What it is
Vinpearl Safari Phu Quoc is Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)'s only open-zoo and semi-wild conservation park, spread across 380 hectares of secondary forest on the island's northwest coast. It opened in 2015 as part of the Vinpearl resort complex and houses around 3,000 animals from 150 species — African giraffes, Indian rhinos, Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, and a solid collection of Vietnamese endemic primates.
The park splits into two zones: a Safari zone you drive through in a guided bus, and an Open Zoo you walk at your own pace. The combination makes it more interesting than a typical Southeast Asian zoo — the Safari section genuinely feels like watching animals roam rather than pace behind bars.
Administratively, Phu Quoc (푸꾸옥 / 富国岛 / フーコック) now falls under An Giang province following a recent merger of former Kien Giang territory. For travelers, nothing changes on the ground — same island, same flights, same roads.
Why travelers go
Most people visit Phu Quoc for beaches and seafood. The safari works as a half-day break from sand and sun, especially if you're traveling with kids. But even without children, the early-morning Safari bus ride — when animals are active and the heat hasn't set in — is genuinely worth the alarm clock. The nursery section, where keepers hand-raise rejected cubs, draws crowds for a reason.
It's also one of the few places in southern Vietnam where you can see langurs and gibbons in large enclosures rather than cramped cages.
Best time to visit
Phu Quoc's dry season runs November through March. Within that window, the safari is most comfortable from opening time (9:00 AM) until about 11:00 AM, before humidity peaks. Animals are more active in the morning too — by 1:00 PM, most cats are sleeping and the giraffes retreat to shade.
Avoid Vietnamese public holidays, especially Tet and the April 30 long weekend. The park gets genuinely packed — 5,000+ visitors in a day — and the Safari bus queue can stretch past 45 minutes.
Rainy season (May–October) means fewer tourists but afternoon downpours. The zoo stays open in rain, though some animal shows get cancelled.
How to get there
The safari sits in the northwest of Phu Quoc, about 25 km from Duong Dong town center and 40 km from Phu Quoc International Airport.
From the airport: Grab or taxi runs 250,000–300,000 VND, about 50 minutes. No public bus connects directly.
From Duong Dong: 30 minutes by motorbike along the coastal road DT45. Grab bike is around 80,000 VND.
From southern beaches (Sao Beach area): Budget a full hour by car. The island's north-south road is decent tarmac but single-lane in stretches.
If you're staying at any Vinpearl property, free shuttle buses run on a fixed schedule — ask reception the night before.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels
What to do
Safari bus ride
The guided bus loops through the open-range zone in about 25 minutes. You'll pass zebras, ostriches, rhinos, giraffes, and antelope herds with minimal fencing between you and them. Seats on the left side of the bus tend to have better angles for the giraffe feeding area. No getting off the bus.
Open Zoo walk
Budget 2–3 hours for the walking zone. Highlights include the primate island (gibbons on a moated island — no cages), the flamingo lake, and the tiger and lion enclosures built into hillside terrain. The elephant area lets you watch bathing sessions around 10:00 AM.
Animal shows and feeding
Scheduled shows run at fixed times — typically 10:00, 11:30, 14:00, and 15:30. The orangutan "school" and parrot show skew young, but the elephant demonstration is well done. Giraffe feeding (20,000 VND for a basket of greens) is available near the Safari exit.
Nursery
Open from 9:00–11:00 AM and 14:00–16:00 PM. Baby animals rotate depending on what's being hand-raised. Sometimes it's tiger cubs, sometimes deer fawns. Worth a stop.
Where to eat
Inside the park, food options are overpriced and underwhelming — think 120,000 VND for a mediocre "com tam" plate. Bring water and snacks.
Better plan: eat before or after. On the road back toward Duong Dong, stop at Ganh Dau village (5 km north of the safari entrance) for fresh seafood at local-price stalls — grilled squid and steamed clams run 80,000–150,000 VND per plate. The "bun quay" (hand-pulled fish noodle soup unique to Phu Quoc) stalls near Ganh Dau pier are solid.
Back in Duong Dong, the night market has every Phu Quoc specialty from grilled "banh mi" with local fish sauce to freshly cracked crab.
Where to stay
The safari is in Phu Quoc's quieter northwest. If the zoo is your priority:
- Vinpearl Resort & Golf Phu Quoc — right next door, shuttle access, resort pricing (2,500,000+ VND/night).
- Budget option: Ganh Dau village has a handful of family-run guesthouses (400,000–600,000 VND) within 10 minutes of the park entrance. Basic but functional.
- Most travelers stay in Duong Dong or along Long Beach and day-trip to the safari. This makes sense — more restaurant and nightlife options, and the 30-minute ride isn't bad.
Photo by Sergio Zhukov on Pexels
Practical tips
- Tickets: Adults 750,000 VND, children (1m–1.4m tall) 550,000 VND as of early 2024. Buy online at Vinpearl's site to skip the ticket queue — saves 15–20 minutes on busy days.
- Clothing: Wear shoes, not flip-flops. The zoo paths are hilly and some stretches are gravel. A hat and sunscreen are non-negotiable.
- Photography: No flash in animal enclosures. Drone flights are banned inside the park.
- Duration: Plan 3.5–4 hours total for Safari bus + full zoo walk + one show.
- Combo tickets: Vinpearl sells combo passes covering the safari plus VinWonders theme park next door. Worth it only if you're spending a full day in the area — the theme park alone takes 3+ hours.
Common mistakes
Arriving at midday. The park opens at 9:00 AM. Show up then. By noon the heat makes both you and the animals miserable.
Skipping the Safari bus. Some travelers head straight into the walking zoo. The bus ride is the park's best feature — don't miss it.
No cash. Some internal food stalls and the giraffe feeding station only take cash. Bring at least 200,000 VND in small bills.
Expecting a world-class zoo. It's good by Vietnam standards and surprisingly well-maintained, but it's not Singapore Zoo. Calibrate expectations and you'll enjoy it more.
Final note
Vinpearl Safari works best as a morning activity paired with an afternoon at one of Phu Quoc's northern beaches or a visit to the nearby fishing village. Get there early, do the bus ride first, walk until the heat wins, and head out for seafood. Half a day, well spent.
Last updated · May 25, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
