If you’re unsure what to do in Hon Thom Island, read the article below. Lily’s Travel’s article will provide the most useful information based on more than 20 years of operating and managing tours of Lily’s.
Overview about Hon Thom Island
Hon Thom Island is located in the south of Phu Quoc and part of the An Thoi archipelago. The island is known as the “pearl of Phu Quoc” thanks to its clear blue sea and vibrant coral reefs. Hon Thom Island is connected to the mainland by the Hon Thom – An Thoi cable car. This cable car is the world’s longest 3-wire cable car, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the sea and sky from above.
Hon Thom island impresses with its pristine beauty with turquoise sea water, fine white sand beaches and coconut trees swaying in the wind. You can swim, kayak, snorkel or relax at peaceful beaches such as Nom Beach or Nam Beach. In addition to nature, the island also has many modern amenities such as Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park and Aquatopia Water Park. So that, you are not concerned about what to do in Hon Thom Island.
Coming to Hon Thom Island, you can not only experience the unique cable car route but also participate in many attractive sea activities, enjoy fresh seafood in the fishing village or watch the brilliant sunset on the sea. All create a complete and memorable discovery trip at one of the most beautiful destinations in Phu Quoc.
Several things of what to do in Hon Thom Island
Hon Thom island is Phu Quoc’s entertainment paradise, where visitors can fully experience the beauty of the sea and islands combined with many attractive activities. Here, you can freely experience many types of tourism: resort tourism, discovery tourism associated with the diverse nature of Phu Quoc.
Enjoy the world’s longest sea-crossing cable car
Hon Thom Cable Car is one of the most outstanding tourist experiences in Phu Quoc, connecting An Thoi town with Hon Thom island by the world’s longest 3-wire oversea cable car. The experience of riding the Hon Thom cable car is not just a means of transportation but also a breathtaking journey to see the sea and sky of Phu Quoc. The three-wire cable car line is nearly 8 km long, taking visitors through the air, gliding over the emerald green water, and admiring the panoramic view Put another way, the cable car journey provides and small islands undulating in the middle of the sea.
From the transparent cabin, visitors can clearly see each coral reef, fishing boat, fine white sand beach, and gentle wave below, creating a picturesque scene. The trip lasts about 15 minutes, bringing a feeling of both relaxation and excitement, especially when the cabin passes through the towering cable towers in the middle of the sea. The excursion is an unforgettable experience for both adults and children.
Upon arriving at Hon Thom Island, visitors will be picked up by an electric car system that takes them straight to the Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park amusement park, which has a modern Aquatopia water park, a beautiful private beach and seafood restaurants along the coast. To put it another way, the cable car journey serves as an impressive start to a full day of exploring the pearl island.
The cable car usually operates from 9am to 5pm every day but may be suspended midday or subject to weather conditions and maintenance schedules, so visitors should check before going. Round-trip tickets for adults range from 650,000 to 750,000 VND, children from 1 to 1.4 m are around 500,000 to 600,000 VND, and children under 1 m are free. In addition, there are attractive combo packages such as cable car tickets with a lunch buffet or tickets with Aquatopia water park, with prices starting at around 900,000 VND. Enjoying the world’s longest sea-crossing cable car is always one of the best things to do on Hon Thom Island.
Relax at Bai Trao Beach
Bai Trao Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Hon Thom Island, famous for its clear blue water, fine white sand and wild, peaceful natural scenery. This is the main beach for Tourists arrive at the island after taking the cable car, which is part of the Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park tourist area. The seawater at Bai Trao Beach is very clean and calm, with moderate depth, so it is safe for both children and adults. When swimming, you can comfortably swim, play, or watch the coconut trees bend down to reflect on the water, creating a truly relaxing scene in the tropical sea.
In addition to swimming, Bai Trao Beach is also an ideal place to relax and take photos. The beach area is arranged with many loungers, huts, restaurants and bars serving cool drinks and fresh seafood dishes. Visitors can relax in the sun, drink cocktails and enjoy the fresh sea breeze. Especially in the afternoon, Bai Trao Beach has a romantic beauty when the sun gradually sets on the horizon, dyeing the water surface gold. That is a wonderful moment to watch the sunset and capture memorable photos during your trip to Hon Thom island. So that relaxing at Bai Trao Beach should be on the list of what to do on Hon Thom island.
