The fastest and cheapest sea route to Phu Quoc is the high-speed ferry from Ha Tien: about 1 hour 20 minutes to Bai Vong Port, with adult one-way fares from 216,000–230,000 VND (roughly $8.20–$8.75). The alternative from Rach Gia takes 2 to 2.5 hours and costs 330,000 VND (~$12.50) one way. Both routes run 7 days a week all year round; from Ha Tien the first boat departs at 06:10 and the last at 13:15.
Ha Tien or Rach Gia: Which Ferry Route to Phu Quoc Should You Take?
Two mainland ports serve Phu Quoc's high-speed ferries: Ha Tien, a small border town in Kien Giang Province just a short drive from Cambodia, and Rach Gia, the provincial capital further south along the coast. Both routes land at the same place on the island - Bai Vong Port in Ham Ninh - so your choice comes down to crossing time, fare and how the bus connections fit your schedule.
| Ha Tien → Phu Quoc | Rach Gia → Phu Quoc | |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing time | About 1 h 20 min (fastest boats ~1 h) | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Adult one-way fare | 230,000 VND (~$8.75); economy from 216,000 VND (~$8.20) | 330,000 VND (~$12.50) |
| Daily sailings | First 06:10, last 13:15, every day of the year | Several sailings daily |
| Bus from Ho Chi Minh City | ~350 km, roughly 8 hours | ~250 km, roughly 6–7 hours |
| Best for | Shortest crossing, budget travelers, arrivals from Cambodia | Later departures, easier bus timing from HCMC |
Ha Tien suits travelers who want the shortest time on the water and the lowest fare - it beats Rach Gia by roughly an hour of sailing and about 100,000 VND per adult. It is also the natural gateway if you are coming overland from Cambodia through the Xa Xia border crossing. It is, however, a poor fit if you will only reach Ha Tien in the afternoon: with the last ferry at 13:15, you would be stuck overnight in town.
Rach Gia is less suited to travelers prone to seasickness or watching every dong - the crossing is up to three times longer on open water and the adult fare is about 43% higher. It works best if your bus from Ho Chi Minh City or the Mekong Delta arrives in Rach Gia with time to spare, or if you miss the early Ha Tien sailings and need a departure later in the day.
The Ha Tien to Phu Quoc Ferry: Schedule, Ports and Crossing Time
The Ha Tien ferry port sits on Kim Du Street in the To Chau ward of Ha Tien, right on the waterfront a few minutes from the town center. Phu Quoc Express runs its ticket office and boarding point at No. 1 Mac Cuu Street, also in To Chau Ward, so check which terminal your operator uses before heading down - they are close but not identical.
Sailings run 7 days a week, all year round. The first ferry leaves Ha Tien at 06:10 and the last at 13:15, which means the whole route effectively operates as a morning service. Plan to arrive at the port 45–60 minutes before departure: you will need to check in, drop larger bags and clear the simple boarding process, and boats do not wait for stragglers in high season.
The standard crossing takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and lands at Bai Vong Port in Ham Ninh on Phu Quoc's east coast. If you are in a hurry, some faster services trim the trip to roughly an hour for a premium fare of 290,000–380,000 VND - a sensible upgrade if you have a connecting flight or transfer booked the same day.
How Much Does the Ferry to Phu Quoc Cost?
Fares are fixed per operator and passenger category, and they are refreshingly cheap by international standards. Here is the full one-way fare breakdown for the Ha Tien route, plus the Rach Gia adult fare for comparison:
| Ticket type | One-way fare | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, Ha Tien → Phu Quoc | 230,000 VND | ~$8.75 |
| Senior, Ha Tien → Phu Quoc | 195,000 VND | ~$7.40 |
| Child, Ha Tien → Phu Quoc | 157,000 VND | ~$6.00 |
| Passenger with disability, Ha Tien → Phu Quoc | 166,000 VND | ~$6.35 |
| Phu Quoc Express economy, Ha Tien → Phu Quoc | 216,000 VND | ~$8.20 |
| Phu Quoc Express VIP, Ha Tien → Phu Quoc | 330,000 VND | ~$12.50 |
| Adult, Rach Gia → Phu Quoc | 330,000 VND | ~$12.50 |
The discounts are real and worth asking for at the ticket counter: a senior saves 35,000 VND, a child saves 73,000 VND and a passenger with a disability pays 166,000 VND instead of the full 230,000 VND. A family of two adults and two children can cross from Ha Tien for around 774,000 VND total - less than many airport taxi rides elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
VIP tickets at 330,000 VND buy you a more spacious, quieter seating section. On a packed holiday-weekend sailing that upgrade is money well spent; on a calm, half-empty Tuesday crossing in low season, the economy cabin is perfectly comfortable and there is little reason to pay the extra 114,000 VND.
