About the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc
Ho Chi Minh City is the main gateway to Phu Quoc, which sits off the southwest coast in the Gulf of Thailand. For nearly everyone, the way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc is to fly: it is one of the busiest and cheapest domestic routes in the country, taking about an hour. The only alternative worth considering is the slower route through the Mekong Delta, reaching the island by ferry, which suits travelers who want to see the delta on the way. There is no way to drive the whole distance, since the final leg is always by sea. Saigon, where the trip begins, is the country’s biggest and busiest city, covered in our Ho Chi Minh City travel guide if you are still planning your days there.
Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s biggest island, a tropical escape off the southwest coast known for its beaches, warm sea, and easy pace. The west coast holds the main resorts and the famous sunsets, the south has quieter coves and a fishing-village feel, and the north is largely national park, with boat trips to the An Thoi islands for snorkeling. It is the country’s go-to beach break, and after the intensity of Saigon it is a welcome change of gear. Our Phu Quoc travel guide covers where to base yourself and what is worth doing.
Option 1: By flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc
Why choose the flight
Flying is how nearly everyone reaches Phu Quoc from Saigon, and for good reason. It is one of the busiest domestic routes in the country, with flights all day, and often one of the cheapest, so a ticket can cost little more than a long bus fare. In about an hour you are on the island, close to the beaches.
How it works
Direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc take around an hour, and four airlines fly the route: VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, and Vietravel Airlines. With so many operators, departures run throughout the day, more than on almost any other domestic route. Flights leave Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon and land at Phu Quoc International Airport in the south of the island. Watch the search results, as a few listings are one-stop connections that take far longer, but on this route genuine non-stops are easy to find.
Prices and booking
Fares are among the best value in the country. VietJet is usually the cheapest, often from around 700,000 VND (roughly $27) for a basic fare with hand luggage only. Vietnam Airlines runs a little higher, from around 1,200,000 VND (roughly $49) with a checked bag, and Sun PhuQuoc Airways and Vietravel Airlines sit around 1,900,000 VND (roughly $75). Prices climb close to departure and through the December-to-February peak, so book ahead. You can book with the airlines or through platforms like 12Go and Traveloka, and our domestic flights guide covers the practical side.
Getting from Phu Quoc airport to your hotel
Phu Quoc International Airport is in the south of the island, close to 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. A hotel or resort transfer is the easiest option, or take a metered taxi from a reputable firm like Mai Linh, around 180,000 to 250,000 VND (roughly $7 to $10) to Duong Dong, or a Grab, which works well on the island and shows the fare before you book.
Option 2: Via the Mekong Delta
If you would rather not fly straight to the island, you can take the slower, more rewarding route through the Mekong Delta and reach Phu Quoc from there. It takes a few days instead of an hour, but it turns the trip into a proper journey through the south, and it makes sense for anyone who wanted to see the delta anyway. The idea is simple: travel down into the delta, spend a day or two there, then continue to Phu Quoc by ferry or a short flight.
Tip: Do this route as a guided tour with Local Vietnam
This exact journey, Saigon through the delta to the island, is one we run as a set trip: our Mekong Delta to Phu Quoc tour takes you from your Saigon hotel to a riverside homestay near Can Tho for cycling and the floating markets, then on to the ferry across to the island, with every transfer, guide, and stay arranged. It ends on Phu Quoc, so you carry straight on with your beach time, and it can run in reverse on request.
Step 1: From Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta
The best base for combining a delta visit with the onward trip to Phu Quoc is Can Tho, the main city of the Mekong Delta, around three to four hours south of Saigon by bus or private car. Can Tho puts you in the heart of the delta and within reach of all three ways to continue to the island, so it makes more sense than heading straight for a ferry port. Our guide on getting from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta covers the options.
Step 2: Explore the Mekong Delta
Give yourself a day or two around Can Tho, since this is the reason to take the slow route. The classic delta experience is here: an early boat trip to the Cai Rang floating market, where traders sell from their boats at dawn, a cruise through the smaller canals, and cycling past orchards and rice fields. It is the easy, rewarding side of the Mekong Delta, and a highlight of the south in its own right.
Step 3: From the Mekong Delta to Phu Quoc
From the delta there are three ways to continue to the island: a short flight from Can Tho, or a ferry from one of two coastal towns. The ferries are covered in full in our Mekong Delta to Phu Quoc ferry guide.
By flight from Can Tho
Can Tho has its own airport with a direct flight to Phu Quoc, run by Vietnam Airlines, taking under an hour. It is the fastest way to finish, but the service is limited, running only a few days a week, generally not on Fridays or Sundays, and it costs more than the ferry. Check the schedule for your dates from Can Tho Airport; when it runs, it saves the drive to the coast.
By ferry from Ha Tien
Ha Tien is a coastal town in the western delta, about three hours by road from Can Tho, and the closest mainland port to Phu Quoc. Fast ferries cross from Ha Tien to the island in around 1.5 hours, run by Superdong and Phu Quoc Express. It is the quicker of the two crossings, though Ha Tien is the further drive from Can Tho. Our guide on the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry has the detail.
By ferry from Rach Gia
Rach Gia is the other main ferry port, a coastal city about two and a half hours by road from Can Tho, closer than Ha Tien. Fast ferries from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc take around two and a half hours. It is the more convenient port coming from Can Tho, since the drive is shorter, even though the crossing itself is a little longer. Our guide to the ferry to Phu Quoc covers the routes and booking.
There is also a direct bus from Saigon to Ha Tien and then the ferry, skipping the delta entirely, but at around ten to twelve hours it is slower than a flight and no cheaper than a budget fare, so it is rarely worth it.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc
For almost everyone, the best way from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc 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. Just book a non-stop and, in peak season, a few weeks ahead.
Go via the Mekong Delta if you would rather see more of the south, spending a day or two around Can Tho before continuing to Phu Quoc by ferry from Ha Tien or Rach Gia, or a short flight from Can Tho.
For most travelers the flight wins easily on price and speed. The delta route is worth it only if the journey itself, and the Mekong Delta, are part of the plan.
