Vietnam's 'Pearl Island' in the Gulf of Thailand: the white sand of Sao Beach, 20 km of Long Beach, the world's longest sea-crossing cable car, VinWonders, the Safari and Grand World. An island for families, rest and the sea. Dry and sunny from November to April; winter charter flights from Ulaanbaatar ran in December–February, otherwise connect via Seoul or Bangkok. Visa-free for 30 days for Mongolian citizens.
🛂 Visa: Visa-free · 30 days✈ Flight: 11h☀ Best months: November, December, January, February
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: November, December, January, February, March.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Sao Beach
BeachFree (sunbeds ≈50,000–100,000₫)24 hours
Powder-white sand and shallow turquoise water on the south-east coast — Phu Quoc's prettiest beach. Calm sea, good for children; eat seafood at the beach cafes.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goVietnam is visa-free for Mongolians, so preparation is easy: flight, passport, insurance.+
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Visa: 30 days visa-free
Since 7 March 2024, Mongolian citizens with an ordinary passport can stay in Vietnam up to 30 days visa-free (not for paid work). Passport valid at least 6 months, with a return ticket. Phu Quoc also has its own rule letting any nationality arriving directly from abroad stay 30 days visa-free on the island only — Mongolians, under the general rule, can also travel on to the mainland. For more than 30 days, get an e-visa on evisa.gov.vn.
Tip: Use only the official evisa.gov.vn; look-alike private sites charge extra.
In winter 2025–2026 Hunnu Air flew Ulaanbaatar–Phu Quoc charters 2–3 times a week, sold by tour agencies as package trips. At other times connect via Incheon or Bangkok; buy both flights on one booking so bags are checked through.
Tip: December–February charter trips fill early; bookings usually open in September–October.
The island has few international hospitals and serious cases are moved to Ho Chi Minh City, so travel insurance is a must. For the beach, choose November–April: in the rainy season the west coast sea is rough and island boat trips are often cancelled.
🛬Landing and getting to your hotelPhu Quoc airport is in the middle of the island, close to Duong Dong town and Long Beach.+
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Grab or taxi
A taxi from the airport to Duong Dong takes about 20 minutes and costs about 150,000₫; a Grab car is similarly cheap. The northern Vinpearl area and Sunset Town in the south are further. Most big hotels offer a free or paid transfer.
VinBus route 17 runs from the airport to Grand World in the north. Fares started on 1 January 2026: 20,000₫ within nearby zones, 50,000₫ between distant zones. Slower than a taxi with suitcases, but the cheapest.
After baggage claim the arrivals hall has Viettel and Vinaphone counters: a high-data tourist SIM ≈120,000–300,000₫. Registered with your passport; Viettel has the best coverage across the island.
🚇Getting around the islandThe island is big: from the Vinpearl area in the north to Sunset Town in the south is almost 50 km. Public transport is limited, so mostly taxis.+
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Grab and Xanh SM taxis
The easiest way around: book in the app and see the price upfront. Xanh SM's green electric taxis are everywhere. North-to-south trips get expensive, so plan one area per day.
Three routes: 17 (Grand World – airport), 19 (Grand World – InterContinental, in the south), 20 (Grand World – Bai Vong port). A ride costs 20,000₫, or 50,000₫ between distant zones. Timetables in the VinBus app.
Renting a scooter is popular, but without a licence valid in Vietnam insurance won't cover accidents and police fine riders. Dirt roads get slippery in the rain. If you are inexperienced, use taxis or hire a car with a driver.
💳Money+
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Dong and ATMs
Notes have many zeros, so don't mix up look-alike notes such as 20,000₫ and 200,000₫. Duong Dong and the Vinpearl area have plenty of Vietcombank and BIDV ATMs; change US dollars at gold shops or banks.
Big hotels, parks and supermarkets take cards; the night market, fishing villages and small cafes take cash. Seafood is priced by weight, so confirm price and weight before ordering. Tipping is optional.
🍜FoodPhu Quoc is an island of seafood, nuoc mam fish sauce and black pepper.+
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What to eat
Bun quay or bun ken — noodles in fish broth (the island breakfast); goi ca trich — raw herring salad; grilled sea urchin, crab and prawns; clams with pepper sauce. With children, fried rice, pho and banh mi are everywhere.
