I packed rain ponchos after hearing it was the rainy season, but by the time we came home, I was more concerned about how much sun I had caught. Over four days, the only rain we encountered was a shower while we were having lunch on the third day. The Phu Quoc trip I had worried might be washed out ended with much better weather than expected.
My partner and I visited Phu Quoc from late August to early September, during the Vietnamese holiday. We decided to leave the north for another trip, enjoy meals and downtime around the town centre, and spend one day in Sunset Town in the south. Our four days and three nights were enjoyable without fitting in every well-known attraction.
We were lucky with the weather. If you visit during the rainy season, I would leave enough room in the schedule to take a break when it rains. I had brought rain ponchos, but the trip reminded me that sunscreen and a hat matter just as much. I got quite tanned while we were out and about.
Seashells Hotel: an easy base for eating out on foot
We stayed at Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel & Spa in central Duong Dong (Dương Đông). It was convenient for walking to the night market and nearby restaurants. The market and the restaurants we visited around the centre were generally within about a 15-minute walk of the hotel.
I liked not having to arrange a ride every time we wanted a meal. We could relax at the hotel, walk out to eat, and walk back afterwards. If trying different restaurants is a big part of your trip, as it was for us, the location of your hotel makes a real difference.
Sunset Town in the south needed a separate journey. It took us about 50 minutes from the hotel, so we grouped our southern sightseeing into one day. Before choosing a hotel, I think it helps to decide whether you want to eat out around the centre regularly or spend more time sightseeing and watching shows in the south.
Phu Quoc restaurants I still think about a month later
We ate plenty of seafood, as you might expect on an island trip. Since I live and work in Vietnam, we also mixed things up with Western, Greek, Thai and Korean food. Two restaurants in particular have stayed with me.
Lobster Cave: lobster and seafood for our first lunch
Our first lunch was at Hải sản Động Tôm Hùm, also known in English as Lobster Cave seafood. We enjoyed the lobster, other seafood and fried rice. It is somewhere I would consider going back to for a seafood meal in Phu Quoc.
At the time of our visit, lobster cost about VND 1.8 million per kilogram. That gives some idea of the budget for a seafood meal. Before ordering, I would confirm the total for the weight you choose, including any cooking charges.
MEDITERRAN: a chance stop that stayed with me
We happened to walk past MEDITERRAN Greek & Italian Restaurant and went in without any particular expectations. The pizza and Greek food were good enough that I am still thinking about them a month later.
After a few days of seafood and Vietnamese food in Phu Quoc, you might want something different. This is where I would go back in that situation. If someone asked me to recommend one restaurant we discovered during the trip, I would mention this one. Restaurant website
View the pizza menu from our visit
Bún Quậy Kiến Xây: trying Phu Quoc’s bún quậy
The noodles we had at Bún Quậy Kiến Xây also come to mind when I think about Phu Quoc food. I remembered them as noodles with squid; the dish is called bún quậy. Vietnam’s tourism authority describes it as a signature seafood noodle dish from the island. Search for the restaurant name above to find it. About bún quậy
Sunset Town: a day from lunchtime into the evening
On the day we visited Sunset Town, we stayed in the south from lunchtime through the evening. Given the distance from our hotel, it suited us to explore the area as well as watch a show.
The streets were attractively laid out, with plenty of cafés and restaurants with views, as well as places for a massage. It was easy to find somewhere to stop between walks. The sunset over the sea was especially memorable.
The Duong Dong night market was quieter than I had expected when we visited, while Sunset Town had plenty of tourists. The two places felt quite different. If you want to explore the south, stop at a café and watch an evening show, I would allow a full day.
A route I would suggest is to explore the town after lunch, take a break for a café or a meal, then enjoy the sunset and an evening show. It was hot in the middle of the day, so I would build in breaks between walks.
Symphony of the Sea: choosing one evening show
During the day, we watched a water sports performance from Kiss Bridge. That evening, we went to Symphony of the Sea, which we had booked in advance.
Kiss of the Sea also comes up often when researching shows in Sunset Town. After reading reviews, we chose Symphony of the Sea for this trip. The performance we watched lasted about 30 minutes. It was not long, but the spectacle impressed us.
We felt that watching two evening shows on the same day might make each one feel less special, so we picked just one. We left Kiss of the Sea for another visit and were happy with Symphony.
Travel booking sites had plenty of packages combining a meal at Sun Bavaria with the show. The restaurant looked busy as we passed it. We watched comfortably from chairs set up by the beach. There were plenty of seats at the time, but I felt that arriving about 30 minutes early would help if you wanted a particular spot.
When booking, check the show name, whether a meal is included, the viewing location and the admission time. If you are staying in the town centre, it is also worth planning how you will get back after the show.
Who this relaxed route would suit
If you like trying restaurants, relaxing at your hotel and setting aside a day for sightseeing and a show, I think this route could work well. Staying in Duong Dong made nearby meals easy, and we kept a separate day for the south.
If VinWonders, Vinpearl Safari or the water park on Hon Thom Island is your main reason for going, it makes more sense to plan around those places. We wanted a restful holiday, so we left Hon Thom for another time too. On our next visit, I would like to explore the north and choose a hotel to match that route.
I was happy that we came home with some places still saved for another trip. Eating lobster, stumbling across a good restaurant and watching a show by the sea were enough to make this visit enjoyable. If you are deciding how much to fit into four days and three nights, I would choose your must-see places first and make room for downtime as well.
Returning at the end of the year or in the new year
I would like to return around the end of the year or early in the new year. Vietnam’s tourism authority places Phu Quoc’s dry season broadly between November and April, making December and January months to consider for a beach holiday. I would still pack sunscreen and a hat. Seasonal travel information
If you plan to watch a show at the end of 2026, check the new season’s details. In its September 12 announcement, Sun World said that the new season of Symphony of the Sea and the Sun Bavaria expansion were scheduled for completion in November. Official show announcement
If we go again, I would first decide where we want to spend most of our time. For regular meals around the centre, I would look in Duong Dong. If we planned a couple of days in the south, I would consider hotels around Sunset Town too. I would happily take another trip with this much time to eat well and relax.
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