An Thoi Phu Quoc: Where to Stay in the South
By Alex Nguyen · Updated August 2026 · 6 min read
- An Thoi is a working port town at the island's southern tip, 28 km from Duong Dong by road — not a resort area
- The Hon Thom cable car (7.9 km over-sea gondola) starts here; this is the main reason visitors come to this end of the island
- Accommodation is limited: guesthouses and small hotels at $15–50/night, no pools, no beachfront
- Best for: travellers doing the cable car or boat tours to the southern archipelago, or those arriving by ferry from Ha Tien on the mainland
- Most people base themselves in Long Beach or Ong Lang and visit An Thoi as a day trip — this is usually the smarter call
- Dry season (Nov–Apr) is when boat tours to the southern islands run reliably
What Is An Thoi and Who Actually Stays Here?
An Thoi sits at the very bottom of Phu Quoc island, 28 km south of Duong Dong by road. It's primarily a ferry port and fishing town. The harbour handles inter-island boat traffic, the Ha Tien mainland ferry, and most of the organised snorkelling tours to the southern archipelago. That's what the town does, and it looks the part: warehouses, boat repair yards, a fish market that's busy at 5 AM, a handful of simple restaurants serving the people who work here.
The travellers who actually sleep in An Thoi fall into a few specific groups. Some arrive by ferry from Ha Tien and stay one night before heading north the following morning. Others book a multi-day liveaboard or island-hopping trip and want to walk to the pier without paying for transport. A smaller number come specifically for the Hon Thom cable car and want to be at the lower station before the day-tripper crowds from Duong Dong arrive — the gondola opens at 8:00 AM, and the coaches typically arrive from the north around 9:30 AM.
If none of those describe your trip, An Thoi probably isn't where you want to stay. That's not a criticism of the town — it's just honest about what it is and what it isn't. For a beach holiday with restaurants, a pool, and easy access to the rest of the island, Long Beach or Ong Lang will serve you better.
The Hon Thom Cable Car: Why It Puts An Thoi on the Map
The Hon Thom cable car is the single biggest draw to this end of the island. At 7.9 km, it crosses the sea from An Thoi pier to Hon Thom island (locally called Pineapple Island) and holds the record for one of the longest over-sea gondola routes in the world. Sun Group built it, and it's well-run — I've been on it a dozen times and the equipment is consistently maintained.
The ride takes about 15 minutes each way. At mid-point you're 60 metres above the water, and on a clear day the view back toward the An Thoi archipelago — the chain of small islands stretching southwest — is genuinely good. Hon Thom itself has a beach, a water park, and restaurants run by the same Sun Group operator. Round-trip tickets are around 300,000–350,000 VND per adult (check current rates; the price has moved before). Children under 1 metre tall typically ride free.
The lower station is in An Thoi, roughly 400–500 metres on foot from the main ferry pier. If you're staying in An Thoi itself, you can walk there. If you're coming from Long Beach, it's a 40–50 minute motorbike ride down the island. Most tour operators in Duong Dong sell cable car packages that include transport — convenient, but you're locked to their schedule rather than your own.
One practical note: on windy days the cable car closes. This happens a few times a month during the monsoon season (May–October) and occasionally in other months when weather comes through unexpectedly. If the cable car is the centrepiece of your trip, build in a buffer day.
Where to Stay in An Thoi Phu Quoc: Your Real Options
An Thoi has maybe a dozen properties that take short-stay guests. The range is narrow. You're looking at guesthouses and small local hotels — nothing with a pool, nothing beachfront, and nothing that would compete with mid-range properties on Long Beach. That's just the reality of a port town that hasn't had significant tourism investment.
The cheapest rooms — fan-cooled, shared or basic en-suite bathroom — run $15–20/night. Air-conditioned rooms with private bathroom come in at $25–40/night. A small number of better-maintained guesthouses with newer fitout push up to $45–55/night. The quality ceiling is low compared to what $45 buys you elsewhere on the island, but the location is what you're paying for if you need pier access.
If you need a pool or a beach within walking distance, the closest option is Bai Sao beach, about 10 km north of An Thoi by road. Bai Sao has proper resort accommodation in the $40–90/night range with better facilities. See our Bai Sao accommodation guide for details. That extra 10 km and 15 minutes on a motorbike is usually worth it for anyone staying more than one night.
