Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc: How to Get to Vietnam’s Island

The beach island at the end of the country

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island — in the Gulf of Thailand, close to the Cambodian coast, with beaches that rival anything in the region. Getting there from HCMC is easier than it used to be.

Flying: the only sensible option

1 hour by air from HCMC’s Tan Son Nhat Airport to Phu Quoc International Airport. Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, and Bamboo Airways all fly this route multiple times daily. Prices: $25–90 depending on carrier, timing, and how far ahead you book. VietJet is consistently cheapest booked 3+ weeks out. Aviasales covers all carriers on this route. — book a Kiwi.com in advance for the best price.

Can you get there by boat?

There’s no direct ferry from HCMC to Phu Quoc. The ferries to Phu Quoc depart from Ha Tien or Rach Gia — small southern towns 5–7 hours from HCMC by bus. This is doable for adventurous travelers but the total journey time (bus + ferry) is 8–10 hours each way. Only makes sense if you’re including the Mekong Delta in your route and want to approach Phu Quoc from the south.

From Cambodia

Phu Quoc is also reachable from Kampot or Sihanoukville in Cambodia via boat, making it a good crossing point if you’re doing a Vietnam-Cambodia trip. Check current ferry schedules — this route’s availability varies seasonally.

On Phu Quoc itself

Rent a motorbike from your accommodation (100,000–150,000 VND/day) — the island is large enough that exploring by bike is the right approach. The north has the most beautiful beaches and some excellent fish sauce factories (Phu Quoc fish sauce is Vietnam’s most prized). The south has the resort developments.