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Five weeks on Phu Quoc taught us that this popular Vietnamese island is more than just an Instagram backdrop. We didn’t plan a holiday here; we chose Phu Quoc because the Better Together Worldschool Hub is based here at Le Forest Resort. This piece is our family’s take on the island itself. What follows is our honest account of living, learning and exploring island life with two kids.
Is Phu Quoc good for families
Short answer: yes. The island has enough amusements to keep kids entertained and enough creature comforts to keep parents sane. Theme parks like VinWonders and Sun World’s Hon Thom cable car and water park, clean beaches, soft play areas and night markets make it more family friendly than some of Vietnam’s other islands like Cat Ba. It still feels like an island though, with palm trees and a laid‑back pace.
If you like islands that balance family fun with a slower pace, you might enjoy our time in Okinawa where we found a similar mix of beaches, kid friendly activities and easygoing atmosphere.
Where we stayed and why it worked as a base
We stayed in a central area near Duong Dong town. This put us within scooter distance of beaches, markets and activities. The island is small enough that you can cross from one side to the other this takes roughly 1 to 2 hours by motorbike or car, depending on your exact start/end point. For those who don’t ride, the VinBus electric buses are free and run between the airport, the main town and attractions like Grand World and VinWonders. Staying central also made it easy to reach the night markets and ferry port without long transfers.
Getting around
Our main transport was a single moped carrying all four of us (like a true Vietnamese experience). Phu Quoc’s roads are relatively quiet and drivers are used to scooters. We stuck to back roads, wore helmets and slowed down when traffic picked up. When it rained we used Grab to have food delivered or hopped into a taxi. The free shuttle buses around the island are another option, and most resorts run their own transfers.
If you’re unfamiliar with using ride hailing apps locally, we explain how it works in our Uber in Vietnam guide.
They also run their own Grab equivalent called XanhSM (electric VinFast cars) which is available to download on Google Play or the Apple store.
You are not proper Vietnamese travelers until you have ridden four to a moped!
Top things to do in Phu Quoc with kids
VinWonders Theme Park
VinWonders is the island’s main theme park and one of the biggest attractions in Phu Quoc. It is a large, full day park with roller coasters, water rides, indoor attractions and a huge aquarium. It suits older kids especially well and there is plenty to see even if you are not into big thrill rides.
The end of day show is one of the highlights and is as a real standout. If you plan your visit well, it can be a great way to finish the day before heading back to your hotel.
One thing to be aware of is height restrictions. Many of the main rides require children to be around 120 cm tall, so it is worth checking this before you go to avoid disappointment if your kids are younger. That said, there are still shows, gentler rides and indoor attractions that smaller children can enjoy.
You can buy VinWonders tickets in advance online, which is worth doing during busy periods and school holidays.
Vinpearl Safari Park
Vinpearl Safari Park sits in the north of the island and offers a very different kind of day out. It is a large open style park where animals live in spacious enclosures rather than traditional cages. The safari section is done by bus which takes you through areas with giraffes, zebras, lions and other animals, followed by walking zones and shaded paths.
It works well for families who want something slower paced and educational. There are plenty of places to stop, rest and grab food, making it manageable even on hot days. If your kids enjoy animals, this is an easy half or full day to add to your itinerary
Vinpearl Safari tickets are also available online and booking ahead helps avoid queues on popular days.
Phu Quoc Bee farm
At the bee farm the kids learned how honey is made and taste tested the honey. It’s a small family run place and most of them speak great English, including their twelve year old daughter who explained the whole process clearly. She talked us through the different types of bees and their roles in the hive and even let the kids hold one of the male bees which cannot sting.
There is a small herb garden where you can pick and taste the leaves, plus a simple café serving kombucha, coffees with honey and a few snacks. We tried the honey cake which was delicious. The shop sells all kinds of flavored honeys like garlic, chilli and cinnamon honey, along with pollen and a few bee themed gifts. You can taste most things before buying which makes it easy to choose.
Phu Quoc Countryside Pepper farm
The pepper farm offers a guided tour through neat rows of vines with green and red peppercorns. You can nibble on fresh peppercorns, try roasted garlic pepper mixes and buy bags of pepper to take home. It’s surprisingly kid friendly and the English speaking hosts make the science behind pepper growing easy to understand.
There is a small food and drink area on site and everything comes with a sprinkle of their own pepper. We ate there and the dishes were simple but tasty, and the drinks were good too. If you go, make sure you try the garlic pepper and buy a bag to take with you because it is genuinely delicious.
There is no need to pre book. You can just turn up and get a ticket on the door.
Sun World Water park and splash area
The Hon Thom cable car is recognised by Guinness as the world’s longest sea crossing three rope cable car, stretching 7,899.9 metres across the water with views of the An Thoi archipelago all the way to Hon Thom island. A return ticket automatically includes entry to Aquatopia Water Park because the cable car is the only way to reach it. The ride is worth doing on its own but the water park makes the full trip even better. Most of the major slides have a 120 cm minimum height, so our younger child stayed in the splash zones and lazy river while our older one enjoyed the bigger flumes and ring rides. There are fountains, water guns and smaller slides for little ones, and plenty of high speed options for older kids. Go early to avoid queues and plan to leave before closing when the line for the return cable car can get long.