Booking in An Thoi: OTA coverage is thinner here than in the tourist-heavy areas. Several properties don't list on Booking.com or Airbnb at all, or do so inconsistently. If you're set on staying in An Thoi, it's worth calling ahead directly — the numbers are usually posted on Google Maps. Alternatively, contact us and we can help find current availability.
Getting to and Around An Thoi
From Phu Quoc Airport, An Thoi is about 14–16 km by road — roughly 20–25 minutes and 120,000–180,000 VND by Grab car. The airport is in the southeast of the island and An Thoi is at the south tip, so the airport-to-An Thoi leg is actually shorter than most people assume. From Duong Dong or Long Beach, the drive south is 28 km and takes 40–50 minutes by motorbike, a bit less by car.
Grab works in An Thoi but supply is lower than in the north of the island. During busy periods — mid-morning when day-trippers arrive — getting a Grab back north can mean a 15-minute wait. Renting a motorbike in An Thoi itself is possible from a few shops near the pier, roughly 100,000–150,000 VND per day. Mai Linh metered taxis also operate on the island.
If you're arriving by ferry from Ha Tien on the mainland, the boat docks right at An Thoi pier. The crossing runs about 1 hour on a high-speed vessel. Superdong and Phu Quoc Express are the two main operators; tickets cost roughly 200,000–250,000 VND per person. From the pier you can walk to most guesthouses in An Thoi or get a Grab north.
Day Trip from Long Beach, or Actually Staying in An Thoi?
This is the question most people should ask before booking anything in An Thoi. I'll give you the honest version.
If you're based in Long Beach and want to do the Hon Thom cable car, the practical answer is: rent a motorbike for the day (100,000–150,000 VND) and ride south. Stop at Bai Sao beach on the way — it's 28 km from Duong Dong and An Thoi is another 10 km beyond that. You can do both comfortably in a day, be back for dinner on Long Beach, and have saved yourself the cost and limitation of sleeping in a port guesthouse.
The cases where actually staying in An Thoi makes sense: you're arriving late by ferry and catching an early morning boat tour the next day. Or you have a specific interest in the island-hopping circuit from the southern archipelago and want multiple consecutive mornings at the pier without an hour-long commute each way. Those are real scenarios, they're just not common.
One thing I've noticed over years of pointing people in different directions: guests who stay in An Thoi for more than two nights often say they wish they'd moved north sooner. The evenings are quiet in a way that shifts from peaceful to boring pretty quickly once you've done the main attraction. The town has a few seafood restaurants near the pier — good, unpretentious food — but the variety runs out fast. For a longer stay in the south, even Bai Sao is a much better base.
How Do An Thoi Prices Compare to the Rest of the Island?
An Thoi is cheaper than tourist areas, but the value proposition is different. You're paying less because the accommodation is genuinely more basic, not because you're getting a bargain version of what Long Beach offers.
| Area | Budget per night | Mid-range | Pool / beach? |
|---|---|---|---|
| An Thoi | $15–25 | $30–50 | No |
| Bai Sao (10 km north) | $25–40 | $50–90 | Beach yes, pools limited |
| Long Beach (28 km north) | $18–35 | $55–120 | Beach yes, many pools |
| Ong Lang (38 km north) | $40–60 | $70–140 | Beach limited, many pools |
The distances in the table are by road from An Thoi. Check our full accommodation budget guide for a broader breakdown of what different price points actually get you across the island.
FAQ — An Thoi Phu Quoc Where to Stay
Is An Thoi a good base for a Phu Quoc holiday?
For most visitors, no. An Thoi is a working port town at the southern tip of Phu Quoc, about 28 km by road from Duong Dong and the main Long Beach resort strip. Accommodation options are limited to a small number of guesthouses and budget hotels, the restaurant scene is thin, and getting anywhere else on the island requires transport every time. It makes sense only if your trip is specifically built around the Hon Thom cable car or multi-day island-hopping from the southern archipelago.
How far is An Thoi from Phu Quoc Airport?