Superdong vs Phu Quoc Express: Choosing Your Operator
Two names dominate the Ha Tien–Phu Quoc route: Superdong and Phu Quoc Express. Superdong's adult fare is $8.75 (230,000 VND) one way, departing from its terminal at the Kim Du Street port area. Phu Quoc Express undercuts it slightly with an economy fare of $8.20 (216,000 VND) and sells a VIP class at $12.50 (330,000 VND); its Ha Tien office and departure point is at No. 1 Mac Cuu Street, To Chau Ward, Ha Tien City, Kien Giang Province.
In practice the differences are small. Both operators run modern high-speed catamarans, both land at Bai Vong Port in Ham Ninh, and both keep broadly similar morning schedules bookended by the 06:10 first departure and 13:15 last sailing. Most travelers simply take whichever boat matches their bus arrival or hotel check-out time.
A few practical distinctions: Phu Quoc Express's economy fare is the cheapest ticket on the route, while Superdong's fleet is a familiar sight for Vietnamese domestic tourists and its port-side terminal makes same-day ticket purchases easy. During peak season (December through March and the Tet holiday) both sell out, so booking a day or two ahead online or through your hotel matters more than the choice of brand.
One warning that applies to both: neither operator sails from Ha Tien after 13:15. If your itinerary only gets you to Ha Tien in the late afternoon, the ferry route is a poor fit for that day - either overnight in Ha Tien and catch the 06:10 boat, or reroute through Rach Gia if it has a later sailing that suits you.
The Rach Gia to Phu Quoc Ferry Route
Rach Gia, the capital of Kien Giang Province, is the second mainland gateway to Phu Quoc. The crossing here is a different animal: 2 to 2.5 hours across open water, with an adult one-way fare of 330,000 VND (~$12.50). The port is well signposted and sits close to the city center, and Rach Gia's bigger bus station receives more frequent direct services from Ho Chi Minh City's western bus terminals than Ha Tien does.
The trade-off is time and comfort at sea. A 2.5-hour crossing gives far more scope for swell and motion than the 1 hour 20 minute hop from Ha Tien, so if anyone in your group gets seasick, the Ha Tien route is the kinder choice. On the other hand, Rach Gia's longer timetable and heavier bus traffic make it the more flexible option for travelers coming straight from Ho Chi Minh City or from deeper in the Mekong Delta such as Can Tho.
Rach Gia also makes sense as part of a delta itinerary: many travelers work their way south through the Mekong Delta, spend a night in Rach Gia or Ha Tien, then ferry across to Phu Quoc to finish the trip on the beach. If you are short on days, though, the Rach Gia route is less suited to you - between the 6–7 hour bus ride and the 2–2.5 hour crossing, the land-and-sea option consumes the better part of a full day in each direction.
Getting from Ho Chi Minh City to the Ferry
There is no direct bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc - the island has no road link - so every overland journey involves a bus to Ha Tien or Rach Gia first, then a high-speed ferry. The classic budget combo is an overnight sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City arriving in the early morning, followed directly by a morning ferry. Buses to Rach Gia cover roughly 250 km in 6–7 hours; buses to Ha Tien cover about 350 km in around 8 hours.
If time matters more than money, fly. Direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc take about 1 hour, with multiple daily departures, and drop you at the island's airport just outside Duong Dong - no port transfers, no sea state to worry about. The ferry route wins decisively on cost, but it costs you the better part of a day each way.
Fly from HCMC
About 1 hour in the air, several flights daily. Best if you have 3 days or fewer on the island or hate long bus rides. Typically the priciest option, especially at Tet and in high season.
Bus + Ha Tien ferry
Cheapest door-to-door route: overnight bus (~8 h) plus a 1 h 20 min crossing from 216,000–230,000 VND. Best for budget travelers and anyone combining Phu Quoc with Cambodia.
Bus + Rach Gia ferry
Shorter bus leg (6–7 h) and more sailings, but a 2–2.5 hour crossing and a 330,000 VND fare. Best if bus timings to Ha Tien don't line up with the 13:15 last boat.
One honest caveat: the combined bus-and-ferry route is a poor fit for trips shorter than about four days. With roughly a full day of transit each way, you would spend half your holiday traveling. In that case, the 1-hour flight is almost always the smarter buy.
Arriving at Bai Vong Port: Getting to Duong Dong and the Beaches
Almost every ferry from Ha Tien and Rach Gia docks at Bai Vong Port in the Ham Ninh district on Phu Quoc's east coast. The port itself is rustic - a long pier, ticket offices, snack stalls and a rank of drivers meeting each arrival - so it pays to know your onward distances before you land.
