Is Phu Quoc Expensive? Real Daily Costs in AUD (2026)
By TravelguidestipUpdated 7 min readHow we earn
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Phu Quoc is not expensive by Australian standards, but it runs about 15–30% dearer than mainland Vietnam for the same items, and a budget day still lands at AUD 42–65 · USD 30–47. What blows budgets is the resort-and-theme-park layer, which can triple your daily spend. Prices below use roughly VND 26,000 to USD 1 (about VND 18,700 to AUD 1), checked 1 October 2026.
| Cost | Reality in 2026 | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse room | AUD 16–43 · USD 12–31 (VND 300,000–800,000) | Book Duong Dong or northern Long Beach |
| 3–4 star hotel | AUD 56–125 · USD 40–90 | Best value band on the island |
| Theme parks and cable car | AUD 45–56 · USD 33–40 per ticket | Pick one, or buy a combo |
| Scooter per day | AUD 5.50–14 · USD 4–10 | Only if licensed and insured |
| Seafood dinner | AUD 11–21 · USD 8–15 per person | Eat where locals eat, not at the resort |
The honest answer: cheap island, expensive add-ons
A banh mi costs AUD 1.40–1.90 · USD 1–1.35 (VND 25,000–35,000), a bowl of local noodles AUD 1.60–3.20 · USD 1.15–2.30, and a solo guesthouse traveller eating locally spends AUD 42–55 · USD 30–40.
The catch is that the headline attractions are privately run and priced for resort guests. Mid-range travellers mixing 3–4 star hotels, Grab and a couple of attractions spend AUD 69–153 · USD 50–110 a day. A resort stay with on-site meals starts at AUD 278 · USD 200 and climbs fast in December.
Still unsure the island earns its price? See whether Phu Quoc is worth visiting.
Accommodation: guesthouse vs resort bands
Hotels are where Phu Quoc pulls away from the mainland: budget rooms run USD 15–30 here against USD 8–20 in Da Nang and USD 5–15 in Hanoi.
– Guesthouses and homestays: AUD 16–43 · USD 12–31. – 3–4 star hotels: AUD 56–125 · USD 40–90, mostly around Cua Lap and the middle of Long Beach. – Good beach resorts: AUD 125–180 · USD 90–130 a night around Ong Lang. – Luxury: AUD 208–833 · USD 150–600, with the priciest properties in the far south.
Rates drop 20–30% in the May–October wet season, the biggest saving available.
Vinpearl, VinWonders and cable car ticket costs
Full adult tickets, the line items that surprise people:
| Attraction | Adult price | AUD · USD |
|---|---|---|
| VinWonders theme and water park | VND 950,000–1,050,000 | AUD 51–56 · USD 37–40 |
| Vinpearl Safari | VND 850,000 | AUD 45 · USD 33 |
| VinWonders + Safari combo | VND 1,350,000–1,500,000 | AUD 72–80 · USD 52–58 |
| Hon Thom cable car (with Aquatopia and Exotica) | VND 850,000–880,000 | AUD 45–47 · USD 33–34 |
The official VinWonders gate price is VND 1,050,000, while resellers list VND 950,000, so book online. The cable car ticket bundles two Hon Thom parks: treat it as a full day out.
Island tours and boat trips
The classic southern day trip has changed: the old 4-islands tour now runs as 3 islands plus the cable car, at about AUD 78 · USD 56 (VND 1,450,000) per adult with pickup, snorkel gear, lunch and Aquatopia entry.
Snorkelling group tours without the cable car cost AUD 19–32 · USD 13–23, while a private boat for your own group runs AUD 133–214 · USD 96–154 a day. Book one to two weeks ahead in the December–February peak. Our day-by-day Phu Quoc itinerary fits the boat day around the parks.
Seafood prices after the night market closed
The famous Duong Dong (Bach Dang) night market ceased operating after 28 February 2026. Seafood is now spread across the Bai Truong night market on Sonasea’s pedestrian street (4–11pm, dishes VND 100,000–500,000, about AUD 5.50–27 · USD 4–19), the VUI-Fest Bazaar at Sunset Town and Grand World in the north.
Seafood by weight is still cheap: squid at AUD 10–14 · USD 7–10 per kg and tiger prawns at AUD 18–27 · USD 13–19 per kg. A sit-down seafood restaurant meal costs AUD 11–21 · USD 8–15 per person, against AUD 32 · USD 23 or more at a resort. Tourist-market seafood runs 20–30% above eateries outside, and some stalls quote per 100 g, so confirm the unit first.
Scooter vs Grab: getting around costs more here
Phu Quoc is about 50 km long with little public transport.
– Scooter rental: AUD 5.50–14 · USD 4–10 a day, plus a cash deposit of VND 500,000–1,000,000 and about AUD 2.70 · USD 2 for a tank of fuel. – Grab short hop: AUD 1.40–5.50 · USD 1–4 around Duong Dong. – Airport to Duong Dong by GrabCar: AUD 7–11 · USD 5–8. – Long Grab rides (Duong Dong to Sunset Town or the north): AUD 11–27 · USD 8–19 each way. – Car with driver for a day: AUD 48–107 · USD 35–77.