An Thoi is roughly 14–16 km by road from Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC). The airport sits in the southeast of the island, and An Thoi is at the southern tip — a Grab car between the two takes about 20–25 minutes and typically costs 120,000–180,000 VND. Duong Dong town is about 28 km further north from An Thoi by road.
What is the Hon Thom cable car and how does it connect to An Thoi?
The Hon Thom cable car is a 7.9 km gondola linking An Thoi port on Phu Quoc's southern tip to Hon Thom island (Pineapple Island), making it one of the longest over-sea cable car routes in the world. It's operated by Sun Group and runs daily. The lower station is in An Thoi, about a 5-minute walk from the main ferry pier. Round-trip tickets cost around 300,000–350,000 VND per adult (check current rates on arrival, as pricing updates periodically).
What does accommodation in An Thoi Phu Quoc cost?
An Thoi has a small selection of guesthouses and small hotels, with most rooms running $18–45/night. There are no large resorts here. The cheapest options — fan rooms in family-run guesthouses — start around $15–20/night. Mid-range options with air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms run $30–50/night. If you want a pool or a proper beachfront setting, you need to look at Bai Sao (about 10 km north) or Long Beach (about 28 km north).
Can I take a day trip to An Thoi from Long Beach?
Yes, easily. The drive from Long Beach or Duong Dong to An Thoi by motorbike takes about 40–50 minutes. The road south runs through the airport area and past Bai Sao — you can combine both stops in one day. Most guests who want to do the Hon Thom cable car or a boat tour to the southern islands simply rent a motorbike for the day and ride down from their accommodation in the north or centre of the island.
Are there boat tours to the southern islands from An Thoi?
Yes. An Thoi is the main departure point for snorkelling and island-hopping boat tours to the southern archipelago — a cluster of about 20 small islands including Hon Roi, Hon May Rut, and Hon Thom itself. Tours typically depart around 8:00 AM, cover three or four stops for snorkelling and lunch, and return by 3:00–4:00 PM. Prices for group tours run roughly 300,000–500,000 VND per person. Many tour operators in Duong Dong and Long Beach sell these trips with transport included.
Is An Thoi suitable for families with children?
It depends entirely on your plans. If the family is there specifically for the Hon Thom cable car — which kids generally find exciting — then a one-night stay in An Thoi is workable. But the town has no beach suitable for swimming, no pool hotels, and limited food choices beyond local seafood restaurants and simple com pho places. For a family holiday with the usual beach and pool priorities, Long Beach or Ong Lang are much better choices, with An Thoi done as a day trip.
What is the best time of year to visit An Thoi and the southern islands?
November through April is the dry season across Phu Quoc, and the calmest time for boat trips to the southern archipelago. Seas are generally flat December through March, making snorkelling and cable car visits most reliable. May through October brings the southwest monsoon — boat tours to the southern islands often cancel in rough weather, and the cable car can close on particularly windy days. If the boat trip is the main reason for your visit, come in the dry season.
How do I get from An Thoi to the rest of Phu Quoc?
Grab works in An Thoi but availability can be patchy — if you're heading back to Duong Dong or Long Beach during busy periods, a ride can take 10–15 minutes to arrive. Mai Linh metered taxis also operate on Phu Quoc. The most reliable option is to rent a motorbike yourself for around 100,000–150,000 VND per day from one of the rental shops near the An Thoi pier, then you control your own schedule for the day.
Is there a ferry from An Thoi to the mainland?
Yes. An Thoi port operates high-speed ferries to Ha Tien on the mainland — a crossing of roughly 1 hour that costs around 200,000–250,000 VND per person. This is the main ferry route for travellers arriving by sea from the Mekong Delta rather than by air. Several operators run the route daily; Superdong and Phu Quoc Express are the two main lines. Check schedules directly with the operators as departure times change seasonally.
Alex Nguyen — Founder, Phu Quoc Rentals
I've been renting accommodation on Phu Quoc since 2018. Before that I managed a guesthouse on Long Beach for three years — which taught me most of what I know about what guests actually need versus what looks good in photos. I live in Duong Dong year-round and I'm reachable on WhatsApp (+84948523139) for any question this guide doesn't answer.
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