Phu Quoc: 4 Islands By Speedboat & Cable Car Trip

The Hon Thom cable car is the star of this Phu Quoc day trip. Its roughly 25-minute ride gives you broad views over the sea and scattered islands, and it makes a memorable finish after a morning on the water. I also like the fast speedboat transfers and the chance to combine three island stops with cable car and water park access in one outing.

Two things work especially well here: the relaxed white-sand stop at May Rut Trong, where lunch is served, and the practical all-in package that includes transport, snorkeling gear, a guide, food, and a short drone video with three photos. The main caution is that the snorkeling can vary. Cloudy water, less impressive reef, rubbish at one stop, and long waits if people arrive late can take some shine off the day.

Key points to know before booking

• The cable car is the day’s highlight: Enjoy a long aerial ride toward Hon Thom, with wide views of the southern Phu Quoc islands.
• Three island stops come before Hon Thom: Snorkel at Xuong or Buom Island and Gam Ghi Island, then rest at May Rut Trong.
• Lunch is served on May Rut Trong: This gives you time to dry off, eat, and enjoy the white-sand lagoon.
• The speedboat saves time between islands: The ride itself is part of the fun, though boarding and waiting can slow the schedule.
• Snorkeling conditions are not guaranteed: Water clarity and reef quality can change, and one stop may have visible rubbish.
• A 45-second drone video and three photos are included: Bring swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable clothes, and your own towel.

A full southern-island day from Duong Dong

This is a long, active day that begins around 8:15 or 8:30 in the morning and returns to your hotel at about 17:30. Pickup is available from the John’s Tours office or from hotels in central Duong Dong, along Tran Hung Dao Street between the Phu Quoc night market area and Eden Resort.

If you stay outside that central pickup zone, an extra transport fee may apply. That detail matters because the schedule already has several moving parts. A central hotel makes the morning simpler, while a distant resort may require an added charge and a longer transfer.

Once everyone is collected, you travel by car to the harbor and board the speedboat. The day then shifts quickly from road travel to open water, with several island stops packed into one itinerary. I would expect a group outing rather than a quiet private cruise, so some waiting is possible when people are late getting on or off the boat.

The tour is offered in English and Vietnamese. An English-speaking guide handles the schedule and explains what happens next, which is useful on a day involving snorkeling gear, boat transfers, lunch, cable car timing, and water park access.

Xuong or Buom Island: your first snorkeling stop

The first water stop is listed as Xuong Island, or Buom Island depending on conditions and the day’s plan. Here you can jump into clear water with a mask, snorkel, and fins, then look for coral and small marine life.

The equipment is included, along with a life jacket. Fins are not available in child sizes, so families with smaller children should plan around that limitation. You also need to bring your own towel and sunscreen. Those sound like small details, but they matter on a full day spent moving between bright sun, salt water, and a speedboat.

The quality of this stop can be uneven. Clear water is possible, but conditions may turn cloudy, making it harder to see coral and fish. Rubbish has also been noticed at the first island, which is disappointing in a place promoted for its marine life. I would treat this stop as a chance to get comfortable in the water, not as a guaranteed top snorkeling site.

If snorkeling is the main reason you are booking, keep your expectations sensible. The tour gives you multiple chances to get in the sea, but visibility and reef condition are outside the operator’s control. The speedboat and island access may be the stronger part of the package.

Gam Ghi Island and the coral reef stop

Gam Ghi is the second snorkeling location. The focus here is the coral reef, so you can spend more time in the water after getting used to the equipment at the first stop.

The short boat ride between islands helps keep the day moving. One particularly good feature of this tour is that the speedboat gets you between the stops quickly, rather than turning each transfer into a long cruise. That leaves more of the day for swimming, eating, and the cable car.

Still, the reef experience is not fixed. Some conditions can produce cloudy water or a reef that feels less colorful than expected. You may see tropical fish and coral, but you should not book this as a specialist marine-life trip with guaranteed visibility.

The guide and safety equipment are important here. You receive a life jacket and snorkeling kit, and the guide helps keep the group organized. If you are not a confident swimmer, follow the guide’s instructions and use the flotation equipment rather than treating the stop as a free-for-all.

May Rut Trong: the best place to slow down

May Rut Trong is the day’s main rest stop. Its white-sand lagoon gives you a welcome change from the repeated rhythm of boarding, snorkeling, climbing out, and drying off.

This is where lunch is served. The meal is included in the price, so you do not need to arrange food separately during the island portion of the trip. The exact menu is not specified, but the practical value is clear: after a morning in the water, having lunch on the island saves time and keeps the group together.

You also receive the included drone package here, a 45-second video and three photos. That is a nice extra for a day built around scenery and water activities. Drone services can otherwise add to the cost of an island outing, so this inclusion improves the overall value, especially if you want a few keepsakes without arranging a separate photo session.

May Rut Trong is also the place to simply sit back. You can enjoy the shore, take a break from snorkeling, and let the day feel less rushed. Some people may find this stop too long if they prefer constant activity, but I see the pause as useful. Three island stops and a cable car ride make for a busy schedule, and a calm beach interval keeps the day from becoming exhausting.

Optional sea walking and the added cost

Sea walking is available as an optional extra. It lets you walk under the water while fish swim around you and colorful coral sits nearby.

