The northwest of Phu Quoc — loosely referred to as Ganh Dau or the north — is where the island’s major theme-park investment landed. VinWonders, Vinpearl Safari, and Grand World are all clustered here. Alongside them: Rach Vem Starfish Beach, the national park, Bai Dai beach, and Ganh Dau cape. It is the furthest part of the island from the airport, and it rewards a full day rather than a rushed afternoon.
The short version
- ~30 km northwest of Duong Dong; 45–60 minutes by scooter
- VinWonders (theme park): 950,000 ₫ adult (~US$38), 710,000 ₫ child 100–140 cm or senior, free under 100 cm
- Grand World: free entry; European-canal precinct with restaurants, gondolas, and evening shows — best after dark
- Vinpearl Safari: next door to VinWonders; combo tickets save money — verify standalone price before quoting
- Rach Vem Starfish Beach: far northeast, red starfish in shallow water, go at low tide
- National park covers much of the north — UNESCO biosphere reserve, jungle, Ganh Dau cape
VinWonders
VinWonders is a full-scale theme park on the coast at Ganh Dau. Rides, water slides, and a range of live entertainment zones. At 950,000 ₫ adult (US$38) it is the most expensive single entry on the island and a full day will exhaust most people. Families with children 6–14 get the most value; adult-only groups tend to be less enthused.
Buying a combo ticket with Vinpearl Safari next door saves around 250,000 ₫ per person. If you’re doing both, the combo is the obvious move. Buy in advance online to avoid queue time at the gate.
See the VinWonders and Safari guide for what’s inside and what to skip.
Vinpearl Safari
An open-zoo format on the property adjoining VinWonders: animals in large enclosures, a safari bus through the wildlife sections, and a walk-through area. It is one of the more credible wildlife experiences in this part of Southeast Asia, though the baseline for that comparison is not high. Skip it if wildlife parks in general leave you cold.
Standalone adult pricing varies — check current rates at the gate or online rather than relying on any number printed here; the fact sheet flags this as something to verify, and prices for combined vs. standalone tickets change.
Grand World
Grand World is the free-entry option in the north, and it earns its place. The concept is a European canal town — coloured facades, bridges, gondola rides on the waterways, a Teddy Bear Museum, food and drinks from multiple vendors, and nightly entertainment shows. It is unapologetically artificial, but the execution is good enough that the effect works.
Go in the evening. By day the colours look flat and the place is quiet; after about 18:00 the lights come on, the restaurants fill, and the canal promenade comes alive. Add a gondola ride (charged separately) and it is two to three easy hours. It is the most accessible thing in the north for people who are not theme-park inclined.
Rach Vem Starfish Beach
Rach Vem is on the northeast coast, roughly 15–20 km from the VinWonders cluster. The beach is shallow and protected — a calm, sandy bay with red starfish visible on the seafloor. Floating seafood shacks anchor nearby for lunch or drinks.
Low tide is when to go: the starfish are in clearer and shallower water, easier to see from the shore without swimming out. It is a 45-minute scooter ride from Duong Dong through the national park road, so it combines naturally with a morning at Grand World or a beach day at Bai Dai.
Do not remove or handle the starfish — besides being harmful to the animals, it draws attention from staff who are present.
The National Park and Ganh Dau
Phu Quoc National Park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and covers most of the north. The forest is dense and roads through it are quiet — good for scooter riding. Trekking trails exist but marked routes are limited; a local guide or ranger is useful if you want to go off-road.
Ganh Dau cape at the very northwest tip is the closest point on the island to Cambodia — on a clear day the Cambodian coastline is visible across the water. There is a small beach and a lighthouse area. The setting is good; the facilities are minimal.
Bai Dai
Bai Dai (also called Long Beach North in some references) is a long stretch of relatively undeveloped beach below the VinWonders complex. It has finer sand than Long Beach proper, fewer facilities, and on weekdays is often nearly empty. Worth a stop on the way back from the north.
Where to stay
Most visitors base themselves in Duong Dong or Long Beach and day-trip north. A handful of larger resort properties sit in the Ganh Dau area near VinWonders. For up-to-date availability in the north, check the hotels page.
Getting there
The north is a 45–60 minute scooter ride from Duong Dong on the main coastal road — straightforward and well-paved. Grab works but can be slow in this area; having your own scooter or a hired car and driver gives you the most flexibility.
A full-day itinerary combining Grand World, VinWonders or the safari, and Rach Vem Starfish Beach makes sense as a single run. The Phu Quoc day trips and north island guide lays out the logical order.
For scooter hire (120,000–170,000 ₫/day, US$5–7) and car options, see the getting around guide.
