Phu Quoc 3 Islands Speedboat Tour: A Detailed Review

If you are thinking about visiting Phu Quoc, a picture-postcard island in Vietnam, one of the things you really must do is take a trip to see the three northern islands – Hon Mong Tay (Fingernail Island), Gam Ghi Island, and Hon May Rut. Getting around by speedboat is super convenient and definitely one of the best ways to get to each of these destinations. What can you actually expect from this popular tour? I mean, does it truly live up to the hype? Let’s take a look at it.

Why Choose a Speedboat Tour?

A lot of the tours in Phu Quoc get pretty busy. That means, if you book yourself onto one of the slower boats, you are more than likely going to spend a good part of the morning, that is, at least an hour if not two, picking people up from all different hotels. So, if you hop onto a speedboat, you are just ferried straight from your hotel or the meeting point in town, to the pier where the speedboats are ready to depart. Basically, a speedboat is not just quicker to get to the islands, but it usually offers a more private experience too. With fewer passengers than the big boats, you are sure to avoid feeling like just another number, and get far more time to savor what’s around you.

Hon Mong Tay (Fingernail Island): A Slice of Paradise

Okay, so Hon Mong Tay, which is also very often called Fingernail Island, is often the first stop on most of these speedboat tours, that, you know, depending on the time of the year. Actually, it is one of the most stunning islands I’ve seen, certainly in Southeast Asia, anyway. It has got really clear turquoise waters, soft, white sand, and, often, like your very own section of beach that has barely any people on it. Basically, it’s a great spot for chilling out, getting some sunshine, and capturing some of those picture-postcard moments. That is, you know, assuming the weather behaves itself.

One of the reasons why I am saying this, is because, the weather in Phu Quoc, and especially in dry season months, between about November and May, sometimes sees a lot of north-easterly winds. And when this wind is in full effect, it actually causes the boats to struggle, more or less, reaching Fingernail Island, so just bear that in mind. If the weather is rough and they can’t get to Fingernail Island first, they may, too, need to swap things about.

Gam Ghi Island: Snorkeling and Coral Reefs

Next up, Gam Ghi Island. Usually, that’s the next stop. So, this is normally where you will do a spot of snorkeling. Now, if snorkeling is your jam, you will definitely be pleased to discover the area boasts pretty rich coral reefs and an amazing variety of sea life, so too it’s definitely a great place to see a variety of colorful fish and other aquatic creatures. Gam Ghi is definitely perfect for folks who love to spend some time beneath the waves, yet it’s good for beginners, that is if, like me, you are not a very confident swimmer! Tours will usually give you your snorkel and mask, just making it simple for you to discover underwater.

Hon May Rut: Lunch and Relaxation

Hon May Rut tends to be your final main island stop on these boat tours and offers a relaxed vibe following your earlier activities. It might be very welcome! Lots of tours arrange lunch on Hon May Rut, at one of the nearby places along the coastline. So, after you have finished having something to eat, Hon May Rut is great to just, you know, chill out and soak up some of the beauty that you are in.

What’s Included on a Typical Speedboat Tour?

Generally speaking, these tours will often include things such as hotel pick-up and drop-off (or at least a meeting point if you are not staying centrally). Your speedboat, your experienced captain and crew, that snorkel and mask equipment that I mentioned before, life jackets, a lunch meal (which is often a set seafood menu with rice), a bottle of water, plus some fresh fruit too. So, basically, the tour operators try to cater for most things, really. You do not normally need to bring any of those items.

What to Bring

Though the tour firms are rather organized, there are still some things you may want to bring with you. For instance, bring some swimwear, so obviously, a towel too, sunscreen with a really high SPF. Consider a rash vest to give your back and shoulders extra protection when you are snorkeling. That, you know, sunglasses are also really useful. Any camera gear and waterproof bags that you would like to take out on the boat with you. Some kind of footwear that you do not mind getting wet – maybe flip-flops or something similar, just very easy and casual. Bring along a bit of cash for tipping your boat crew at the end. Finally, some motion sickness tablets, if you are susceptible to seasickness. Those speedboats can travel fast, plus can get quite bumpy in choppy conditions.

Some tour firms do offer photography services, but these usually come at extra cost. That could be useful to you, it just depends on your budget.

Potential Downsides

Here’s the truth. No tour is really perfect, is it? Speedboat tours can often feel very rushed sometimes, very much like they are packed with a lot. Spending an hour traveling, then about half an hour on the island, before you have to zoom off to another location… It can, occasionally, leave you feeling a bit short-changed. So, bear this in mind, and choose what sort of pace you would prefer to see these islands, that’s if you are staying for more than a few days in Phu Quoc.

Next thing: there can also be big crowds at each of these locations. Phu Quoc has grown rather rapidly in the last ten years, plus you now see all sorts of tourists arriving in their droves, at any given moment, and it’s just grown loads. So, you may get unlucky, and show up at Fingernail Island or wherever, only to find, like your fellow traveler, that there are hundreds of folks all doing exactly what you are. Now, there isn’t really much anyone can do to address this. It is just pure luck! Your tour operators might try and avoid those sorts of spots, yet it just happens. Just so you know, and for those of you that are hoping for something truly peaceful, this may disappoint.

Lastly, is that tours get impacted and even canceled, sometimes with very short notice, because of the weather. This can be particularly irritating, more or less, if you’ve arranged everything, traveled all that way, and then you’re told you cannot go anywhere on the tour. So, check before you travel that day! Sometimes your travel agent will do it, but, basically, make it your job to check with them, just in case.

Tips for an Awesome Trip

• Book in advance: Seriously, it’s very wise during peak season to make certain you get a spot on the tour.
• Protect Yourself From The Sun: Trust me, those UV rays are fierce, so do bring sunscreen, hats, plus some sunglasses!
• Be prepared for the Sea: Okay, very, very simple stuff, yet, if you sometimes get seasick, ensure you take some preventative medicine, to avoid you becoming queasy.
• Respect marine life: Please avoid touching the coral or disturbing any of the wildlife there, and bear in mind your conduct affects everybody else too. So be respectful!
• Bring a waterproof bag: Keep your stuff protected and dry from the sea water with some form of bag like this. You do not want to break anything!