Things to know when you visit Phu Quoc
In order to make your life easier when you visit Vietnam and especially Phu Quoc, I have created a list of 6 things you should know and prepare for.
This article contains everything from how to get around on and off the island, where to get your cash or where to exchange it, where to get a sim card, and much more.
1 - ATM's
Transaction costs and conversion fees can differ quite a lot depending on which ATM you decide to use, so make sure you don’t lose money unnecessarily and consider the choices you have for getting cash out.
2 banks I definitely recommend are TPBank and VPBank, as these banks don’t charge any transaction fees at all and offer a maximum of 5 million dong withdrawal. The banks both have only 1 location on the island, both in Duong Dong town. If you have a motorbike or are staying nearby, you should consider using the ATM here.
2 - Exchanging cash on Phu Quoc
When traveling in Southeast-Asia, it’s a good idea to always have some cash on you to exchange if you have any emergencies. ATM’s might not work for your card, they might be down or there could be a number of other things. It’s a very good idea to have some cash on hand to exchange if you need to.
Make sure to look up the standart rates by yourself before you make any money exchange. The rates vary for every money exchange and also depending on the day, so do your research and everything will be fine.
3 - Where to get a sim card
While there are no shops for just getting a sim card, most phone shops will sell them even though it’s not necessarily advertised.
The fastest networks are VinaPhone and Viettel, so I recommend you to use either of those options. For around 200k / 300k dong you will be able to get a 30 day sim card with +/- 6 GB data per day. Very affordable and I suggest you go for this plan. There are also other plans, for a complete overview of the options visit the website of VinaPhone or Viettel.
You can also choose to buy a prepaid sim card and figure out your options from there.
Esim
Most new phones have Esim capabilities, which means a physical sim card is no longer necessary. Not all sim card operators offer esim yet in Vietnam, but you can get an esim for the following providers:
-Viettel
-VinaPhone
-Vietnamobile (not recommended, very slow outside of big cities)
When you buy a sim card, make sure to bring your passport, as this is a requirement.
Need help?
I am happy to help you get a Vietnamese sim card (Viettel or VinaPhone), if you are interested contact me and I will help you get your sim card (including a package for the month) for 200,000
4 - transport in / to / from Phu Quoc
There are a number of different ways to get around in Phu Quoc:
- Motorbike
- VinBus (free bus)
- Grab
- Car
Motorbike
By far the easiest way to get around the island is by motorbike. Motorbike rental prices (for a standard 125 cc automatic motorbike) will be around 120-150k for a day. If you rent a motorbike for a longer duration (5+) days, you can usually negotiate a decent discount.
If you are visiting the island in low season, you will also often be able to negotiate the price down a little, especially for longer durations.
VinBus
The VinBus is a free way to get to the main spots in the island. It is easily recognisable by it´s bright green appearance. When you arrive on Phu Quoc airport, you can take the VinBus (near) to your accommodation for free. Check out the VinBus website for a more detailed overview of the schedules and routes.
Grab
Be aware that although Grab is a good way to get around if you are not comfortable driving yourself, when you are in a more remote part of the island, it could be difficult to find a grab driver, especially late in the evening or early in the morning.
Car
In general, tourists are not recommended to drive cars in Vietnam as the roads and traffic can seem quite chaotic if you are not used to it.
However, you can still rent a car with a driver to drive you to all the places you want to visit on the island.
4.1 – Transport to mainland Vietnam
While flying is the more common way to leave the island at the end of your trip (or to arrive on Phu Quoc), taking the ferry to the mainland is also an option, along with taking a bus ride to your next destination. You could book a bus all the way to Da Nang if you want to, or even straight to Cambodia.
*Bus from Saigon – Ha Tien or Rach Gia, then fast boat/ ferries to Phu Quoc. Look up bus schedules at futabus.vn and boats/ferries schedules at superdong & phuquocexpressboat
Phu Quoc Express and Superdong are the 2 main ferry companies, check out their websites for an overview of the ferry times and options.
As for booking long distance bus, https://futabus.vn/ is a commonly used website for booking.
5 - Hospital / clinic
In case of emergency, illness or even just a checkup in Phu Quoc, it can be nice to have a clinic or hospital where the staff speaks English. There are a number of international clinics and hospitals on the island, one of which being the International Hospital Vinmec (near the VinPearl resort), as well as the Duong Dong Vinmec International clinic which is more near the tourist area.
If your situation is not critical, local clinics will also help you with some use of Google Translate, they are usually the more affordable option.
6 - Bargaining at the market
When you’re traveling in the South of Vietnam, you will rarely get overcharged, but you might be able to get 10 or 20 percent off the total price if you bargain for it.
In the North, bargaining is much more common and you will find yourself being overcharged a lot more, so make sure you are aware of that and prepare yourself accordingly when you visit the markets in the North.
7 - Tipping culture
There is a tipping culture in Vietnam. For instance, in my industry, tourism, Vietnamese will leave a tip when they are satisfied with the tour, the amount of the tip will depend on how much they are content with the service. Range from 50k VND ($2) – a few Millions VND