Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort - Luxury hotel - Nam Dao Phu Quoc: The Complete Guide to the South Coast

Nam Dao is not one attraction, it’s a whole afternoon’s worth of them, stacked one after another along the coast. The name means “south island” in Vietnamese, and it covers the cluster of beaches, small offshore islands, and the An Thoi township that make up the island’s southern tip.

If you’re staying anywhere else on Phu Quoc and wondering whether Nam Dao is worth the drive, or you’re mapping out where the cable car, the best beaches, and the fishing villages actually sit relative to each other, this guide lays it all out in the order you’ll actually use it.

What Is Nam Dao Phu Quoc?

Nam Dao Phu Quoc refers to the southern end of the island, centered on the town of An Thoi and stretching along the coast to include Bai Sao and Bai Khem. It’s from here that boats and the cable car depart for the small islands offshore.

Bai Truong (Long Beach), where most of the island’s resorts sit, runs along the central-west coast near the airport. Bai Dài, in the north, is quieter and closer to Vinpearl’s theme parks. See our guide to Phu Quoc’s geography and main areas for how it all fits together.

An Thoi was a fishing port long before it became a tourist base, and that history still shows in the boats moored along its waterfront. The area has grown quickly around two things: the beaches everyone photographs, and the cable car that connects the mainland to Hon Thom island.

Best time to visit Nam Dao Phu Quoc

The dry season, from November through April, is the best time to plan a Nam Dao trip. Seas are calmer, rain is infrequent, and daytime temperatures hold between 25°C and 28°C, ideal for the boat trips and snorkeling that fill most Nam Dao itineraries.

See Phu Quoc’s weather through the year for a month-by-month breakdown.

From May to October, afternoon showers get more common and the crossing to Hon Thom can get choppier. Visits are still possible, and mornings are often clear, but if your schedule allows it, plan your Nam Dao day for the dry season for the best odds of calm water and full sun.

Top things to do in Nam Dao Phu Quoc

A day in Nam Dao breaks down into three kinds of stops: the beaches, the cable car and islands, and a couple of cultural detours worth building into your route. Here’s what each one involves, so you can decide what fits your day.

Bai Sao and Bai Khem Beaches

Bai Sao is Nam Dao’s signature beach: fine white sand meeting shallow, turquoise water that stays calm even when the wind picks up elsewhere on the island. It’s the busiest beach in the south, lined with seafood shacks serving grilled squid and fresh crab.

Bai Khem sits a short drive away and feels different: smaller, more sheltered, and historically quieter because part of the coastline was once restricted for military use. That reputation still holds, making it the better pick for swimming without crowds.

Hon Thom Cable Car and An Thoi Islands

Hon Thom cable car is Nam Dao’s headline attraction and the longest non-stop three-rope cable car in the world. Guinness World Records lists the line at 7,899.9 meters, a record achieved on 3 January 2018 by operator Sun Phu Quoc.

Cabins run from An Thoi across the water, passing over Hon Dua and Hon Roi islands before reaching Hon Thom, with the crossing taking roughly 15 to 20 minutes each way. 

Hon Thom itself holds Aquatopia water park and its own beach, enough to fill a half day alone. From An Thoi, boat operators also run day trips to smaller islands in the archipelago, among them Hon Mong Tay, Hon May Rut, and Hon Gam Ghi, where the draw is snorkeling over coral.

History and Local Culture

An Thoi is also home to Phu Quoc Prison, sometimes called Coconut Tree Prison, which preserves the buildings and exhibits from the island’s wartime use as a detention camp. It’s a sobering stop, but a significant one. 

For a quieter contrast, Ho Quoc Pagoda sits on a hillside a short drive north, with terraces that look out over the sea, best visited in late afternoon. Travelers with an extra hour can also detour to Lang Chai Ham Ninh, a fishing village on the east coast known for its crab and its long wooden pier, a good lunch stop on the way to or from Nam Dao.

How to Get to Nam Dao Phu Quoc

Nam Dao sits at the island’s southern tip, so getting there means a drive of roughly 20 to 35 minutes from Phu Quoc International Airport or the Long Beach area. The airport is only about 5.5 kilometers, or a 10-minute drive, from Bai Truong, so most of the travel time to Nam Dao happens after that point.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps cover the route, as does a rented car or motorbike. Many visitors instead book a half-day or full-day tour bundling transport with the cable car ticket and a stop on the smaller islands, which removes the guesswork around timing boat crossings.

Roads to An Thoi are sealed and easy to drive, so ask your front desk about getting around Phu Quoc from your hotel if you’d rather not self-drive.

Suggested 1-day Nam Dao itinerary

Here’s a simple way to structure a full day in Nam Dao, starting early to beat the midday heat and finishing with time to spare for the drive back.

Make it part of your Phu Quoc stay

Nam Dao works best as a day trip out of a stay based elsewhere on the island, since most of Phu Quoc’s dining, nightlife, and resort infrastructure sits along Long Beach and around Duong Dong. Staying on Bai Truong, at a property like Pullman Phu Quoc Beach Resort, puts the airport, central Phu Quoc, and Nam Dao within a comfortable drive, so a day in the south doesn’t mean relocating for it.

After a full day of cable cars, beaches, and boat trips, coming back to a pool and dinner at a fixed address has real appeal. If you’re still deciding where to stay on the island, our room options give a sense of what’s available along Long Beach.

Conclusion

Nam Dao rewards a full day, or two if you can spare them, out of a longer Phu Quoc trip. Time it for the dry season between November and April, start early at An Thoi, and you’ll cover the cable car, the beaches, and one cultural stop without feeling rushed.

Ready to plan the rest of your stay? Book direct for the best rate and check our current offers for ways to pair a Nam Dao day with your Phu Quoc itinerary.

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