Phu Quoc Speedboat Trip: 3 Islands By Speedboat

Phu Quoc’s southern islands are best seen from the water, and this trip packs several very different stops into one fast-moving day. You’ll ride from An Thoi harbor to coral reefs, quiet beaches, rocky shorelines, and May Rut Trong’s white-sand lagoon, with lunch served on the island rather than back on the mainland.

I like the small-group feel, with one trip operating with only about 10 passengers, and I like the practical package: hotel pickup, speedboat transport, lunch, snorkeling gear, and a short drone video with three photos. The main point to consider is the sea itself. Weather can change the island stops, and one past account found beautiful coral but few fish, so this is not a guaranteed wildlife show.

• Three named island stops plus an optional Hon Thom seawalker visit make this more than a single beach outing.
• May Rut Trong combines lunch, a white-sand lagoon, and time to wander, making it the day’s most varied stop.
• Xuong and Gham Ghi provide two chances to snorkel, useful if sea conditions or visibility differ between reefs.
• Hotel pickup runs through central Duong Dong, from the night market along Tran Hung Dao Street to Eden Resort.
• A 45-second drone video and three photos are included at May Rut Trong.
• Snorkeling gear and life jackets are supplied, but children’s fin sizes are not available.

Why the southern islands work well by speedboat

Phu Quoc’s southern island group is spread around An Thoi, so a boat trip gives you access to several beaches and reef areas in one day. By road alone, you can reach the harbor, but not the islands themselves. The speedboat is the practical part of the experience, not just a thrill ride.

Your morning starts with pickup between 8:15 and 8:30 from the John’s Tours office or your hotel lobby in central Duong Dong. The stated pickup corridor runs from Phu Quoc night market along Tran Hung Dao Street to Eden Resort. If you stay elsewhere, an extra charge may apply, so check this before booking.

From there, you travel to An Thoi harbor and board the speedboat. The boat ride gives you open-water views and cuts down the time between stops. That matters because the schedule aims to fit snorkeling, swimming, lunch, and island exploring into a day that ends around 4 p.m.

The group size can be a real advantage. A past trip operated with about 10 passengers, which allowed people to move at an unhurried pace. Still, the exact group size can vary, so treat that figure as a useful guide rather than a firm promise.

Xuong Island starts the water portion

Xuong Island is scheduled as the first snorkeling stop. You’ll receive a mask, snorkel, and fins, along with a life jacket. Fins are not available in child sizes, so families with young children should plan for that limitation.

The appeal here is simple: you get into the water early, before the day’s heat becomes tiring, and begin with a coral reef rather than waiting until later in the itinerary. If you want to spend more time swimming than sitting on a beach, this stop gets the day moving quickly.

Coral viewing depends on conditions. Clear water can make the reef the star of the trip, while wind, waves, or poor visibility can reduce what you see. One account described the coral as beautiful but noted that fish were scarce. I would book this for the reef setting and the chance to snorkel, not on the promise of a constant parade of marine life.

The guide can also make a difference here. Guides named Emma, Leyla, Mia, and Sally have led trips, with past guests especially appreciating clear explanations, friendly help, and good English from some guides. Your guide may be different, but the planned role is to explain the area, organize the stops, and help you use the equipment.

Gham Ghi adds another reef and a beach

The second main stop is Gham Ghi Island, where the plan combines more snorkeling with time on the beach. This pairing is useful because you can choose your pace. You might spend most of the stop in the water, or dry off and enjoy the shore if you have had enough coral viewing.

Having two reef stops also gives the day some flexibility. If visibility is better at Gham Ghi than at Xuong, you have another chance to see coral. If the sea is not ideal at one location, the guide and boat crew can work around conditions, although the quality of snorkeling cannot be guaranteed.

The beach time helps keep the excursion from feeling like an equipment test. You can swim, sit in the sun, or simply look around before the group moves on. Bring your own towel and sunscreen, since neither is included. Swimwear is the obvious choice, and you may want a cover-up for the boat and lunch.

This is not a private island escape in the strict sense. The itinerary is designed to visit popular southern stops in one day, and conditions can affect how quiet or busy each beach feels. The value comes from seeing several places without arranging separate boat rides, not from having each island entirely to yourself.

May Rut Trong is the day’s main event

May Rut Trong is where the schedule slows down for lunch and island exploring. The white-sand lagoon gives this stop a different mood from the reef sites. Instead of focusing only on what is beneath the surface, you can look around, swim, relax, and enjoy the shoreline.

Lunch is included and served on the island. The meal has been described as a generous mix of seafood, chicken, rice, and vegetables, with options for vegan and vegetarian diners. The exact menu is not specified, so let the operator know your dietary needs when arranging the trip rather than waiting until lunchtime.

I see lunch as more than a cost-saving feature. Eating on May Rut Trong means you do not lose time returning to the mainland, and it gives the middle of the day a natural pause. After an active morning in the water, a seated meal and beach setting are welcome.

You also receive one 45-second drone video and three drone photos at May Rut Trong. This is a nice extra if you want a record of the island scenery, though it should not be the main reason to book. The photos are tied to this stop, so follow the guide’s instructions about when and where they are taken.

The island is also a good choice for people who are less interested in snorkeling. One past experience included a short walk to see nature and large rocks along the shore. If you tell the guide you prefer exploring on foot, there may be time to point you toward a suitable area, but the tour remains a shared group outing rather than a private hike.

The optional Hon Thom seawalker costs extra

Near Hon Thom Island, you can choose seawalking at your own expense. This is separate from the included snorkeling and lunch, so budget for an additional payment if you want to add it.

