An independent guide to Phu Quoc island
Plan · Arrival
Getting to Phu Quoc
There are two ways onto the island: a flight into Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC), or a boat from the mainland ports of Rach Gia or Ha Tien to Bai Vong on the east coast. Which suits you depends on where you start, which visa rules apply to you, and the month.
- airport code; opened 2 Dec 2012
- PQC
- fast boat from Ha Tien
- ~1 h 15
- fast boat from Rach Gia
- ~2 h 20
- island-only visa exemption
- 30 days
Flying in
The present airport opened at midnight on 2 December 2012 in the former Duong To commune, about 7 km south of Duong Dong, replacing the old airstrip in town. Since 1 January 2026 it has been operated by the Phu Quoc branch of Mat Troi Airport JSC, a Sun Group company, under licences issued in December 2025.
The airport's own route list, dated 14 September 2026, names direct domestic flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Can Tho, Hue, Vinh, Buon Ma Thuot, Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong. Internationally the same page lists Seoul and Busan, Taipei and Kaohsiung, and routes from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, plus charter flights from New Delhi and from several other markets. Several of those routes were described as planned, with start months during 2026, so check the airline's own schedule rather than the list.
Sources: Nong nghiep & Moi truong — new airport opens (2 Dec 2012); Dai bieu Nhan dan — airport operator from 2026 (Dec 2025); Phu Quoc International Airport — direct-flight network (14 Sep 2026) · checked .
Flight times and the airport works
| From | Approximate flight time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City | about 1 hour | Vietnam Airlines airport guide |
| Hanoi | about 2 hours 5 minutes | Vietnam Airlines airport guide |
| Da Nang | about 1 hour 45 minutes | Vietjet route page |
| Hai Phong | about 2 hours 5 minutes | Vietjet route page |
Sources differ on the distance: the 2012 opening report gives about 7 km from Duong Dong, while Vietnam Airlines' guide gives 10 to 14 km from the centre of Duong Dong. VnExpress's travel handbook puts the drive to the island's centre at about 15 minutes; allow longer for hotels in the far north or south.
The airport is being expanded for APEC 2027: a second runway of 3,300 m and a new terminal. VietnamPlus (August 2026) gave April 2027 as the target for operation, while a draft government resolution reported by Dai bieu Nhan dan listed March 2027. Sources differ, so expect construction around the terminal into 2027.
Sources: Nong nghiep & Moi truong — new airport opens (2 Dec 2012); Vietnam Airlines — Phu Quoc airport guide; VnExpress — Phu Quoc travel handbook; Vietjet — flights to Phu Quoc; VietnamPlus — airport expansion timeline (8 Aug 2026); Dai bieu Nhan dan — APEC 2027 works and deadlines (Aug 2026) · checked .
By boat from Rach Gia or Ha Tien
Fast passenger boats and slower car ferries run from two mainland towns: Rach Gia, now in An Giang province, and Ha Tien, near the Cambodian border. Both arrive at Bai Vong, a port on Phu Quoc's east coast, not in Duong Dong. The timetables below were read on the operators' own websites on 12 October 2026. Other fast-boat brands also run these crossings; a VinWonders guide from July 2025 names Phu Quoc Express, Superdong, Ngoc Thanh and Hoa Binh Seabus.
| Route | Service | Departures to Phu Quoc | Crossing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ha Tien to Bai Vong | Superdong fast boat | 06:10, 08:20, 09:50, 13:00 | about 1 h 15 |
| Rach Gia to Bai Vong | Superdong fast boat | 07:00, 07:55, 10:30, 13:10 | about 2 h 20 to 2 h 30 |
| Ha Tien to Bai Vong | Thanh Thoi car ferry | several, from 03:45 to 18:00 | about 2 h 40 to 3 h |
| Rach Gia to Bai Vong | Thanh Thoi car ferry | 06:45, 10:45, 14:45 | about 3 h |
Thanh Thoi listed these fares on 12 October 2026, with no effective date: from Ha Tien, VND 205,000 per adult, VND 95,000 for a moped and VND 1,000,000 for a four-seat car; from Rach Gia, VND 315,000 per adult, VND 165,000 for a moped and VND 1,500,000 for a four-seat car. Superdong lists a shuttle bus from Bai Vong to its Duong Dong ticket office at VND 40,000. Thanh Thoi's page still shows the pre-2025 address “Huyen Phu Quoc, Tinh Kien Giang”.
Times and fares change with the season and the weather. Confirm with the operator on the day; this site does not sell tickets.
Sources: Superdong — Rach Gia and Ha Tien routes to Phu Quoc; Thanh Thoi car ferry — timetable for 12 Oct 2026 and fares; VinWonders guide — boats to Phu Quoc (Jul 2025) · checked .
