5 Tips you should know before traveling to Phu Quoc Island

There are travel tips you have to know before traveling to Phu Quoc island, especially if you’re a first-time visitor. While you won’t have too much to worry about in Phu Quoc, it’s always best to know what you’re getting yourself into before arriving at a new destination.

To help you have the perfect trip, here are the top 5 Phu Quoc travel tips so that you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying this fascinating island!

Choose the right time to visit Phu Quoc island

While the weather in Phu Quoc might not be at the top of your worry list, because every season has its enjoyment, choosing the best time to visit Phu Quoc is still a part of planning the perfect trip. 

Phu Quoc has a tropical monsoon climate with high humidity throughout the year, including a rainy season (May - October) and a dry season (November - April). 

• In the dry season, the weather is pleasant to sunbathe, swim, and enjoy the outdoor activities on Phu Quoc island, especially snorkeling. Immerse yourself in the warm sunshine and cool seawater to explore every coral reef. 

It is also ideal for you to discover this beautiful island by motorbikes: wander through the forest, kayak at Rach Vem fishing village and Cua Can river, join jet-skiing, parasailing at Sao beach, and May Rut Trong island, indulge in the romantic sunset while enjoying a cocktail.

• In the rainy season, there are sunny days, and only September witnesses the long and heavy rainfall. However, some destinations are just suitable for this period. There are streams such as the Tranh stream, the Da Bang stream, and the Bom stream.

The waterfalls flowing down in the greenery of the forest certainly draw a spectacular scene. These are ideal places for relaxing picnics and camping trips. You can hike through the tropical forest on your way or follow the small paths along the stream. After that, you can plunge into cool water and enjoy some food.

Choose reputable travel agencies (TA) and online travel agents (OTA)

You will need a travel agent to save your time in searching and money. They help you book flight tickets, rooms, and Phu Quoc tours. They also consult clearly and give you the most suitable schedule.

Qualified tour operators must ensure good quality of service, friendly attitude, safety for tourists, fire prevention and control, food safety and hygiene, and environmental sanitation. 

John's Tours Phu Quoc has over 15 years of experience organizing and operating Phu Quoc tours. We also own a large scale of transportation such as cars, boats, and speedboats. Our tour guides are experienced and bilingual in Vietnamese and English. 

Qualified tourism and travel establishments will give you good services and satisfactory experiences. Disrepute travel agencies will not comply with their commitment or even disappear after you transfer money to their accounts. Many tourists have unwittingly handed over their money to bad travel agencies.

TA and OTA have their advantages and disadvantages.

The prices on OTA websites may be lower than the prices of TA. However, OTA will help solve your problems slower than TA. They give you the information via email while TA has a person contact you by phone. 

A travel agent who organizes and operates tours directly will inform you about the changes in the schedule, pick-up point, etc quicker than OTA.

You should also contact several travel agencies and OTA to compare prices before booking. 

Some of the OTA websites you can refer to:

• www.klook.com
• www.booking.com
• www.getyourguide.com
• www.traveloka.com

Note: do not book tours through people at Phu Quoc night market. They can offer you a very cheap price tour. For example, the 4-island speedboat trip is maybe only 300.000 VND, while that tour with a reputable travel company is 700.000 VND. Of course, they will not do their commitment, arbitrarily add places to the schedule, or even make an excuse to leave you in the middle of the trip.

Get around efficiently on Phu Quoc island

Getting around Phu Quoc island is easy and affordable.

In Duong Dong ward, the destinations are close to each other so that you can walk. However, the distance from Duong Dong center to entertainment destinations in the north and south of Phu Quoc island is far, over 20 kilometers.

There are many ways to get around on the island, including renting motorbikes, taxis, renting a car with a driver, Vinpearl buses (from Duong Dong center to VinWonders, Grand World, and Vinpearl Safari in the north of Phu Quoc), and electric cars (available in Duong Dong ward).

Motorbikes are ideal for travelers who want to cover large areas at the cheapest prices. Although you’ll undoubtedly be saving money, you should know that this type of travel is not for all tourists. Because the temperature is high and occasional sudden rain, many travelers prefer to sit in a car.

