Gam Ghi Island and the An Thoi archipelago
Gam Ghi Island lies about 35 kilometers south of Duong Dong, the main town of Phu Quoc. It is part of the An Thoi archipelago, a cluster of 16 small islands scattered across the southern tip of Phu Quoc. This is the main area for island hopping in Phu Quoc, and most visitors explore it on a day tour by boat. The tours typically combine two to four islands in one day, with stops for snorkeling, swimming, and lunch on the water. Other popular islands in the group include Mong Tay, May Rut, and Hon Xuong.
Within the archipelago, Gam Ghi is one of the smaller and more undeveloped islands. There are no restaurants, no facilities, and no permanent residents. What it does have is the best coral reef in the area, which is why it is a standard stop on nearly every island-hopping tour in southern Phu Quoc.
What to expect on Gam Ghi Island
Gam Ghi is a small island with a simple offer: good snorkeling, a pretty beach, and not much else. That is not a criticism — it is what makes it worth visiting. Here is what you will actually find when you get there.
1. Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the main reason people come to Gam Ghi, and it delivers. The reef runs along the north coast of the island, sheltered from waves and current, which keeps the water calm and makes it easy for beginners and kids. You can expect to see butterflyfish, damselfish, chromis, clownfish in their sea anemones, and giant clams. The coral is dense and colorful in the deeper sections, further from shore.
That said, set realistic expectations. The coral closest to the beach is damaged from years of foot traffic and people standing on the reef. Water visibility is decent, but this is not the Maldives or even the better parts of Thailand. What Gam Ghi offers is accessible, enjoyable snorkeling in calm and relatively clear water — solid for most travelers, but probably not exciting enough for experienced divers or anyone used to world-class reef diving.
One practical thing worth noting: some tours only give you 30 minutes in the water here. That feels rushed. If snorkeling is important to you, check how much time your tour spends at Gam Ghi before booking.
2. The beach and rocks
The beach at Gam Ghi is small — more of a sheltered cove than a long stretch of sand. The water is calm and clear, good for swimming even if you skip the snorkeling. What makes the beach visually interesting is the large boulders that rise from the water along the coastline. They create a dramatic backdrop and are one of the more photogenic spots in the An Thoi Islands. It is not a beach you come to for sunbathing all day, but it is a genuinely pretty place to spend a few hours.
3. Fish feeding
Some tours include a fish feeding activity in the shallow water near the beach. You throw bread into the water and tropical fish swarm around you almost immediately. It is simple but fun, especially for children or anyone who is not confident enough to snorkel. Not every tour includes this, so check in advance if it matters to you.
4. Fishing
Certain tour packages include a fishing stop, where you cast a line from the boat and whatever you catch gets grilled on board. For many visitors this ends up being one of the highlights of the day — fresh seafood you caught yourself, eaten out on the water. This is not something you can arrange independently on the island. It comes as part of specific tour packages, so look for it when booking if this appeals to you.
5. Facilities on the island
There are none. No restaurants, no toilets, no shops, nothing. Everything you need for your time on the island either comes from your tour boat or you bring it yourself. Most organized tours include lunch on the boat and drinking water, but it is worth confirming before you go. If you are visiting independently, plan accordingly.
How to get to Gam Ghi Island
Almost everyone visits Gam Ghi as part of an island-hopping day tour, and that is also the most practical way to do it. Tours depart from An Thoi port, which sits at the southern tip of Phu Quoc, about 25 to 30 kilometers from Duong Dong. Getting to An Thoi from the main town takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes by taxi, which costs around 250,000 to 400,000 VND depending on where you are staying. Renting a motorbike for the day is a cheaper option if you are comfortable riding one.
From An Thoi port, you reach the island either by wooden tourist boat or by speedboat. The wooden boats are slower, taking around 45 to 60 minutes, but they are more stable and comfortable for a full day on the water. Speedboats and canoes get you there in 15 to 20 minutes if you prefer a faster ride.
