Phu Quoc Travel Guide: Hon Thom Cable Car, Island Hopping and Sunset Town

Photos in this guide are AI-generated images of fictional POPORO CITY characters, made to illustrate the places; they are not real travel photos. Opening hours, prices and transport details change, so please check official sources before you go.

Phu Quoc is Vietnam's largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian coast. Long sandy beaches, clear water in the south, resorts of every size and easy direct flights from Korea have made it one of the most popular short beach trips in Asia.

Hon Thom cable car

From An Thoi in the south, one of the world's longest over-sea cable cars crosses to Hon Thom island, passing over fishing boats and small islands. Hon Thom has beaches and a water and amusement park. Rides take around fifteen minutes each way; check operating hours and weather closures.

Island hopping and snorkeling

Raya island hopping off Phu Quoc (AI image)

Boat tours from An Thoi visit the An Thoi archipelago, with stops for snorkeling over coral, swimming and seafood lunches. Calm seas and the best visibility come in the dry season. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard, and confirm what is included: snorkel gear, lunch, transfers and park fees.

Sunset Town and the south

Sunset Town is a newly built Mediterranean-style area in the south with colorful buildings, a Kiss Bridge facing the sea and evening shows. Sao Beach on the east coast has white sand and turquoise water. In the north, Vinpearl Safari and the Grand World area are popular with families.

Duong Dong and the night market

The main town, Duong Dong, has the Phu Quoc night market for grilled seafood and street food, the Dinh Cau rock temple at the river mouth, and fish sauce and pepper farms you can visit. Long Beach, on the west coast near town, is the classic sunset beach.

When to go

November to April: dry season, sunny and calm on the west and south coasts; peak prices around Christmas and Lunar New Year.
May to October: rainy season with short heavy showers and rougher seas; some boat tours may be cancelled.

Practical tips

Phu Quoc has had special visa-exemption rules for foreign visitors staying a limited number of days; check the current rule for your passport.
Ride-hailing apps and taxis are the easiest way around; distances between north and south are long.
Carry some Vietnamese dong for markets; many resorts accept cards.
Spa and massage are good value; confirm the price and duration before you start.

Sample 4-day plan

Arrive, Long Beach sunset, night market.
Island hopping and snorkeling in the south.
Hon Thom cable car, Sunset Town evening show.
Sao Beach, spa and departure.

Good to know

Sun and heat: midday sun is very strong; plan beaches for the morning and late afternoon.
Seafood prices: at markets, seafood is sold by weight; confirm the price per kilo and the cooking charge before ordering.
Jellyfish season: occasional jellyfish appear in some months; ask your resort which beaches are safe.
Souvenirs: Phu Quoc pepper, fish sauce (check airline rules for liquids) and pearls are local specialties; buy pearls only from shops that give certificates.

Nearby places worth adding

Starfish Beach (Rach Vem): a quiet northern beach known for starfish in the shallows; look but do not lift them out of the water.
Ham Ninh fishing village: seafood restaurants on stilts on the east coast.
Phu Quoc National Park: forest trails and waterfalls in the north, best in the rainy season.
Coconut Prison: a historical site in the south about the island's wartime history.
Ho Quoc Pagoda: a large hillside temple facing the sea on the east coast.

Where to stay

Long Beach near Duong Dong for restaurants and sunsets, the south around An Thoi for island tours and the cable car, and the north for big family resorts and the safari.

POPORO picks

Mave, a singer from Singapore, would spend her afternoons at Sao Beach; Theo, a cafe owner from Greece, would hunt for the best pepper-farm coffee; and Tess, a young singer from Canada, would book the snorkeling tour twice.

More travel planning: POPORO BLOG. Our characters also share Korean-language trip notes on the KPOPORO Naver blog.