Essential Guide to Phu Quoc Night Market (updated 2020)
Phu Quoc is a holiday island in the south of Vietnam, Kien Giang district, that has been somewhat under the radar for many years compared to heavyweights like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city.
However, things started to change several years ago when the government invested more money into the infrastructure and loosen visa requirements.
With that, tourist numbers have increased, and one of the most popular things to do is to visit the Phu Quoc Night Market, on par with hotspots like Dinh Cau Rock, Khem Beach or Ham Ninh Fishing Village,
In our post today, we will cover all that you need to spend your time here.
Check it out.
What's covered in this post
Short background about Phu Quoc Night Market
A few years back, it was actually known as Dinh Cau Night Market, along Vo Thi Sau street, a name that you can still hear commonly today.
In fact, a search on Google or Tripadvisor still shows that it is in operation, when in fact it has moved to a new location and renamed to Phu Quoc Night Market (Cho Dem Phu Quoc) instead.
The correct address is Khu 1, Phú Quốc, Kien Giang, Vietnam.
It is found in Dong Duong, the main town of Phu Quoc island, and occupies almost the entirety of Ly Tu Trong Street, where it is closed off to traffic and turned into a pedestrian walkway.
Although the night market is mainly for tourists, as evidenced by its relatively clean environment, it is a great experience to take away from visiting Phu Quoc. Be warned though, expect prices to be slightly marked up, but they remain quite reasonable.
Always ask ahead of time what the prices are to avoid risking a ‘blind’ bill.
Tip: there is another night market worth exploring, known as Bach Dang Night Market, but we will not be covering it in this article. Also, if you wish to visit one during the day, you can consider Duong Dong Market.
Read more: The only 5D4N Da Nang itinerary you need: including off the beaten path spots!
When is Phu Quoc Night Market open?
Some of the vendors open as early as 5 pm, and most of them will be ready by 7 pm.
That is when the crowds start streaming in, and the hustle and bustle begins. The atmosphere is rowdy and there are a million things vying for your attention.
As the sun sets, the whole area is transformed, becoming a lively night time destination for all the travelers to Phu Quoc, which is pretty devoid of night life actually.
Phu Quoc Night Market is super popular, so try to come a bit earlier to so that you can have the place to yourself before the crowds come thronging in!
Read more: How to get from Da Nang to Hoi An: All your questions answered
What to eat at Phu Quoc Night Market?
There’s so much to take in, and your senses are going to explode with the smell, sight and noise of the Phu Quoc Night Market.
It is pretty incredible, much like some of the best night markets across Southeast Asia.
With a stall count of easily over a hundred, there is no lack of variety for you.
Read more: Beer Street Hanoi: Best Travel Guide to the find the Cheapest Beer in the World
Seafood
Since Phu Quoc is an island primarily known for its seafood, that is where you should start from.
As you walk through the streets, you will find a large number of seafood restaurants’ staff approaching you, with their large aquariums enticing you to sit down for a feast.
You can get lots of fresh seafood here, although there are some who might be dishonest and you could end up with a dud.
Our advice is to stick to those with a steady stream of customers, especially if you see locals.
Most of the time you should expect to pay by the weight of the catch, and it’s a great chance to really try out the wide variety available.
We hope you came in a big group, as these are the items on the menu. Steamed, grilled, fried, choose whatever way you like it to be cooked!
- Clams
- Lobsters
- Scallops
- Squids
- Octopuses
- Shrimps
- Sharks
- Sea snails
- Crabs
- Sea Urchins
You are probably quite surprised to see sea urchins here, but it is in fact a specialty.
They are grilled and topped with spring onions and peanuts, and you can still taste the sea with it. Unique and delicious!
Tip: the sea urchins are available during March to June, which is also the main tourist season in Phu Quoc.
Local street food
Street food culture remains strong in Vietnam, and there are many vendors here peddling their own versions of the classic dishes.
Pretty much every corner you turn, there is definitely something special waiting to be discovered. This is a paradise for street food lovers for sure.
For the adventurous, there are lots of different kinds of grilled meats cooked on offer.
Some of them you can’t even tell what they are, so do ask in advance.
But if you are the squeamish kind, you can stick to the traditional favourites such as banh mi, banh canh, my han, banh rieu cua, banh xeo and of course pho. The list goes on!
Desserts + Snacks
What better way to complete your meal than getting your hands on a sweet dessert?
The night market is actually one of the best places in the island to get desserts, where you can find many different kinds gathered in one convenient location.
Each of them are so well made, and so colourful, making them irresistible for anyone!
Some of the crowd favourites are:
- Ice cream rolls
- Coconut ice cream
- String candy
- Deep fried banana
- Sponge cake with palmyra sap and flesh
- Grilled pork skewer (pork sate)
- Flavoured peanuts
Souvenirs
Not exactly something to eat, but there are shops around for you to do souvenir shopping in one trip.
You got to set your expectations right and not expect high quality trinkets, but they do the job well enough and you can find something unique here too.
Consider pearls (mostly fake ones) jewellery, pepper, and small cute handicraft made of sea shells to be the mainstay here.
Where to stay in Phu Quoc?
Have you booked your accommodation?
If not, here’s a bunch of Phu Quoc Island hotels we have picked out for you. We chose them as a good balance between location and affordability, so you won’t need to search high and low for the right one!
Be sure to click through to read the reviews and see more photos of the properties!
Thoughts about Phu Quoc
What do you think of Phu Quoc Night Market?
We can guarantee you something, you are going to leave it feeling very full!
After your night of feasting, we recommend that you walk down to the Duong Dong River side to enjoy a nice stroll and then relax over a cold drink.
For those searching for alcoholic beverages, you can saunter down to nearby House No 1 or Craft Local House to wind down.
We are sure you will enjoy Phu Quoc Night Market, which really has something for everyone.
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Logistics before visiting Phu Quoc Vietnam
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Handy travel guide.
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