Amazing private snorkeling tour in An Thoi islands by speed boat

The best part of this Phu Quoc outing is the chance to link four An Thoi islands in one morning, with time for snorkeling, swimming, and beach breaks rather than a single quick stop. You leave Duong Dong by air-conditioned van, board a boat at An Thoi, and spend the day moving between small islands in the southern archipelago.

I like two things here. First, the tour is private for your group, so you can ask for a slower pace or more time in the water. Second, the price includes the useful basics: transfers, equipment, bottled water, taxes, an English-speaking guide, and a BBQ lunch with a vegetarian option.

The catch is that private transport does not mean private beaches. There are no private beaches on this route, and one poor account describes crowded stops and a large passenger boat rather than a nimble speedboat. If quiet sand and a truly uncrowded sea matter most, you should treat this as a flexible island-hopping day, not a guaranteed castaway escape.

Key points to know before booking

• Four southern islands in one outing: Fingernail, Gam Ghi, May Rut, and Hon Thom give you a broad taste of the An Thoi archipelago.
• Private group service: Your van, guide, and boat are reserved for your party, rather than shared with strangers.
• The final stop depends on the sea: The crew chooses a suitable snorkeling site around Hon Thom according to wave conditions.
• Lunch and equipment are included: Snorkel gear, bottled water, and a BBQ lunch are part of the package, with vegetarian food available on request.
• Crowds can still be present: A private boat cannot create a private beach, and popular island stops may be busy.
• Weather matters: Bad conditions can cancel the trip, with a refund or another date offered.

From Duong Dong to An Thoi at 8:30 a.m.

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with pickup from your hotel in Duong Dong town. Pickup from another location may be possible by request, but the included transfer is specifically described for Duong Dong.

The ride to An Thoi takes about 45 minutes according to the schedule. An air-conditioned van is a welcome part of the package, especially after a morning of sun and saltwater on the return journey. You do not need to arrange your own taxi to the pier, and that makes the $168 per person price easier to assess.

The total outing lasts about four to six hours. The listed stop times add up to roughly four hours on the islands, with road and pier transfers bringing the complete day into that wider range. You should not read the timing as a strict minute-by-minute plan. Sea conditions, boarding, and the choice of snorkeling site can affect the pace.

The private format is useful here. You can ask questions, keep the group together, and avoid the social uncertainty of a large shared excursion. Still, the private arrangement applies to your vehicle, guide, and boat. It does not give you exclusive use of the islands.

Fingernail Island for the postcard moment

Fingernail Island, also called Hon Mong Tay, is the first island stop. It sits in the An Thoi archipelago and forms part of the Phu Quoc Marine Park.

This is the stop most likely to appeal to you if your idea of a southern Vietnam boat trip includes pale sand, clear water, and a small island setting. The planned hour gives you time to look around, swim, snorkel, or settle on the beach, depending on the conditions and the guide’s plan.

The name is often explained by the island’s small, curved shape, though the important point for your visit is its scale. This is not a large resort island with a long list of facilities. You come for the water, the shoreline, and the feeling of being on a small piece of the An Thoi chain.

There is a practical warning. Fingernail Island is famous, and famous places draw boats. A private tour can help your group move with more freedom, but it cannot guarantee an empty beach. One account of this outing found the stops packed with large groups, so you should keep your expectations realistic during busy periods.

Gam Ghi Island and coral close to shore

Gam Ghi is scheduled for another hour. It is known for several small beaches and coral around the island, making it the most clearly snorkeling-focused stop in the middle of the day.

This is where the included equipment matters. You receive snorkeling gear as part of the tour, so you do not have to pack a mask and fins or rent them separately on arrival. The guide can help direct your attention to the water around the island, though the quality of visibility and marine life will always depend on weather, tides, and sea conditions.

Gam Ghi also gives you a useful change of pace from Fingernail. Instead of only looking for a scenic beach, you have a reason to spend more time in the water. If you enjoy casual snorkeling rather than a technical reef trip, this format should suit you.

Do remember that coral areas require care. Avoid standing on coral, and follow local instructions about where to enter the water. The tour promises access to coral surroundings, not a guaranteed display of particular fish or perfect visibility.

May Rut Island for a slower beach hour

May Rut Island lies about 10 kilometers south of An Thoi Town and is often treated as an all-around stop. Its appeal is the mix of beach time, water activities, and a chance to simply sit in the sun.

The island is privately owned by a small family who have lived there. That detail gives May Rut a more personal character than a fully developed resort stop. You may find this the easiest place in the schedule to put away the mask, dry off, and enjoy the scenery without trying to fill every minute.

The one-hour visit is enough for a meaningful break but not a long island stay. You may need to choose between snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, and a relaxed lunch rather than doing all four at leisure. That is normal for an island-hopping route covering several locations in one morning.

Lunch is included and is described as a BBQ meal. Vegetarian food is available on request, so make that request when booking rather than waiting until you are hungry. Bottled water is also supplied, which is a small but valuable detail in the tropical heat.

Hon Thom and the flexible second snorkeling stop

The last island section takes place around Hon Thom. The plan is not tied to one exact beach or reef. Instead, the crew selects a suitable spot according to the condition of the waves before returning to the pier.

This flexibility is one of the more sensible parts of the trip. Fixed routes can look attractive on paper, but a snorkeling site that is poor or rough on the day is not worth visiting just because it appears in a schedule. Around Hon Thom, the guide can choose a better area for the second snorkeling session.

You should also understand what this means when comparing tours. The experience at Hon Thom may not look the same every day. Calm water could mean a comfortable final swim and good visibility. Rougher conditions may lead to a shorter session or a different location.