Duong Dong, the island's main town and the hub of Long Beach, lies about 25–30 km away: roughly 40–50 minutes by car or taxi across the island's new east-west road. Phu Quoc International Airport sits on the edge of Duong Dong, around 30 km from the port. The southern beaches and the An Thoi archipelago, home to the island's best snorkeling and cable car, are the farthest at roughly 50 km - budget over an hour of driving.
Your onward options are taxis and ride-hailing cars at the pier, pre-booked hotel transfers, or - the local favorite - renting a motorbike for the length of your stay. A scooter transforms Phu Quoc: distances are manageable, fuel is cheap, and the coastal roads north to Ham Ninh village or south to An Thoi are half the fun. If you arrange a rental in advance, many providers on the island will deliver the bike to you at Bai Vong Port so you can ride off the ferry and straight onto the road.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Ferry Crossing
Phu Quoc's ferry routes are easy and reliable, but a handful of small habits separate a smooth crossing from a stressful one:
- Arrive at the port 45–60 minutes before departure; check-in typically closes about 15 minutes before the boat leaves.
- Bring your passport (or Vietnamese ID) - you will need it to check in for the sailing.
- Book ahead for December–March, weekends and the Tet holiday; the 06:10 and mid-morning boats sell out first.
- Pack motion-sickness tablets if you are crossing from Rach Gia or sailing in the windy season - the 2–2.5 hour open-water leg is the roughest stretch.
- Use soft bags where possible; large suitcases go in the hold and are handed over at check-in.
- Motorbikes can travel on most sailings for an extra fee - confirm the space when you book rather than assuming at the pier.
- Build in a buffer day: sailings can be cancelled or delayed when the sea state turns bad, especially May–October.
Seasonality matters more than most travelers expect. November to April, Phu Quoc's dry season, brings the calmest seas and the fullest timetables. May to October is the rainy season: ferries still run 7 days a week, but swells are bigger, cancellations more frequent, and a flexible morning departure beats a fixed afternoon plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ferry from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc?
The standard high-speed crossing takes about 1 hour 20 minutes from Ha Tien to Bai Vong Port. Faster premium services trim this to roughly 1 hour for fares of 290,000–380,000 VND. By comparison, the Rach Gia crossing takes 2 to 2.5 hours.
How much does the ferry to Phu Quoc cost?
The Ha Tien route costs 230,000 VND (~$8.75) one way for adults, with senior fares at 195,000 VND, child fares at 157,000 VND and fares for passengers with disabilities at 166,000 VND. Phu Quoc Express economy is 216,000 VND and the Rach Gia adult fare is 330,000 VND (~$12.50).
What time is the last ferry from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc?
The last departure is at 13:15, and the first ferry of the day leaves at 06:10. Sailings run every day of the year, but the route is effectively a morning service - if you reach Ha Tien after mid-afternoon, plan to overnight there and take the 06:10 boat.
Where do ferries arrive on Phu Quoc?
Most ferries from Ha Tien and Rach Gia arrive at Bai Vong Port in the Ham Ninh district on the island's east coast. From there it is about 25–30 km and 40–50 minutes by road to Duong Dong town and Long Beach, and roughly 50 km to the southern An Thoi beaches.
Is there a direct bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc?
No. Phu Quoc is an island with no road connection, so you must take a bus to Ha Tien (about 8 hours) or Rach Gia (about 6–7 hours) and continue by high-speed ferry. The only direct option is flying, which takes about 1 hour from Ho Chi Minh City.
Do the ferries run every day?
Yes - ferries from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc operate 7 days a week, all year round, from 06:10 to 13:15. The only interruptions are weather-related: rough seas in the May–October rainy season can delay or cancel individual sailings, so keep a buffer day in your plans.
Can I take a motorbike on the ferry to Phu Quoc?
Yes, most high-speed ferries carry motorbikes for an additional fee on top of the passenger fare. Spaces are limited and sell out in high season, so reserve the bike slot when you buy your ticket rather than arriving at the port and hoping.
Which is better: the Ha Tien or Rach Gia ferry?
Ha Tien is faster (about 1 h 20 min vs 2–2.5 hours) and cheaper (230,000 VND vs 330,000 VND for adults), so it wins for most travelers. Rach Gia suits you better if your bus from Ho Chi Minh City arrives there more conveniently or you need a departure that fits around the Ha Tien schedule.
Just landed at Bai Vong Port? Sabrina Rental can have a motorbike waiting for you at the pier, plus rooms, boat trips and honest local advice for the rest of your Phu Quoc trip. Message us and we will sort the details.
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