The supplied details do not give the seawalker price, duration, or exact operating arrangements. Ask on the day before committing, especially if you need to watch your spending or prefer to keep the included itinerary as planned.

For most people, the included activities already provide a full day: two coral snorkeling areas, beach time, lunch, and island exploring. The seawalker is best treated as an optional add-on, not a missing part of the main tour.

What the $36 price really covers

At $36 per person, the trip offers solid value if you want transport and activities bundled together. The package includes round-trip car and speedboat travel, an English-speaking guide, a bottle of water, lunch, snorkeling equipment, and life jackets. The drone video and photos add another small benefit.

The biggest saving is convenience. Organizing a private boat, transport to An Thoi, snorkeling equipment, and lunch separately would take more planning and could cost more. Here, the route is arranged for you, and the same vehicle brings you back toward your hotel at the end of the day.

The price does not cover personal spending, towels, or sunscreen. A 10 percent extra charge applies during New Year or Lunar New Year, paid directly on site. If you stay outside the central Duong Dong pickup area, transport may also cost extra.

The price is less compelling if you dislike group schedules or want to choose your own reef stops. You will follow the day’s route, and island changes may happen if weather conditions require it. For a flexible, private day, a custom boat charter may suit you better. For a first look at the southern islands, the included services keep the cost reasonable.

How the timing feels from 8:15 to 16:00

The early pickup is helpful because it gives you a full day on the water without returning late. You should be ready in the hotel lobby before 8:15 if your pickup is near the start of the window. The route then moves to An Thoi harbor, followed by the speedboat and island stops.

The exact time at each island is not listed. That means you should not expect a precise minute-by-minute plan. The day is organized around the order of stops, sea conditions, snorkeling time, lunch, and the return journey rather than fixed times at every beach.

The scheduled return is around 16:00. That leaves your evening open for Duong Dong, the night market, or a quiet meal. It also makes the tour manageable as a full-day activity without turning into a late-night outing.

Weather is the main variable. Some islands may be changed to others if conditions make the planned route unsuitable. That can affect the beaches, reef areas, and scenery you see, but it is a sensible safety adjustment for a boat trip.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this tour if you want several southern islands in one day and prefer a ready-made plan. It fits couples, friends, and families who are comfortable with swimming, boat travel, and a shared schedule.

It also suits mixed groups. Strong swimmers can focus on snorkeling, while others can spend more time on the beach, walk near the rocks, or relax during lunch. The guide’s ability to explain the options matters here, and past guides including Leyla and Mia were praised for clear directions and personal help.

Families should note the missing child-sized fins. Life jackets are included, but the snorkeling equipment may not fit every young child comfortably. Anyone who is not confident in the water should tell the guide before entering the sea.

You should think twice if your main goal is to see large numbers of fish. Coral conditions vary, and at least one account found few fish despite attractive reef scenery. You should also skip it if you want a silent, private island day or do not like moving between several stops.

Practical ways to prepare

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and your own towel. A bottle of water is included, but you may still want personal drinking water for the car, harbor, and boat ride.

Wear something easy to change out of after snorkeling. The tour includes lunch on an island, so a light cover-up can be useful even though it is not listed as a required item.

If you are vegan or vegetarian, mention it when booking. Lunch has included options for both, but confirming ahead is the sensible move.

Keep your schedule flexible. The boat route may change with the weather, and the islands named in the plan are not guaranteed in every condition. Also confirm your pickup location if you are staying outside central Duong Dong.

The tour is offered in English and Vietnamese. Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Phu Quoc plans are still shifting.

Should you book the Phu Quoc speedboat trip?

Book it if you want an efficient introduction to the southern islands, with two snorkeling chances, beach time, island lunch, and transport handled for you. The $36 price is fair for the amount included, especially if you value the speedboat, guide, equipment, and return transfer more than privacy.

The strongest parts are the variety of the day, the enjoyable stop at May Rut Trong, the seafood-focused lunch, and the chance to choose between snorkeling and simple beach exploring. The main cautions are weather changes, the variable fish life, extra costs outside the package, and the lack of child-sized fins.

For a first island day in Phu Quoc, I would choose this trip if the pickup area works for you and you are happy with a group route. Pack sunscreen and a towel, keep your expectations focused on coral, beaches, and scenery rather than guaranteed fish sightings, and you should get a useful and enjoyable day on the water.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is available from the John’s Tours office or from hotel lobbies in central Duong Dong, from Phu Quoc night market along Tran Hung Dao Street to Eden Resort.

What time is hotel pickup?

Pickup takes place between 8:15 and 8:30 in the morning.

When does the tour return?

The planned return to your hotel is around 16:00.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The planned stops are Xuong Island, Gham Ghi Island, and May Rut Trong Island. The overview also refers to Buom or Mong Tay, and the route can change because of weather.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served on May Rut Trong Island.

Are vegetarian and vegan meals available?

Past meals have included options for vegan and vegetarian diners. Tell the operator about your dietary needs when arranging the tour.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks, snorkels, fins, and life jackets are included. Fins are not available in child sizes.

Is hotel pickup included everywhere on Phu Quoc?

Round-trip car transport is included for the stated central Duong Dong pickup area. An extra fee may apply for other areas.

Is the Hon Thom seawalker included?

No. The seawalker near Hon Thom Island is available at your own expense.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and your own towel. A bottle of water is included.

Can the islands change?

Yes. Some islands may be changed if weather conditions affect the planned route.

Is cancellation available?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later.