Phu Quoc Itinerary for First-Timers: Easy, Slow & Relaxing Guide
Last updated 9 February, 2025
What does your version of “adult fun” looks like?
Our version of “adult fun” this time is getting a full rest and feeling rejuvenated by doing relaxing activities rather than rushing from one spot to another. When most people think about Phu Quoc, Vietnam, they probably think of visiting Grand World and the Sunworld Hon Thom cable car. For my best friend and I, we chose this pearl island because we wanted to fully relax and do as little as possible at a nice resort.
Phu Quoc is not only easy to explore, it also has many lovely spots that we could visit without much preparation or a tour guide. We could easily hop around the island by using Grab. Most importantly, the hotel we chose even had a free fireworks show! Lastly, Phu Quoc is accessible by direct flights from Bangkok and Singapore, making the journey easy and smooth for us.
If you’ve read this far and are curious about our itinerary, keep reading.
Day 1
Choosing to stay at La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton was the best decision we made because we centered our itinerary around our stay. It paid off: we gained access to nice accommodation (good value too!), great food, and complimentary activities without even leaving the hotel. The hotel is really nice, and we enjoyed our stay very much. I have a hotel review section so make sure to read the full review.
Before we began our evening, the first thing we did after check-in was rest, relax, and plan where to have dinner. From our research, we wanted to eat seafood, so going to the Chợ Đêm Sonasea night market seemed like the best option to explore the varieties.
After exploring, we decided to try Mr. Seafood at the market because we wanted lobster and some fresh shrimp. The food was good, but I wish I had packed my Thai seafood dipping sauce!
To end the night, we returned to our hotel to watch the fireworks from our balcony.
Day 2
The view of Sunset Town is absolutely stunning in the morning with a glimpse of sunshine.
We woke up feeling refreshed and ready for a BIG breakfast. The hotel buffet offered so many varieties, but of course we had to try Vietnamese coffee and some pho to kick-start our day. And you know getting morning vitamin D is one of the best therapies for the body!
Another lovely thing about this hotel is that you feel like you’re in Europe while paying Asian prices. It may not be the real Europe, but Sunset Town is very pretty and photogenic: colorful buildings, the sea, flowers — everything combines to create a relaxing mood and put you at ease.
It’s unfortunate that the town didn’t have many visitors when I visited. I wish more people would visit in the future because I think they invested a lot of money in building this town to boost tourism in Phu Quoc.
A little bit of background… The Sunset Town in Phu Quoc has European vibe because the town is designed to resemble a classic Italian seaside village with pastel-painted buildings, cobblestone streets, and clock towers. Developed by Sun Group, it’s a Mediterranean-style cultural and entertainment complex located on the island’s southwestern tip.
The most famous landmark in Sunset Town is the Kiss Bridge — which is also the view from our room. The bridge was designed by Italian architect Marco Casamonti and consists of two separate pedestrian spans reaching toward each other over the water, leaving an exact 30 cm gap between them. Their shape, like two people kissing, makes it very unique, and I’ve been told that many couples go onto the bridge for pre-wedding photos.
Since Sunset Town is colorful and vibrant, you’ll walk away with many great pictures from the trip! And one of the most famous spots to take picture is Dragon stairs, so don’t miss it.
After exploring Sunset Town, it was time for a nice afternoon tea at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa. Since my best friend lives in London, we don’t get to spend much time together to catch up and talk. Phu Quoc is a great place for us to reconnect and travel slowly because it has a peaceful vibe. I also wanted to check out this Marriott property for a future visit. Since it was our first time in Phu Quoc, staying in Sunset Town made more sense because of the shows and fireworks. If I could come back next time, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa would definitely be a hotel I would love to try.
Upon arrival at the hotel, the staff warmly welcomed us and let us walk around the property. We were wowed by the beauty and the architecture of the hotel. Designed by renowned resort architect Bill Bensley, the hotel is famous for its whimsical storytelling concept and distinctive colonial-style architecture. I love colonial style, so wandering inside the hotel was a dream. The hotel also has a famous “pink restaurant,” which I had already put on my bucket list. SO CUTE!
PINK PEARL - A sophisticated French restaurant with Mediterranean influences by Michelin-starred Chef Olivier Elzer.
Although we didn’t have a reservation at Pink Pearl Restaurant, the staff gladly let us in to take a look. We were touched by their high level of hospitality. The staff even showed us the wine cellar in the basement without our asking.
I’m not sure when I will get a chance to go back to Phu Quoc and try this restaurant, but if you plan to visit, I am sure that it will be wonderful experience. Please note that this restaurant is open for dinner only every day from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. You can view the details of their course menu on their official website here.
Finally—time for afternoon tea. Time to refill our energy with yummy treats and strong Vietnamese coffee at French & Co cafe. The set we ordered is called Winter Afternoon Tea. It includes a savory salmon-avocado croissant, sweet mango pudding, and more, paired with tea or coffee. The set is VND 720,000++ per adult.
FRENCH & CO - A lovely café that brings the flavors and ambiance of a classic French to Phu Quoc.
The beach is very beautiful, with clear water and white sand. It made me want to swim and just jump right in!
Every corner of this hotel is a discovery. Walking around, you can see that the architecture was designed from the heart, with such great detail. Great job, Marriott!
I think up to this point you can see that our version of adult fun are resting, sleeping well, eating, chatting—and what else?
That’s right: time for a sunset cocktail. A cocktail during a holiday is a must, and we knew just the place to check out. INK360 is the highest rooftop bar in Phu Quoc, located inside InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort. The bar showcases the strength of metal and a bold expression of creativity and resilience; its iconic tentacle form, inspired by the mythical Kraken, was designed by Ashley Sutton. We enjoyed the panoramic ocean views and the sunsets. They also have some bar food, and we ordered nachos to munch on while enjoying sunset.
Same as the first night, we ended our evening at a hotel with a Kiss of the Sea show visible from our balcony. Book a room with a private balcony if you want the same experience. Normally the Kiss of the Sea show runs every day from 9:00–9:30 PM (except Tuesday). If you don’t have a room with a private balcony, you can buy a ticket from the hotel. The fireworks are scheduled every day at 9:30 PM, right after the Kiss of the Sea show.
Day 3
Time to check out and say goodbye. We made sure to enjoy our breakfast and explored the hotel one last time.
If you are visiting Vietnam and love bread, my favorite thing to eat is Vietnamese bánh mì — a French baguette sandwich with savory fillings such as meat, French liver pâté, and fresh, bright herbs and pickled vegetables. I like the airy, crispy baguette with the Asian twist. I had it two days in a row and personally prefer it over pho.
Vietnamese coffee is awesome but very strong, so if you don’t normally drink coffee, the caffeine may be too intense even for me who drink coffee every day. After breakfast, we swam a little in the hotel pool. We wished we could have swum more, but because we were mostly out exploring, we didn’t get a chance to enjoy it as much as we would have liked. The weather on our last day was also lovely, with nice breeze.
Since our hotel is conveniently located near the Kiss Bridge, we had to check it out — and we did. The view from the bridge, looking over the sea and back toward our hotel, was amazing and picturesque.
Looking back, it was one of the best trips for us: lots of memories and a wonderful time in Vietnam.
This trip was about resetting, pausing, and taking it easy. This itinerary gave us a sense of slowing down through immersing ourselves in beautiful places and the good people we met along the way.
I hope our version of adult fun might inspire you to do the same in Phu Quoc or elsewhere. I think sometimes the most enjoyable moments don’t come from doing the most but rather from being intentional with your journey and grateful for the companionship you travel with.
