Tho Chu (Thổ Chu, also written Thổ Châu) is a group of eight small islands about 100 km southwest of Phu Quoc, at the far edge of Vietnam’s southwestern sea. It was a commune of Phu Quoc until 1 July 2025, when it became a special zone of its own, the Tho Chau Special Zone, in An Giang Province. Since January 2026 a fast ferry has run from Phu Quoc three times a week. Tho Chu is a frontier island, though, not a resort: foreigners need permission arranged in advance, and the plans for tourism are still on paper.
Tho Chu at a glance
| Administration | Tho Chau Special Zone (Đặc khu Thổ Châu), An Giang Province, since 1 July 2025 |
| Islands | 8, together about 14 km² (13.98 km²) |
| Population | 1,896 |
| From Phu Quoc | About 100 km, 2 hours 30 minutes by fast ferry |
| Ferry | Superdong, three sailings a week each way, from Bai Vong (Bãi Vòng) port |
The special zone was formed from the whole of the old Tho Chau commune, keeping its area and population. Tho Chu also holds point A1, one of the base points Vietnam uses to measure its territorial sea, and the government describes its position as especially important for defence and security.
Can you visit Tho Chu?
Tho Chu sits inside Vietnam’s sea border area, and Article 7 of Decree 71/2015/NĐ-CP says foreigners living in Vietnam who go to sea border areas or offshore islands need a passport, a visa (unless exempt) and a permit from the provincial police, with an exception for designated tourism, service and economic zones. A Vietnamese organisation that brings foreigners in must notify the provincial police and border guard. We found no separate rule or guidance for tourists heading to Tho Chu.
If you are not Vietnamese, sort out permission before you buy a ferry ticket: ask the immigration department of An Giang provincial police, or have a tour organiser or your host on the island handle it. Sort it out before you travel, not at the pier.
Getting to Tho Chu
The scheduled service we found is the fast ferry from Phu Quoc. Superdong (Superdong – Kiên Giang Fast Ferry Joint Stock Company) began the fixed route on 19 January 2026, sailing from Bai Vong (Bãi Vòng) port on Phu Quoc.
| Direction | Days | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phu Quoc (Bai Vong) → Tho Chu | Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 10:30 | 13:00 |
| Tho Chu → Phu Quoc | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday | 08:00 | 10:30 |
The boat is the Superdong V, which carries 275 passengers. There is no Sunday sailing, so a visit means at least one night on the island: out on a Monday, back on the Tuesday at the earliest. Superdong lists no route to Tho Chu from Rach Gia (Rạch Giá) or anywhere else on the mainland, so coming from the mainland means going through Phu Quoc.
We haven’t printed a fare because we couldn’t confirm one from Superdong itself. Check the price and the day’s schedule with Superdong when you book.
Schedule verified 8 October 2026 against Superdong’s own timetable.
The eight islands
The eight islands of the special zone are Tho Chu (Thổ Chu), Hon Kho (Hòn Khô), Hon Nhan (Hòn Nhạn), Hon Cao Cat (Hòn Cao Cát), Hon Tu (Hòn Từ), Hon Xanh (Hòn Xanh), Hon Da Ban (Hòn Đá Bàn) and Hon Cao (Hòn Cao). The special zone’s administrative, political and economic centre is at Bai Ngu (Bãi Ngự) on Tho Chu, the island the group is named after.
What’s there
Recent reporting on the islands describes white-sand beaches, clear water and natural forest still standing, and the local plan ties any development to protecting that forest, the water and the sea around it.
There is a lighthouse station on Tho Chu; in 2015 its keepers were on watch around the clock. Whether you can go up it is another matter; ask on the island rather than assume.
We couldn’t confirm any guesthouse, homestay or hotel that takes visitors. When you arrange your permission, ask about where you will sleep at the same time.
History
After the war ended on 30 April 1975, Vietnamese forces had not yet reached Tho Chu. On 10 May 1975 Khmer Rouge troops occupied the island and took away and killed more than 500 of the people living there. Vietnamese forces liberated it between 23 and 26 May 1975. The first civilians to settle afterward, seven households, were brought out by the province in April 1992.
Plans for Tho Chu
In September 2026 the special zone published a master plan to 2050 (Decision 364/QĐ-UBND). Most of it is planned, not open:
- Bai Ngu stays the administrative and economic centre, with an upgraded port.
- Bai Dong (Bãi Dong), about 76 hectares, becomes a dual-use port and fishing-logistics centre.
- A road connecting the island’s airport, which reporting on the plan describes as under construction.
- A study for a cable car over the sea from Doi Dong (Đồi Đông) on Tho Chu to Hon Cao Cat.
- A Tho Chau marine protected area of about 20,000 hectares.
For now, getting there means the ferry and a permission arranged in advance.
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