Phu Quy Island: How to Get There and What to Do

Phu Quy island is a small, quiet island in the South China Sea off Phan Thiet, reached by a high-speed boat of about two and a half to four hours, with clear water, coral, wind turbines on green hills and very few foreign visitors. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog explains how to get there, what to do, when to go and how to combine it with Mui Ne.

Phu Quy is a remote trip, so it suits travelers with a few spare days on the south-central coast. If you need a visa for Vietnam, apply for a Vietnam e-visa online before you go.

Phu Quy at a glance:

How to get to Phu Quy island

To get to Phu Quy island, take a high-speed boat from Phan Thiet port. Several operators run the route from Phan Thiet to Phu Quy, and newer, larger boats have shortened the trip, according to Vietnam's tourism authority.

Crossing times range from about two and a half to four hours, depending on the boat and the sea. Book tickets ahead, especially on weekends and holidays, and bring motion-sickness tablets if you are sensitive. Phan Thiet is about two and a half to three hours from Ho Chi Minh City by road.

Things to do

Phu Quy is about simple island days: snorkeling, viewpoints, seafood and scooter rides between villages. The island is small enough to circle in a few hours.

Climb Cao Cat peak, a low hill with Linh Son pagoda and views over the coast and the wind turbines. Take a small boat to Hon Tranh, an islet with clear water and coral for snorkeling. Spend the rest of your time on quiet beaches and eating grilled seafood in the evening.

The island's fishing villages are worth a slow ride: boats unload in the early morning, and small temples honor whale spirits, an old belief among coastal fishing communities in central and southern Vietnam. Sunrise and sunset are the best times for photos of the wind turbines on the green hills. Shops and ATMs are limited, so bring cash, sunscreen and snorkeling gear from the mainland.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Phu Quy is roughly February to July, when the sea is calmer and boats run more reliably. Visibility for snorkeling is usually good in these months. Days are hot and sunny, so plan walks and viewpoints for early morning and late afternoon.

From about August to November, storms can stop the boats for days at a time. Two planning questions remain: how long to stay, and how to fit the trip with Mui Ne.

Planning your trip

Phu Quy needs more flexibility than mainland trips. These two points help.

How many days

Stay two or three nights to make the boat journey worthwhile and leave room for weather changes. Accommodation is mainly guesthouses and homestays, with a few small hotels. Book ahead for weekends, when domestic visitors arrive on the morning boats.

Combining with Mui Ne

Combine Phu Quy with Mui Ne and Phan Thiet on the mainland, covered in our Mui Ne guide. Keep a buffer day before onward flights in case boats are cancelled.

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