When the boats stop
Crossings are cancelled in bad weather in both monsoons. On 20 November 2025, Tuoi Tre reported, fast boats from Rach Gia and Ha Tien stopped when the north-east monsoon brought gusts of force 7 to 8 and waves of 1.5 to 2.5 m. On 13 July 2024, in the south-west monsoon, all boats and ferries on both routes were suspended; on a normal day the routes carried about 70 sailings, according to Nguoi Lao Dong.
If you are crossing by boat to catch a flight elsewhere, or arriving by boat from a flight, keep a spare day in between.
Sources: Tuoi Tre — fast boats suspended in the north-east monsoon (20 Nov 2025); Nguoi Lao Dong — all boats to Phu Quoc suspended (13 Jul 2024) · checked .
Visa: the 30-day Phu Quoc exemption
Law 51/2019/QH14 allows visa-free entry to a coastal economic zone that has an international airport and is physically separate from the mainland, with a 30-day stay. Government Resolution 80/NQ-CP of 25 May 2020 applied this to Phu Quoc from 1 July 2020.
The airport's guidance, read on 12 October 2026, describes the conditions this way: you enter Phu Quoc directly from abroad by air or sea, or you transit at another Vietnamese border gate while staying in its international transit area and continue to Phu Quoc; the stay is up to 30 days from entry; and it applies only within Phu Quoc. To travel on to other parts of Vietnam you need a visa. Vietnam Airlines adds a passport valid for at least six months and an onward ticket within the 30 days.
Some travel guides say any domestic leg before Phu Quoc disqualifies you. If your ticket involves a change of plane in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, ask the airline how the transfer is handled before you rely on the exemption.
We found no 2025 or 2026 official text restating Resolution 80/NQ-CP for the new special zone; the airport and airlines still describe the exemption as current.
Sources: Law 51/2019/QH14 — text on Thu Vien Phap Luat; Resolution 80/NQ-CP of 25 May 2020 — LuatVietnam; Phu Quoc International Airport — visa guidance; Vietnam Airlines — Phu Quoc visa guide · checked .
If you also visit the mainland
Vietnam issues e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories, valid for up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, under Resolution 127/NQ-CP from 15 August 2023. The government e-visa portal moved to evisa.gov.vn in November 2024. Apply only on the official portal.
Citizens of some countries do not need a visa for shorter stays anywhere in Vietnam. Resolution 44/NQ-CP gives 45 days to Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028. Resolution 229/NQ-CP gives 45 days for tourism to Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028. Bilateral exemptions are listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sources: Viet Nam News — e-visas for all nationalities (15 Aug 2023); VisasNews — new official e-visa portal (8 Nov 2024); Government news portal — Resolution 44/NQ-CP (7 Mar 2025); Government policy portal — Resolution 229/NQ-CP (Aug 2025); Ministry of Foreign Affairs — bilateral visa exemptions list · checked .
When each option is a bad idea
- The boat in rough weather. Crossings are cancelled on rough days in both monsoons, as in November 2025 and July 2024. If the forecast is poor, fly instead.
- The boat on a tight connection. Bai Vong is on the opposite coast from Duong Dong and the airport is south of town; allow time for the transfer as well as delays.
- The 30-day exemption with a domestic leg. If your route involves landing in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and passing through immigration there, you need a visa or a nationwide exemption.
- A late-night arrival with a hotel in the far north or south. Ride-hailing is thinner away from Duong Dong and Long Beach at night; arrange a transfer with your hotel.
Once you are on the island, our getting around page covers taxis, buses and motorbike licences.
Common questions
Questions readers send
Can I use the 30-day Phu Quoc exemption if I connect through Ho Chi Minh City?
Only if you stay in the international transit area and continue to Phu Quoc without passing immigration, according to the airport's guidance.
If you clear immigration in Ho Chi Minh City, you need a visa or a nationwide exemption.
Where do boats from the mainland arrive?
At Bai Vong port on the east coast. Superdong lists a shuttle bus from the port to its Duong Dong ticket office.
Can I bring a car or a motorbike to the island?
Yes, on a car ferry. Thanh Thoi lists fares for mopeds and cars on its Ha Tien and Rach Gia crossings; check with the operator before you go.
Can I stay longer than 30 days on the exemption?
No. The exemption is up to 30 days and covers Phu Quoc only. For a longer stay or for travel elsewhere in Vietnam, apply for an e-visa.
Related
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Plan · Climate
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Dry and wet monsoons, a month-by-month chart, rainfall averages and which coast to choose.
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Region · East coast
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Independent travel guide · not a government office
Phu Quoc island guide
Start here: what the island is, its four regions, its seasons and how to reach it.
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