Phu Quoc is one of the best places to eat seafood in Vietnam. The island's proximity to the Gulf of Thailand means the catch is exceptionally fresh — and its fish sauce (nuoc mam Phu Quoc) is arguably the finest in the country, protected by a geographical indication and exported worldwide. Here's what to eat and where to find it, with a focus on An Thoi and Sunset Town (the south of the island).
Must-Try Dishes in Phu Quoc
Grilled Scallops (Sò Điệp Nướng Mỡ Hành)
The single most iconic Phu Quoc street food. Fresh scallops grilled in their shell, topped with spring onion oil, roasted peanuts, and chilli. Eaten with a squeeze of calamansi lime. You'll find these at every market stall in Sunset Town — order by pointing and use hand signals for quantity. One skewer holds 3–5 scallops.
Fish Sauce Crab (Ghẹ Rang Muối Tiêu or Ghẹ Sốt Me)
Phu Quoc blue swimmer crab is cooked in several ways — roasted with salt and pepper, stir-fried with tamarind, or simmered in fish sauce and garlic. The crab claws are large and the meat is sweet. Order at the seafood restaurants along the Sunset Town waterfront or at the An Thoi market. Prices are by weight — confirm before ordering.
Sea Urchin (Nhím Biển)
Fresh sea urchin is served raw, in the shell, with a drizzle of fish sauce and lime. It's briny, rich, and unlike anything in a supermarket. Available at An Thoi fish market in the morning (before 8 AM is best) and at some Sunset Town stalls in the evening.
Bánh Khọt (Mini Savoury Pancakes)
Crispy rice-flour cups, cooked in cast iron moulds, filled with shrimp or squid and served with fresh herbs and a sweet fish sauce dip. A popular breakfast and snack dish. Look for vendors near the markets in both An Thoi and Duong Dong.
Bún Quậy (Phu Quoc Noodle Soup)
Phu Quoc's signature noodle dish — a mild, clear broth with hand-rolled rice noodles, sliced fish cake, and prawns. Unlike phở, the noodles are hand-stretched and chewy. Best eaten at local com binh dan restaurants near the fish market. Ask at reception for the closest spot.
Sim Wine (Rượu Sim)
A local liqueur made from the sim berry (myrtle berry), which grows wild in Phu Quoc's forests. Pink-red in colour, slightly sweet and fruity. Available at every market and souvenir shop. A small bottle (200 ml) makes an excellent take-home gift.
Where to Eat in An Thoi & Sunset Town
An Thoi Night Market (Sunset Town)
The An Thoi market, running along the waterfront of Sunset Town, is open from approximately 5 PM to 10:30 PM nightly. This is the best place on the island for affordable, fresh seafood eaten at plastic tables under string lights. Go hungry. A full meal for two — with grilled scallops, crab, spring rolls, beer — typically costs 300,000–600,000 VND ($12–24 USD).
An Thoi Fish Market (Morning)
The wholesale fish market near the An Thoi pier opens between 5 AM and 8 AM. This is where fishing boats dock and offload the night's catch directly. It's a chaotic, loud, and fascinating local scene — not a tourist attraction but completely accessible. Buy fresh fish, shrimp, or sea urchin to take back and cook, or simply watch the trade.
Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Tasting
No visit to Phu Quoc is complete without tasting the fish sauce. The island's nuoc mam (nước mắm Phú Quốc) has a protected geographical indication — like Champagne in France. Visit one of the traditional fish sauce factories near Duong Dong (30 minutes north): Khai Hoan and Hung Thinh are the most visitor-friendly and offer tastings and tours. A bottle of premium three-year aged fish sauce costs 120,000–300,000 VND.
Phu Quoc Food Budget Guide
- Budget (street stalls, local restaurants): 100,000–200,000 VND per person per meal
- Mid-range (seafood restaurant, An Thoi market): 200,000–500,000 VND per person
- Upscale (resort restaurants, Sunset Town waterfront): 600,000–1,500,000 VND per person
Stay in the heart of An Thoi
Sóng and Sun Hotel is 2 minutes from Sunset Town's night market. Ask us for daily food recommendations — we know every stall.
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