On the banks of the Duong Dong River lies Phu Quoc’s largest town — Duong Dong. Most of the island’s shops, markets, offices and cheap places to eat are here, along with a couple of beaches, temples, fish sauce factories, two night markets and the nearest pepper farm to town.
Press play and tour on Phu Quoc Island
Dương Đông Town
Phu Quoc’s Economic Heart
Duong Dong (Dương Đông) is the commercial heart of the island, on the west coast where the Duong Dong River meets the sea. It was the island’s district town until 2021 and a ward of Phu Quoc City until 2025; since 1 July 2025 the whole island has been the Phu Quoc Special Zone of An Giang Province (see About Phu Quoc). For a visitor none of that changes much: Duong Dong is still where the island goes to shop, eat and do business. For the layout of the town and the rest of the island, see our Phu Quoc maps.
Town In Transistion
Visitors should know that Duong Dong is no tropical “paradise”, as it may or may not be presented in travel guides and brochures. The city appears at first glance to be old, congested and run-down, and, though it’s perched on the edge of the Gulf of Thailand, its beaches are often inundated with trash. Antiquated clapboard buildings on stilts line some of the inner streets but are slowly being replaced by concrete structures. However the town is in a rebuilding phase and by 2030 Duong Dong will be a high end urban center. The abandoned airport will be transformed into a digitally connected city, there will be a yacht club, numerous waterfront plazas, as well as an international cruise ship port.
The people for the most part are friendly. Restaurants are everywhere, from seafood palaces on the river to plastic-stool noodle stalls, and some of the simplest bars are gathering places for truly interesting people.
Hub of the Island
Duong Dong sits where the island’s main roads meet, so you can reach most of Phu Quoc by road within an hour. It is also where you will find the bus lines, car rental and tour agencies, airline offices, banks and the main hospitals.
Danger & Annoyances
Duong Dong is not without its fault. Visitors should be careful of their smartphones and personal belongings while walking around the city: bag and phone snatching happens.
Planning Your Time
A self-guided, daytime walking tour of Duong Dong is a must for anyone wishing to get a complete understanding of the island. You can see everything you need to in one full day. There are also a handful of excellent restaurants and a plethora of cheap, local eateries to keep you happy.
Getting Around
Duong Dong is small enough to be explored comfortably on foot. For longer hops, Grab cars and metered taxis are everywhere, and a ride within town is cheap.
The most prominent area in the capital is around 30/4 street, boasting cultural sites, markets, great restaurants, and a variety of shops.
Need To Know
- In Duong Dong Town there a few imported goods stores in case you need western snacks.
- There is a public gym, tennis courts, basketball court, and table tennis in Duong Dong Town.
- If you are planning on coming here during TET holiday and want to stay at one of the popular beachfront resorts, you should book in advance. If you come here during TET without any plans you can always find accommodation along 30 Thang 4 Street in Duong Dong Town proper.
- You can find cheap street food all along Nguyen Trai street. The food is fresh and delicious.
- If you are vegan/vegetarian, then there are a few restaurants along Tran Hung Dao Street that will meet your needs and satisfy your taste-buds.
- Avoid swimming and paddling down Duong Dong River is it is heavily polluted.
Regions
Downtown
The area by the two night markets, Mui Dinh Cau, and the main bridge marks Duong Dong’s downtown core. Here you will also find the post office, police station, cruise ship port, and access to the Duong Dong River.
Old Duong Dong
The Duong Dong River divides downtown Duong Dong from Old Duong Dong Town, where most of the islands locals live. If you are planning on visiting the northern part of the island you have to cross this river. Bridges cross it to the north, including the one on Nguyen Trung Truc Street by the Duong Dong Market and the older one on Hung Vuong Street (also called DT45). There are some amazing AirBNB rentals available here.
Duong Dong Port
Photo: Mihnea, via Google Maps
Located on the banks of the Duong Dong River you will find the port where all the fishing and sightseeing boats are docked. This is a good place to see very colorful boats and fishermen unloading anchovies, the key ingredient in Phu Quoc Fish Sauce. If you want to go night fishing or explore the northern islands, you can also commission a private boat from here.
Mũi Dinh Cậu
Begining at the mouth of the Duong Dong River, Mui Dinh Cau Cape is where the sea merges with the island center. Mui Dinh Cau consists of the unique Dinh Cau Temple, Lighthouse, Pier, and Dinh Cau Beach.
BEACHES
Bãi Dinh Cậu
Dinh Cau Beach is a small local beach that is technically considered to be part of Long Beach however if you look carefully you can see that Dinh Cau is a separate beach altogether.
Bãi Dương Đông
Located across the Duong Dong River in old Duong Dong Town lies Duong Dong Beach. Duong Dong Beach is an urban beach located on the west coast of the island. It is not a beach where most tourists would want to visit as it is a more of a residential beach.
Bãi Gành Gió
Ganh Gio Beach is a lovely short stretch of beach that has fine yellow sand and is one the cleanest beaches in Phu Quoc mainly because the beach is taken care of by the resort. Being lesser known than the other beaches, it appeals to those seeking a tropical paradise in a secluded environment.
SEE & DO
Pepper Farms
You do not need to travel far to visit one of Phu Quoc’s famous pepper farms. Duc Thanh pepper garden (Vườn Tiêu Đức Thạnh), on the edge of town, is the most visited — 4.0 from 1,071 Google reviews in October 2026. About 9 km inland, at Suoi May, the Phu Quoc Ridgeback conservation centre shows the island’s native dog.
Fish Sauce Production Tours
Several fish sauce makers along the Duong Dong River, just behind 30 Thang 4 Street, let visitors see the fermenting barrels and buy straight from the factory. Huynh Khoa (Nước mắm Huỳnh Khoa), with a showroom, is the best-reviewed: 4.9 from 387 Google reviews in October 2026.
