A winter on Phu Quoc comes down to three decisions: what a long rental costs, which month to arrive in, and how to cover the visa for the whole stay. The island suits people who want the sea and a slow routine, and getting there became simple this October, when Aeroflot started flying from Moscow to the island directly.
A month costs about $800–1,500 per person, and the visa is the part that catches most people out: the 45-day visa-free entry covers only half of a three-month stay. The dry season runs from November to March.
What does a three-month winter on Phu Quoc cost?
A furnished one-bedroom flat on Phu Quoc rents for $400–700 a month, a three-bedroom villa with a garden for $800–1,500, and a basic local house without furniture for $130–300. A whole month including food, transport and bills comes to $800–1,500 per person, based on 2026 listings and expat guides.
| Home | Per month | Three months |
|---|---|---|
| Local house, unfurnished | $130–300 | $390–900 |
| One-bedroom, furnished | $400–700 | $1,200–2,100 |
| Three-bedroom villa | $800–1,500 | $2,400–4,500 |
Street food costs $1.50–2 a plate, a restaurant dish $5–10, and a guesthouse room in Duong Dong about $9 a night while you look for a long rental. Winter is the expensive season: one rental overview puts November to March at 20–40% above the low season, so check January prices against live listings.
Which month is best to arrive on Phu Quoc?
Early December is the safest arrival: the rain of November has faded and the sea is calm. The dry season brings 30–32 °C by day, 24–25 °C at night and a sea at 27.5–30.5 °C, and the best window runs from late December to late February.
| Month | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| November | about 170 mm | 13 |
| December | about 60 mm | 6 |
| January | about 35 mm | 5 |
| February | about 30 mm | 4 |
| March | about 55 mm | 6 |
The north-east monsoon blows from November to April and keeps the west coast flat, with the best underwater visibility from January to March. Waves and storms belong to July–September. Prices peak over New Year and the first half of January, and Tet falls on 6 February 2027, so book those weeks two to three months ahead.
Which part of Phu Quoc suits a long stay?
Duong Dong suits a first winter best: the market, shops and clinics are within walking distance, and the airport is about 10 km away. Ong Lang in the north is quieter and cheaper, but its services are thin, so check water pressure, night noise and internet speed in person before signing.
Long Beach (Bai Truong) runs south of Duong Dong along the sea, and An Thoi in the south is building up fast. Long rentals rarely go through agents. They are found in Facebook groups, through acquaintances and by direct deal, mostly in the lanes around 30 Thang 4 and Tran Hung Dao streets, along Long Beach and in Ong Lang. I compared the areas in where to live on Phu Quoc long term.
How do you get to Phu Quoc in winter 2026/27?
The direct Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Phu Quoc started on 15 October 2026 and takes about 9 hours 20 minutes on an Airbus A330 with economy and business cabins. It runs up to three times a week, the days can change, so confirm them on aeroflot.ru.
From Ho Chi Minh City the flight takes about an hour, with more than ten departures a day and fares from $31 to $98 depending on how early you book. From Bangkok it takes 1 hour 20–30 minutes. A taxi from the airport to Duong Dong costs $6–8 (150,000–220,000 dong), and Grab works on the island.
Since 1 June 2026 every foreigner arriving at the airport fills in the free Pre-Arrival Information form on prearrival.immigration.gov.vn 72 hours before the flight and shows the QR code at passport control. It is not a visa.
Is the 45-day visa-free stay enough for a Phu Quoc winter?
No, a three-month winter needs an e‑visa. Citizens of the countries on Resolution 44/NQ-CP, Russia among them, enter Vietnam without a visa for 45 days from 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028, and the rule covers the island. A 90-day e‑visa costs $25 for one entry and $50 for multiple entries on evisa.gov.vn.
If your passport is not on that list, Phu Quoc has its own 30-day visa-free entry for all foreigners, valid only on the island and only if you arrive directly from abroad or transit airside. Visa-free stays are not extended as of right, because the immigration service decides each request, so a winter longer than the free period is planned around the e‑visa.