Explore Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park
Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park is a prominent entertainment paradise in the middle of Phu Quoc sea and sky. In this park, you can start your journey by the world’s longest oversea cable car and admire the panoramic view of An Thoi archipelago from above. If you wonder about what to do in Phu Quoc, setting foot on the parl is one of the best way. You will be welcomed by turquoise water, smooth white sand and impressive aboriginal-style space – an ideal check-in point for those who love taking photos.
Not only possessing beautiful scenery, Sun World Hon Thom Natural Park also offers a series of attractive sea activities such as swimming, kayaking, SUP rowing, jet skiing, diving or participating in exciting games such as floating houses and tug boats. Aquatopia Water Park is also a highlight not to be missed with dozens of modern adventure-themed slides, suitable for the whole family, groups of friends and thrill-seekers.
In addition to the fun activities, you can also enjoy a relaxing resort-style space with sun loungers, beach huts and massage services. When you need to recharge, you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes right on the premises, from sea urchins, grilled squid to Phu Quoc specialties prepared with rich local flavors.
Go snorkeling and discover coral reefs
Snorkeling and discovering coral reefs is always on the list of what to do in Hon Thom Island. The seawater is especially clear, the visibility can reach up to 15-20 meters, creating ideal conditions for visitors to admire the world under the ocean. Hon Thom Island is located in the An Thoi archipelago, an area considered to have the richest coral ecosystem in Phu Quoc, with hundreds of species of coral and colorful marine life.
Visitors can choose to snorkel or scuba dive depending on their preferences and experience. With snorkeling, just bring goggles, snorkel and a life jacket, you can easily float on the water and admire the colorful coral reefs near the shore. As for scuba diving, you will be instructed on safety techniques by an instructor and taken to a depth of 5-10 meters to explore the marine world more fully where there are brain corals, staghorn corals and schools of tropical fish swimming around.
This activity is often organized as a tour, which includes a guide, protective equipment, and a boat to dive sites such as Hon Dua Island, Hon Roi Island, or the area around Bai Trao Beach. This is a wonderful experience to immerse yourself in nature and feel the vitality and magical colors of the sea in Phu Quoc.
Visit the local fishing village
One of the best things in the list of what to do in Hon Thom Island is visiting the local fishing village. Visiting the fishing village in Hon Thom Island is an experience imbued with local culture, helping visitors better understand the lives of fishermen on the island. Unlike modern entertainment areas, Hon Thom fishing village still retains the rustic beauty and slow pace of life typical of a community living off the sea. When you come here, you will see small, simple houses located close to the water’s edge, basketboats and wooden boats anchored close together, and fishermen preparing nets, sorting seafood, or mending fishing gear after each trip.
Visitors can walk around the village, see floating fish rafts and learn how people raise cobia, grouper or other seafood specialties. Some households also allow visitors to visit the rafts, feed the fish or experience small activities such as pulling nets and collecting fish, extremely fascinating for those who want to explore the real life of the sea. In addition, enjoy fresh seafood. Local people cook it right on the raft or in small restaurants, making it an attractive highlight. Not too noisy or commercialized, the local fishing village brings a feeling of authenticity, simplicity, and closeness, helping you understand more about Phu Quoc’s island culture and have peaceful moments between nature and fishermen’s lives.
Read more: Ham Ninh Fishing Town – A Peaceful Hidden Gem of Phu Quoc Island
Capture the perfect sunset and island views
Watching the perfect sunset at Hon Thom Island is an exceptional experience because the scenery here has a wild and romantic beauty that not every beach has. When the sunset falls, the sky gradually turns into brilliant colors such as orange-yellow, purple-pink and dark red, reflecting on the clear blue sea surface, creating a scene like a vivid painting. Thanks to its location in the middle of the An Thoi archipelago, Hon Thom Island has a wide, unobstructed view, helping visitors to fully watch the moment the sun slowly sinks below the horizon.
