For most first-timers, the best area to stay in Phu Quoc is Long Beach (Bai Truong) on the west coast: it's 10 to 15 minutes from the airport, close to Duong Dong's night market and restaurants, and in the middle of the island, so every attraction is a manageable drive. Stay in the south (Sunset Town or Bai Khem) for the Hon Thom cable car and the best beaches, in the north (Bai Dai and Ganh Dau) for Vinpearl Safari and Grand World, and in Ong Lang for peace and quiet.
We stayed on Long Beach at Salinda Resort on our girls' trip in June 2025, and drove from there to Sunset Town, Hon Thom, Vinpearl Safari and Grand World. This guide covers what each area is best for, what's nearby, and the pros and cons we'd weigh up before booking.
Which Area Should You Choose?
Map data ©2026 Google; areas and attractions marked by Our Travel Itinerary. Tap to enlarge.
The map shows the 7 areas in this guide (numbered as below), the main attractions and the airport. Long Beach is the gold strip on the west coast, between Duong Dong and King Kong Mart; the airport sits just inland behind it.
| If you want… | Stay in |
|---|---|
| Your first trip, easy access to everything | Long Beach |
| The lowest prices, local food and markets | Duong Dong Town |
| The cable car, Sun World and evening strolls | Sunset Town and An Thoi |
| The best beaches and a luxury resort | Bai Khem and Sao Beach |
| Quiet garden resorts, honeymoon, slow travel | Ong Lang |
| Vinpearl Safari, VinWonders and Grand World with kids | Bai Dai and Ganh Dau (north) |
| Sunrise and seafood on stilts | East coast (Ham Ninh) |
Rough drive times by car
| Long Beach | Airport about 10–15 min; Duong Dong 10–15 min; Sunset Town about 30–40 min; Vinpearl Safari about 40–50 min |
|---|---|
| Duong Dong | Airport about 20 min; Sunset Town about 40–45 min; Vinpearl Safari about 30–40 min |
| Sunset Town / Bai Khem | Airport about 25 min; Duong Dong 40+ min; Vinpearl Safari over 1 hour |
| Ong Lang | Airport about 25 min; Duong Dong 15–20 min |
| Bai Dai / Ganh Dau | Airport about 40 min; Duong Dong 30–40 min; Sunset Town over 1 hour |
Times vary with traffic and roadworks. Phu Quoc hosts the APEC summit in late 2027, and the airport and main roads are being upgraded until then.
1. Long Beach (Bai Truong): Best for First-Timers and Families
Long Beach runs for about 20 km down the west coast, from Duong Dong Town in the north to the south end near the airport. This is where most visitors stay, and where we stayed. Personally, I loved that Salinda was in the middle of most attractions: the airport was a 10-minute drive, and King Kong Mart, the night market and local eateries were close by.
Things to do nearby: sunset on the beach, Sunset Sanato Beach Club, Lobster Cave seafood, King Kong Mart, the Duong Dong night market, massages and beach clubs.
- Pros: the widest choice of hotels at every budget; west-facing sunsets; close to the airport; the central location makes day trips north and south easy; the northern end is walkable to restaurants and bars.
- Cons: it's busy and parts are still under construction; the water gets choppy and cloudy in the rainy season; resorts at the quieter south end need a car or Grab for every meal out; Grab can be hard to get at busy pick-up points (ours outside King Kong Mart was cancelled more than 5 times).
Our experience: Sunset Sanato on Long Beach, with its walking-elephant sculptures, looked deserted when we went in June, so check it's open before planning a sunset dinner there.
Hotels to look at on Long Beach
- Salinda Resort Phu Quoc: where we stayed; quiet, 10 minutes from the airport, with free airport transfers and a sparkling wine breakfast when we went. Read our Salinda review.
- InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort: a large 5-star resort at the south end.
- Sailing Club Signature Resort: beach-club style, at the south end.
- Regent Phu Quoc: top-end luxury.
