Roi Island and the An Thoi archipelago
Roi Island lies in the southern waters of Phu Quoc, about 30 minutes by boat from An Thoi port. It is part of the An Thoi archipelago, a group of around 15 small islands scattered off the southern tip of Phu Quoc. This is the main area for island hopping in southern Phu Quoc, where most day tours combine snorkeling, swimming, and boat rides between islands. Other well-known islands in the group include Gam Ghi, the May Rut Islands, and Hon Thom.
Within the archipelago, Roi Island sits on the quieter end of the spectrum. It has a small local community, some lobster farming in the surrounding waters, and no tourism infrastructure to speak of. There are no beach clubs, no tour groups stopping here, and no facilities for visitors. The island is also part of the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated area that covers much of the southern Phu Quoc marine environment. Many travelers have actually passed directly over Roi Island without realizing it — the Phu Quoc cable car flies over it on the route between An Thoi and Hon Thom. For most people, that aerial glimpse is as close as they get.
What to expect on Roi Island
Roi Island is not a typical tourist destination. There are no beach clubs, no restaurants, no organised tours stopping here. What it offers is a quieter, more raw version of island life — but that also means you need to know what you are getting into before making the trip.
1. The island itself
The island is largely covered in natural forest, with rocky coastline and clear water around it. The scenery is genuinely unspoiled — precisely because so little has been built here. A small community lives on the island, with daily life centred around fishing and lobster farming. The waters around Roi Island are well suited to lobster cultivation, and local farmers take advantage of the clean, relatively undisturbed sea floor.
For visitors, there are no facilities at all. No restaurants, no toilets, no shops. This is not a place you turn up to and find things to do — it rewards travelers who come with a plan and realistic expectations about what a quiet, undeveloped island actually looks like.
2. Snorkeling and sea walking
The main organised activities associated with Roi Island happen not on the island itself but in the water around it. Namaste Coral Park operates near the island and offers sea walking — a helmet diving experience where you walk along the shallow seabed with a guide. Snorkeling is also available in the surrounding waters.
Reviews of these activities are genuinely mixed, and it is worth being honest about that. Several visitors describe the experience as rushed and heavily focused on photography rather than actual exploration. Concerns have also been raised about how the coral and marine life are treated during these activities — guides feeding fish to create the appearance of more life, and in some cases handling sea creatures in ways that are not good for them. On the positive side, some visitors find it a fun and accessible introduction to the underwater world, especially for non-swimmers or families with children.
If you are considering sea walking here, go in knowing it is a managed, commercial experience — not a free dive in open water. Whether it is worth the cost depends largely on your expectations.
3. Fishing
Fishing is one of the more genuine highlights connected to Roi Island. Squid fishing at night by boat is a popular activity in these waters, and some operators offer trips where you fish alongside local fishermen, with the catch cooked and eaten on board. It is a simple experience but one that feels more authentic than many of the packaged activities elsewhere in the archipelago. Boat fishing during the day for species like grouper and red snapper is also possible. If you are interested in this, it is worth asking locally or through a tour operator about current options before heading out.
4. Sunrise and sunset
With no development and no light pollution, Roi Island is a peaceful spot to watch the sun rise or set over the water. The forest backdrop and rocky coastline give it a different feel from the more beach-focused islands nearby. If you are staying overnight on or near the island, this is worth making time for.
5. The cable car view
The Phu Quoc cable car connects An Thoi to Hon Thom and passes directly over Roi Island on the way. For most visitors, this is actually the closest they get to the island — looking down from the cable car cabin as it crosses overhead. The views of Roi Island from above, surrounded by clear water and untouched forest, are one of the more memorable parts of the cable car ride. If you are planning to take the cable car to Hon Thom anyway, keep an eye out as you pass over — it gives a good sense of just how wild and undeveloped the island is compared to the rest of the archipelago.
How to get there
Getting to Roi Island takes a bit more effort than visiting the more popular islands in the An Thoi archipelago. There is no regular public boat service that goes directly there, and it is not a standard stop on most island-hopping tours.