Lily’s Travel advises you should take this activity in the list of what to do in Hon Thom Island. Another special feature is the peacefulness of this place: gentle waves, cool breezes, and a quiet scene create a sense of absolute relaxation. Many people like to watch the sunset at Bai Trao, where the coconut trees lean over to reflect on the sea, creating a beautiful background for photos. Some visitors also choose to sit at a beach bar, drink cocktails with light music and enjoy the moment when the day turns to night. All of these things make the sunset at Hon Thom not only beautiful in terms of scenery but also emotional, a peaceful, profound and poetic feeling, that leaves an impression in the hearts of anyone who has experienced it.
Kayaking, jet skiing and other sea sport games
Kayaking, jet skiing and other sea sport games at Hon Thom offer visitors dynamic and exciting experiences amidst the island’s beautiful blue seascape.
Kayaking is perfect for gentle explorers of the sea. From Bai Trao, you can row along the coastline, through clear water areas to see coral reefs near the shore or simply enjoy the peaceful feeling in the calm sea. This is an activity suitable for the whole family, including beginners.
Meanwhile, jet skiing brings a strong and exciting feeling. You can drive yourself or go with a guide, speeding on the water, gliding through the waves and feeling freedom in the vast space of the sea and sky. This is one of the most popular activities for young people at Hon Thom.
Depending on the time and area, visitors can also experience other activities such as banana floats, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) or canoe-pulling paragliding. These activities are very suitable for groups of friends or families who want to have exciting moments and lots of laughter at sea.
All games have a team of tour guides to support them, provide life jackets, and ensure safety.
- Jet ski activity: 10 minutes of play cost about 600,000 VND/turn, and 15 minutes of play cost about 850,000 VND/turn.
- Kayaking activity: it is listed as free for a turn (depending on the area) in some programs.
- Banana float canoe activity or canoe-pulling games: price is about 850,000 VND/turn for 10 minutes, depending on the number of people
Visiting Aquatopia Water Park
Aquatopia Water Park is located on Hon Thom Island, part of the Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park complex. It is one of the most modern water parks in Vietnam. To get here, visitors will take a cable car from An Thoi station to Hon Thom, then travel by electric car to the park. Aquatopia’s space is designed in the style of a wild tropical island combined with unique themed areas such as the aboriginal village, the sea kingdom or the animal world, bringing a lively and new experience for families and groups of friends.
The park is open from about 10 am to 5 pm every day. With an area of over 8 hectares, Aquatopia owns more than 20 modern water games suitable for both children and adults. The most attractive games include high-speed spiral slides, multi-lane slides, large inflatable water houses, whirlpools and thrilling games imported from famous brands in the world. There is also a separate area for children with a safe water depth, many gentle activities, and many beautiful miniatures for taking pictures.
When visiting Aquatopia Water Park, visitors should prepare swimsuits, towels, sunscreen and light sandals because most of the playground is outdoors. Some games have height or clothing regulations to ensure safety. Inside the park, there is also a dining area and refreshment counter, helping visitors to rest conveniently without having to bring food from outside.
Regarding ticket prices, visitors can access Aquatopia by purchasing Hon Thom cable car tickets, which include admission to the water park. The current round-trip cable car ticket price for adults is usually between 650,000 and 750,000 VND, children from 1 to 1.4 meters are about 500,000 to 600,000 VND, and children under 1 meter are free. There are also combo packages that include cable car tickets, a lunch buffet or cable car tickets with other services with prices ranging from 900,000 VND and up.
Getting there and travel practicalities
To get to Hon Thom, there are currently two most convenient and popular ways for you to choose from:
Go by Hon Thom – An Thoi cable car
This is the most popular way for tourists. You move to Hon Thom – An Thoi cable car station in the South of Phu Quoc, then take the world’s longest oversea cable car for about 15-20 minutes. During the journey, you will see the whole view of An Thoi archipelago and the beautiful turquoise sea from above. When you arrive at Hon Thom station, you only need to walk a short distance to reach Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park and the surrounding beaches.
