To be honest, I realized I needed a few days simply to rest. Somewhere calm to unwind after our busy schedule. I decided that this place would be Phu Quoc Island – the Pearl of Vietnam.
How many days should you spend here?
In fact, there’s so much to see and do in Phu Quoc. The island is literally growing and changing day by day. We spent six nights, and every day was an adventure.
Since each part of the island has its own unique charm, I’d recommend staying at least 4–5 nights to truly enjoy the vibe and explore the surroundings.
Check out my YouTube channel for the full Phu Quoc video and even more tips and impressions from our trip!
Where to stay on Phu Quoc Island?
Since each part of the island has its own unique charm, I highly recommend splitting your stay to experience different vibes. Here is how we did it:
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The South (Our Absolute Favorite!): We spent our first three nights here, near Khem Beach, in Ann Hotel & Spa Khem Beach PQ . You can check free dates and price here. This area is developing fast, with entire neighborhoods being built from scratch. Despite the development, the south still feels like a secluded little paradise — full of stunning views, pristine beaches, and an unforgettable, peaceful atmosphere. If you’re looking for a romantic and quiet escape, search in this area.
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The West (Sunsets and City Vibe): For the second part of our trip, we moved to the western side, near Long Beach, and stayed at Night Sea Hotel. You can check dates and prices here. The west side is much closer to the center, the night market, and the shops. The absolute highlight here was the breathtaking sunset view from our rooftop pool — watching the sun go down while swimming made the moment magical.
How to get around Phu Quoc Island?
No matter where you stay on the island, you can always rent a scooter for about $6 a day.
For this reason, a scooter is the perfect way to get around if you want to explore, instead of just lounging on the beach.
When we moved from one part of the island to another, we used Grab — an app that works just like Uber. It’s super easy to use, reliable, and the prices are amazing!
If you’re planning your trip to Vietnam on your own, you can find useful tips and information how to organise it, right here.
Things to See and Do in Phu Quoc – the Pearl of Vietnam
The Beaches
Naturally, I have to start my list of Phu Quoc’s highlights with the beaches — the island’s true gems.
I’ll share a few of the ones we personally visited and loved.
1. Khem beach
This is the top beach on the island — hands down! Our hotel was nearby, so it was the first beach we visited. It instantly became our favorite. The water is crystal clear, warm, and shallow — honestly, I have no words for how beautiful it is. If you’re traveling with little kids, this beach is perfect for you. The palm forest lining the shore is absolutely magical. Lying on the sand, you look up at the coconut palms swaying above you. It feels like something straight out of a dream. There aren’t many restaurants around, which keeps the area peaceful and quiet. And those evening walks along the beach… simply unforgettable. 
2. Sao beach
This was my second favorite beach on the island. The water is, once again, crystal clear, warm, and shallow. There are also more beach bars and restaurants here where you can grab a drink or a snack. If you’re into Instagram-worthy photos, this is the place. There’s a palm swing that’s perfect for pictures — and it’s so much fun to swing on it too! I honestly didn’t want to get off! The palm trees here are tall and beautifully curved. They give the beach a slightly different vibe from Khem Beach. It’s absolutely worth visiting. 
3. Starfish beach
What I loved most about it was actually the way you get there! We rode our scooter to the small pier where boats depart. The price for two people was 400,000 VND (around €16).Walking along the wooden docks made me feel like Lara Croft — it was such a fun little adventure! The boat ride takes about 10–15 minutes, and once you arrive, they leave you at the beach for two hours before picking you up again. The beach itself is wild and peaceful, the water is crystal clear, and in the distance, you can even see the shore of Cambodia.
There’s a small beach bar where you can grab a drink. Apparently, there’s also a way to reach the beach on foot, but we found that out later. Honestly, the boat trip was totally worth it! I suspect the locals placed the starfish there to attract more tourists to this part of the island. Still, it’s a cool experience. If you have the time, definitely go check it out!
4. Long beach
This beach is quite popular and heavily advertised, but compared to the first two, I’d say it didn’t impress me at all.
Coconut Tree Prison – Phu Quoc’s dark chapter in history
The prison was built in 1946 by the French colonizers and was used to detain enemies of the regime during the First Indochina War. At that time, it was considered one of the largest prisons in all of Southeast Asia. In 1954, all prisoners were released, but the facility was later used again during the Vietnam War, between 1967 and 1973. 
Today, the prison is open to visitors and free of charge. You can learn a lot about its history as you walk through the site. You can explore a large area where they carefully recreated every scene.
At times, it feels a bit haunting — it’s hard to imagine that such horrors once existed in what is now a tropical paradise.
Sunset Town Phu Quoc – the Spirit of Italy Brought to Vietnam
Surprisingly, it doesn’t feel fake at all. We even met Italian travelers who were genuinely impressed and said they loved it!In fact, it reminded me a little of Las Vegas, but with an Italian twist.It carries the spirit of Italy, and walking through it feels like being transported straight to Europe.It’s not completely finished yet. For that reason, now is the perfect time to go. Visit before it becomes crowded with tourists. This is a completely new town built from scratch.I was a bit skeptical at first, but when I finally visited, it completely blew me away!
Italy vibes
They’ve built a Colosseum, their own Venice, and every street is inspired by a different part of Italy — Positano, Capri, Amalfi. After all, after traveling across Vietnam for over two weeks, the sudden shift to a European vibe felt refreshing and fun. In addition, there’s even a cable car that starts from Phu Quoc and continues to another island where there’s a water park. Honestly, I have no idea how they came up with this concept, but one thing’s for sure — it’s a place you have to visit!
In the evening, there’s a spectacular light and sound show, built around an entire bridge structure known as the Bridge of Love (or the Kiss Bridge). For showtimes and tickets to “Kiss the Stars,” you can check the official page here.
Phu Quoc quickly became one of my favorite places in Vietnam — actually, one of my favorite places I’ve ever traveled to. And Khem Beach… that one stole my heart completely. It’s such a special, romantic place for me — here’s why: 
What’s next for Phu Quoc — and why I believe that this once “rising island paradise” might soon turn into a “fading tropical gem.”
Vietnam is a country developing at an incredible pace. Every year, more and more investments are pouring in.
Sadly, much like in Europe, we’re watching Vietnam follow the same path — destroying its most beautiful natural places in the name of progress.
When we rented a scooter and went exploring around the island, hoping to find some wild, untouched beaches, we realized it was almost impossible to reach the coastline in many areas. Why? Investors from Arab countries and major American hotel chains are building massive — truly massive — resort complexes all over the island.
Soon, this will make free access to many beaches nearly impossible. Unfortunately, that’s the trade-off of development — the inevitable consequence of progress in a country this beautiful.
Planning a bigger trip across Southeast Asia? Check out my other guides:
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🇻🇳 Exploring more of Vietnam? Don’t miss the magical lantern-lit streets in my Hoi An guide.
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🇰🇭 Remember how you could see Cambodia from Starfish Beach? Why not actually go there! Read all about my unforgettable adventure to Angkor Wat .
So, grab those tickets and get on that flight to Vietnam — because this paradise won’t stay untouched forever.
Visit Phu Quoc now, while it’s still pure, peaceful, and absolutely breathtaking.
