Is Phu Quoc Worth Visiting? The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

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Post updated March 24, 2025

I first heard about Phu Quoc years ago, during my very first backpacking trip around Southeast Asia. Despite the fact that I spent an entire month traversing Vietnam, I never made it to Phu Quoc during that trip – and I always regretted it.

Over the years, I’ve heard a lot about how quickly Phu Quoc is developing, and like a lot of other travelers, I figured I’d missed the chance to see some of Vietnam’s best beaches during their prime. But despite my trepidation, I finally made the journey to find out for myself whether or not Phu Quoc is worth visiting.

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What is Phu Quoc?

In case you’ve never heard of Phu Quoc before, it’s a sizeable island located in the very south of Vietnam. For a long time, it was one of those picture-perfect beach destinations travelers dream about.

Phu Quoc is now a major tourist destination that’s home to sprawling resorts, a huge casino and an enormous amusement park. And it’s this rampant (and some would argue, reckless) development that causes Phu Quoc to get such mixed reviews.

Some argue that Phu Quoc is too touristy and too built up. But others believe that despite the development on the island, Phu Quoc is absolutely worth a visit. For the record, I fall into the latter category. After all, Phu Quoc is still home to some of Vietnam’s best beaches, quaint fishing villages, and lush jungles!

So is Phu Quoc worth visiting?

If you ask me, the answer is yes. But there are a few tips and factoids that might help you understand what to expect if you’re pondering a trip to Phu Quoc. Hopefully, this post will help you decide whether or not it’s the right destination for you.

Here it goes…

The Good News

There are still blissfully undeveloped beaches on Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is a massive island and there are still a bunch of beaches that are mind-bogglingly beautiful and virtually deserted. My favorite beach was Vung Bau, a long stretch of sand that unravels as far as the eye can see. At the moment, it’s home to a few very tasteful hotels and resorts. Other than that, there’s no real development on the beach…yet.

One good thing about Vung Bau is that the road to get there is not yet paved – though it will be soon – so it’s a bit of a long and bumpy ride to reach it. That sounds like a negative, but it actually cuts down on the number of people who actually visit the beach.

When I got there, I took a 15-minute walk down the coast and I felt like I’d been dropped off on my own private island. It was incredible. Give this place another year or two – maybe even less – and I guarantee it’s going to look a lot different. So it’s one of those places I’d recommend visiting ASAP.

It’s about a 40-minute drive on a scooter from Long Beach to Vung Bau, so had I known how amazing it was I actually would have loved to stay at the beach for a few days. Right now, there are only a few options. Vung Bau Resort (midrange) seems nice and if you want to splurge, Fusion Resort (all-inclusive) looks amazing!

Another one of my favorite beaches was Ong Long Beach. It’s not quite as isolated as Vung Bau, but the calm waters make it a relaxing spot and a lovely place to take a dip. Plus, it’s a much shorter and easier ride to get here from Long Beach. In my opinion, it’s a great place to while away the days with a good book and a few coconuts. There are also plenty of resorts and hotels sprinkled around Ong Long.

There are so many things to do on Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc isn’t all about beaches. There are a ton of other things to do on Phu Quoc. Again, my favorite part about traveling to Phu Quoc was exploring the island on a scooter. That’s actually the easiest way to access some of the far-flung beaches, like Vung Bau, or super unique attractions like the pepper plantations, the national park or (my favorite) the jetties of Rach Vem fishing village.

In addition to beaches, peppercorn plantations, and picturesque fishing villages, Phu Quoc is also famous for its diving, snorkeling and island hopping. There really is something for everyone.

If all you want to do is chill out in a resort, dip in the ocean and be pampered with massages, you can totally do that on Phu Quoc. But if you’re down for a little more adventure, there’s so much to see and do. I was there for five days and barely scratched the surface. There’s no doubt that I will be back!

Things to Know Before Visiting Phu Quoc

Many beaches are becoming more developed

I was really surprised to see that many of the beaches have been overtaken by huge luxury resorts. This happens year after year, meaning that a beach that was open to the public one day, could be closed and under construction the next. For example, the once deserted Bai Dai Beach is now home to a Vinpearl theme park and resort.

This type of development is to be expected in places like Phu Quoc. But the good news is that places like Bai Dai Beach are still open to the public. Typically, all you have to do is pay for parking at one of the many beachfront resorts, and the beach is totally free to visit.

Attractions are very spread out

The island’s attractions are really spread apart, so unless you just want to chill at your hotel, you kinda have to have your own transportation to get around. I loved getting around Phu Quoc on my motorbike, but if you’re not comfortable riding a motorbike, you can also hire a private car or taxi to take you around the island.

There’s more to Phu Quoc than Long Beach

Most tourists will stay on and around Long Beach, a stunning 20-kilometer stretch of sand that’s lined with luxury resorts, beach chairs, and tourists. It’s beautiful, but it can get pretty crowded and it’s very built up.

Usually, super touristy beaches aren’t my thing. But I did spend one lazy afternoon floating in the water and lounging on Long Beach and I had a great time!

If you’re looking for a more isolated spot, this isn’t the beach for you. But don’t worry, when it comes to beaches, there’s plenty to choose from on Phu Quoc if you’re willing to travel a bit to get around the island.

Beware of jellyfish on Long Beach

As a side note, I was surprised to see nets in the water all along Long Beach. I didn’t actually see any jellyfish during my January visit, but judging from the nets, I’m guessing jellyfish can be an issue at certain times of the year when the water warms up. Again, this isn’t something to deter you from traveling to Phu Quoc, it’s just a good thing to be aware of.

Where to stay on Phu Quoc

I opted to stay in the Long Beach area because it was a convenient place to base myself. I chose a bungalow at the Bauhinia Resort for about $40 and I was actually really surprised by the value. Not only was the bungalow super nice, quiet and comfortable but it had a great pool and an excellent (and free) buffet breakfast. I highly recommend it.

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So what do you think? Would you give Phu Quoc a chance?