The scooter looks cheapest, but Smartraveller notes Vietnam does not accept Australian licences or Australian-issued international permits for bikes of 50cc or more, so insurance may not cover a crash. Grab plus one driver day is the safer budget.
Why Phu Quoc costs more than mainland Vietnam
Almost everything arrives by ferry or plane, the economy is built around tourists rather than a local city population, big resort brands set the price ceiling, and the lack of public transport means paid rides for every outing.
Our breakdown of whether Vietnam is expensive overall shows how much cheaper the mainland is, and for beach time on less money see Phu Quoc vs Nha Trang: Nha Trang is the cheapest main beach base.
Who should think twice about Phu Quoc on a tight budget
Skip it or cut it short if your trip is about cheap living: backpackers on AUD 50 · USD 36 a day will feel every theme park ticket and long Grab ride. Families who want the parks pay AUD 118–128 · USD 85–92 per adult just for the VinWonders-Safari combo plus the cable car.
Everyone else is fine: a comparable beachfront resort in Phuket costs about twice as much. Our guide to how many days to spend in Phu Quoc helps you trim nights, not experiences.
Money-Saving Tips That Actually Work
The theme-park tickets and resort rates are mostly fixed, but plenty of the rest of a Phu Quoc budget is flexible if you plan around it.
Travel in the May-to-October wet season rather than the December-to-April peak, when hotel rates already drop 20–30%; flights and theme park tickets do not fall as sharply, but the accommodation saving alone often covers a few extra days.
Book flights two to three months ahead rather than closer to the date, since fares climb fast in the final weeks before departure, especially around the December–February peak. If VinWonders and Vinpearl Safari are both on your list, buy the combo ticket rather than two single entries, since the combined price runs below buying each separately.
Eat where the price is set by locals, not by resort proximity: a sit-down seafood meal at a restaurant away from the beachfront costs noticeably less than the same dishes ordered through a resort, and buying seafood by weight at a market stall before asking a nearby kitchen to cook it is cheaper again, a common arrangement on this coast.
For transport, pair Grab for short hops around Duong Dong with a single full-day car-and-driver booking for longer runs to the north or south, rather than paying for several separate long Grab rides, which adds up faster than a day rate once you are covering more than two or three stops.
Withdraw dong at a bank-branded ATM in Duong Dong rather than at the airport or a tourist-strip machine, since airport ATMs and standalone exchange counters often charge a higher withdrawal fee or quote a weaker rate; a bank ATM fee is usually a flat charge regardless of how much you withdraw, so one larger withdrawal covering several days costs less overall than several smaller ones.
Splitting costs across a small group turns several of the island’s pricier line items into bargains: a private boat for the day works out cheaper per person than two or three joiner-tour tickets once there are four or more of you, and the same applies to a car with driver for a full day of sightseeing versus everyone taking separate Grab rides to the same places.
Where to stay in Phu Quoc
– Duong Dong town: cheapest guesthouses and local eateries. Suits budget travellers. – Long Beach (middle stretch, Cua Lap): the 3–4 star sweet spot with sunset beaches. Suits couples and first-timers. – Ong Lang: quieter resorts at mid-luxury prices. Suits honeymooners.
Find your Phu Quoc hotel on the map
Live prices from Booking, Airbnb and more — move the map or change dates to compare stays across Phu Quoc.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need per day in Phu Quoc?
Budget travellers in guesthouses who eat locally and use a scooter or short Grab rides spend AUD 42–65 · USD 30–47 a day. Mid-range travellers in 3–4 star hotels spend AUD 69–153 · USD 50–110. Resort stays with on-site dining start around AUD 278 · USD 200 a day, before any theme park or tour tickets are added.
Is Phu Quoc more expensive than Da Nang or Nha Trang?
Yes. Identical items cost roughly 15–30% more on Phu Quoc than in Da Nang or Nha Trang, and Nha Trang is the cheapest of the three. Budget hotels show the gap most clearly: USD 15–30 a night on Phu Quoc against USD 8–20 in Da Nang, because island logistics and resort-driven demand push prices up.
Is the Phu Quoc night market still open?
The original Duong Dong (Bach Dang) night market stopped operating after 28 February 2026. For evening seafood and snacks, head to the Bai Truong night market on Sonasea’s pedestrian street, open 4pm to 11pm, the VUI-Fest Bazaar at Sunset Town, or Grand World in the north of the island.
Should I rent a scooter or use Grab in Phu Quoc?
A scooter costs AUD 5.50–14 · USD 4–10 a day, but Australian licences are not accepted for bikes of 50cc or more, so insurance may not cover you. Grab is reliable around Duong Dong and the airport, though coverage is patchy in the far north and An Thoi. A hired car with driver suits groups.