2. Duong Dong Town: Best for Budget Stays and Local Food
Duong Dong is Phu Quoc's main town, at the northern end of Long Beach. It's where you'll find the island's cheapest guesthouses, the main night market, the morning market and plenty of local eateries.
We went to the Duong Dong night market for dinner and the popular coconut ice cream. Like many night markets, the stalls repeat themselves, and we didn't buy anything, but it's a fun evening out.
- Pros: the lowest room prices; walk to the night market, markets and street food; good for long stays; handy for pharmacies and ATMs.
- Cons: the town beach isn't one you'd choose to swim at; evening traffic is heavy; it's a working town rather than a holiday resort, so you'll need transport for the good beaches.
Hotels to look at in Duong Dong
- Lahana Resort Phu Quoc: a hillside resort near the town centre.
- Browse all Phu Quoc hotels on Agoda and filter by Duong Dong for guesthouses.
3. Sunset Town and An Thoi: Best for the Cable Car and Evening Strolls
Sunset Town, near An Thoi at the southern tip, is a purpose-built Mediterranean-style town with colourful villas, murals and cobbled streets. It's next to the Hon Thom cable car station and the Kiss Bridge, and the Vui-Fest Bazaar night market here felt more youthful and laid-back than the one in Duong Dong.
Things to do nearby: the Hon Thom cable car and Sun World, the Kiss Bridge at golden hour, Vui-Fest Bazaar, boat trips to the southern islands from An Thoi.
- Pros: you can walk to the cable car, the Kiss Bridge and the night market; lots of well-priced boutique hotels; very photogenic; close to the southern beaches.
- Cons: it's 40+ minutes from Duong Dong and over an hour from the Vinpearl attractions in the north; it's a tourist development rather than a real town; it gets crowded in the evenings.
Tip: when we went, the cable car paused from 11:30am to 1:30pm. We spent the morning at a massage in Sunset Town and rode after lunch.
Hotels to look at in Sunset Town
- La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton: in the middle of Sunset Town.
- Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort: villas on a headland at the southern tip.
4. Bai Khem and Sao Beach: Best for Beaches and Luxury Resorts
Bai Khem (Kem Beach) and nearby Sao Beach, on the south-east coast, have some of the island's finest white sand and clearest water. Bai Khem is lined with big luxury resorts, while Sao Beach is better as a half-day trip than as a base. Sunset Town and the cable car are a short drive away.
- Pros: the best beaches on the island; calmer water than the west coast from May to October; luxury resorts with everything on site; close to Sunset Town and Hon Thom.
- Cons: few places to eat outside the resorts; 40+ minutes from Duong Dong and Long Beach; the most expensive area; you'll rely on your resort or a car for everything.
Hotels to look at in Bai Khem
- JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay: a themed luxury resort on Bai Khem.
- New World Phu Quoc Resort: villas on Bai Khem.
5. Ong Lang: Best for Peace and Quiet
Ong Lang is a stretch of small coves north of Duong Dong, with low-rise resorts set in big gardens, pepper farms and jungle behind. It shares Long Beach's sunsets without the crowds.
- Pros: quiet and green; good for couples and slow travel; sunsets over the sea; 15 to 20 minutes from Duong Dong.
- Cons: almost no nightlife and few restaurants outside the resorts; narrower, rockier beaches in places; you'll need a car or scooter to go anywhere.
Hotels to look at in Ong Lang
- Mövenpick Resort Waverly Phu Quoc: a large resort on Ong Lang beach.
6. Bai Dai and Ganh Dau (North): Best for Vinpearl Safari and Grand World
The north-west is home to the Vinpearl complex: Vinpearl Safari, VinWonders and Grand World, with big all-in-one resorts on Bai Dai beach. We visited Vinpearl Safari and Grand World as a day trip from Long Beach and were back on Long Beach for sunset.
Things to do nearby: Vinpearl Safari, VinWonders theme park, Grand World's canals and gondolas, the Bamboo Legend pavilion, quiet northern beaches.
- Pros: walk or take a free shuttle to the theme parks; long, clean beach; great for families with kids; resorts have everything on site.