Tip: Pick live seafood and say whether you want it steamed or grilled.
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The night market and Ham Ninh
The Duong Dong night market runs 17:00–23:00; around 18:30 all stalls are open and it is not yet crowded. At the restaurants on Ham Ninh's wooden piers you pick crab straight from the nets.
Vinmec Phu Quoc International Hospital in the Bai Dai area has a 24-hour emergency department and English-speaking doctors; there is also a Vinmec clinic in Duong Dong. Call your insurer's assistance line first.
In the rainy season the west coast currents are strong — don't swim when a red flag is up and never leave children unattended. Tropical sun is fierce: hat, sunscreen, plenty of water. Use mosquito repellent in the evening; some beaches have sand flies, so sit on a mat.
🙏Manners+
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Temples and memorials
At Dinh Cau shrine and pagodas cover shoulders and knees and take off shoes where indicated. The prison museum is a memorial to a tragic past — keep quiet and respectful.
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Beach and rubbish
Don't walk around restaurants or streets in swimwear — put on a cover-up. Leave no rubbish on the beach, don't touch or stand on coral, and don't take starfish or shells.
📱Useful apps+
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Grab, Xanh SM
Grab for cars, motorbikes and food delivery, Xanh SM for electric taxis. Prices are shown upfront, so no haggling.
The airport is in the middle of the island, so it is close to most hotels, but leave early from the northern Vinpearl area or An Thoi in the south. Allow plenty of time for an international flight; for charters, confirm check-in times with your tour agency.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
🧸 for kids
Hon Thom cable car and Sun World
Kids≈850,000₫ (children 700,000₫, under 1 m free)≈9:00–17:00
7.9 km over the sea from An Thoi to Hon Thom island — the world's longest sea-crossing cable car (~15 min). The ticket includes the Aquatopia water park and Exotica park on the island.
CityBridge 50,000₫ (100,000₫ 16:00–20:00); Kiss of the Sea show from ≈$27Bridge 7:00–20:00; show 21:00 (except Tuesdays)
A colourful Mediterranean-style town at the southern tip: watch the sunset from the two-part 'Kiss Bridge' reaching into the sea, then the Kiss of the Sea show with lights and fireworks on the water.
'The city that never sleeps': Venetian canals and gondolas, colourful houses, shops, cafes, evening shows and a night market. In the northern Vinpearl area next to VinWonders.
Kids1,050,000₫ (children 100–140 cm 800,000₫, under 1 m free)9:00–19:30
Vietnam's biggest theme park: 6 zones, roller coasters, a water park, an aquarium and the evening ONCE show. A full day for families; the combo with the Safari is cheaper.
Vietnam's first semi-wild safari park: ride a bus among lions, tigers, antelopes and giraffes, then a walking section and animal shows. VinWonders + Safari combo ticket 1,500,000₫.
FoodFree (food from 30,000₫)Shrine 7:00–20:30; market 17:00–23:00
A fishermen's shrine and lighthouse on a rock at the mouth of the Duong Dong river — watch the sunset, then walk to the night market next door: grilled seafood, sea urchin, Phu Quoc pearls and pepper. Ask prices first.
FoodFree (food priced by weight)No fixed hours (daytime)
A fishing village with wooden piers on the east coast: pick crab and seafood straight from the nets and have it cooked. Starfish can be seen in the shallow water.
Nature≈1,250,000–1,450,000₫ (with cable car and lunch)7:30–17:00 (full day)
By boat from An Thoi port to May Rut, Gam Ghi and Mong Tay islands: snorkelling by the coral, small white-sand islets. Clear water November–April; trips may be cancelled in the rainy season.
The 'Coconut Tree Prison' from the French and American war years — prisoners' life and torture shown with figures and cages. A national historic site; a heavy subject for young children.
See Phu Quoc's famous nuoc mam fermenting in big wooden barrels (strong smell!); at a pepper garden nearby taste and buy black and red pepper. Fish sauce is not allowed on planes.