Renting a motorcycle: The motorbike rental cost is quite low, from 120,000 VND/day to 150,000 VND/day, depending on the type of motorbike (manual motorcycle or scooter).

Note: 

- The amount of gas in the motorbike when you get it from the owner is just enough for you to get to the nearest gas station.

- Gas stations will close early, around 8 pm onwards.

- There are many gas stations in Duong Dong ward. You have to go a long distance to find one in other areas.

- Therefore fill up the tank before your trip and make sure you have enough gas to return to the hotel.

Renting a car with a driver: When you travel to Phu Quoc island with your family or friends (from 5 people), renting a car will make the journey more comfortable, and a local driver will help you have a smooth trip. The average price for this service ranges from 1,200,000 VND/day.

John's Tours has a full range of vehicles, from 7 seats to 47 seats. Experienced drivers regularly maintain the cars.

Taxi is the most convenient option for Phu Quoc tourist groups of 2 to 3 people. The cost is low because it is divided equally per capita. The taxi fare on Phu Quoc island is about 12,000 - 16,000 VND/kilometer.

Four taxi companies operate in Phu Quoc, including Vinasun Taxi, Mai Linh Taxi, Phu Quoc Taxi (Nam Thang Taxi), and Sai Gon Taxi.

Note:

- You should check the route you will go on first on Google Maps to know how long it will take to reach your destination and how much your ride will cost. 

- Don't forget to agree on a fixed price with the driver beforehand. Some taxi drivers will rip you off because you ignore the taxi fares and don't know the way to your destination. If you pay based on a cab fare calculator, check if the cab fare calculator is working and if it starts from 0 or not.

- Remember the cab's license plate, pick up and drop off time, the price paid to the driver, and check your belongings before getting off. If you forget your things in the cab, inform the taxi operator to find that taxi easier.

Choose suitable accommodations on Phu Quoc island

• Remember to book your rooms through a reputable website beforehand. John's Tours has many travel combos at reasonable prices. Check it now.
• The reviews help us choose the perfect hotel so much easier. You should book hotels that have good and most recent reviews, from a 4.5 rating to 5 on Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, etc.
• Do not believe the picture in the advertisement. The hotel only chooses the best image and retouches it to attract tourists to their ads. Take a look at the room you want to stay in to observe the design and facilities.

• You should book a room in a 4-star and 5-star hotel for a comfortable stay. They also ensure the quality of your meals, take care of your belongings, and ensure your safety. 

If tourists want to book a room at the 4-star and 5-star hotel/resort in Duong Dong center (especially which has a private beach), they have to book one month (2 months in high season) in advance.

• Homestay, bungalows, and guest houses are the options for those who want to save on their budget. However, tourists should pay attention to their belongings, especially the accommodations in the alley, which do not have a safe and a security guard.

Note when having meals in restaurants at Phu Quoc island

• You should pay attention to the price of the seafood. It changes in different seasons. There are types of seafood sold by weight, and others sold by serve. Do not forget to confirm the number of dishes ordered.

For example, some dishes made from oysters (Grilled oysters with cheese, Grilled oysters with green onion) will charge per oyster. Many tourists do not read the menu clearly and think this price is per dish.

• Like when you book a room, you should look up restaurants that have lots of good reviews and from 4.5 rating to 5. Some famous restaurants in Duong Dong ward popular with tourists are Xin Chao Phu Quoc, Ra Khoi, Saigonese Eatery, The Home Pizza, and Bun Quay Kien Xay.

In the high season (January, February, April & May), you should make a reservation to make sure they have a free table for you.

• A dish in Phu Quoc has many spices and ingredients. If you are allergic to any food, you should inform the staff.
• Last but not least, taxi drivers in Phu Quoc will lead you to some restaurants to get the commission. Therefore if they recommend you any restaurants, you should check them on Google Reviews or TripAdvisor.

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Enjoy most of your Phu Quoc trip with these essential tips! If you have any questions when traveling to Phu Quoc island, do not hesitate to contact John's Tours.