An independent guide to Phu Quoc island
Plan · On the island
Getting around the island
Phu Quoc is about 50 km from north to south, and much of what visitors come for lies near the ends: beaches and the cable car in the south, forest and the safari park in the north. Distances look short on a map but add up over a day, so choose where to sleep before choosing how to move.
- island length
- ~50 km
- licence class for scooters up to 125 cc
- A1
- currency for fares
- VND
Distances from Duong Dong
Duong Dong, on the west coast roughly halfway down the island, is the usual reference point. The figures below are the distances given by official or press sources, not measured routes; expect a few kilometres either way depending on where in town you start.
| Place | Area | From Duong Dong | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport (PQC) | Former Duong To commune | sources differ: about 7 km (2012 report); 10 to 14 km (Vietnam Airlines) | Nong nghiep & Moi truong; Vietnam Airlines |
| Cua Can beach | North-west | about 6 km | An Giang tourism department |
| Suoi Tranh stream | Former Duong To commune | about 10 km | An Giang tourism department |
| Ham Ninh village | East coast | 14 to 15 km | Vietnam Airlines |
| VinWonders | North-west | about 25 km | VinWonders |
| Bai Sao | South-east | about 25 km | An Giang tourism department |
| Bai Khem | South-east | about 25 km | Bao Van Hoa (2018) |
| Ganh Dau cape | Northern tip | about 30 km | VnExpress (2021) |
| Rach Vem village | North coast | more than 40 km | VnExpress |
Road works for APEC 2027 add time: provincial road DT975, about 18 km long, is being widened to ten lanes with a target of the first quarter of 2027, according to Tien Phong (May 2026).
Sources: Nong nghiep & Moi truong — new airport opens (2 Dec 2012); Vietnam Airlines — Phu Quoc airport guide; An Giang tourism department — Cua Can beach; An Giang tourism department — Suoi Tranh; Vietnam Airlines — Ham Ninh fishing village guide; VinWonders — location and distances (Jul 2025); An Giang tourism department — Bai Sao; Bao Van Hoa — Bai Kem in southern Phu Quoc (Nov 2018); VnExpress — Ganh Dau cape (20 May 2021); VnExpress — forest road to Rach Vem village; Tien Phong — APEC 2027 project progress (8 May 2026) · checked .
Taxis and ride-hailing
Metered taxis are the simplest way around. Brands seen on the island include Mai Linh, Vinasun, Nam Thang and the electric Xanh SM fleet, which started on Phu Quoc in 2023 with 100 VinFast cars, Bao Van Hoa reported. Grab works mainly as GrabCar around Duong Dong and Long Beach; LocalVietnam (April 2026) found it thin in the north, at remote beaches and late at night, and GrabBike uncommon.
Prices in Vietnam must be quoted and paid in Vietnamese dong; paying in foreign currency is against the foreign-exchange rules, Tuoi Tre News has reported. We do not list taxi fares because we found no dated official tariff; meters and ride-hailing apps show the price.
- For a remote beach or the forest, agree the return pick-up time before the driver leaves, or keep the driver's number.
- From the boat port at Bai Vong, Superdong lists a shuttle bus to Duong Dong.
- Carry small notes for taxis and market stalls.
Sources: LocalVietnam — taxis and Grab on Phu Quoc (Apr 2026); Bao Van Hoa — electric taxis start on Phu Quoc (Jul 2023); Tuoi Tre News — paying in foreign currency is illegal (Oct 2018); Superdong — Rach Gia and Ha Tien routes to Phu Quoc · checked .
Buses
VinBus electric buses serve the north-west. A VinWonders guide from December 2025 lists route 17 between the airport and Grand World, route 19 linking the InterContinental area, the airport and Grand World, and route 20 between Grand World and Bai Vong port. At that time the guide described them as free on showing a VinWonders, Safari or Grand World ticket, which staff scan to issue a QR ticket. The guide is published by the theme-park operator, so check the current rules before you rely on it.
We could not confirm a public provincial bus network for the rest of the island, so plan on taxis outside the north-west.
