3 Days on Phu Quoc Island: The Perfect Itinerary

Located in southern Vietnam, just off the Cambodian coast, Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam and a popular holiday destination for both domestic and international travellers. 

People flock here year-round to lounge on the island's endless white sand beaches, go on snorkelling trips to the nearby An Thoi Islands, have family-friendly fun at the whimsical theme parks, and dine on incredible local seafood dishes at the famous night market. 

Three days is the perfect amount of time to spend in this tropical Vietnamese paradise. To help you plan the perfect getaway, this carefully curated 3-day Phu Quoc itinerary will lead you to all of the top attractions, activities, and restaurants, so you can make the most of your vacation in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. 

For a taste of one of Phu Quoc's speciality dishes, do as the locals do and hunt down Út Luom's soup shop in Duong Dong. This place has been serving up some of the best Bún Kèn on the island since 1980. Bún Kèn consists of rice noodles in a broth made from fish, coconut milk, and lemongrass. It's then topped with fresh herbs, ground fish, green papaya, and a squeeze of lime. This breakfast shop is only open from 6am to noon.

After you've had your fill, take a 30-minute taxi ride to Sao Beach in Southern Phu Quoc. Phu Quoc Island is home to over 20 beaches, but Sao Beach is regarded as one of the best, if not the very best. 

Here you'll find a lovely stretch of white sand lined by palm trees and lapped by calm turquoise waters. This is a popular spot for families and you'll find entertainment galore here, including a variety of restaurants, water sports, Insta-worthy swings, and other artsy installations that make for fun photo ops. There are plenty of loungers lining the beach, which are available for a small fee. 

For a truly unique lunch option at Sao Beach, visit Bè Nắng - Quán Ăn Trên Bè, an offshore restaurant. You can contact the owner via WhatsApp and she'll send a boat to the beach to take you to this floating restaurant. She'll then cook up a fresh seafood meal that's absolutely out of this world. Just take a seat on the floor and enjoy a family-style meal at this authentic eatery.

By late afternoon, it's time to make your way to nearby Sunset Town. Located right on the ocean, this is where you'll get some of the best sunset views on the island. There is a lot going on in this theme park. You'll definitely want to take a ride out to Hon Thom Island on the world's longest cable car, splash around the Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark, explore the European-style villages, and snap photos in front of the recreations of iconic landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe and the Colosseum.

You could easily spend a whole day exploring Sunset Town. If you're still there at 9pm, don't miss the spectacular Kiss The Star Show, which combines water, music, and multimedia art.

Day 2 of your trip to Phu Quoc Island will take you on an epic snorkelling and island-hopping trip. Into The Blue is a well-respected local tour company that offers a 6-hour tour that takes you to four islands off the coast of the island: May Rut Island, Fingernail Island, Gam Ghi Island, and Buom Island.

Along the way, your guide will regale you with interesting tidbits about Phu Quoc and the local marine life. They'll also act as your personal photographer and videographer to capture memories of your snorkelling trip. You'll be served plenty of tropical fruit and drinks, as well as a BBQ lunch.

No trip to Phu Quoc is complete without spending some time eating your way through the Phu Quoc Night Market. This is the place to be to do some serious people-watching, shop for souvenirs, and dine on fresh seafood and Vietnamese specialities.  

When it comes to must-try seafood, the Ham Ninh crabs from Phu Quoc's Ham Ninh fishing village are sweet and delicious. These are usually steamed and served with salt, local Phu Quoc pepper, and lime. Herring Salad is another local favourite and is served with shredded coconut and fresh herbs.  

If you don't feel like eating at the night market, Xin Chao Seafood Restaurant is a 10-minute walk away. This oceanfront restaurant serves up seriously good seafood dinners. The Garlic Butter Roasted Lobster is a popular pick for a reason. 

This island is famous for its pepper and touring a pepper farm is one of the coolest things to do in Phu Quoc. You're going to kick off the last day of your trip with a visit to Phu Quoc Countryside, a rural pepper farm in northern Phu Quoc. You'll start your visit with a tour of the farm where you'll see pepper plants, sample fresh peppercorns, meet the resident animals, and taste fresh fruits and honey. 

Signing up for a farm-to-table cooking class here is one of the most fun, family-friendly activities in Phu Quoc. You'll learn how to make four seasonal dishes. Think Fresh Spring Rolls, Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancake), and Caramelised Pork with Pepper. Your farm tour and cooking class will go from 10:30am until around 1:30pm.

Once you leave the farm, make your way to the famous Bãi Sao (Starfish Beach) on the northern coast of the island. This beach is famous for the many starfish that reside in its shallow, crystal clear waters. This is a fun activity for kids and adults alike, and you can easily spend an hour or two searching for starfish. Just be sure not to touch these delicate sea creatures.  

Alternately, if you are feeling peckish, Nhà Trên Biển - Joy Adventures is just 15 minutes from Phu Quoc Countryside. This is an incredible "floating" seafood restaurant. They also offer boat rides out to see the starfish at Starfish Beach. Dining here is one of the best local experiences you can have in Phu Quoc. 

End the final day of your Phu Quoc getaway with a sunset dinner at Long Beach (Truong Beach), one of the most beautiful stretches of sand on the island. There are tons of hotels and restaurants lining the beach but OCSEN Beach Bar & Club is a great place to sit while digging your feet in the sand, sipping happy hour cocktails, and enjoying their delicious pizzas, burgers, or seafood platters. Watching the sun sink into the Gulf of Thailand is the perfect way to end your 3 days in Phu Quoc.

Located on the popular Long Beach, Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is a resort that has everything you could possibly need for a relaxing and carefree beach holiday. You'll have endless amenities here. 

When you're not out exploring the island, you can lounge around the oceanfront pool, take a dip in the ocean, get massages at the spa, work up a sweat in the fitness centre, and wine and dine at the on-site bars and restaurants. 

Families will love that this Phu Quoc resort offers a children's pool, a kids' club, and family rooms with bunk beds, amongst other family-friendly amenities. Whichever room type you choose, you can expect plush beds, designated workstations, 42-inch flat-screen TVs, rain showers, and private balconies. 

Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is the perfect home base for your trip to Phu Quoc.