Hon Thom is also associated with the larger Phu Quoc cable car area, but this tour is not presented as a cable car excursion. You are coming here for water time, not for a separate land attraction. If you want a full Hon Thom sightseeing day, you should compare this boat route with a tour built around the island itself.

What the private boat arrangement really gives you

The word private is important, but it needs a careful reading. Your group participates alone, and the private service includes the car, boat, and guide. That is a major advantage for couples, families, or friends who value control over the schedule.

You can usually make better use of a short half-day when you are not waiting for a large group to finish taking photos or boarding. A private group also gives you a more comfortable setting for children, less confident swimmers, or anyone who wants repeated explanations before entering the water.

At the same time, a private boat does not make the public stops exclusive. The operator specifically notes that there are no private beaches. A low rating also describes a large passenger craft that could only moor in deeper water, rather than the smaller, faster boat suggested by the tour name.

That point matters if the word speedboat is central to your decision. The advertised experience is a private speedboat trip, but the boat used on a particular departure may not feel like a fast, nimble craft. If easy beach access and quick movement between tiny islands are your priorities, confirm the boat style before paying.

Crowds, timing, and the real island atmosphere

The An Thoi islands are popular because they are easy to reach and visually appealing. That popularity can shape the day more than the brochure-style route suggests.

One recorded complaint says the guide was asked to avoid busy locations but still visited crowded areas, including beaches filled with large Chinese tour groups. You should take that warning seriously, especially if you are booking during a busy travel period. The operator says the crew tries to select good times to avoid crowds, but it does not promise empty beaches.

The private format may still improve the experience. Your group can have a direct conversation with the guide, and the guide may be able to adjust the order or timing within the limits of the sea and pier schedule. But do not book this tour expecting complete solitude.

I would judge the route by its variety. In a single half-day, you get a marine park island, coral snorkeling near Gam Ghi, a family-owned island stop at May Rut, and a sea-dependent snorkeling site around Hon Thom. That range is useful if you have limited time in Phu Quoc and want an introduction to the southern islands.

Is $168 per person fair value?

At $168 per person, this is not a budget boat trip. The value depends heavily on the size of your private group and how much you would otherwise pay for transport, meals, equipment, and a private vessel.

The package includes:

• Hotel pickup and return from Duong Dong
• Air-conditioned van transport
• A private boat
• An English-speaking guide
• Snorkeling equipment
• Bottled water
• BBQ lunch
• Vegetarian lunch on request
• All fees and taxes

For a group that wants its own boat and does not want to manage transport to An Thoi, these inclusions add up. You are paying for convenience and privacy as much as for snorkeling.

For a couple or solo visitor, the price is harder to justify unless a private outing is important to you. A shared boat could cost less, though it would give you less control and a busier group setting. The advertised rating is strong at 4.8 from 49 ratings, with 94 percent recommending the experience, but the one low rating raises a specific concern about crowd levels and the actual boat used.

I would also compare the price against your priorities. If you want a polished private day with lunch and transfers included, the cost may be reasonable. If you mainly want to swim in quiet water for a few hours, a cheaper shared trip or a direct boat arrangement may provide better value.

Weather, cancellation, and what to pack

This trip requires good weather. If conditions are poor, the experience can be canceled, and you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not met, although this is a private activity for your own group once confirmed.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted, so keep the cutoff in mind when planning around flights and other tours.

Pack swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and a dry change of clothes. The provided details confirm equipment and water, but they do not specify towels, so bring your own. A waterproof pouch for your phone is also sensible if you want photographs between swims.

Most people can participate, but the tour is built around boat boarding, swimming, and snorkeling. If anyone in your group is not comfortable in the water, ask the guide for the safest way to take part before leaving the pier.

Who will like this An Thoi boat tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families or friends who want their own guide and boat
• Visitors staying in Duong Dong who value hotel pickup
• People with only half a day for the southern islands
• Casual snorkelers who want gear and lunch included
• Couples who prefer a private outing to a shared excursion
• Anyone who wants several island settings instead of one long beach visit

I would be more cautious if you want an intimate, empty-island experience. The popular stops can be crowded, and the boat may not always match the fast, small craft implied by the name.

It is also not ideal for someone seeking a highly specialized snorkeling expedition. The tour promises several chances to swim and snorkel, but it does not specify marine biologist guidance, advanced reef instruction, or guaranteed visibility.

Should you book this private snorkeling trip?

Book it if convenience, privacy, and variety matter more to you than total quiet. Pickup, equipment, lunch, and a private guide remove much of the usual planning, while the four-island route gives you a good first look at Phu Quoc’s An Thoi chain.

Before booking, confirm the boat type and tell the operator that avoiding the busiest stops is important to you. Also request a vegetarian lunch in advance if needed. If the operator can meet those expectations, this is a practical choice for a private half-day on the water.

Skip it if $168 feels high for a short outing or if you would be disappointed by crowded beaches. The tour offers a strong package, but its real value comes from private service and easy logistics, not from a promise of untouched islands.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is included from hotels in Duong Dong town. Pickup from another location may be possible upon request.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four to six hours, including transport and island stops.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Fingernail Island, Gam Ghi Island, May Rut Island, and Hon Thom Island. The exact snorkeling location around Hon Thom depends on sea conditions.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The car, speedboat service, and English-speaking guide are private for your group only. The beaches and island stops are not private.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ lunch is included, and a vegetarian option is available on request.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The trip may be canceled in poor weather. You will be offered another date or a full refund.