Areas · The north

The north and Long Beach's quieter twin

The north of Phu Quoc is forest, fishing villages and one long west-facing beach, Bai Dai, with a resort and entertainment district at its southern end. Here is what the north offers in the evening and in which months its sea works.

By Viva Phu Quoc editors · Last reviewed 2026-10-12 · Corrections

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Bai Dai, Cua Can to Ganh Dau: 15 km
Ganh Dau to Cambodia's Hon Nan: ≈3 km
first Grand World evening show: 20:15
Nui Chua, the island's highest peak: 603 m

The north in one view

North of Duong Dong the island changes. Most of the interior and the north-east is Phu Quoc National Park, established on 8 June 2001 and part of the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve recognised by UNESCO in 2006. Its highest point, Nui Chua, is 603 m. Sources differ widely on the park's area, from about 31,400 ha to over 37,000 ha.

Along the west side runs Bai Dai, ending at the Ganh Dau headland. The resort and entertainment district with Grand World, the theme park and the safari park sits near the beach. In the evening, the north is either very quiet or very staged, with little in between.

Sources: Nhan Dan — Phu Quoc National Park, Mar 2025; An Giang Department of Tourism — National Park · checked 2026-09-21.

Bai Dai and Ganh Dau

Bai Dai runs about 15 km from Cua Can to the Ganh Dau headland, according to the An Giang tourism department. It is often confused with Long Beach (Bai Truong), which is the beach south of Duong Dong. It faces west, so the sunset is over open water, and it takes the southwest wind from roughly May to October; VnExpress names it among the beaches not recommended for swimming in the rainy season.

Ganh Dau, at the northern tip, is a short curved bay. From the point, the Cambodian island of Hon Nan is about 3 km away. The temple to Nguyen Trung Truc, the resistance leader captured on Phu Quoc in 1868, stands here; the present building dates from 1993. Its anniversary falls on the 27th or 28th of the eighth lunar month, depending on the source.

Sources: An Giang Department of Tourism — Bai Dai; VnExpress — Ganh Dau; An Giang Department of Tourism — Nguyen Trung Truc temple; VnExpress — where to stay in the rainy season · checked 2026-09-21.

Grand World in the evening

Grand World is the canal-and-shopping district next to Bai Dai. The operator's page lists a fixed evening sequence: Tinh Hoa Viet Nam from 20:15 to 21:00, a lantern release from 21:00 to 21:10, Colours of Venice on Love Lake from 21:30 to 22:00 and a laser show from 22:45 to 22:50. Tinh Hoa Viet Nam is ticketed; the canals and streets can be walked without a show ticket, according to the operator's December 2025 guide, which also says the schedule can change with the weather. The district has its own night market, described on Night markets.

The theme park and the safari park next door are mainly daytime attractions; this guide mentions them only as landmarks.

Sources: VinWonders — Grand World Phu Quoc; VinWonders guide — Grand World, Dec 2025; VnExpress — night markets after Duong Dong, Jan 2026 · checked 2026-10-12.

Sunset and quieter evenings

Away from Grand World, northern evenings are about the sunset and dinner. Bai Dai and Ganh Dau face the open Gulf of Thailand; in the dry season the sun goes down between about 17:49 and 18:02 from late December to mid-January. Small seafood places near Ganh Dau and Ham Ninh served island dishes such as grilled comb pen shells in a 2015 report; check that a place is open before driving out.

The north coast also has a seasonal wildlife sight: the provincial tourism department lists January to May as the starfish season at Rach Vem, a long drive through the forest.

Sources: sunrise-sunset.org — Duong Dong 2026; VietNamNet — island dishes (2015); An Giang Department of Tourism — Rach Vem · checked 2026-10-11.

Ham Ninh, across the island on the east coast

Ham Ninh, on the east coast at the foot of the Ham Ninh range, is one of the island's oldest fishing villages and the place to see the island's working side. Vietnam Airlines' guide suggests going early, around 05:00 to 06:00, to watch the boats come in and buy seafood, and coming back in the evening to eat at the floating restaurants (nha be). The village's old wooden pier is damaged and no longer used. Ham Ninh crab, small, pink and spotted, is the dish it is known for. The east side faces away from the sunset, so evenings here are about dinner rather than the view.

Sources: Vietnam Airlines travel guide — Ham Ninh; Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — island seafood · checked 2026-10-12.

Getting there and back

The north is far from everything else after dark. Grand World is about 24 km from Duong Dong and 38 km from the airport, by the operator's figures; the airport to the Bai Dai resorts is 30 to 32 km, or 40 to 50 minutes. VinBus routes link the airport with Grand World; check the current timetable on the operator's route map. Grab cars are scarce in the north late at night, so arrange the ride back before the last show.

For medical help, the Vinmec Phu Quoc international hospital is in the Bai Dai area and has an emergency department; the national medical emergency number is 115.

Sources: VinWonders guide — Grand World, Dec 2025; VinWonders guide — airport to Bai Dai, Jul 2025; Vinmec Phu Quoc; LuatVietnam — emergency numbers, Sep 2025 · checked 2026-10-12.

When the north is the wrong base

A swimming holiday from June to September. Bai Dai and Ganh Dau take the southwest wind; the sheltered bays are at the other end of the island.
If you want Duong Dong's town life or Sunset Town in the evening. Both are long drives each way.
Without your own transport. Outside the resort district, the north has few taxis at night.
If you want variety in the evening. Apart from Grand World, northern nights are quiet by design.

The north in pictures

A long sandy beach on the north-west coast of Phu Quoc in late afternoon

Rocky headland and a small curved bay at the northern tip of the island

Canals and colourful buildings lit up at night in a resort district

Forest-covered hills of the national park in the north of Phu Quoc

Common questions

Questions readers send

Is Bai Dai the same as Long Beach?

No. Bai Dai is in the north-west, from Cua Can to Ganh Dau. Long Beach (Bai Truong) runs south from Duong Dong. The English names cause the confusion.

What is there to do in the north at night?

The Grand World evening shows and night market, or sunset and an early dinner. Outside the resort district the north is quiet after dark.

Can I swim at Bai Dai in August?

It is often rough: Bai Dai takes the southwest monsoon. The south-east bays are calmer then.

Fireworks over the sea beside a seafront resort town on Phu Quoc at night

Evenings · Shows

Evening shows

Sunset Town, the Kiss Bridge, Grand World's show times and free sunsets, with getting back.

A sheltered bay with calm turquoise water on the south-east coast of Phu Quoc

Plan your dates · The sea

West coast or east coast

Which beaches are calm in which months, the two monsoons, and safety on the water.

Stalls with grilled seafood and lanterns at an evening market on Phu Quoc

Evenings · Markets

Night markets

Duong Dong, Long Beach, Sunset Town and Grand World after dark, with prices and checks.

Areas · West coast

Duong Dong

The main town in the evening: Dinh Cau, the river, the market question and Long Beach.

A seafront town with colourful buildings and a long cable car over the sea at dusk in southern Phu Quoc

Areas · The south

South and An Thoi

An Thoi, Sunset Town, the Kiss Bridge, Bai Khem and Bai Sao in the evening and by season.

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