Hon Mong Tay: A Traveler's Guide to One of Vietnam's Quietest Islands

What Hon Mong Tay Is — and Why It Stays Under the Radar

Hon Mong Tay — sometimes called Fingernail Island because of its slender, curved shape — is a small uninhabited island sitting about 18 km southwest of Phu Quoc's An Thoi port. It belongs to the An Thoi archipelago, a scattered chain of 15-odd islands that most visitors to Phu Quoc never bother exploring beyond a standard snorkeling day trip.

The island is barely 300 meters across at its widest point. There are no resorts, no paved roads, no ATMs. What it does have: a crescent beach with fine white sand, shallow turquoise water that stays clear down to two or three meters, and a kind of quiet that's genuinely hard to find in southern Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム) anymore. A few years back it went mildly viral on Vietnamese social media, but the lack of infrastructure has kept crowds manageable.

For now, Hon Mong Tay sits in a sweet spot — known enough that boats go there regularly, unknown enough that you won't be fighting for shade.

Why Travelers Go

The draw is simple: the water. Hon Mong Tay has some of the most transparent shallows in the An Thoi island chain, and the surrounding coral isn't as damaged as what you'll find closer to Phu Quoc (푸꾸옥 / 富国岛 / フーコック)'s main beaches. Snorkeling directly off the beach is viable — you don't need to take a second boat ride to find decent reef.

The beach itself is compact but photogenic, backed by rocks and low scrub forest. There's a Robinson Crusoe quality to the place that works precisely because nobody has built anything permanent on it. If you've done the southern islands circuit from Phu Quoc and found it too crowded or too commercialized, Hon Mong Tay is the antidote.

It's also a solid option for anyone based on Phu Quoc who wants a half-day escape without committing to an overnight trip.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season — roughly November through April — is when conditions are best. Water visibility peaks between December and March, and seas are calm enough for smaller boats. January and February tend to be the sweet spot: low rainfall, manageable heat, flat water.

Avoid June through September. The southwest monsoon picks up and boat operators will cancel trips when waves get rough. Even if you find someone willing to go, choppy water wrecks the snorkeling visibility that's the whole reason to visit.

Weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends, especially around Vietnamese public holidays and Tet when domestic tourists flood Phu Quoc.

How to Get There

Hon Mong Tay is accessed from An Thoi port, at the southern tip of Phu Quoc.

Getting to Phu Quoc

Flights land at Phu Quoc International Airport from Saigon (under an hour), Hanoi (about two hours), and Da Nang. Budget airlines like VietJet and Bamboo run multiple daily routes. From Saigon, one-way fares hover around 800,000–1,500,000 VND depending on season.

Alternatively, fast ferries run from Ha Tien and Rach Gia to Phu Quoc — the Ha Tien route takes about 80 minutes and costs around 250,000–350,000 VND.

Getting to Hon Mong Tay

From An Thoi port, you have two main options:

• Charter a speedboat: A private boat for 4–6 people runs roughly 1,500,000–2,500,000 VND for a half-day trip. This gives you flexibility on timing and you can combine Hon Mong Tay with nearby islands like Hon Dam Ngang or Hon Gam Ghi.
• Join a group island-hopping tour: Most Phu Quoc tour operators run southern island day trips for 350,000–600,000 VND per person, including lunch and snorkeling gear. Not all of them stop at Hon Mong Tay specifically — confirm before booking. Some default to Hon Thom or Hon May Rut instead.

The boat ride from An Thoi takes 25–40 minutes depending on the vessel and sea conditions.

Photo by Trung Nguyen on Pexels

What to Do

Hon Mong Tay isn't a place with an activity checklist. That's the point.

• Snorkel off the beach. The reef starts close to shore on the island's eastern side. Bring your own mask and snorkel — rental gear from tour boats is often mediocre.
• Swim. The shallows are gentle and the sandy bottom extends far enough that it works for weak swimmers too.
• Walk the island. You can circle the whole thing in 20 minutes. The rocky southern end has decent tide pools when the water is low.
• Do nothing. String a hammock if you brought one, read a book, stare at the water. The island rewards idleness.

There's no hiking trail or viewpoint to speak of. If you need structured activities, this isn't the right island.

Where to Eat

There are no restaurants on Hon Mong Tay. Group tours typically include a lunch of grilled seafood, rice, and fruit served on the boat or on a floating platform near one of the neighboring islands.

If you're chartering privately, bring your own food. Pack from Phu Quoc's Duong Dong night market the evening before — grilled "com tam (껌땀 / 碎米饭 / コムタム)" plates, "banh mi", fresh fruit, and bottled water travel well. Some charter boat captains will catch and grill fish on the spot if you negotiate it in advance.

Back on Phu Quoc, An Thoi town has a handful of local seafood restaurants along the waterfront where a meal of grilled squid, morning glory, and rice runs about 120,000–180,000 VND per person.

Where to Stay

You can't stay on Hon Mong Tay — there's no accommodation. Everyone sleeps on Phu Quoc.

For easy access to An Thoi port, stay in Phu Quoc's south. Guesthouses and mid-range hotels around An Thoi start at 400,000–600,000 VND per night. The main tourist strip along Long Beach and Duong Dong is about 25 km north — fine if you have a motorbike, but adds 40–50 minutes to your morning commute to the port.

Budget travelers can find dorm beds around Duong Dong for 150,000–200,000 VND. If you're doing the island trip as a one-off, location matters less than if you're planning multiple early-morning boat days.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Practical Tips

• Bring reef-safe sunscreen. The coral here is in decent shape. Keep it that way.
• Cash only. Nothing on the island accepts cards. Load up on VND before you leave Phu Quoc's main town.
• Pack out your trash. There are no bins. Whatever you bring, it leaves with you.
• Wear water shoes. The rocks on the island's edges are sharp and barnacle-covered.
• Charge your phone. No power outlets exist on the island. Bring a power bank if you're staying more than a few hours.

Common Mistakes

Booking a generic island tour and assuming it includes Hon Mong Tay. Many "4-island" tours skip it entirely. Ask specifically.

Going on a weekend or holiday. Vietnamese domestic tourists have discovered the island. A Tuesday in January looks nothing like a Saturday in February.

Forgetting drinking water. There's no shade structure, no vendor, nothing. Bring at least 2 liters per person.

Expecting Phu Quoc-level infrastructure. If you want a beach bar and a lounge chair, stay on Long Beach. Hon Mong Tay is deliberately bare, and that's what makes it worth the boat ride.

Practical Notes

Hon Mong Tay works best as a half-day trip folded into a longer Phu Quoc stay. Budget around 500,000 VND per person for a group tour or split a charter with friends for more flexibility. The island rewards low expectations and a willingness to just sit still for a while.