Should you Visit Phu Quoc or Nha Trang?

Phu Quoc is a big and famous island in South Vietnam, 45 minutes flight from Ho Chi Chi City. Nha Trang is an urban coastal city in South Central Vietnam, 1 hour flight from Ho Chi Minh. Bott are excellent beach holiday destinations in Vietnam.

In this article, I will compare Phu Quoc and Nha Trang, focusing on their location, beaches, accommodations, attractions, nightlife, shopping, and food.

I am a local Vietnamese who travels all around the country, visiting many places including Phu Quoc and Nha Trang. I hope to share with you some useful recommendations from my personal experiences.

Is it better to stay in Phu Quoc or Nha Trang?

I enjoyed my visit to both Phu Quoc and Nha Trang. Phu Quoc has a quieter atmosphere with focus on beaches, nature, and luxury resorts. Nha Trang has a livelier atmosphere with a better mix of nightlife, shopping, food, and beaches.

If you want a relaxing beach holiday with stunning beaches and luxury world class resorts, Phu Quoc is the place to go. The island is all about natural beauty with beaches, islands, national parks, and some cultural and historical attractions. It has limited nightlife and shopping options.

If you want city life with lots of activities, attractions, vibrant nightlife, diverse food scene, shopping malls, markets, and Nha Trang are better places to visit.

Nha Trang has way more activities and attractions than Phu Quoc. You can explore the beaches, island hopping, visiting Buddhist temples, Catholic cathedral, exploring the shopping malls & local markets, and bar hopping.

Nha Trang is home to some of the most famous mud baths in Vietnam, which offer a unique wellness experience to relax and unwind. If you want to experience the mud baths, Nha Trang has better options.

Nha Trang is located in the mainland, so it’s easier to access the city by air and by road. Phu Quoc is located at the southern tip of Vietnam, so reaching it from the north Vietnam will require more travel time.

The location on the mainland and easily accessible makes Nha Trang a more popular holiday destination for both local Vietnamese, foreign tourists, and expats. Phu Quoc is also attracting a rising number of tourists every year.

Both places have their own international airport, so it’s easily accessible by air. There are some direct international flights to these airports, but most require a transit through major cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Another factor when deciding whether to visit Phu Quoc or Nha Trang is the weather. It’s best to avoid visiting these places in the typhoon season, which is July to September in Phu Quoc and September to December in Nha Trang.

So, if you’re traveling into the peak rainy season, I recommend visiting Nha Trang instead of Phu Quoc in July and August and visiting Phu Quoc instead of Nha Trang in November and December.

One thing that might influence your choice is the kind of tourists you’ll encounter. Nha Trang is often full of Russian, Korean, and Chinese groups, whereas in Phu Quoc, you’ll find a lot of places (restaurants and shops) geared toward Korean tourists.

My hand-pick resorts in Phu Quoc:

Top recommend hotels in Nha Trang:

Location and How to Get There

Phu Quoc is an island located in the Southern tip of Vietnam, around 45 minutes flight from Ho Chi Minh City and 2.25 hours from Hanoi. It’s in part of Kien Giang Province, in the Gulf of Thailand, and close to Cambodia.

Nha Trang is located in South Central Vietnam, between Mui Ne and Quy Nhon. It’s also close to Da Lat, a cool city in the highland central of Vietnam. Nha Trang is around 1 hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City and 1.8 hours from Hanoi.

You can get to Phu Quoc and Nha Trang by air. They both have frequent flights from major cities in Vietnam like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

Cam Ranh International Airport is located 40km south of Nha Trang City Center. Phu Quoc airport is located 10km south of the island’s main town, Duong Dong.

Phu Quoc is an island, so it is accessible by boat. You can catch the ferries at either Ha Tien or Rach Gia Piers on mainland Vietnam. The journey on a boat is around 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the pier and type of the boat.

Nha Trang has its own train station, so you can get to the city by train. Additionally, there are plenty of long distance buses from Nha Trang to other parts of Vietnam.

Accommodations

Both Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have an excellent range of luxury resorts. If you want to stay in a luxury world class resort, both have a wide range for you to choose from.

Accommodations on Phu Quoc are generally more expensive than in Nha Trang, so if you want more affordable options Nha Trang is a better choice.

Nha Trang has many backpacker hotels, and reasonably priced apartment style accommodations for both short time and long time visitors.

There are more high rise buildings in Nha Trang, so you can find many places with rooftop terrace, sky bar, infinity pool with stunning views of the city and the ocean.

If you’re traveling into the high season, make sure to book your accommodations well in advance to secure quality hotels and find the best deals.

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Visa Exemption

Vietnam has a Visa exemption policy for many countries. If you’re citizens of certain countries such as in Southeast Asia and Europe, you can go to Vietnam and stay from 14 days to 90 days (depending on nationality) without applying for a visa.

If you’re coming from a country that is not in the Vietnamese visa-free exemption list such as Australia or the USA, you need to apply for the electronic visa online in advance before traveling into Vietnam. It can be done easily online and it costs only 25 usd for a single entry visa.