This activity is not included in the $68 tour price. You pay separately, and the cost is described as high compared with the rest of the day. The attraction is easy to understand, though: it offers a different way to see the underwater world without relying only on a mask and snorkel.

I would consider sea walking if you have always wanted to try an underwater activity and are comfortable paying extra for it. If you are mainly interested in a good-value island day, the included snorkeling is enough, and you can skip the additional charge.

Hon Thom cable car and water park

After the island stops, the speedboat arrives at Hon Thom Island. This is where the tour changes character again, moving from natural beaches and reefs to a developed attraction with a water park and more than 20 modern rides.

The cable car is included, as is entry to the water park. The order can change. The guide decides when you take the cable car, and weather may mean riding it before the islands instead of afterward. A water park maintenance issue does not cancel the cable car or reduce the tour price, but you may lose access to the water park rides if maintenance affects them.

The cable car ride lasts about 25 minutes. This is not a quick transfer. It gives you time to look down over the water and islands, and the broad views are the most consistently praised part of the day. If you are choosing this trip mainly for one memorable sight, choose it for the cable car.

The ride can also be timed near sunset, depending on the guide’s schedule. That can add warm light to the views, though the exact timing is not guaranteed. Keep your camera ready, but do not let photography distract you from the ride itself. The aerial perspective is the point.

The water park is a different proposition. It suits people who enjoy rides and want more action after snorkeling. Others may find the stop too long, especially if they would rather spend more time on the beach or return to the town earlier. One useful point is that the water park does not replace the island experience. You get both, but you also need to accept the time needed for both.

What the $68 price really covers

At $68 per person, this is not simply a boat trip. The price bundles round-trip car transport, the speedboat, cable car admission, water park entry, an English-speaking guide, lunch, a bottle of water, snorkeling equipment, life jackets, and the drone package.

That makes the value fairly strong for anyone who wants variety. Buying each part separately could be more complicated, and the tour removes the need to arrange a boat, island access, lunch, cable car ticket, and water park entry on your own.

The value is weaker if you care only about quiet beach time or serious snorkeling. You pay for the cable car and water park even if you are not interested in rides, and the snorkeling conditions can be ordinary. The tour works best when you want a broad sample of southern Phu Quoc in one day.

The included drone video and photos are worth noting. They do not transform the trip, but they are useful extras and give the package a little more value than a basic island transfer.

Timing, waiting, and changing conditions

The published schedule is tight. You leave around 8:15 or 8:30, visit several islands, eat lunch, continue to Hon Thom, ride the cable car, use the water park, and return around 17:30.

That schedule explains both the appeal and the weak points. You see a lot in one day, but you have limited control over how long you stay at each stop. Late arrivals can cause waiting, and the water park or island stops may feel longer than you want.

Weather can also change the route. Some islands may be replaced, or the cable car may happen before the island visits. That is normal for a sea-based excursion, but it means you should think of the order as flexible rather than fixed.

If your plans depend on seeing a specific island at a specific time, this may frustrate you. If you want the general experience of southern island scenery, snorkeling, May Rut Trong, and Hon Thom, the flexibility is easier to accept.

Who should book this Phu Quoc tour?

I would choose this trip if you want a big day of variety without arranging separate tickets and transfers. It suits couples, groups of friends, and families with children tall enough to manage the activities, though parents should note that child-sized fins are not available.

It is also a good fit if the cable car is high on your Phu Quoc list. The ride gives you the clearest single payoff, and the island stops make the journey feel like more than a cable car visit.

I would hesitate if you are pregnant or have a mobility impairment, since the tour is specifically marked as unsuitable for both. It also demands comfort with boats, water, stairs or boarding points, and a full day of changing activities.

Bring swimwear, sunglasses, comfortable clothing, sunscreen, and a towel. Baby strollers are not allowed. The tour includes one bottle of water, but you may prefer to carry additional drinking water for a long day in the sun.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the Hon Thom cable car, quick speedboat rides, a beach lunch, and several southern islands in one organized day. The included tickets, gear, lunch, guide, and drone photos make the $68 price reasonable for a full itinerary.

Skip it if your priority is flawless coral, empty beaches, or a slow schedule. The snorkeling may be cloudy, rubbish can appear at a stop, and waiting or water park time may test your patience. For most people who want a broad first look at Phu Quoc’s southern islands, though, the cable car and May Rut Trong make this a solid, active day out.

FAQ

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available from the John’s Tours office or from hotel lobbies in central Duong Dong, along Tran Hung Dao Street from the Phu Quoc night market to Eden Resort. Pickup outside that area may cost extra.

What time does the tour start and finish?

Pickup runs from about 8:15 to 8:30 in the morning. The tour is scheduled to return to your hotel around 17:30.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Xuong Island or Buom Island, Gam Ghi Island, May Rut Trong Island, and Hon Thom Island. Weather may change the island selection or the order of the cable car ride.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. The tour includes a mask, snorkel, fins, and life jackets. Fins are not available in child sizes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served on May Rut Trong Island and is included in the tour price.

Is the Hon Thom cable car included?

Yes. The cable car ticket is included, along with water park admission. The guide arranges when you take the cable car.

Can children join at the adult price?

Children under 1 meter receive a free cable car ticket. Children from 1 meter to under 1.4 meters need a child ticket, while those at least 1.4 meters tall are charged the adult ticket price.