The May Rut Islands and the An Thoi archipelago
The May Rut Islands sit about 10 kilometers south of An Thoi port, at the southern tip of Phu Quoc. They are part of the An Thoi archipelago, a group of small islands that forms the main island-hopping area in southern Phu Quoc. Most visitors explore the archipelago on a day tour by boat, combining two to four islands in a single trip with stops for snorkeling, swimming, and lunch on the water. Other popular islands in the group include Gam Ghi, Mong Tay, and Hon Xuong.
May Rut Trong and May Rut Ngoai are two separate islands just a few minutes apart by boat, and they offer quite different experiences. May Rut Trong is the more developed of the two, with a long white sand beach, a beach bar, and a range of water activities. It is the beach stop on most island-hopping tours. May Rut Ngoai is smaller and rockier, with less of a beach but a more rugged feel. It is home to Ocean Pearl Island, a privately operated restaurant and water sports venue that serves as the lunch stop on many tours. Most visitors see both islands in the same day without needing to choose between them.
What to expect on the May Rut Islands
The two islands are close to each other but feel quite different. May Rut Trong is the beach island — developed, active, and popular. May Rut Ngoai is smaller and rockier, built around a single commercial operator. Here is what you will find on each.
1. May Rut Trong – beach, swimming and relaxing
The main draw on May Rut Trong is the beach. It is long, wide, and lined with coconut trees, making it one of the nicest stretches of sand in the An Thoi archipelago. The water is calm and shallow, good for swimming at most times of year. If you are on a standard island-hopping tour, this is typically your beach and relaxation stop.
One thing worth knowing: the island gets busy. Most tour boats arrive between roughly 11:30 and 15:30, and during those hours the beach fills up quickly. Arriving earlier or staying later makes a real difference to the experience. Sun loungers are available on the beach but come at an extra cost. If your tour allows enough time, May Rut Trong is also a good spot for sunset — the west-facing beach catches the light well in the late afternoon.
2. May Rut Trong – water sports and activities
Beyond swimming, May Rut Trong offers kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and drone photography. The drone footage has become popular — many tours now include a short aerial video as part of their package, which makes for a fun souvenir. Jet skiing is also available for an extra fee.
For those who want more than a day trip, overnight camping is possible on May Rut Trong. Some companies runs overnight packages here, with tents set up on the beach and meals included. Reviews from campers are generally positive — it is a simple but memorable experience, especially outside peak season when the island empties out in the evening.
3. May Rut Ngoai – Ocean Pearl Island
May Rut Ngoai is operated almost entirely by Ocean Pearl Island, a privately run venue with a restaurant, water sports, and paid activities. Many island-hopping tours use it as their lunch stop, and the food is generally well-received — fresh seafood at reasonable prices given the island setting.
The main paid activity here is sea walking, where you wear a helmet and walk along the shallow seabed while a guide assists you. It costs around 600,000 VND per person. Based on reviews, it is worth managing your expectations: this is primarily a photo experience in very shallow water rather than a real underwater exploration. Some visitors felt it was overpriced for what it was. Jet skiing is also available, along with snorkeling and SUP.
On the service side, reviews are genuinely mixed. Many visitors have a great time, but there are consistent complaints about staff attitude and the feeling that everything on the island comes with an extra charge — including toilets. The scenery is undeniably beautiful, but Ocean Pearl Island has a commercial feel that not everyone appreciates.
4. Snorkeling
Both islands offer snorkeling, but if snorkeling is your priority, Gam Ghi is the better stop. May Rut Ngoai has more coral than May Rut Trong, but several recent reviews note that water quality and marine life have declined due to the volume of tourists passing through. It is worth snorkeling if you are already there, but do not choose these islands specifically for the underwater experience.
5. Facilities
May Rut Trong has a beach bar and restaurant, paid sun loungers, toilets, and water sports equipment for rent. May Rut Ngoai has the Ocean Pearl Island restaurant, toilets, and water sports. Neither island has hotel accommodation. The only option for staying overnight is camping on May Rut Trong through a tour operator.
How to get there
The May Rut Islands are only reachable by boat. Almost everyone visits as part of an organized island-hopping tour, which handles all the logistics for you. If you prefer to go independently, that is possible too, but it takes a bit more planning.
Getting to An Thoi port
All boats to the May Rut Islands depart from An Thoi port, at the southern tip of Phu Quoc, about 25 to 30 kilometers from Duong Dong. If you book a tour, most operators include a hotel pickup from central Phu Quoc, so you will not need to arrange your own transport to the port.
If you are getting there yourself, the easiest option is a taxi, which costs around 250,000 to 400,000 VND depending on where you are staying. Renting a motorbike for the day is cheaper and gives you more flexibility, especially if you plan to explore An Thoi or the south of the island before or after your trip.