Phu Quoc has a Special visa exemption. It is a visa-free island, allowing visitors of all nationalities to stay on the island for 30 days if they arrive and depart directly to the island by sea or by flight. If you travel to mainland Vietnam, you need to apply for an electronic visa.

Beaches

Both Phu Quoc and Nha Trang have beautiful beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying watersport activities. The beaches in Phu Quoc have a more private feel because they are usually located a block away from the main road and are often blocked by the beachfront resorts.

The main beaches in Nha Trang have a more lively atmosphere and have no blockage. The beaches here run along the beach road, and most hotels are located on another side of the road opposite the beach.

Nha Trang beaches are often packed with locals and tourists in the late afternoon. Phu Quoc’s beaches never feel crowded, and are great for relaxation.

Major beaches in Nha Trang are Tran Phu Beach in the city center, and Hon Chong Beach north of the city center. The beaches have stunning views of high rise buildings and the islands in front of each such as Hon Tre island.

In the middle of Tran Phu Beach is the April 2nd Square and Tram Huong Tower, which is the iconic symbol of the city. This is a great place for locals and tourists to hang out. The Nha Trang Night Market is located across the road from April 2nd Square.

At the southern end of Hon Chong Beach, you can visit Hong Chong Promontory to view beautiful rock formations, enjoy the views of the sea and the city. It’s a popular destination at sunset. You can have a little climb down to the rocks.

The main beach in Phu Quoc is Long Beach, running all the way from Duong Dong town to the southern part of the island where the cable car station is located.

The northern part of the beach in and around Duong Dong town has a livelier atmosphere with some good beach bars and clubs, and easy access to shops and restaurants on Tran Hung Dao street. The southern Long Beach is home to a cluster of luxury resorts.

Other quieter beaches on the west coast of Phu Quoc are Ong Lang beach, Cua Can Beach, Vung Bau Beach, and Sao Beach.

To the east coast of the island, you can explore one of the best beaches on the island, Bai Sao Beach, and Khem Beach. These places have more secluded atmosphere than the beaches than the west coast.

Island Hopping

There are many opportunities for island hopping tours and boat trips in Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. The beaches on the islands are generally offer more crystal clear water and a more peaceful atmosphere than mainland Nha Trang and Phu Quoc main island.

Nha Trang has more and better options for snorkeling and diving. You can take the tours and visit 3-4 islands in a day from either Phu Quoc or Nha Trang. Or you can visit the nearby islands at your own pace.

On Phu Quoc, I took a Grab bike from my hotel in Duong Dong to An Thoi cable car station, bought the cable car ticket, then got on the cable car to Hon Thom island. At the island, I explore the shows, and enjoy water activities at the Aquatopia Water Park.

There are also sunset boat trips, fishing boat trips, as well as sterling trips to other islands such as Hon Mot, Hon Gam Ghi, Hon Doi Moi, Hon Xuong, Hon May Rut.

In Nha Trang, I stayed a night in Hon Tre island at Vinpearl resort, so I chose to take a cable car ride to the island, and speed boat back to the mainland.

Hon Tre island has private pristine beaches, and lots of entertainment options such as a themed park and a shopping harbor for shopping and dining.

I also took a boat ride to Monkey island by purchasing the ticket at Long Phu Pier. The island is full of monkeys roaming around, great for visiting with children. There are also beaches on the island where you can swim and sunbathe.

There are also many Snorkeling, diving tours to a group of islands within a day in Nha Trang. The tour usually takes you to Hon Mun, Hon Tam, Hon Mot, and Hon Mieu. “Hon” means island in Vietnamese.

Nightlife

If you want nightlife and parties, Nha Trang is a better place to go. Phu Quoc offers a more relaxing nightlife with some sunset beach bars along the coast and a night market in the main town.

Phu Quoc Night market in Duong Dong town is a popular place to visit in the evening. It’s a huge market where you can buy souvenirs, local specialities, and eat fresh sea food and local street food.

Nha Trang has a wider range of bars, clubs, and restaurants. There are lively beach clubs, rooftop lounges, and craft beer spots. Both the beach front and the city center are lively and packed with people in the evening.

Nha Trang Night Market is a small one street market with dozens of stalls selling souvenirs, beach wear, and snacks. It’s good to have a look when walking to the beach.

Food

Both Phu Quoc and Nha Trang are known for their fresh seafood. If you are a seafood lover, you can find great seafood restaurants in both places. In Phu Quoc, you can find BBQ seafood on the beach where you can try grilled squid, lobster, crab, shrimp and watch the sunset.

The restaurants and street food stalls in Phu Quoc are concentrated in Duong Dong Town and part of Tran Hung Dao street. Outside of these areas, you’ll mainly find restaurants within your resort.

The restaurants and cafes in Nha Trang are scattered around the city center and its main area, so you can easily find food everywhere.

Both places have their own local dishes. The famous dishes in Nha Trang are Banh Can (Mini Pancakes), Nem Nuong (Grilled Pork Sausage), and Bun Cha Ca (Fish Cake Noodle Soup). Famous fishes in Phu Quoc are Bun Quay (Phu Quoc style Noodle soup with seafood).

