Phu Quoc: Discover Islands by speedboat & Hon Thom cable car

The headline attraction is the Hon Thom cable car, which crosses the sea between Phu Quoc’s southern islands. Before that, you ride a covered speedboat around the An Thoi archipelago, stop for coral snorkeling, eat an eight-course lunch, and pose for complimentary SUP and drone photos.

I like the way the price bundles transport, lunch, cable car admission, safety gear, insurance, and photography into one day. I also like the free pickup from selected areas and the chance to see Phu Quoc from both the water and high above it. The catch is the packed schedule: one recent booking found too little time for some advertised stops, so you should treat this as a busy highlights tour, not a slow island day.

Key points at a glance

• Hon Thom cable car: Ride one of the world’s longest sea-crossing cable cars and see the An Thoi islands from above.
• Covered speedboat: Travel between island stops in a canoe with a canopy and protective glass.
• Hon May Rut Inside: Get beach time, SUP photography, drone footage, and scenic photo setups.
• Coral snorkeling: Life jackets, masks, and breathing tubes are supplied, with conditions depending on the weather.
• Sunset Town finale: Stop at the Roman Colosseum, Dragon Stairs, and Clock Tower for photos.
• Good package value: At $82, the tour includes hotel transport in selected zones, lunch, cable car access, equipment, insurance, and media services.

What $82 buys you on this Phu Quoc day

At $82 per person, this is not simply a boat ride. The fee covers pickup and return in selected parts of Phu Quoc, a guide, the covered speedboat, an eight-course lunch, bottled water, snorkeling equipment, life insurance, the Hon Thom cable car, and photography services.

That bundle can make sense if you want a full day with little planning. You do not need to arrange separate transport to An Thoi Port, buy cable car admission on your own, or find a boat operator once you arrive. The included photo team is also useful if you want more than quick phone snapshots.

There are extra charges to watch. Pickup from Vinpearl or Ganh Dau costs 50,000 VND per person each way. From Ong Lang or Cua Can, the surcharge is 30,000 VND each way, and from Ham Ninh or Cay Sao it is 100,000 VND each way.

The package includes bottled water, but the advertised 500 milliliters was reported as 330 milliliters on one outing. I would bring your own water, especially because the day includes sun, salt water, and several hours outdoors.

An early pickup and a pearl-farm stop

The day begins with hotel pickup between about 7:20 and 8:10 a.m. You are asked to wait in the lobby 10 minutes before your scheduled time, which matters because the route gathers people from several hotels.

The first stop is a pearl farm, described as one of the largest in Phu Quoc. You can see pearl designs and sea-colored jewelry, then continue toward An Thoi Port. This stop gives you a look at one of the island’s best-known products, but it also uses time that could otherwise go toward the beach or cable car area.

If you are interested in buying jewelry, this is a convenient introduction. If shopping stops are not your thing, keep your expectations modest and remember that the day already has many scheduled pieces.

The covered speedboat to the An Thoi islands

At An Thoi Port, you board a covered canoe for the island portion of the trip. The canopy and protective glass are practical touches, since they offer some shelter from the sun and spray. You still need sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and clothing that can get wet.

The boat is the main link between the day’s stops. The schedule allows roughly 9:20 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the island program, but that block includes several activities, lunch, cable car access, and transfers. It sounds generous until you count each move.

The tour has a minimum departure size of one person, so it is not dependent on a large party forming. The information does not give a maximum group size, so you should ask about the expected group before booking if group size matters to you.

Coral Park and the optional underwater walk

One planned stop is Coral Park. The included activity is natural coral snorkeling, with a life jacket, mask, and breathing tube supplied. The operator says this part depends on weather, so rough seas or poor conditions can change the plan.

There is also an underwater walking service at an additional cost. It is not included in the $82 price. This distinction matters because the tour description places the coral activity and underwater walking close together, but they are separate products.

I would view the standard snorkeling as the sensible choice for most people who want time in the water without adding another fee. Bring water shoes if you have them. The bottom conditions are not described, but water shoes are specifically recommended for the trip.

Hon May Rut Inside: beach time and camera-ready stops

Hon May Rut Inside is the day’s main beach stop. The schedule allows time for swimming, scenic viewpoints, an infinity swing, and a white hammock designed for photos. This is also where the photo team provides SUP sessions and drone filming.

The transparent SUP is a distinctive feature. You can paddle around the island while the media team photographs you, which gives you a more polished record of the day than ordinary group-tour snapshots. Complimentary photo editing is also included.

The drone service sounds appealing, but it depends on practical conditions such as weather and operating space. The supplied details do not promise a fixed number of edited images or a specific delivery method, so ask the guide when and how you will receive the files.

The beach stop may be the most enjoyable part for you if you want a mix of swimming and posed photos. It may feel rushed if you prefer to stay in the water for a long stretch. The schedule has to make room for lunch and the cable car, so this is not designed as a full-day beach stay.

Lunch on the island

Lunch is an eight-course meal made with fresh ingredients, along with bottled water. A shared meal gives the group a chance to sit down after the boat and beach activities, though the information does not list the dishes or say whether meals are individually plated.

Tell the operator about a vegetarian meal when you book. The tour information also says it is not suitable for people with gluten intolerance, so you should not assume that a gluten-free meal can be arranged.

The lunch is part of the tour’s value. On an independent island day, you would need to organize food as well as transport. Here, the meal is built into the schedule, though the trade-off is that you have less control over when and where you eat.

The Hon Thom cable car from sea level

The cable car is the strongest reason to choose this particular combination of island activities. It crosses the sea between the southern islands and is promoted as the world’s longest sea-crossing cable car. The ride gives you a high view of the water, islands, boats, and coastline.

