What to See on Phu Quoc: National Park, Ganh Dau, Hon Thom Cable Car, Markets
National park, Ganh Dau cape, the Hon Thom cable car, Sao beach, Dinh Cau temple, the night market, the prison and fish-sauce houses. Where things are, hours and a route for 1, 2 and 3 days.
On Phu Quoc the north holds the national park, Ganh Dau cape and the Vingroup parks; the south has the Hon Thom cable car, Sunset Town and the prison; evenings are easy in Duong Dong, with Dinh Cau temple, the sunset and the night market. Three days covers it, and in one day you can realistically do the south or the north, not both. Beaches are best from November to April. Kien Giang has been merged with An Giang: since 1 July 2025 the island belongs to An Giang province (Resolution 202/2025/QH15), and under NA Standing Committee Resolution 1654/NQ-UBTVQH15 Phu Quoc became a special zone (đặc khu). All places are in Phu Quoc sights.
Sights and attractions: addresses and contacts Open in Telegram
Where should you go?
| Place | Where and how far | Hours | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| National park (Vườn quốc gia Phú Quốc) | north and centre of the island, about 6 km north of Duong Dong to the entrance | 9:00–16:00 (Mia) | half a day |
| Ganh Dau cape (Mũi Gành Dầu) | about 30 km from Duong Dong, 40–50 minutes | free access | 2–3 hours |
| Hon Thom cable car | An Thoi station, south | about 9:30–17:30 | half a day or a day |
| Sao beach (Bãi Sao) | 25–30 km from Duong Dong, south-east | free access | 2–4 hours |
| Dinh Cau temple (Dinh Cậu) | Duong Dong, on the headland at the river mouth | 7:00–20:30 | 30–40 minutes |
| Night market (Dinh Cậu / Bạch Đằng) | Duong Dong, Bach Dang street | from 16:00–17:00 until 23:00 or midnight | 1–2 hours |
| Phu Quoc prison (Nhà tù Phú Quốc) | 350 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, An Thoi | 8:00–17:00 with a midday break | 1–2 hours |
| Fish-sauce houses | Duong Dong and the road to An Thoi | about 7:00–19:00 | 30–40 minutes |
| Sunset Town and Kiss Bridge | An Thoi, south-west | town 24 hours, bridge 7:30–21:00 | 1–2 hours |
| VinWonders, Safari, Grand World | Bai Dai, north-west, about 24–30 km | VinWonders 9:00–19:30 | a day |
The "Time needed" column is our estimate; the rest comes from the sources below.
What is in Phu Quoc National Park and do you need a guide?
Phu Quoc National Park (Vườn quốc gia Phú Quốc) covers about 314 km², roughly 54% of the island. It dates from 2001 and has been part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2006 (Mytour, 2026). Mia lists 9:00–16:00 and advises hiring a local guide, who can shorten the trip. Bring water, repellent, a map and a power bank, and sturdy shoes. From Duong Dong head north along Nguyen Trung Truc street, about 6 km past the Bai Thom junction. Tours are in Tours and travel agencies.
What is special about Ganh Dau cape?
Ganh Dau cape (Mũi Gành Dầu) is the north-western tip of the island, the point of Vietnam closest to Cambodia: about 4 km by sea to a Cambodian island. It is about 30 km from Duong Dong, 40–50 minutes, partly on a dirt road. People come for the quiet shore, rocks and sunset; the dry months are November to April (Mytour, VinWonders). Nearby is Rach Vem fishing village, where starfish are seen in the shallows: the last 5 km are dirt road, and do not lift the starfish from the water or step on them.
How does the Hon Thom cable car work?
The Sun World Hòn Thơm cable car runs over the sea from An Thoi station in the south to Hon Thom island: almost 8 km, about 15 minutes; Mia calls it a Guinness record line. Sun Paradise Land (28 Aug 2026) gives roughly 9:30–17:30 for the cable car and 10:00–16:45 for the Aquatopia water park, as approximate times. Arrive 15–30 minutes early. Vietnam Airlines and Mytour give different hours (from 8:00 or 9:00 to 17:00), so check the schedule on the day. We give no prices, as they change.
Where do boats go in the An Thoi islands and can you snorkel?
Hon Thom belongs to the An Thoi archipelago in the south. Boat tours leave An Thoi port for Hon Mong Tay, Gam Ghi and May Rut islands and combine with snorkelling stops. Dive centres say the dry season runs October to April but they dive all year (a dive centre website, January 2026). Dive centres are in Diving, boat trips in Tours and travel agencies.
What is Sao beach and when to go?
Sao beach (Bãi Sao) has fine white sand on the south-east coast, about 25–30 km from Duong Dong, with cafes and seafood restaurants. The dry months are November to April (Vietnam Airlines); May to October brings more rain and waves. The name comes from starfish, which should not be touched or lifted out of the water (Mytour, 2026). The beach is free. On the way south you can also stop at Khem beach: a white-sand bay near An Thoi, about 25 km from Duong Dong.
What is Dinh Cau temple and when to go?
Dinh Cau is a small temple on a rocky headland in Duong Dong, 200 m west of the centre, next to a lighthouse. It is open daily 7:00–20:30 and free (Vietnam Airlines, Mytour). Photos are not allowed inside and clothing should be modest. Sources give different ages: Mia says built in 1937, Mytour "over 300 years of history". Come for sunset, which is seen over the water.
What is at the Duong Dong night market?
The night market by Dinh Cau temple on Bach Dang street has about 500 m of stalls with seafood, street food and souvenirs. It opens in the afternoon, around 16:00–17:00, and runs to 23:00 or midnight (Vietnam Airlines, VinWonders, Lux Travel DMC). In the morning Duong Dong has its day market, from 4–5 a.m. to 19:00. All the island's markets are in Markets and shopping centres. Bargain and check weights; this is advice, not a rule.
