North Phu Quoc splits into two stays: Ong Lang, a string of small coves with sunsets, 7 to 8 km from Duong Dong and 10 to 15 minutes by scooter or taxi, and Ganh Dau, a quiet fishing cape at the far north-west tip, about 30 km away and 40 to 50 minutes on a good road.
Take Ong Lang as your base and treat Ganh Dau as a day out, unless a village and an empty horizon are the whole point of your trip. I have run tours in Vietnam since 2023, and the distances and prices below are rounded from 2026 operator and tourism sources, so check them on a map the day you ride.
Ong Lang or Ganh Dau: which part of the north fits you?
Ong Lang suits most visitors, and Ganh Dau suits people who already know they want a village. Vung Bau sits between the two and works as a beach afternoon.
| Place | From Duong Dong | Ride | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ong Lang | 7 to 8 km | 10 to 15 min | Small coves of sand and rock, sunsets, a few hotels and restaurants | A base close to town |
| Vung Bau | about 20 km | 25 to 45 min, depending on the entrance | Long, mostly unbuilt arc of beach, facilities mostly at resorts | A quiet beach afternoon |
| Ganh Dau | 30 to 32 km | 40 to 50 min | Crescent beach of about 500 m, fishing village, family seafood restaurants | A day trip or a very quiet stay |
The west coast faces the sunset and is the preferred side for swimming, and Ong Lang has far fewer hotels and restaurants than Long Beach. Ganh Dau looks across the water to the Cambodian coast.
Where should you sleep in the north?
Sleep in Ong Lang if you want a quiet base. It is a 10 to 15 minute ride from the Duong Dong night market, restaurants and pharmacies, and the sunset is on your doorstep. Ganh Dau works better as a day out unless a very quiet night is the whole point.
Much of the north lies inside Phu Quoc National Park, which covers 314.22 km2 of the north and north-east and includes Ganh Dau, Bai Thom, Cua Can and Cua Duong. That is the main reason the area feels so much less built up than Duong Dong and Long Beach.
How do you get around the north without a scooter?
A scooter is the cheapest way: rental runs 100,000 to 200,000 VND a day, roughly $4 to $8, with automatics such as the Vision or Air Blade at 130,000 to 150,000 VND and discounts of 10 to 20% from three days. Grab charges about 13,000 VND per km, Mai Linh and Vinasun 13,600 to 15,100 VND per km, and a Grab from Duong Dong to Ong Lang costs about $3 to $5.
The catch is the far north. Grab cars are hard to find at Ganh Dau and on the distant beaches, especially in the evening in high season, and Xanh SM (Green SM) and InDrive are only backups. I would not plan a Ganh Dau sunset without a ride already arranged back, because that is exactly the hour the cars thin out. If you do not ride and do not want to gamble on finding a car at sunset, message me on Telegram with your dates and I will tell you which days and hours are realistic.
What can you do in the north at sunset and dinner?
Watch the sunset from Ong Lang, where the bays face west over open water, then eat in a fishing village. Seafood grills are the usual dinner there, and Ganh Dau has family restaurants but no beach clubs or jet skis.
Which beaches in the north are really quiet?
Vung Bau and Ganh Dau are the quietest, and they suit different moods. In the dry season the water at Vung Bau is calm and shallow, and in the wet season the waves are stronger and the water murkier, so save it for December to April. Ganh Dau is sheltered by hills, with calm shallow water, and it fits an easy swim and a long lunch. For a long, empty stretch of sand I prefer Vung Bau, as long as you accept that the few facilities belong to resorts.
Can you add Vinpearl Safari and VinWonders from the north?
Yes, as a separate day. Vinpearl Safari and VinWonders stand in the north-west around Bai Dai inside the Phu Quoc United Center, next to Grand World, and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism lists the parks there. Vinpearl puts its Bai Dai resort 20 to 25 km from Ong Lang. Ticket prices and hours change, so check the official Vinpearl site when you book. If Phu Quoc is one stop in a longer trip, our ready routes across Vietnam show how the island fits in.
Which months are best for the north?
December to April is the best window: dry season, clear skies, calm sea and peak prices. May to October, and sometimes November, brings rain that usually falls in the afternoon, with a rougher and murkier sea. Late October, November and April are transition months with a good balance of weather and price. Between the last two, I lean towards April over November for the sea, because April closes the calm dry season while November can still bring a rough day. Month-by-month detail is in our guide to Phu Quoc weather by month .
Step-by-step: how to plan three nights in the north
Three nights in Ong Lang cover the coast road, one park day and one slow evening, and the order below puts the long ride on your best-weather day.
- Pick your month: December to April for calm water, April or November for lower prices.
- Book the nights in Ong Lang, so Duong Dong is 10 to 15 minutes away.
- Sort out wheels: a scooter at 100,000 to 200,000 VND a day, or a taxi plan with Xanh SM as a backup.
- Day one, the coast road: Ong Lang, Vung Bau, then Ganh Dau, and be back before dark.
- Day two, the parks: Vinpearl Safari and VinWonders, about 20 to 25 km from Ong Lang.
- Day three, a slow one: the Ong Lang sunset, a town dinner in Duong Dong, or the south. Our 3-day beach plan from Duong Dong and what to do in Phu Quoc cover that.
You can book every piece yourself: a room in Ong Lang, a scooter in town and Grab for the short hops. If the distances and the evening car problem put you off, message me on Telegram with your month and group size and I will put the days together.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do Ganh Dau as a day trip from Long Beach?
Yes. Long Beach lies south of Duong Dong, so add the town stretch to the 30 km north: allow roughly an hour each way and start early so you are off the road before dark.
How far is the airport from Ong Lang?
The airport lies about 10 km from Duong Dong, so Ong Lang is roughly 20 km from the terminal by road through town. A taxi from the terminal is the simplest start, and you can collect a scooter in town once you have settled in.
What should I bring to Vung Bau?
Bring water, food and shade. Facilities on the beach are limited and mostly belong to resorts, so a day there works best when you carry supplies and plan lunch in a village on the way.
Is Ham Ninh worth adding from the north?
Ham Ninh is a fishing village on the east coast, 14 to 20 km from Duong Dong and 25 to 40 minutes by road, known for crab and seafood. The east coast is quieter and less built up, but swimming is often worse there because the water is shallow and rocky.