Joining an island-hopping tour
This is how the vast majority of visitors get to the May Rut Islands, and it is also the most practical option. Tours typically combine three to four islands in a single day, departing in the morning and returning in the mid-afternoon. A common route includes Gam Ghi as the snorkeling stop, May Rut Trong as the beach and relaxation stop, and May Rut Ngoai as the lunch stop. Some tours swap or add islands depending on the operator and conditions.
From An Thoi port, a speedboat or canoe takes around 20 to 25 minutes to reach the islands. Wooden tourist boats are slower, taking 60 to 90 minutes, but are more stable and comfortable for a full day on the water. Group tour prices typically start around 350,000 to 700,000 VND per person, usually including boat transport, snorkeling gear, and lunch.
One thing worth knowing before you go: reaching the main beach on May Rut Trong requires transferring from your tour boat to a smaller vessel to reach the pier, then walking over a hill for around 15 minutes to get to the beach side of the island. It is not difficult, but it can come as a surprise if you are not expecting it.
Going by private boat
Renting a private boat from An Thoi is possible and gives you full control over your schedule and how long you spend at each island. It is a good option for larger groups or anyone who wants a more personal experience without the crowds that come with group tours. Prices vary depending on the boat type and duration, but expect to pay significantly more than a group tour. Ask around at An Thoi port or book through a local operator in advance.
Read more about island hopping in Phu Quoc.
Practical tips for visiting the May Rut Islands
Best time to visit
The best time to visit is during the dry season, from November to April. Seas are calm, weather is reliable, and conditions are good for swimming and water activities. May and October are shoulder months — still mostly fine, with fewer crowds and lower prices. From June to September, rougher seas can affect boat trips and some tours get cancelled.
For a full month-by-month breakdown of weather in Phu Quoc, check our guide on the best time to visit Phu Quoc.
Crowds and timing
May Rut Trong gets busy. Most tour boats arrive at roughly the same time, and between around 11:30 and 15:30 the beach can feel genuinely overcrowded. Several visitors have flagged this in reviews, noting that the island loses much of its appeal during peak hours. If your tour arrives early in the morning or lingers into the late afternoon, the experience is noticeably better. When booking, it is worth asking what time your tour arrives at May Rut Trong.
What to bring
There are no card payment facilities on either island. Bring enough cash if you plan to buy food, drinks, rent a sun lounger, or pay for any activities. Sun protection is important — the combination of open water and white sand means the UV exposure is high, so bring high-SPF sunscreen, a rash guard, or a hat. If your tour does not include lunch, bring snacks and enough water for the day.
Sea walking – what to know
The sea walking activity on May Rut Ngoai costs around 600,000 VND per person. You wear a helmet and walk along the shallow seabed while a guide assists and photographs you. Based on multiple reviews, it is worth knowing upfront that this is largely a photo experience — you move very little and spend most of the time posing for pictures in shallow water. It is not a genuine underwater exploration. Some visitors enjoyed it for what it was; others felt it was overpriced. Decide before you get on the island, as it is easy to get talked into it on the spot.
Choosing the right tour
Tours to the May Rut Islands vary quite a bit. Some include drone footage, some include overnight camping, some use May Rut Ngoai as the lunch stop, and some do not land on May Rut Trong at all. Before booking, check the full itinerary and confirm which islands you actually visit and for how long.
Are the May Rut Islands worth visiting?
Yes, as part of a well-planned island-hopping day.
May Rut Trong has one of the nicest beaches in the An Thoi archipelago — long, white, and backed by coconut trees. For a beach and swimming stop on an island-hopping tour, it is hard to beat. The water is calm, the setting is genuinely pretty, and the additional activities like kayaking, SUP, and drone footage give it more to offer than a simple beach stop.
That said, it gets crowded and commercial during peak hours, and that does take something away from the experience. Between late morning and mid-afternoon, the beach fills with tour groups arriving all at once. It does not ruin the visit, but it is a long way from the quiet island escape that some travelers are expecting.
May Rut Ngoai and Ocean Pearl Island are worth a stop for lunch and a look around, but go with realistic expectations. The scenery is beautiful, the food is generally decent, and there are activities to keep you busy. However, reviews on service and value are inconsistent, and the island has a commercial feel where most things come at an extra cost. It works well as a lunch stop on a full-day tour — just do not expect it to feel particularly wild or authentic.
For snorkeling, these islands are not the right choice. Head to Gam Ghi for that.
As a standalone day trip, the May Rut Islands alone probably would not justify the journey. As part of a broader island-hopping itinerary that includes Gam Ghi and one or two other stops, they fit in well and most visitors leave happy. The key is choosing a tour that gives you enough time on May Rut Trong outside the busiest hours.