The most common way visitors end up near Roi Island is by joining a tour that includes sea walking or snorkeling activities in the surrounding waters. These tours depart from An Thoi port, which is about 25 to 30 kilometers south of Duong Dong. Getting to An Thoi from the main town takes around 30 to 40 minutes by taxi, which costs roughly 250,000 to 400,000 VND. From An Thoi, the boat ride to the waters around Roi Island takes about 30 minutes.
If you want to visit the island independently, renting a private boat from An Thoi port is the most straightforward option. This gives you the flexibility to spend time on and around the island at your own pace, rather than as part of a rushed group tour. Prices vary depending on the boat and duration, so it is worth asking around at the port or arranging through a local operator in advance.
You can read more about boat tours in Phu Quoc,
One thing worth noting: the Phu Quoc cable car passes directly over Roi Island on the route between An Thoi and Hon Thom, but it does not stop there. If you are hoping to visit the island itself, the cable car is not the way to do it — though it does offer a great aerial view on the way past.
Practical information
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Roi Island is during the dry season, from November to April. Seas are calm, weather is consistent, and conditions are good for snorkeling and fishing. Outside this window, rougher seas can make the boat ride less comfortable and some activities may not run.
For a full month-by-month breakdown of weather in Phu Quoc, check our guide on the best time to visit Phu Quoc.
No facilities — plan ahead
There is nothing on Roi Island for visitors. No restaurants, no shops, no toilets, no places to pay by card. Bring everything you need for the day — food, water, cash, sun protection, and any gear you plan to use. If you are joining a tour that includes lunch on the boat, confirm what is included before you go. If you are visiting independently, plan as if you are heading somewhere completely off the grid, because you essentially are.
Sea walking — honest expectations
If your tour includes sea walking in the waters near Roi Island, it is worth knowing what you are signing up for. Based on consistent feedback from visitors, these experiences tend to be heavily managed and photo-focused. You will be guided closely throughout, with little freedom to explore at your own pace. Some visitors enjoy it as a fun, accessible activity — especially those who are not confident swimmers. Others find it overpriced and underwhelming compared to what the marketing promises. Going in with realistic expectations makes a real difference to how you feel about it afterwards.
Protecting the environment
Roi Island sits within the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated marine protection area. The coral in the surrounding waters is fragile, and several visitors have raised concerns about how it is treated during organised sea walking activities. Whether you are snorkeling or sea walking, do not touch or stand on coral, and avoid using chemical sunscreen before entering the water — reef-safe alternatives are widely available. The area’s marine ecosystem is one of the reasons it is worth visiting at all, so it is worth treating it with care.
Is Roi Island worth visiting?
That depends entirely on what you are looking for.
If you want a wild, undeveloped island with no crowds and no tourist infrastructure, Roi Island has genuine appeal. The scenery is untouched, the water is clear, and the fishing experiences available here feel more authentic than most of what you find elsewhere in the An Thoi archipelago. For travelers who are happy to arrange their own boat and spend a quiet day somewhere off the standard tourist trail, it can be a rewarding trip.
That said, it is not an easy island to visit well. There is nothing there for tourists, no clear way to just show up and have a good day without planning ahead. Most people who end up near Roi Island are there for the sea walking activities at Namaste Coral Park, and those activities have received enough mixed reviews to make them hard to recommend without reservations. The experience often feels more like a commercial operation than an encounter with nature — which sits awkwardly with the wild setting just above the water.
For most travelers visiting Phu Quoc, the other islands in the An Thoi archipelago offer a more straightforward and rewarding day out. Gam Ghi delivers better snorkeling, and the May Rut Islands offer a nicer beach experience. Roi Island fills a different niche — it is for curious, independent travelers who want something quieter and less packaged.
If you are already taking the cable car to Hon Thom, you will get a good look at Roi Island from above. For many visitors, that view is honestly enough.
