Hon Mong Tay (Hòn Móng Tay, “fingernail island”) is one of the small islands of the An Thoi archipelago off the southern tip of Phu Quoc, next to Hon Gam Ghi and Hon Xuong. It is a speck of an island — a rocky shore, a short beach of white sand, a few palm trees — and it is a stop on almost every island-hopping and snorkelling tour from An Thoi. It scores 4.4 on Google Maps from 158 reviews (October 2026).
Do not confuse it with the Mong Tay peninsula on the north-west coast, at the end of Vung Bau bay. That one is occupied by the Nam Nghi resort, which runs a bar on a tiny islet off the tip for its guests and visitors who come by the resort’s boat. Older guides, including earlier versions of this page, mixed the two up.
What to expect
- The beach and the water: on a calm day the water is turquoise and clear, and there are fish among the rocks close to shore. Bring or borrow a mask.
- Facilities: basic. Travel sites in 2025–2026 mention a few small eateries by the beach, stand-up paddleboards and snorkel gear for hire, and wooden swings for photos. Ask prices before you order or rent.
- Crowds: this is the island’s weak point. Reviewers describe six or seven tour boats arriving at once on a weekday, boats coming in fast close to swimmers, and on some days rubbish floating in the water. Keep well away from the landing area when you swim.
Photo: YJnRK, via Google Maps
How to get there
There is no ferry. Almost everyone comes on a tour:
- Three- or four-island tours from An Thoi usually combine Hon Mong Tay with Hon May Rut and Hon Gam Ghi, and sometimes Hon Thom and the cable car. Operators advertise speedboat tours from about 400,000–600,000 dong per person, and four-island packages including the cable car at over a million dong (prices from operator websites, 2025–2026). Prices, formats and safety rules: island-hopping tours.
- A private boat can be chartered at An Thoi port; agree the price per boat, the islands and the hours before you set off.
- Time: about 20–30 minutes by speedboat from An Thoi, or around an hour on a slower wooden boat (operator figures).
See snorkeling on Phu Quoc for how to choose between the big tour boats and the smaller snorkelling trips.
Boat safety. In July 2026 a tourist speedboat capsized in rough seas off Hon May Rut on the way back to An Thoi, and 15 passengers died. After it, the authorities suspended speedboats without the certificate needed to carry passengers. Book with an established operator, wear the life jacket, and do not go out in rough weather — see safety on the water.
Photo: Trần Hải Đăng, via Google Maps
When to go
The southern islands are best from November to April, when the sea is calm and clear. From May to October the south-west monsoon makes the crossing rougher, visibility drops and some tours are cancelled or leave from the east coast instead — see our weather guide.
Ratings and visitor comments: Google Maps, 2018–2026. Tour prices and times: operator websites, 2025–2026.
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