You have seen the photos. That water that looks almost too blue to be real, the kind of white sand that squeaks under your feet — chances are, that’s Phu Quoc. Vietnam’s largest island floats in the Gulf of Thailand, barely an hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City, and it’s been steadily earning its place among Southeast Asia’s best island destinations.
The things to do in Phu Quoc stretch well beyond beaches though — we are talking a world-record cable car, an open-air safari, jungle waterfalls, and night markets so good you’ll plan your whole evening around them. Beach person or foodie, family trip or solo adventure — this island has a way of delivering for everyone.
This is your straight-talking guide to the best things to do in Phu Quoc, built for first-timers who don’t want to waste a single day figuring it out on the fly.
Ride the World’s Longest Oversea Cable Car to Hon Thom Island
Nothing quite prepares you for the moment the cable car clears the treeline and there’s nothing beneath you but open sea. The Sun World Hon Thom Cable Car runs 7,899 metres across open water, officially the world’s longest oversea cable car, Guinness-certified — connecting An Thoi port in Phu Quoc’s south to Hon Thom, or Pineapple Island.
The ride takes about 25 minutes, and you spend most of it just staring down at a patchwork of turquoise water, coral reefs, and tiny fishing boats that look like toys from up here. Landing on Hon Thom is half the fun. The Aquatopia Water Park is right there, there’s solid snorkelling off the island’s shores, a romantic suspension walkway called Kiss Bridge, and seafood restaurants that punch well above their price point.
It consistently ranks as one of the top things to do in Phu Quoc — and once you’ve done it, you’ll understand why. Pro tip: Book through TickYourList in advance. Slots genuinely sell out on weekends and during peak season, so don’t leave this one to chance.
Spend a Full Day at VinWonders Phu Quoc
Calling VinWonders a theme park slightly undersells it. This is a 50-hectare entertainment complex in the island’s north — Vietnam’s largest, officially recognised by the Vietnam Record Association — split into six themed zones drawing on the world’s great civilisations.
Rides, water slides, live street performances, an evening water-and-light show called Symphony of the Sea… you could easily fill eight hours here and still feel like you rushed it. It works brilliantly for families, but couples and friend groups get just as much out of it. The evening show in particular is worth staying for — it’s the kind of spectacle that makes you quietly glad you didn’t leave early.
A note if you’re booking through TickYourList: Da Nang Downtown, Ba Na Hills, and VinWonders Nam Hoi An are all listed on the platform, but they’re Central Vietnam experiences — Da Nang and Hoi An, not Phu Quoc. If your trip takes in both regions, brilliant, add them. But for your island days, VinWonders Phu Quoc is the one to lock in.