What is there to see at Phu Quoc prison?
Phu Quoc prison (Nhà tù Phú Quốc, the "Coconut Prison") is a former prisoner-of-war camp in the south: the French opened it in 1946, it ran until 1973 and more than 32,000 people passed through (Mia). It has been a national monument since 1993. The address is 350 Nguyễn Văn Cừ, An Thoi; entry is free and a visit takes 1–2 hours. Hours are 8:00–11:30 and then the afternoon to 17:00; the afternoon start differs between articles (13:30 at VinWonders), so go in the morning. Parts of the exhibition are hard for children.
Where can you see fish sauce and pepper being made?
Fish-sauce houses with wooden barrels are in Duong Dong and on the road to An Thoi. The old Khải Hoàn house by Hung Vuong bridge is open about 7:00–19:00 or 20:00, free, with vats of 14–17 tonnes of fish; Phụng Hưng stands on the An Thoi road opposite the prison, and Thịnh Phát on 30 Thang 4 street (Mia, Mytour). Huỳnh Thy pepper farm in Duong To is open 7:00–17:00, free; you do not pick pepper yourself and some farms take cash only (Green SM). These are shops at the producer: keep the receipt.
What are Sunset Town and the Kiss Bridge?
Sunset Town is a Mediterranean-style town in An Thoi next to the cable car station. The Kiss Bridge (Cầu Hôn) opened on 22 December 2023, designed by Italian architect Marco Casamonti, about 800 m long (Tuoi Tre News); Mytour says 810 m. Per Mytour (2026) the town is open 24 hours and the bridge 7:30–21:00, with paid entry to the bridge. Walking the town is free. It pairs well with the cable car.
Are VinWonders, Safari and Grand World worth the trip?
The three Vingroup parks stand together in the north-west, about 24–30 km from Duong Dong. VinWonders has over 170 ha and six zones, opened in 2020, hours 9:00–19:30 (Vietnam Airlines, Mytour). Vinpearl Safari is 9:00–16:00 with a night safari 19:00–21:00 per VinWonders; Mytour says 9:00–17:00 on weekdays, so check the park schedule. Grand World is a walking quarter, free and open 24 hours, with a night market there until 2:00 (VinWonders, 2025).
What to see on Phu Quoc in 1, 2 and 3 days?
1 day. The south: prison in the morning with a fish-sauce house on the way, Sunset Town and the cable car by day, Dinh Cau temple and the night market in the evening.
2 days. Day one as above. Day two, the north: the national park with a guide or Ganh Dau cape, then Bai Dai beach and sunset.
3 days. Add the south-east: Sao and Khem beaches in the morning, then a boat tour of the An Thoi islands or a day at VinWonders and Safari. A pepper farm fits on the way.
For getting between places see Taxi apps (Grab and Green SM, formerly Xanh SM).
Related guides: Tours in Phu Quoc: how to choose an agency and check its licence, Markets and shops on Phu Quoc: the night market, morning market and what to take home.
FAQ
What to see on Phu Quoc in one day? Pick the south or the north. South: the prison, Sunset Town, the Hon Thom cable car, then Dinh Cau temple and the night market. Keep the north (park, Ganh Dau, Vingroup parks) for another day.
How long is the Hon Thom cable car ride? Almost 8 km, about 15 minutes. Sun Paradise Land (28 Aug 2026) gives trips from about 9:30 to 17:30; arrive 15–30 minutes early.
Do you need a guide in the national park? Mia advises a local guide, who can shorten the trip. Hours per Mia are 9:00–16:00.
When to go to the beaches? Sources name November to April; from May to October there is more rain and bigger waves.
How much is entry? We give no prices, they change. Per the sources the prison, Dinh Cau temple, Sao beach and the Khải Hoàn house are free; the bridge and the parks are paid.
What is closest to Cambodia? Ganh Dau cape: about 4 km by sea to a Cambodian island.
Which province is Phu Quoc in now? Since 1 July 2025 Kien Giang is merged with An Giang (Resolution 202/2025/QH15), and under Resolution 1654/NQ-UBTVQH15 Phu Quoc is a special zone (đặc khu).
Sources and checking
National park: Mia.vn (5 Jun 2025) and Mytour (1 Oct 2026; 2001 and 2006). Ganh Dau: Mytour (1 Oct 2026) and VinWonders (11 Dec 2025), Rach Vem: Sun Paradise Land (12 Aug 2026). Cable car: Sun Paradise Land (28 Aug 2026) and Mia.vn (20 Jan 2025); other guides give different hours. Dinh Cau: Mia.vn (23 Jul 2024), Vietnam Airlines and Mytour. Markets: VinWonders (13 Dec 2025) and Vietnam Airlines. Prison: Mia.vn (5 Jun 2025) and VinWonders (18 Jul 2025). Fish sauce: Mia.vn (5 Feb 2025); pepper: Green SM (14 Feb 2025). Kiss Bridge: Tuoi Tre News (26 Dec 2023) and Mytour. Vingroup parks: VinWonders (27 Jul 2025), Vietnam Airlines and Mytour. Province merger: text of Resolution 202/2025/QH15 of 12 June 2025 (Article 1, clause 23; new authorities operate from 1 July 2025); the special-zone status is from NA Standing Committee Resolution 1654/NQ-UBTVQH15 of 16 June 2025 (Art. 1 cl. 95). Visit times and routes are ours. No prices. Pages opened on 22 and 23 October 2026. Text updated 23 October 2026.