The step that goes wrong is the payment. The portal rejects cards issued by Russian banks and some foreign ones, the entry point has to match your route, and a refused application a week before the flight leaves no time to refile. You can fill in the form yourself in an evening if you have a card it accepts. At BestBus Vietnam I pay the state fee from my own card, set the entry point and resubmit for free after a refusal, with the money returned, and the 90-day e‑visa service page lists what is included. Message me on WhatsApp with your visa end date and I will tell you when to file the next one.
How does a border run from Phu Quoc work?
Phu Quoc has no land border, so the run goes by ferry to Ha Tien: about 1.5 hours at sea and $9–14 (230,000–350,000 dong) for an adult. From Ha Tien port the Prek Chak crossing is 10–15 minutes away and open from 7:00 to 18:00, and the schedule and cancellations are in my Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry guide.
Russians need a Cambodian visa, $30 on arrival at the land border, valid 30 days for one entry. After the exit you re-enter Vietnam on a new e‑visa, while a visa-free re-entry depends on the border officer each time. That is why a four- or five-month winter sits better on two e-visas, and the three real options are laid out in Phu Quoc visa run in 2026. I arrange the Phu Quoc to Ha Tien trip on request, and the visa services page shows how a border day is built.
How much is a scooter, and where is the nearest hospital?
A scooter on Phu Quoc rents for $5–8 a day (120,000–200,000 dong). A bike above 50 cc needs a valid licence, and riding without one costs $80–160 in fines. Vietnam recognises international permits under the 1968 Vienna Convention with category A1 or A2, and rental shops on the island usually hand over keys without checking, but the fine lands on the rider. Prices and deposits are in Phu Quoc scooter rental prices.
Vinmec Phu Quoc International Hospital in Bai Dai has a 24-hour emergency room and helicopter evacuation, and Sun Phu Quoc International Hospital in An Thoi has been working since 2026. Serious patients are transferred to Ho Chi Minh City, so buy insurance with evacuation before you fly.
How do you plan a winter on Phu Quoc step by step?
- Pick the arrival date: early December gives dry weather, and New Year to mid-January is the most expensive stretch.
- File the 90-day e‑visa a few weeks before the flight and complete the PAI form 72 hours before departure.
- Book a flat for the first two or three weeks and sign the long contract only after viewing in person.
- Buy insurance with evacuation and bring a category A1 or A2 licence if you plan to ride.
- Three or four weeks before the visa ends, decide between a ferry run to Ha Tien for a new e‑visa and a flight home.
How to decide: is Phu Quoc the right winter base?
Phu Quoc fits two to three months by the sea without a big city around you, and the full season for one person comes to about $2,400–4,500 with housing. Choose Nha Trang or Da Nang if you need coworking spaces, schools and a wide choice of flats, and expect a border run and a second e‑visa for any winter beyond 90 days.
A flat on the island can be found within a week of landing, but the visa will not wait: the application goes in before the flight and with spare days for processing. If you would like someone to watch the dates, send me your travel dates and I will reply with the right e‑visa length and the day to leave for the next one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fine for overstaying a visa on Phu Quoc?
From $20 to $80 (500,000–2,000,000 dong), depending on the length of the overstay. A long overstay can lead to an entry ban and deportation.
Is the mobile internet on Phu Quoc good enough for remote work?
A 30-day Viettel SIM with 60 GB costs about $8. The island has stable 4G but no 5G, so test video calls on the day you view a flat.
Can I take a scooter on the ferry to Ha Tien?
Yes, a motorbike travels on the ferry for an extra $6–8 (150,000–200,000 dong) on top of the passenger ticket. For a winter on the island it is rarely needed, since scooters are rented on the spot.
When is diving and snorkelling best on Phu Quoc?
From January to March. The north-east monsoon keeps the west coast calm, and underwater visibility is highest around An Thoi.