Most tours visit three or four islands in one day, with Gam Ghi as the snorkeling stop. Prices for group tours typically start around 350,000 to 700,000 VND per person, usually including boat transport, snorkeling gear, and lunch on the water. It is also possible to rent a private boat from An Thoi, but this is significantly more expensive and mostly done by larger groups.
One thing worth checking before you book: Gam Ghi is almost always included as a snorkeling stop rather than a beach stop. Some tours drop anchor offshore and put you straight in the water without setting foot on the island. If you want time on the beach and among the rocks, confirm that your tour actually lands on the island.
Practical information
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Gam Ghi Island is during the dry season, which runs from November to April. Seas are calm, water visibility is at its best, and tours run reliably. This is when snorkeling conditions are most enjoyable.
From May to October, Phu Quoc enters its rainy season. Seas can get rough, visibility drops, and some tours get cancelled depending on conditions. That said, May and October are shoulder months — the weather is mostly still manageable, crowds are thinner, and prices tend to be lower. The middle of the rainy season, roughly June to September, is when conditions are least predictable.
For a full month-by-month breakdown of weather in Phu Quoc and when to visit, check our guide on the best time to visit Phu Quoc.
What to bring
There are no facilities on the island, so plan ahead. Bring cash — there is nowhere to pay by card anywhere near Gam Ghi. Use reef-safe sunscreen, both to protect your skin on the water and to avoid damaging the coral. The sun on open water is intense, so a rash guard or long-sleeve swim top is a smart choice even if the weather does not feel that hot. Bring enough drinking water and some snacks, unless your tour explicitly includes lunch and drinks on board.
Protecting the reef
The coral closest to the beach is already in poor condition, largely because of people standing on it and touching it over the years. Several visitors have flagged this in reviews, and it is worth taking seriously. When snorkeling, stay horizontal in the water and keep your fins away from the reef. Do not touch or stand on coral, even if it looks dead. Use reef-safe sunscreen and avoid applying regular sunscreen just before getting in the water. Small habits from each visitor add up, and Gam Ghi’s reef is worth protecting.
Choosing the right tour
Not all island-hopping tours are the same. Some give you only 30 minutes at Gam Ghi, which is enough for a quick look but not much more. Others allow longer snorkeling time or actually land on the island so you can explore the beach and rocks. Before booking, check how many islands the tour visits, how long you spend at each one, and whether snorkeling gear is included. A tour that rushes through four islands in a day will feel very different from one that takes its time at two or three.
Read more about the best boat tours in Phu Quoc.
Overnight stays and camping
Gam Ghi has no accommodation, but camping on the island is technically possible if you bring your own tent, sleeping bag, food, water, and everything else you need. There is no electricity, no running water, and no support of any kind on the island overnight. For travelers who are properly prepared and comfortable with a remote, off-grid experience, it can be a memorable way to spend a night under the stars. For everyone else, it is much more practical to return to the main island and base yourself in or around An Thoi or Duong Dong.
Is Gam Ghi Island worth visiting?
Yes, but with realistic expectations.
For snorkeling, Gam Ghi is the best stop in the An Thoi Islands. The reef is more intact and more varied than what you find at most other islands in the area, and the calm, sheltered water makes it genuinely accessible for beginners, families, and anyone who has never snorkeled before. If snorkeling is on your Phu Quoc list, this is where to do it.
That said, it is not world-class. The coral closest to shore is degraded, visibility is decent rather than exceptional, and experienced snorkelers or divers used to cleaner reef systems may find it underwhelming. The island itself is pleasant — the rocky coastline and small beach are pretty — but there is not a lot to do beyond snorkeling and swimming. You will not need more than a few hours here.
The bigger variable is the tour you choose. Gam Ghi is almost always visited as one stop on a multi-island day, and how much you enjoy it depends largely on how long your tour actually spends there. Thirty minutes in the water feels rushed. A tour that gives you an hour or more makes a real difference.
As a standalone destination, it is not worth the trip. As part of an island-hopping day from An Thoi, it absolutely is. Most visitors who include it come away happy — just book a tour that gives you enough time in the water to make it worthwhile.