- Cons: remote: Duong Dong is 30 to 40 minutes away and the south over an hour; almost no nightlife; few independent restaurants; day trips to the cable car take most of the day.
Hotels to look at in the north
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa Phu Quoc: next to the Vinpearl parks.
- Wyndham Grand Phu Quoc: near Grand World.
7. East Coast (Ham Ninh): Best for Sunrise and Seafood
The east coast faces mainland Vietnam, so you get sunrises instead of sunsets. Ham Ninh fishing village is known for seafood restaurants on stilts over the water. There are only a few small resorts here, and the beaches aren't as good as the west or south, so most people visit for a meal rather than stay.
- Pros: quiet; sunrise views; fresh seafood; central, about 20 minutes from the airport.
- Cons: weaker beaches; little to do in the evening; no 5-star resorts; rough water from November to April.
Which Coast Is Best in Which Season?
- November to April (dry season): the west coast (Long Beach, Ong Lang, Bai Dai) is at its best, with calm, clear water and sunny days. The east coast takes the wind in these months.
- May to October (rainy season): the south-west monsoon brings waves and cloudy water to the west coast. The south-east beaches (Bai Khem, Sao Beach) are usually calmer, so consider staying there.
We went in June, in the rainy season, while a typhoon was hitting northern Vietnam. Plan boat trips with some flexibility at that time of year.
Tips for Booking Your Phu Quoc Stay
- Split your stay on a longer trip. With 5 days or more, consider a few nights on Long Beach and a few in the south, or in the north if Vinpearl is a priority. It saves hours of driving.
- Check airport transfers. Salinda included a free return airport transfer. If yours doesn't, book a private car or use the official Grab app; there are stories of drivers changing the price midway.
- Book early for peak dates. November to April is high season, and rooms sell out over Christmas and Tet (6 February 2027).
- Expect construction until late 2027. The airport, roads and convention centre are being upgraded for APEC 2027, so ask your hotel about nearby building work.
- Think about meals. Outside Long Beach and Duong Dong, you'll often eat at your resort, so check its restaurants and whether it runs a shuttle.
Our Pick
For a first trip of 3 to 4 days, Long Beach is our pick. It worked well for us: from Salinda, we reached Sunset Town, Hon Thom and the Vinpearl attractions as day trips, and came back to Lobster Cave, King Kong Mart and the night market in the evenings. See how we spent our days in our 4-day Phu Quoc itinerary.
Paying for your trip by card? See our best credit cards for overseas spending. More Vietnam: our Pullman Danang Beach Resort review and 3-day Ho Chi Minh City itinerary.
FAQ
What is the best area to stay in Phu Quoc for first-timers?
Long Beach (Bai Truong). It's 10 to 15 minutes from the airport, close to Duong Dong's restaurants and night market, and central enough to reach Sunset Town in the south and Vinpearl in the north as day trips.
Where should families stay in Phu Quoc?
Long Beach suits families who want to explore. If your trip centres on Vinpearl Safari, VinWonders and Grand World, stay at a resort in Bai Dai in the north, where the parks are a short shuttle ride away.
Is it better to stay in Sunset Town or Long Beach?
Long Beach is more central with more restaurants and hotels. Sunset Town is better if you want to walk to the Hon Thom cable car, the Kiss Bridge and the evening night market, but it's 40+ minutes from Duong Dong.
Which part of Phu Quoc has the best beaches?
The south-east: Bai Khem (Kem Beach) and Sao Beach have the whitest sand and clearest water, and they're usually calmer than the west coast from May to October.
Where should I stay in Phu Quoc in the rainy season?
From May to October, the west coast, including Long Beach, gets waves and cloudy water. The south-east beaches such as Bai Khem are usually calmer at that time of year.
How far is Long Beach from Phu Quoc airport?
Very close. Our resort on Long Beach, Salinda, was about a 10-minute drive from the airport.
Is Duong Dong a good place to stay?
It's good for budget travellers and long stays, with the cheapest rooms, the night market and local food. The town beach isn't great, so you'll need transport for the best beaches.