Squid Fishing Sunset Tours
You can try your luck at catching squid at night by either joining an organized tour or by commissioning your own boat from Duong Dong Town.
Shore Fishing
You can fish off the shore or from Doung Dong Pier at sunset with the other locals. Read our Phu Quoc Fishing Guide for more information.
Karaoke
There are a couple of karaoke bars found along 30 Thang 4 Street and Vo Thi Sau Street however the cater to mainly to the local population.
Duong Dong River
There are boat trips up the Duong Dong River where you can see the Fish Sauce factories from the rivers edge.
CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
Duong Dong Market
Every morning the town’s main market (Chợ Dương Đông, on Ngo Quyen Street by the river bridge) comes to life with the buying and selling of fresh fish, vegetables, and consumer goods. It is a working wet market, not a tourist one: come early, wear shoes you do not mind getting wet, and watch for scooters riding through the aisles. This is the place to buy fresh fruit and local products like Phu Quoc pepper or herring for the island’s herring salad. More in our local markets guide. Note: Due to the fact that this is a local market, not a tourist market, we do not recommend that you go in large groups, it will be easier for you and less intimidating for the vendors if there are just 2 or 3 of you, rather than a whole gang.
Cao Đài Hội Thánh
If you want to discover Cao Daism or have a panoramic view of the Phu Quoc National Park, Duong Dong Town, Dinh Cau Temple, etc then head over to the Cao Dai Temple on Nguyen Trai Street. Parking and admission are both free. Remember to dress appropriately.
Sung Hung Co Tu Pagoda
The oldest pagoda on Phu Quoc with multiple levels as well as a cemetery.
Dinh Cau Temple
A small temple on a rock at the mouth of the Duong Dong River, next to the lighthouse, and the symbol of Phu Quoc. Entry is free. Come in the late afternoon: the walkway along the rocks behind it is where half the town gathers to watch the sunset. More in our Dinh Cau guide.
Phu Quoc Martyrs Cemetery
The Phú Quốc Martyrs Cemetery (Nghĩa trang Liệt sỹ Huyện Phú Quốc) is the resting place of more than four thousand people who sacrificed their lives in Phu Quoc.
food & drink
There are a lot of restaurants in and around Duong Dong Town. From international restaurants to street-side eateries, Phu Quoc has it all. Read our Phu Quoc Food Guide.
Cho Dem Phu Quoc
2026 update: the old riverside section on Bach Dang Street closed when its lease ended and was taken down in April 2026; the night market is still open every evening in central Duong Dong (Google Maps reviews, October 2026), on a smaller scale. See our night market guide.
The bigger of the two night markets, between Nguyen Trai and Bach Dang Streets: seafood you pick from the tanks and have grilled, exotic fruit, peanuts, pearls and souvenirs (4.0 from 6,610 Google reviews). It gets going after 17:00 and quietens down by about 23:00. Reviewers like the atmosphere but agree that the stalls repeat themselves and prices are higher than elsewhere in Vietnam — agree the price of seafood by weight before it goes on the grill. See our night market guide. If you are tempted by the pearls, read our pearl guide first.
Photo: 許鴻偉o許ㄚ偉, via Google Maps
Cho Dem Dinh Cau
The smaller night market along Vo Thi Sau and Bach Dang Streets, near Dinh Cau. Mostly live-seafood restaurants, juice and stir-fried ice cream stalls. Make sure the seafood you are served comes from the tank, not the ice display.
Bai Dinh Cau
At Dinh Cau Beach you can enjoy a snack around the temple or opt for a full seafood meal at the night market. In the evenings a lot of locals sit around and drink sugar can juice (Nuoc Mia) and watch the sunset.
Vietnamese Food
If you are craving Pho, Com Tam, Bun Bo Hue, Com Ga, or local sweets then head over to 30 Thang 4 Street. There are plenty of restaurants and street side eateries found here.
WHERE TO EAT
Six well-reviewed places in and around town (Google rating and number of reviews, October 2026):
- Lobster Cave (Hải sản Động Tôm Hùm), Bach Dang Street — seafood, 4.8 from 8,206. The best-known seafood restaurant in town; book at weekends.
- Vinh Xanh, Tran Hung Dao Street — seafood, 4.7 from 3,708.
- Bep An, Tran Hung Dao Street — Vietnamese home cooking, 4.7 from 2,319.
- Myla Seafood, Tran Hung Dao Street — 4.9 from 931.
- Rasoi, Tran Hung Dao Street — Indian, fully vegetarian, 4.8 from 1,441.
- Mediterran, Tran Hung Dao Street — Greek and Italian, 4.8 from 1,032.
Tran Hung Dao is the road running south from town towards Long Beach, so most of these are a short Grab ride from the centre.
WHERE TO STAY
Duong Dong has the cheapest rooms on the island and you can walk to the markets and restaurants, but the town beaches are not the reason to come. For the trade-offs between Duong Dong and the beach areas, see our guide to where to stay on Phu Quoc.
- Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel & Spa, by Dinh Cau — the only large five-star hotel in the town centre. 4.4 from 2,923 Google reviews.
- Lahana Resort, off Tran Hung Dao Street just south of the centre — 4.7 from 2,413.
- Thien Thanh Resort, on the beach at the northern end of Long Beach, a short ride from the centre — 4.7 from 1,762.
- 9 Station Hostel — for backpackers, 4.5 from 740.
Cheaper guesthouses cluster along 30 Thang 4 Street and around the port.
Duong Dong’s pagodas, sea shrines and churches are in our guide to temples and pagodas.
Ratings: Google Maps, 10 October 2026.
LOCATION
Map
Loads Google Maps when you tap. Or open in Google Maps.