Shopping

Nha Trang, without a doubt, is the best place to go shopping. The city has shopping malls and a large market for souvenirs and local necessaries.

The shops in Nha Trang are concentrated in the city center and along the beach road Tran Phu Street. Must check places in Nha Trang for shopping are Dam Market, Vincom Plaza, and Nha Trang Center Mall.

There are no big shopping malls on Phu Quoc, just small local family-run shops and a night market in Duong Dong Town.

You can find typical Vietnamese souvenirs, local specialties, and beach wear at Phu Quoc Night Market. Phu Quoc is known for its fish sauce, pepper, cashews, local snacks and gifts.

Historical & Cultural Attractions

Phu Quoc and Nha Trang have several cultural attractions to explore. Phu Quoc is home to Phu Quoc prison, Ho Quoc Pagoda, and Dinh Cau Temple. Nha Trang is home to Po Nagar Cham Towers, Long Son temple, and Nha Trang cathedral.

You can visit peaceful Buddhist temples in both places. Ho Quoc Pagoda in Phu Quoc and Long Son temple have stunning views of the ocean and beautiful architecture.

Phu Quoc Prison, also known as the Coconut Tree Prison, is the former prison during the French colonial and Vietnam War-era. It’s now used as a museum where you can learn about the wartime history and the harsh conditions experienced by prisoners.

The highlight cultural attraction in Nha Trang is the Po Nagar Cham Towers, which is a Hindu temple complex built between the 8th–13th centuries by the Cham people. You can admire the beautiful architecture, learn about the region’s history, and enjoy the sea views.

The French colonial Gothic church, Stone Church, in Nha Trang is also well worth visiting. It’s an active cathedral and has stunning views of the city.

Local Farming experiences

Alongside tourism, Phu Quoc is famous for its agriculture, particularly pepper, fish sauce, Sim Wine, bee & honey, and pearl farming.

Many of those farms offer tours for tourists to learn the traditional farming and buy local products right at local farms. Many guided tours will take you to all places within a day or two.

Mud Baths

Nha Trang is a famous place to visit in Vietnam for its mud bath culture where you can take a bath on the healing mineral mud baths, hot springs, hydrotherapy pools, and saunas. Some of the most popular sites on Nha Trang are the Thap Ba, 100 Egg Mud Bath, and I-Resort.

You can book mud baths in communal or private settings with packages for all budgets. They are great places to check out for couples, groups, and families.

Phu Quoc isn’t famous for its mud bath, but you can find several mud bath services at the spa and wellness centers.

Cable cars

Both Phu Quoc and Nha Trang offer scenic cable car rides over the ocean. Phu Quoc has 8 km connecting Phu Quoc main island to An Thoi island (Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park). The ride is around 15-20 minutes.

Nha Trang has a 3km cable car connecting Nha Trang mainland to Hon Tre island (VinWonders theme park and luxury resorts). The ride is around 8-10 minutes.

Both cable car rides are a must try, but in my opinion, the views from Phu Quoc cable car are more scenic.

Cost of Living

In my experience, Nha Trang has a lower cost of living compared to Phu Quoc. Accommodations, food, and drinks in the tourist area of Nha Trang are generally cheaper than in Phu Quoc.

For the similar amount of money, I can have better quality accommodations in Nha Trang. If you are traveling on a budget, Nha Trang has better options for you to choose from.

The lower cost of living is one of the main reasons why Nha Trang attracts more expats and long-term travelers than Phu Quoc.

Weather

Both Phu Quoc and Nha Trang have warm weather all year, which is perfect for beach activities. Both experience stormy seasons, so if you want to enjoy outdoor activities to the fullest, you should avoid visiting during the peak rainy season.

The storm season in Nha Trang is from September to December and the storm season in Phu Quoc is from July to September. The best months to visit Phu Quoc are from November to April, and the best months to visit Nha Trang are from January to August.

So, if you need to decide whether to go to Phu Quoc or Nha Trang in November or December, I recommend going to Phu Quoc. Similarly, if you need to decide whether to go to Phu Quoc or Nha Trang in July and August, it’s better to go to Nha Trang.

Getting Around

You can easily find local traditional taxis and motorbike taxis on both Phu Quoc and Nha Trang. Riding share services such as Grab and Xanh SM are available in both places. You can just install the app from the App Stores, and request a ride from there.

If you have a valid driver license, you can consider renting a scooter to explore these places. It’s usually cheaper than taking a taxi and gives you more freedom to explore at your own pace.

Taking guided tours or hiring a private driver are popular options to explore Phu Quoc and Nha Trang. There are many sightseeing tours and island hopping tours to choose from.

I used a Grab Bike to explore most major sights in Nha Trang. I also used a cable car to get to Hon Tre island as well as a speed boat to get to Monkey island.

In Phuket, I used the combination of Grab Bike and guided tours. I took one tour to see the south side of the island, one tour to see the north side, and took a cable car to Hon Thom island.