This is more than a transfer. It changes the pace of the day from low, wet, and salty to open views from above. If you have never taken a cable car over the sea, this will likely be the most memorable single part of the trip.

The schedule does not give a separate riding time or explain exactly how long you spend at the cable car station. That is important because a tight schedule can make the ride feel like a quick checkpoint rather than a relaxed outing.

One issue deserves attention. A recent booking said there was not enough time for the water park and that the group had to find its own way back to the cable car. The current itinerary does not list water-park time as an included activity, so do not book this tour expecting a full water-park visit. Confirm the meeting point and return instructions before leaving the guide.

Sunset Town’s Roman-style photo stops

After the island portion, the group transfers to Sunset Town. The listed photo locations include the Roman Colosseum, Dragon Stairs, and Clock Tower. The tour also advertises sunset views and free photo sessions here.

Sunset Town is a designed resort district, not an old town in the traditional sense. That does not make it worthless. The architecture provides bold backdrops, and the stop gives you dry clothes, solid ground, and a change of scenery after the boat.

The timing deserves a careful look. The schedule places transfer around 5 p.m., photo stops from about 5:30 p.m., and hotel return around 5:30 p.m. Those times do not fully line up, and weather can also change the order. Ask the guide for the actual return time on the day.

The same scheduling pressure may affect the Kiss Bridge. One booking reported there was no time to see it, then arranged transport home independently after going there on their own. Since the listed stops are the Roman Colosseum, Dragon Stairs, and Clock Tower, you should not assume the Kiss Bridge is included.

Photography is the tour’s strongest extra

The complimentary media service is more substantial than the usual guide offering to take one group photo. The package lists photo sessions, drone filming at Hon May Rut Inside, SUP photos, and free photo sessions at Sunset Town. Photo editing is also included.

This is a real advantage for couples, families, and anyone who wants a record of the cable car and island stops without handing a phone to strangers. It may also explain the positive reaction to the staff, since the guides and media team are described as friendly and eager to help.

Still, photography takes time. Every staged shot means people need to gather, pose, move, and wait. If you care more about swimming than pictures, tell the guide early. If photos are your main goal, ask where the team will film and when the edited files will arrive.

Timing is the tour’s main weakness

The advertised day runs from around 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the detailed schedule beginning as early as 7:20 a.m. The itinerary includes a pearl farm, port transfer, speedboat, Coral Park, Hon May Rut, snorkeling, lunch, SUP photos, drone filming, cable car, Sunset Town, and hotel return.

That is a lot. I like the range, but the plan leaves little room for delays. Weather, boat loading, lunch, photo sessions, and transfers can all affect the final stops. One booking rated the planning poorly because the day felt chaotic, with unnecessary pauses and too little time for some advertised activities.

The guides were still described as nice and hard-working in that account. That distinction matters. A friendly guide can help when plans shift, but cannot create extra hours in the day.

I would choose this tour if you want to sample many parts of southern Phu Quoc in one outing. I would avoid it if your ideal day is a quiet beach, a long snorkeling session, or a leisurely afternoon at the water park.

Safety, comfort, and who should book

The operator emphasizes safety, hygiene, service quality, covered transport, protective glass, life jackets, snorkeling equipment, and travel insurance. English and Vietnamese guide and audio options are available.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the same information says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. That is a serious inconsistency. Contact the operator before booking and ask specifically about hotel pickup, port access, boarding the canoe, island movement, and cable car access.

It is also not recommended for people with altitude sickness, kidney problems, high blood pressure, pre-existing medical conditions, or gluten intolerance. The cable car itself may be a concern for anyone with a strong fear of heights, though the information does not list that as a formal restriction.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, sunscreen, beachwear, and water shoes. A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch is sensible, although it is not specifically listed as required.

The tour runs in English and Vietnamese. Lunar New Year bookings from the first through fifth day of the lunar calendar carry a 20 percent surcharge. The listed dates for 2025 were January 29 through February 2.

Should you book the island speedboat and cable car tour?

Book it if you want a busy southern Phu Quoc sampler with hotel transport, lunch, boat travel, coral snorkeling, Hon May Rut, SUP photos, drone footage, the Hon Thom cable car, and Sunset Town in one package. At $82, the inclusions are solid, especially if you value photography and do not want to arrange each piece separately.

Think twice if you want generous free time. The schedule is ambitious, and one outing failed to deliver enough time for some expected stops. The water park is not part of the listed included activities, and the Kiss Bridge should not be assumed either.

My practical advice is to confirm three points before paying: your exact pickup fee, the plan for the cable car and return meeting point, and what photo or drone files you will receive. If the operator confirms those details and you are happy with a fast-moving day, this is a useful way to cover Phu Quoc’s southern highlights.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $82 per person. Extra pickup charges apply in some areas, including Vinpearl, Ganh Dau, Ong Lang, Cua Can, Ham Ninh, and Cay Sao.

How long does the tour last?

It is a full-day tour. The listed schedule begins with pickup from about 7:20 to 8:10 a.m. and is expected to finish around 5:30 to 6 p.m., subject to weather and itinerary changes.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and return by car are included in selected areas. Surcharges apply for some locations.

What languages are available?

The tour offers English and Vietnamese guides. English and Vietnamese audio guides are also listed.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An eight-course lunch and bottled water are included. Request a vegetarian meal when booking.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Life jackets, snorkeling gear, and breathing tubes are supplied for the natural coral reef activity, which depends on weather conditions.

Is underwater walking included?

No. Underwater walking at Coral Park costs extra.

Is the cable car included?

Yes. The Hon Thom sea-crossing cable car experience is included in the tour price.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers reserve-now, pay-later booking.