You scroll through the internet and see videos of crystal-clear water in Phu Quoc, then ask yourself: “Is this just a filter or deceptive online photos?”. Island hopping tours can be tiring, you might worry about seasickness, or fear arriving at a packed spot where you have to squeeze in just to take a photo. We understand this mindset of most tourists when planning to explore the South Island for the first time.
In this article, we will “uncover” every corner of Phu Quoc Mong Tay Island. No empty PR, we will tell you the exact location, the best season to go, whether the seawater is really as blue as rumored, the hidden downsides few mention, and suggest how to travel so it’s worth every penny.
Context: Why should you read this article before booking a tour?
With over 10 years working as a tour operator in Phu Quoc, we have seen many guests renting canoes on their own, awkwardly getting overcharged by touts at the pier, or going on days with rough seas and muddy water, only to return disappointed. Currently, the islands in the South are extremely popular with bustling canoes. If you don’t know how to allocate your time or choose the right route, you will be exhausted before you can even take good photos. Read the information below carefully to prepare yourself with a cool head for the most relaxing trip.
Experience & Detailed Guide
Where is Phu Quoc Mong Tay Island? Which archipelago does Mong Tay Island belong to?
Many people confuse the small islets with one another. In fact, Mong Tay Island is located in the South of the pearl island, about 14km from An Thoi port. To answer the question of which archipelago Mong Tay island belongs to, it is an isolated small island belonging to the An Thoi archipelago, Hon Thom commune.
To get here, you have to travel down to An Thoi port, then rent a canoe or take a wooden boat.
- By canoe: Takes about 20 – 25 minutes. The canoe cuts through the waves quite fast, giving an exciting feeling (but if you are prone to motion sickness, remember to take seasickness medicine).
- By wooden boat: Takes about 1 hour, smoother but in return, it takes a bit more time.
Local tips: If you are traveling independently in a small group of 2-3 people, renting a private canoe at the port is extremely expensive (about 1.5 – 2.5 million VND ≈ $60 – $100 USD per boat). Instead, joining a group canoe tour will be much more economical and safer.
The Reality: Is Mong Tay Island beautiful or just online photos?
Frankly speaking: The jade-green seawater at Phu Quoc Mong Tay Island is 100% REAL. Under the strong sunlight of the dry season, you can clearly see every pebble and school of fish swimming at the bottom without wearing snorkeling goggles. The water is so clear that you will feel like the canoes are “floating” in mid-air above the water surface.
However, it also has downsides. The sandy beach here is quite short and slightly sloped. During peak hours (around 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM), tourist canoes dock closely together. If you are hoping for a completely deserted and perfectly quiet island, Mong Tay Island currently can no longer meet that criterion. In return, the lively atmosphere, vibrant colors, and photo backgrounds are flawless.
What is there to do on Mong Tay Island?
Many guests ask us what there is to do on Mong Tay island besides swimming? Actually, the area on the island is quite small, mainly focusing on water activities:
- Taking photos with paddleboards (SUP): This is a “specialty” at Mong Tay. The drone operators on the island will set up transparent SUPs in advance. Your job is to wear a bikini or maxi dress, lie on the SUP, and you will get stunning aerial footage looking down from above.
- Relaxing swimming: The waves here are very calm because they are shielded by cliffs, the white sand is smooth, making it very safe for even small children to wade at the water’s edge.
- Snorkeling: Right at Mong Tay beach, there are also corals, but to be honest, the corals here are not as beautiful and diverse as at Gam Ghi Island (Dam Ngang) or Roi Island. We usually advise guests to just swim and take photos at Mong Tay, and save their energy for snorkeling at another island.
Objective Comparison: Should you go to Mong Tay Island?
| Criteria | Pros | Cons |
| Landscape | Beautiful jade-green water, white sand, and a highly artistic rocky beach. | Short sandy beach, small area, few shady spots from trees. |
| Services | There are changing rooms, freshwater showers, and photographers/drone operators on standby. | Very crowded during peak season, sometimes you have to wait to get a photo angle without people in the background. |
| Dining | There are some refreshment stalls, fresh coconuts instantly quench your thirst. | No large-scale restaurants, mostly having lunch on other islands (May Rut) or floating restaurants. |
Preparation Guide: How to get million-like photos without “torturing yourself”
- The golden time: From November to April of the following year (dry season). The sea is as calm as a lake, the sky is deeply blue. Traveling in the rainy season (May – October) is still possible but it depends on your luck with the day; the waves will be bigger and the water can easily get muddy.
- Clothing & Accessories: You definitely must bring a waterproof phone pouch. You should wear your swimsuit from the hotel, with a light jacket or a vibrant maxi dress on the outside (red, yellow, white colors stand out well in photos).
- Health: Apply reef-safe sunscreen 30 minutes before going into the water. Children and the elderly traveling by canoe should ask the captain to seat them in the back rows to reduce the bouncing.
Conclusion & Itinerary Suggestions from PhuQuocGo
Mong Tay Island deserves to be the first stop to “kick off” your island trip. The scenery here will surely amaze you and make you forget the fatigue of a long journey.
If you are an independent traveler, visiting for the first time, and don’t want to struggle with renting cars, renting canoes, and bargaining for photography prices, the best and most economical way is to join a group tour.
- If your time budget is only half a day and you want to focus purely on snorkeling and swimming, you can refer to the Phu Quoc 3 Island Tour page (which usually includes Mong Tay, Gam Ghi, and May Rut).
- If you want to go “all out,” riding a canoe cutting through the waves to see the islands, experiencing the world’s longest cross-sea cable car, and walking under the sea, then the Phu Quoc 4 Island Tour page will be a choice that satisfies everyone from children to the elderly.
FAQ – Real questions from tourists (Schema FAQPage)
- Is there an entrance fee for Mong Tay Island? Currently, Mong Tay Island does not charge an entrance fee. However, if you use freshwater shower services, lounge chairs with umbrellas to rest, or hire drone operators, you will pay fees directly to the locals providing the services there. If you go on an all-inclusive tour with us, usually the costs for photography and drone filming are already included.
- Do you get seasick going to Mong Tay Island? If you go during the dry season (November – April), the sea in the South Island is very calm. Sitting on a canoe for 20 minutes speeding across the water makes most guests less likely to get seasick compared to taking a slow wooden boat. However, if you have a history of severe motion sickness, take anti-nausea medicine 30 minutes before getting on the canoe and tell the tour guide to seat you at the back of the boat.
- Are there places to eat lunch on Mong Tay Island? There are currently no large restaurants on the island to serve a hearty lunch. Most tours only stop at Mong Tay for fun and swimming for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, then the canoe will take you to May Rut Island or floating restaurants in the middle of the sea for a more delicious and comfortable seafood lunch.
- Can the elderly (over 60 years old) go on a tour to Mong Tay Island? Absolutely. Many of our older customers still go on island tours normally. The sandy beach is gently sloping and easy to walk on. Just be careful when stepping from the canoe onto the island, walk slowly, hold tightly to the handrails, and ask for assistance from the tour guides to avoid slipping.
Do you need more advice on an island itinerary that makes sense for your family? Feel free to contact us, we at PhuQuocGo are always ready to answer with the most practical experience! Would you like me to suggest a list of seafood dishes you should try when having lunch on the islands?
