About the route from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City
Phu Quoc sits off the southwest coast, and Ho Chi Minh City is its main link back to the mainland, with more flights than anywhere else. In practice, the way to travel from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City is to fly, on one of the cheapest and busiest domestic routes in the country, which takes about an hour. The only real alternative is the slower route through the Mekong Delta, leaving the island by ferry and continuing north by road, which suits travelers who want to see the delta on the way. Since Phu Quoc is an island, every route starts with a boat or a plane. Phu Quoc, where the trip begins, is Vietnam’s largest island and a full beach-resort destination, covered in our Phu Quoc travel guide if you are still enjoying your last days there.
Ho Chi Minh City, which most travelers still call Saigon, is the largest and most fast-moving city in the country. After the calm of Phu Quoc it comes as a jolt: a sprawl of motorbikes, markets, rooftop bars, and history that runs at full speed. Its main draws are the war-era sites like the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum, the colonial core of District 1, the street food, and the trips it opens up into the Mekong Delta. Our Ho Chi Minh City travel guide covers what is worth your time.
Option 1: By flight from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City
Why choose the flight
Flying is how nearly everyone leaves the island for Saigon, and it is hard to beat. This is one of the most-flown domestic routes in Vietnam, with departures right through the day, and one of the cheapest, so a fare can cost about the same as a long bus ticket. An hour after take-off you are back in the city, close to the center.
How it works
The direct flight from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City takes around an hour, served by four airlines: VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, and Vietravel Airlines. Between them they run flights across the whole day, more frequently than on almost any other route in the country. Departures leave Phu Quoc International Airport in the south of the island and land at Tan Son Nhat Airport, close to central Saigon, so the ride into the city is short. A few results are one-stop connections that take much longer, but genuine non-stops are easy to find here.
Prices and booking
Fares are some of the best value in Vietnam. VietJet tends to be the cheapest, often from around 700,000 VND (roughly $27) for a basic ticket with hand luggage only. Vietnam Airlines is a step up, from around 1,200,000 VND (roughly $49) with a checked bag, while Sun PhuQuoc Airways and Vietravel Airlines sit around 1,900,000 VND (roughly $75). Prices rise close to departure and over the busy December-to-February stretch, so it pays to book ahead. Tickets are available from the airlines directly or through sites like 12Go and Traveloka, and our domestic flights guide runs through the basics.
Getting from your hotel to Phu Quoc airport
Phu Quoc International Airport is in the south of the island, near the Long Beach resort strip and about 10 to 15 kilometers from Duong Dong town. From Long Beach or Duong Dong it is a 15 to 20-minute drive; the northern resorts are 30 to 45 minutes out. The simplest option is a resort transfer, arranged through your hotel, or take a metered taxi from a trusted firm like Mai Linh, around 180,000 to 250,000 VND (roughly $7 to $10) from Duong Dong, or a Grab, which works well on the island and quotes the fare before you accept. Aim to reach the airport at least 1.5 to 2 hours before a domestic departure.
Option 2: Via the Mekong Delta
If you would rather take your time than fly straight back, you can leave Phu Quoc by sea and travel up to Saigon through the Mekong Delta. It turns the trip into a journey of its own, a few days rather than an hour, and it fits neatly for anyone who wanted to see the delta anyway. The idea is straightforward: cross to the mainland, spend a day or two exploring the delta, then continue north to Ho Chi Minh City.
Tip: Do this route as a guided tour with Local Vietnam
This journey through the delta is one we run as a set trip: our Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc tour links the island, a riverside homestay near Can Tho with cycling and the floating markets, and Ho Chi Minh City, with every transfer, guide, and stay arranged. The set itinerary runs from Saigon out to Phu Quoc, but it can be arranged the other way, from the island back to the city, on request.
Step 1: From Phu Quoc to the Mekong Delta
The first step is crossing from the island back to the mainland, and where you land shapes the trip. A fast ferry from Phu Quoc reaches either Ha Tien, the closer port, or Rach Gia, which sits nearer Can Tho, in the western delta. There is also a short flight to Can Tho a few days a week. From any of these, Can Tho, the main city of the Mekong Delta, makes the best base, since it puts you in the heart of the region. Our guide to the ferry to Phu Quoc covers the crossings and ports.
Step 2: Explore the Mekong Delta
Spend a day or two around Can Tho before carrying on, because this is the reason to go the long way. The classic delta day starts before dawn with a boat trip to the Cai Rang floating market, where traders sell straight from their boats, followed by a cruise through the smaller canals and a cycle past the orchards and rice fields. It is the easy, rewarding side of the Mekong Delta, and a genuine highlight of the south.
Step 3: From the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City
The last leg runs north from the delta up to Saigon. From Can Tho it is around three to four hours by road, easily done by bus or private car, which our guide on getting from the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City covers. Alternatively, Can Tho has its own airport with flights up to Saigon, if you would rather fly the final stretch than drive.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City
For almost everyone, the best way from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City is to fly.
Fly direct for the quickest and usually cheapest trip, about an hour in the air with flights all day and fares often from around $27. Book a non-stop, and a few weeks ahead in peak season.
Go via the Mekong Delta if you would rather see more of the south, leaving the island by ferry, spending a day or two around Can Tho, and then heading up to Saigon by road or a short flight.
For most travelers the flight is the clear choice on price and speed. The delta route is worth it only if you have the days and want the journey, and the Mekong Delta, to be part of the trip.
