If you think there’s nothing to do in Phu Quoc besides lying on the beach, I have good news for you. Here, you can feed giraffes, watch a mermaid show, ride a gondola through a Vietnamese version of Venice, catch the sunset from a bridge in the middle of the sea, watch fireworks, go island hopping with snorkeling, and even find yourself in a town that looks like it was designed by Italians who have never actually been to Italy.

In this article, I’ve collected some of the most interesting places in Phu Quoc that can add a little variety to your beach holiday.

Sunset Town

Sunset Town is located in the south of the island (more about southern Phu Quoc here). There is no public transport to get there, although some hotels offer dedicated shuttle services. Sunset Town is a huge Mediterranean-style district that, as the name suggests, is all about sunsets. There’s a large night market here — much cleaner and more upscale than the one in the north, but also more expensive. You’ll find plenty of hotels and boutiques, but almost no beaches, so you’ll need to head to nearby Sao Beach or Khem Beach if you’re looking for sand and sea.

This is also where you’ll find the station of the world’s longest three-wire cable car. The entire district feels like a colorful parody of the Mediterranean. There is a certain emptiness to it, but it’s still worth visiting for an evening. You can spot replicas of St. Mark’s Square, the Colosseum, and various other Italian landmarks.

I recommend arriving before sunset, taking a walk through the center, visiting the Kiss Bridge, and staying for the evening fireworks show. Yes, every single evening after sunset, Sunset Town hosts the “Kiss of the Sea” show.

I have serious doubts about how environmentally friendly it is, although I suspect there hasn’t been much wildlife left in this area for quite some time. The show features acrobats, divers, lasers, lights, and an absolutely ridiculous amount of fireworks.

You can watch it for free from the crowded waterfront or pay around 300,000 VND at one of the seaside bars for a better view. I chose the second option and watched it from Sun Bavaria GastroPub. The service wasn’t great, but the view definitely was.

Watch my review here.

Grand World

It’s easy to confuse Grand World with Sunset Town, even though they’re located on opposite sides of the island. Why do they feel so similar? The same Mediterranean-inspired architecture is here, but this time with a heavy Venetian theme. Yes, there are actual gondolas floating along an artificial canal, fountain shows, and countless cafés overlooking the water.

You can even take a gondola ride yourself — assuming you’re willing to survive the giant queue. Grand World is also full of art installations, and there’s even a Teddy Bear Museum. It’s a perfect evening stop after visiting VinPearl Safari or VinWonders Phu Quoc.

VinPearl Safari & VinWonders Phu Quoc

VinPearl Safari is part safari park, part zoo, and part giraffe-feeding café. VinWonders is an amusement park and aquarium. The two parks are located close enough together that visiting both in a single day is completely realistic. No, it’s not Universal Studios. But the combined ticket costs two or three times less — around $80 — and this is still the largest theme park complex in Vietnam and one of the biggest in Asia. I’ll say it right away: it’s worth visiting for the mermaid show alone.

Read my full guide here.

Sunset Sanato Beach club

Another sunset-focused location on the island is Sunset Sanato Beach Club. The beach club once hosted an art exhibition, and many of the installations are still there today. If you’re tired of looking at the same beach scenery every day, this place is worth a visit. Naturally, sunset is the best time to come. And naturally, you didn’t think it would be free, did you? Entrance costs around 200,000 VND. But that’s not all. The sunbeds are also paid separately, regardless of whether you order food or drinks from the beach bar.

The art installations are spread both across the beach and directly in the water. My personal favorite is a group of surreal elephant-mosquito sculptures that look like something Salvador Dalí might have dreamed up. Watching them against the backdrop of a tropical sunset feels like looking at a living painting.

Watch my review here.

Phu Quoc Night Market

All roads in Phu Quoc eventually lead to the Night Market. Located in the center of the island at the intersection of two major roads, it’s the perfect place to try pho bo, seafood, and exotic fruits. Prices are not nearly as cheap as you might expect. But at this point, the market is a tourist attraction in its own right, so you just have to accept it.

Island-Hopping & Snorkeling Tour

Out of the many tours available in Phu Quoc, we chose an island-hopping tour with snorkeling. And here’s my honest opinion. We visited during Chinese New Year, so perhaps it’s not always like this. The day started early when we were picked up from the hotel and taken to the harbor. We nearly got lost immediately. There were crowds everywhere — cruise ships, speedboats, ferries, and hundreds of tourists. Eventually, we boarded a massive boat carrying around one hundred people and set sail.

The first two stops were near small islands where landing wasn’t allowed. You could only snorkel nearby. The snorkeling was actually quite good. We saw coral reefs and plenty of fish. It’s not Egypt or Thailand, but it was still enjoyable.
Lunch was included and surprisingly tasty.

After that, we headed to our final stop: May Rut Trong Island. This is where you can relax, swim, and enjoy a cocktail. Unfortunately, we only had a couple of hours there. This is also where we finally met every Chinese tourist visiting Phu Quoc. The island itself is beautifu – watch my review.

There are swings, nice swimming areas, photo spots, and three bars serving food and drinks. But there are two things you should know. First: all sunbeds are paid. Second: the island is tiny. And there were a lot of people. Only during the last thirty minutes, after the final Chinese tour boat departed, did the island start feeling peaceful. Would I recommend this tour? Yes. Just be prepared for crowds, and if possible, choose a tour operated on a smaller boat.

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