Phu Quoc is the better beach for December to February, and Nha Trang is the better city if you want cheaper studios. Phu Quoc gets about 60 mm of rain in December against 155-165 mm in Nha Trang, and its sea stays at 27.5-28 °C against 25-26 °C. For a three-month stay the visa decides more than the weather, because the Phu Quoc island exemption lasts 30 days, Russians hold a 45-day exemption for all of Vietnam, and an e‑visa runs up to 90 days.
How do December, January and February compare?
Phu Quoc is warmer all winter and much drier in December, but by February Nha Trang is the drier of the two, with 15-16 mm of rain against 30 mm. Both towns are comfortable by the end of December, and that is when we would start a winter stay.
| Month | Nha Trang rain | Phu Quoc rain |
|---|---|---|
| December | 155-165 mm, 9-15 rainy days | 60 mm, 6 rainy days |
| January | 40 mm, 6-8 rainy days | 35 mm, 5 rainy days |
| February | 15-16 mm, 4-5 rainy days | 30 mm, 4 rainy days |
Daytime highs are 26-28 °C in Nha Trang and about 31 °C on Phu Quoc, with night lows of 21-22 °C and 24 °C. Nha Trang sees waves in January and February with average wind of 11-12 km/h, while Phu Quoc has about eight hours of sun a day. The typhoon risk in southern Vietnam runs from 15 October to 20 December and peaks in early November, so late December is the safer arrival. The wettest months in Nha Trang are October and November, with 290-330 mm each, which a winter starting in December skips. The Phu Quoc rainy season runs from May to October and peaks in August at about 545 mm, while November is a transition month with about 170 mm.
What does a three-month stay cost in rent?
A one-bedroom for three months costs $900-1350 in Nha Trang and $1050-1800 on Phu Quoc, before utilities. High season runs from November to April in both places, and agents in Nha Trang give 5-10% off for three months or more.
- Nha Trang: a studio is $220-350 a month away from the sea, $320-500 in the centre and $450-700 near the beach; a one-bedroom is $300-450.
- Phu Quoc: a studio in Duong Dong is $250-350, a one-bedroom $350-600 ($400-600 on Long Beach), a two-bedroom $500-900 and a villa with a pool $900-1800.
Phu Quoc landlords bill electricity and water separately and prefer contracts of three to six months, and moving in during October is cheaper than in December. The Phu Quoc figures come from a single agency, so check them against live listings before you pay a deposit. On a tight budget I would lean to Nha Trang, because the Phu Quoc numbers rest on that one source and the utility bills come on top. A villa in Nha Trang starts at $1200 but with a one-year minimum, which rules it out for a winter. For day-to-day spending beyond rent, see what a month in Nha Trang really costs.
Which visa route covers 90 days?
Only an e‑visa covers a full winter in one go, and the passport needs six months of validity. It is valid for up to 90 days and costs $25 for a single entry or $50 for multiple entries, issued on the official portal. Exemptions are shorter: Phu Quoc gives 30 days to every nationality, valid on the island only and not extendable, and Russian citizens hold a separate 45-day exemption for all of Vietnam until 14 March 2028 under Resolution 44/NQ-CP.
Vietnam does not issue visas on arrival at its land borders, so a wrong date or entry point has no fix on the spot. You can file the e‑visa yourself on the official portal, and the risk is the date, not the form. Best Bus runs visa services from offices in Da Nang and Nha Trang. The service covers filing the 90-day e‑visa, checking the data against your passport and flight, and support until the visa is issued, with the document package ready within a day. To start, send your arrival dates on WhatsApp.
How hard is a visa run from each city?
Phu Quoc is shorter on the road, Nha Trang longer but familiar. From Nha Trang the usual route is Moc Bai, north of Ho Chi Minh City: the bus to Saigon takes 8-12 hours, then it is about 80 km to the border. Phu Quoc has no land border, so you take a ferry to Ha Tien, 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours, and cross at Ha Tien-Prek Chak, open from 7:00 to 18:00.
The ferry costs about $6-14 (160,000-350,000 dong) and a Cambodian visa at the border is $30-35. The usual mistake on the island side is booking a late sailing, because the post at Ha Tien shuts at 18:00 and a ferry that takes two hours leaves almost no margin. From Prek Chak it is about 2 hours to Kampot and about 4 hours to Sihanoukville. Cross-border runs end with a new entry, so you need an exemption or an e‑visa to come back. Details for the Nha Trang side are on the visa run from Nha Trang page, and the island side is in the Ha Tien ferry guide.
How do you get there in winter 2026/27?
Phu Quoc has more direct options this winter, because Aeroflot flies Moscow-Phu Quoc from 15 October 2026 in about 9 hours 20 minutes, three times a week. Azur Air adds three weekly flights from 6 November. Charters also run from Russian regions: Pegas and Ikar from Yekaterinburg from 21 October, Novosibirsk from 27 October, Krasnoyarsk from 30 October and Moscow from 31 October, plus Fun&Sun and Anex. Schedules change, so check with the operator. Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc is about one hour with more than ten flights a day. Bangkok takes 1 hour 20 minutes.
Nha Trang is served through Cam Ranh airport, 35 km and 40-60 minutes from the city, and Aeroflot SU-294 from Moscow takes about 9 hours 54 minutes, and in the November to March peak charters add more than 20 Russian cities. The new Phu Quoc terminal is promised for April 2027, so this winter you land in the old one, 10 km from Duong Dong.
Which one should you pick?
Phu Quoc suits a beach winter: warmer water, less rain in December and direct flights from Moscow and Bangkok. Nha Trang suits a city winter with cheaper studios and a familiar run to Moc Bai. For three months, file a 90-day e‑visa before you fly and keep a free day for the border.
| Nha Trang | Phu Quoc | |
|---|---|---|
| Sea, December-February | 25-26 °C | 27.5-28 °C |
| One-bedroom a month | $300-450 | $350-600 |
| Visa-free stay | 45 days for Russians | 30 days for everyone, island only |
| Visa run | Moc Bai by bus | Ha Tien by ferry |
| Airport | Cam Ranh, 35 km | Phu Quoc, 10 km |
Booking the ferry or the bus yourself is easy. The hard part of either winter is the border day, because the ferry, the bus and the end of your exemption all run on different clocks. Tell me the city and the day your stay ends, and I will tell you which departure to take and whether you need an e‑visa.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I overstay my visa?
Under Decree 282/2025 the fine is 0.5-2 million dong for up to 16 days, 5-10 million for 16-30 days and 10-15 million for 30-60 days. Beyond 16 days deportation is possible.
Can I re-enter on an exemption straight after a visa run?
The mandatory 30-day gap was abolished by Law 51/2019. The officer at the border still decides each time, so expect to be asked about your plans.
Does the Phu Quoc exemption survive a connection through Saigon?
No. A connection through Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi after passport control cancels the 30-day island exemption. Fly in direct or transit without leaving the airport.
Is the Cambodian e‑visa accepted at Prek Chak?
It costs $36 online, but travellers report it was not reliably accepted there. A visa on arrival at the border is the safer choice, so carry dollars.
How much is a taxi from Phu Quoc airport?
To Duong Dong it is about 180,000-220,000 dong, roughly $7-9. Agree the price before you get in, because the fare depends on the district.