Go by boat or canoe from An Thoi port
If you want to experience the feeling of floating on the sea, you can rent a boat or canoe at An Thoi port to go straight to Hon Thom. Travel time is from 10-20 minutes depending on the type of vehicle. This is also a suitable choice for large groups, fishing tours or snorkeling tours combined with a visit to Hon Thom. Whichever way you choose, the journey to Hon Thom is very convenient, bringing interesting experiences right from the start of the trip.
Where to stay and eat on Hon Thom Island
Hon Thom Island offers you a variety of resort options, mainly located in the Hon Thom – Mui Ong Doi and An Thoi areas. If you want to enjoy a luxurious vacation, you can choose high-end resorts such as Premier Village Phu Quoc or JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay with room rates ranging from 4,000,000 – 12,000,000 VND/night, suitable for a relaxing vacation, enjoyment and beautiful photography. In addition, hotels such as Premier Residences or The Luxury Collection Hon Thom are also ideal choices for families and couples, with more affordable prices, from 2,500,000 – 6,000,000 VND/night.
Trying the taste of foods is also in the list of what to do in Hon Thom Island. The cuisine is very rich, meeting the needs from snacks to high-end buffets. Visitors can enjoy a buffet at Mango Restaurant for around 270,000 – 370,000 VND, or experience traditional Vietnamese dishes at Taste of Vietnam for 25,000 – 400,000 VND. If you want a quick meal, Sunshine Restaurant, AnBa Coffee or Slice of Paradise serve a variety of European and Asian dishes with prices ranging from 40,000 – 350,000 VND. With such flexible options, eating and resting at Hon Thom is always convenient and suitable for all budgets.
Travel tips before your visit
Here are some useful tips to help you have the most enjoyable, complete and comfortable experience when participating in these activities at Hon Thom Island that are mentioned above
Take the cable car in the morning to avoid the harsh sunlight
Mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 are a good time to take the cable car. The sky is clear while the sun is mild, and you can see the whole view of the An Thoi archipelago. The afternoon is sometimes more crowded and you may have to wait a long time.
Bring your swimsuit from home or hotel
This will save you time when going to Bai Trao or Aquatopia water park. Many tourists have to spend extra money buying swimsuits on the island because they forgot to bring them.
Use sunscreen and bring light sandals
Hon Thom is quite sunny because it is an outdoor area. Sunscreen and sandals will help you avoid burning your feet and move comfortably throughout the day.
Prioritize participating in water games first
At noon, the water park is often crowded. If you arrive at Hon Thom early, play the thrill rides or the big slides first, then swim and rest.
Always bring water
Playing in the sun can easily dehydrate your body. You should bring a small bottle of water or buy it at the counters inside the park to keep your body refreshed.
Choose Bai Trao beach to rest
After playing at the water park, you can go to Bai Trao. Therefore, relaxing at Bai Trao Beach should be included in the list of activities to do on Hon Thom Islandch on Hon Thom and is very suitable for taking pictures.
Book a diving tour in advance
If you want to scuba dive or snorkel, you should book 1-2 days in advance to have a place and choose a suitable time slot. Tours are often full during peak season.
Use a waterproof bag for your phone
Sea activities, such as kayaking, jet skiing, or water parks, can easily get your phone wet. A waterproof bag helps you take pictures comfortably without worrying about damage.
Avoid going during strong winds or heavy rain
On rough sea days, some games will be temporarily suspended to ensure safety. You should check the weather before going so as not to miss your favorite activities.
Choose the right time to admire the sunset at Bai Trao
Around 17:00 onwards is when the sea is golden and most beautiful. This is one of the top places to watch the sunset in Hon Thom, Phu Quoc.
Above are all the activities you should mark in the list of what to do in Hon Thom Island. Each activity is a memorable experience for all of you. Hon Thom Island is one of the beautiful and poetic islands of Phu Quoc. In Lily’s Travel’s Phu Quoc tours, we constantly try to incorporate these activities to suit customers.
If you go in a group, activities such as rowing, canoeing, diving to see coral… will be the most suitable activities to play in groups, connecting members. However, if you go in couples, do not miss activities such as watching the sunset or relaxing on the beach. These will be moments that create memorable experiences. Lily’s Travel provides all services for Phu Quoc tours. If you want to book tickets or activity schedules at affordable prices, please contact Lily’s Travel for advice.
