its best during this time. From July onwards is the rainy and stormy season, making it difficult and quite dangerous to get to the island.
It's best to visit the island on weekdays rather than weekends. Because the island is a popular tourist destination, there are hundreds of thousands of visitors on weekends. This will help avoid long queues for photos and crowded restaurants. On weekdays, the roads are clean and there are only a few locals walking around.
How to get to Phu Quy Island
The only way to reach Phu Quy Island is by ferry. From Saigon, take a bus near the port and then take a ferry to Phan Thiet port. From Hanoi, fly to Phan Thiet and then take a taxi to the port. Note that there are two ports in this area, so be sure to ask which one is the ferry terminal for Phu Quy.
Phu Quy Island is located about 120 km from the mainland, taking approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours by boat. Currently, there are three passenger ferries that transport tourists to the island: Superdong, Phu Quy Express, and Hung Phat.
One more thing to note: tickets to the island are very scarce, especially on weekends and during peak tourist season, so you usually have to book several days in advance. Not only are there few tickets for the outbound trip, but tickets for the return trip are also limited, so book early to avoid being stranded on the island because there are no boats back.
Tourist attractions on Phu Quy Island
The island has nearly 20 attractions, scattered around like a treasure map. If you're worried about planning your itinerary, rest assured that the enthusiastic homestay owners will guide you in the smartest and most logical way possible.
The tourist attractions are divided into two clusters. The first cluster includes: the Teacher's Tomb, the fish pond, Phu Quy wind farm, Linh Son Pagoda, and Cao Cat Mountain. The second cluster includes: Trieu Duong Bay, Phuot Slope, Phu Quy Flagpole, Bai Nho Beach, Ganh Hang Cliff, and Vo Cuc Lake.
Besides sightseeing, don't forget to swim in the sea; the island's water is very clean and crystal clear. The island also offers incredibly exciting snorkeling and coral viewing experiences.
Snorkeling tours around Phu Quy Island are quite affordable, only about 250,000 VND per person. You can register directly with your homestay/hotel; they will help you contact a boat operator to join a group or rent a boat and take you directly to the mooring point at the harbor.
There are two fixed time slots for island tours, morning or afternoon. You can choose either time, but it's best to inform the agency in advance so they can arrange and group you with others. Included services on the tour: fishing, swimming at Hon Tranh beach, snorkeling at Vung Phat and Bai Nho beaches. Guests will be provided with snorkeling masks (snorkels are not included), life vests, and a tour guide.
It's a bit sad that many of the coral reefs near the shore have died. There are reefs further out, but they're a bit dangerous, so you'll need to talk to the canoe owner to see if venturing further is feasible.
Cuisine on Phu Quy Island
Breakfast on Phu Quy Island can start with the familiar beef stir-fry. If you wake up early, visit Tam Thanh Market. There you'll find many delicious and inexpensive local dishes. For those who love snacks, there are stalls selling sweet soups, fruit smoothies, and grilled rice paper snacks.
Seafood is definitely a must-try when visiting Phu Quy Island. Locals affirm that the seafood here is farmed in a very clean and high-quality manner. Some popular choices include: red crab, rock crab, moon crab, jumping snails, hand snails, squid, grouper, snapper, and lobster.
For those who want to save money, you can buy seafood and cook it yourself. You can ask the host to cook a meal for you; they'll prepare a seafood meal with your choices, which is delicious and saves you from having to go far. If you want to personally select the best seafood, you can wake up at 5 am and go to the fish port to buy it, then freeze it and cook it at lunchtime.