Sources: VinWonders guide — VinBus routes in the north (Dec 2025) · checked .
Renting a motorbike: the licence question
Scooter rental is common, but the legal position for visitors is strict. Under the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety 2024, in force since 1 January 2025, class A1 covers motorcycles up to 125 cc or electric motorcycles up to 11 kW; anything larger needs class A.
A foreigner holding an international driving permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention must carry that permit together with a national licence valid for the same class of vehicle (Article 57, clause 8, as summarised by a provincial legal-information portal). If your home licence covers cars only, a permit based on it does not cover a scooter, and you would be riding without a valid licence.
Check whether your travel insurance pays out for motorbike accidents when you do not hold a licence for that vehicle class.
- Roads in the north and to some streams are red dirt that turns slippery after rain.
- Expect construction traffic in the south, where the APEC convention centre is being built at Bai Dat Do.
- Wear a helmet, ride in daylight on unfamiliar roads, and do not carry children on a rented scooter.
Sources: Thai Nguyen legal-information portal — licence classes from 1 Jan 2025; Thai Nguyen legal-information portal — international driving permits under the 2024 law · checked .
Boats to the islets
Boats to the An Thoi islands leave from An Thoi port at the southern tip; the cable car to Hon Thom starts in An Thoi too. Both are covered on the south and An Thoi islands page.
One rule matters before you board. After a tourist canoe capsized on 11 July 2026, the special zone required on 14 July that canoes be registered and inspected, carry life jackets and rescue gear, not carry more people than permitted, and not leave port in bad weather. Several operators paused island canoe trips from 12 July while vessels were reviewed, VnEconomy reported.
Sources: Tuoi Tre — special zone tightens canoe rules (14 Jul 2026); VnEconomy — island canoe trips paused for review (13 Jul 2026) · checked .
Choosing a base by how you move
No licence, no car
Stay in Duong Dong or along Long Beach, where taxis and Grab are easiest and the airport is close.
Theme parks and safari
The north-west resort area has its own buses and is self-contained, but far from the south.
Beaches and islands
Stay in the south near An Thoi or Bai Khem if you plan several boat or cable-car days.
Quiet and forest
The east and north suit people who hire a car with a driver by the day.
When renting a motorbike is a bad idea
If you do not hold a motorcycle licence valid for the bike you rent, do not ride; the legal and insurance risk falls on you. It is also a poor choice in the wet months on dirt roads, at night outside town, and on the busy southern roads during construction. Hiring a car with a driver for a day costs more but removes all three problems.
For weather that affects the roads and the sea, see weather and seasons.
Common questions
Questions readers send
Is Grab available everywhere on Phu Quoc?
Mostly around Duong Dong and Long Beach. In the north, at remote beaches and late at night there may be no car nearby; metered taxis or a driver booked through your hotel are the fallback.
Can I ride a scooter with my car driving licence?
No. Vietnamese law requires a licence for the motorcycle class you ride. With an international permit, you must also carry a home licence valid for the same class.
How long does it take from the airport to Duong Dong?
VnExpress's handbook gives about 15 minutes to the island's centre. Sources differ on the distance: about 7 km in a 2012 report, 10 to 14 km in Vietnam Airlines' guide.
Can I pay taxis in US dollars?
Fares should be quoted and paid in Vietnamese dong. Carry dong for taxis and small purchases.
Related
Read next
Plan · Arrival
Getting there
Flights into PQC, boats from Rach Gia and Ha Tien, and how the 30-day island visa exemption works.
View journey
Region · West coast
Duong Dong and Long Beach
The main town, Dinh Cau shrine, the markets and Long Beach, with who should stay here.
View journey
Region · South
South and An Thoi islands
Bai Sao and Bai Khem, the An Thoi islets, the Hon Thom cable car, the prison site and boat safety.
View journey
Region · North
North and national park
The national park, Ganh Dau cape, Bai Dai, Rach Vem and the north-west resort coast.
View journey
Plan · Responsible travel
Responsible travel
Coral and seagrass, boat safety rules from July 2026, rubbish, the national park, swimming safety and fair prices.
View journeyStart planning
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