Useful Phu Quoc tips

Transport and getting around

VinBus routes 17, 19 and 20: since 1 January 2026, the standard fare is VND 20,000 within one zone or to an adjacent zone, and VND 50,000 for a full journey. An eligible VinWonders, Safari or Grand World ticket may qualify for a free QR-code ride: confirm eligibility and conditions with the carrier before boarding.^1,2

Keep Grab’s service quirks in mind: when booking through the app, a Grab driver sometimes stops 150-300 metres from the selected location across the road, so follow the car’s movement on the map.²

Rent electric motorbikes if you do not have category A: riding electric scooters and small motorcycles up to 50 cc does not require an international category A driving permit.^1,2,3

Remember the strict fines for riding without a licence: riding a petrol motorcycle without a category A licence incurs a fine of 2 to 8 million dong, plus a fine for the owner for renting out the vehicle.^1,2,3

Stay completely sober when driving: Vietnam applies a “zero blood alcohol” rule; any alcohol when driving risks a fine of up to 8 million dong and impoundment of the motorbike.²

Always wear a helmet: police checkpoints most often stop riders without helmets; while riding, observe a 40 km/h speed limit and keep to the right lane.^1,2

Do not leave original passports as a deposit: when renting a motorbike, provide a passport copy or cash deposit so you are not left without documents.²

Use your horn: on Vietnamese roads, honking is used to warn others of a manoeuvre rather than out of aggression.²

Money and bank cards

Bring new USD 100 notes: jewellery shops and exchange points offer rates 1-2% better for new-design notes than for old banknotes.^1,2

Withdraw without fees at VPBank ATMs: VPBank ATMs do not charge their own cash-withdrawal fee for international cards.²

Use UnionPay cards: UnionPay cards, such as Rosselkhozbank cards, are accepted at many supermarkets, amusement park ticket offices and BIDV or MB Bank ATMs.^1,2

Use online exchange with delivery: a convenient way to obtain dong is to transfer roubles to money changers, receiving cash by courier or through an ATM code.

Account for withdrawal limits: most ATMs dispense 3 to 5 million dong per transaction.²

Bring backup cards and withdraw inside banks: street ATMs may sometimes retain a card, so withdrawing at bank-branch terminals is safer.²

Connectivity and mobile internet

Do not buy airport SIMs for a long stay: airport and street outlets often sell SIMs registered in other people’s names, which will be blocked after a couple of weeks.²

Register your SIM with your passport at an official shop: for a long stay, buy a passport-registered card at Viettel, Mobifone or Vinaphone shops.²

Choose plans with a daily gigabyte allowance: a package with 2-4 GB per day is optimal, as operators have no truly unlimited plans without speed restrictions.^1,2

Buy an eSIM through or Airalo: an electronic SIM is convenient to activate using free airport Wi-Fi immediately on arrival.^1,2

Enter the APN access point manually: if an eSIM does not connect to the network immediately, check the instructions and enter the APN name manually in your smartphone settings.²

Health and safety

Avoid ice in street drinks: drinks and smoothies with ice made from unfiltered water are a common cause of digestive illness.²

Carry adsorbents and electrolytes: keep Enterosgel, Polysorb, activated charcoal and Regidron in your first-aid kit.^1,3

Wipe cutlery with antiseptic: before eating in street cafés, wipe spoons, forks and chopsticks with disinfectant wipes.¹

Control seafood portions: overeating crab, prawns and oysters can cause protein poisoning, whose symptoms resemble poisoning.^1,3

Beware of sand fleas on wild beaches: sandflies live in surf debris on uncleaned shores and leave itchy blisters.^1,2

Protect your room from ants: use mosquito spray around the bed’s perimeter and do not leave open food or sweet fruit on tables.^2,3

Treat sea urchin punctures with vinegar: if you accidentally step on an urchin, pour vinegar over the puncture to help the spines dissolve more quickly.^1,3

Drink only bottled water: use bottled water even for brushing teeth and washing fruit.¹

Food and dining venues

Choose places with many local customers: cafés popular with locals guarantee the freshness of daily seafood deliveries.¹

Take care with meat at the Night Market: beef at night markets is often tough, so fresh seafood and fish are better choices there.^1,2

Try grilled duck near Sunset Sanato: one of the best places for street-grilled duck is the market opposite Sunset Sanato.¹

Buy fresh fish from fishermen at the pier: the freshest fish and prawns are sold directly from boats at the pier around 15:30.^1,2

Keep track of time at seafood buffets: for a fixed fee of around 200-400 thousand dong, you can grill seafood yourself at buffets.^1,2

Remember that fish is often overcooked: local cuisine favours thoroughly frying fish, so ask for moderate cooking when ordering.²

Try Chou Chou peanuts: a popular edible Night Market souvenir is sweet-glazed peanuts in dozens of flavours.

Beaches and nature

Split your stay between 2-3 locations: to see different parts of the island, spend 3-4 days in the north (Grand World / VinWonders) and 3-4 days in the south (Sunset Town / Khem).²

Do not take starfish out of the water: at Rạch Vẹm (Rach Vem) (Starfish Beach), starfish instantly suffocate and die in air.^1,3

Set off for Starfish Beach before 09:00: a morning visit lets you avoid daytime heat, tourist crowds and murky water.^1,2

Bargain with Rạch Vẹm (Rach Vem) boat operators: do not pay more than 100-200 thousand dong per person for a speedboat trip to distant sections of Starfish Beach.^1,2

Choose swimming in the first half of the day: by lunchtime, tidal currents often bring floating rubbish and seaweed towards the coast.²

Visit Thác Suối Tranh (Suoi Tranh Waterfall) in the rainy season: from January to April, the mountain waterfall almost completely dries up.^1,2

Follow the Chùa Hộ Quốc (Ho Quoc Pagoda) dress code: shoulders and knees must be fully covered when visiting the temple complex.^1,2

Use a waterproof phone case: on beaches and sea trips, keep your smartphone in a sealed waterproof case.

Entertainment and shopping

Split VinWonders and Safari visits over two days: visiting the amusement park and safari park in one day is very tiring; a 2-day combo ticket is better.^1,2

Bring your own towels to VinWonders water park: towel, locker and lounger hire is charged separately, so bring a towel from your hotel.²

Do not waste time on commercial farm tours: pearl and pepper farms take tourists into expensive shops, while pepper and pearls are cheaper at the market or King Kong.^1,2

Buy basic groceries and souvenirs at King Kong: King Kong Mart supermarket sells everything from cosmetics and spices to clothing at fixed prices.^1,2

Buy souvenirs and fruit on Phu Quoc before departing: souvenirs and fruit are considerably more expensive at Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi airports.^1,2