For the best value you can book a combined ticket that includes the round trip cable car, entry to the evening Symphony of the Sea show and a set dinner. The show uses water, light and fire effects on a huge scale and is a genuinely impressive ending to the day.
Mud bath and spa
A great way to slow the pace down is to spend an afternoon at Versailles Mud Bath and Spa, which is set in the central part of Phu Quoc. The set packages are simple. Ours included ten minutes in the steam room, ten minutes in the sauna and around half an hour in the warm mud bath before rinsing off in the outdoor showers. You are given towels, dressing gowns and lockers, and the staff guide you through each step so it feels easy rather than rushed.
After the treatment you are served fresh fruit and iced tea, then you can move across to the beach club area which has a good family friendly swimming pool. The kids loved it and we ended up staying for sunset because it is a beautiful spot to sit for an hour. There is food available on site and the fire show starts at around seven in the evening. It is one of the best fire shows we have seen and turns the whole visit into a relaxed afternoon that rolls into a really enjoyable evening.
Book your Versailles Mud Bath and Spa package here on Klook, especially during busy periods when it is best to reserve ahead.
Grand World Phu Quoc
Grand World is a newly built complex designed to resemble Venice with canals, pastel buildings and gondolas. It is colourful and lively and worth seeing once during your stay. The gondola rides are short and the lines can be long and food prices are higher than normal. For us it felt more like a tourist trap than a cultural experience but our friends enjoyed some of the performances. We were happy to walk through once and then move on.
There is also a teddy bear museum inside Grand World. It has themed rooms with more than five hundred teddy bears, a fifteen metre statue for photos, and a café and gift shop. It is a light hearted stop for younger children and does not take long to visit.
Book your Teddy Bear Museum tickets here on Klook for the easiest entry.
Beaches we loved
We really enjoyed Sao Beach which sits on the south eastern side of Phu Quoc. It became our go to beach because it had the same soft white sand and clear water that the island is known for but without the heavy crowds. The atmosphere was easygoing with simple beach bars, friendly owners and plenty of space for the kids to play.
Khem Beach is the one most people head to and it is beautiful, but it was far busier when we visited. Large sections were taken up by resorts which made it harder to find open public areas. Sao Beach felt just as impressive in terms of scenery but was much quieter and more relaxed.
Boat trip
We recommend joining a family friendly boat tour for a brilliant family day out. Look for boats that include snorkelling, fishing and an inflatable slide because the kids absolutely love it. Ours spent hours jumping into the sea, sliding into the water and spotting fish while snorkeling. The food onboard was simple but fine and the whole day had an easygoing holiday feel. There are plenty of similar tours available so you can choose one that suits your schedule. It is one of the best ways to enjoy the water around Phu Quoc.
Bittersweet Chocolate Factory Visit
This was a genuine hidden gem and one of the biggest surprises of our time on the island. The Bittersweet Chocolate Factory runs a short tour from bean to bar which explains how chocolate is produced. After the explanation you try fresh samples and then make around twenty of your own chocolates. Both the kids and the adults absolutely loved it. You can decorate your chocolates with different toppings, taste as you go and take your creations home at the end. It is an easy, fun activity that breaks up beach days and gives the kids something creative to do.
Suoi Tranh Waterfall Hike
Suoi Tranh Waterfall is an excellent nature stop if you want a break from theme parks and beaches. It sits a short drive from town and the trail begins with a small garden area filled with statues and animal figures which the kids enjoyed exploring and photographing. After this the path becomes much rougher. It is rocky rather than smooth and can be uneven in places, so it is worth wearing trainers or good shoes. The forest is shaded and the walk leads to small pools and a waterfall where the water is cool and refreshing. It is a short but energetic walk that works well for families who want a bit of nature without committing to a full hike.
Night markets
Phu Quoc has two main night markets. Sunset Town’s market is set among pastel‑coloured European facades and focuses on food stalls. It’s a pleasant place to watch the sun sink into the sea with a bowl of noodles in hand. The central night market in Duong Dong has more of everything: seafood grills, fresh fruit shakes, clothes, trinkets and toys. Prices are low but be prepared to bargain.
Is Phu Quoc worth it for families
We came to Phu Quoc thinking we would stay for two or three weeks. We ended up staying for five. That tells you how much we liked it. The island offers a really good mix of activities for kids and comfort for parents which made it easy to extend our stay.
We even had to visit a small local clinic with our daughter for a minor issue. They treated her quickly, refused to take any payment because she was a child and later even declined the thank you chocolates we brought. It felt like they genuinely cared and that says a lot about this place.
Between the water parks, boat trips, chocolate making, waterfalls, beaches, farms and easy transport options there is a huge amount to do for families. Phu Quoc is a place where children stay entertained and parents stay relaxed and it ended up being one of our favourite stops in Vietnam.
Continuing your Vietnam adventure? Don’t miss our guides to Da Nang with kids and Sapa for families. And before you fly anywhere, make sure your travel insurance is sorted – we compared the best options for long-term family travel.
