Areas · east coast
Hàm Ninh (Ham Ninh) and the east coast
The east coast is the side of Phu Quoc that faces the mainland: an old fishing village under the Ham Ninh hills, the ferry port at Bai Vong, streams in the forest behind, and the coast that stays calm when the west side is rough.
At a glance
Sources: Vietnam Airlines travel guide, Ham Ninh fishing village · checked .
What the east coast actually is
Ham Ninh is described by the national airline's guide as one of the island's oldest fishing villages. It sits on the east coast at the foot of the Ham Ninh range, facing the mainland across the water. Most visitors come for seafood: Ham Ninh blue swimmer crab and grilled sea urchin with scallion oil are served in restaurants along the shore. Published prices for the crab are about VND 300,000 – 400,000 per kilogram, depending on season.
The village's old wooden jetty, which used to be the classic photograph, is closed because of damage. So the waterfront is seen from the shore and from restaurant decks. Do not arrive expecting the pier walk you may have seen in older pictures.
Close by is Bai Vong, the port where fast boats and car ferries from Rach Gia and Ha Tien arrive. Inland are forest streams: Suoi Tranh in the Duong To area and Suoi Da Ban in Ben Tram. Further south along the same coast are Ho Quoc Pagoda and Bai Sao beach.
Sources: Vietnam Airlines travel guide, Ham Ninh fishing village; Sun Paradise Land, Suoi Tranh tickets, 19 Aug 2026 (agency source); Sun Paradise Land, Suoi Da Ban, 5 Nov 2025 (agency source); phuquocislandguide.com, Ho Quoc Pagoda, Nov 2020 (agency source) · checked .
Places on and behind the east coast
| Place | Distance from Duong Dong | Hours | Ticket (published) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ham Ninh fishing village | about 14 – 15 km | Restaurants, daytime and evening | Free |
| Suoi Tranh stream | about 9 km | about 07:00 – 21:00 | about VND 30,000; child 20,000 |
| Suoi Da Ban stream | about 10 km | 08:00 – 17:00 | about VND 10,000 – 20,000 |
| Ho Quoc Pagoda | about 18 km | 06:00 – 18:00 | Free; modest dress |
| Bai Sao beach | about 25 km | Lifeguards at peak hours | Free; sunbeds paid |
Suoi Tranh has the most water from May to November. Suoi Da Ban is at its clearest from November to April. At either, swim only in the shallow parts and keep away from the base of the falls, where the current is strongest. Published prices; confirm before travel.
Sources: Sun Paradise Land, Suoi Tranh tickets, 19 Aug 2026 (agency source); Sun Paradise Land, Suoi Da Ban, 5 Nov 2025 (agency source); Vinpearl blog, Ho Quoc Pagoda, 27 Oct 2025 (agency source); phuquocislandguide.com, Ho Quoc Pagoda, Nov 2020 (agency source); VinWonders, Phu Quoc beaches, 17 Dec 2025 (agency source); Sun Paradise Land, beach safety, 1 Jul 2026 (agency source) · checked .
How long to give it
Half a day is right. Ham Ninh on its own is an hour or two: a walk along the shore and a seafood meal. Paired with a forest stream it becomes a good afternoon; paired with Ho Quoc Pagoda it becomes the first half of a south-coast day. Staying overnight on the east coast makes sense only if you want quiet and are happy to drive to everything else.
When to go
| Season | East coast | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| November – April (dry) | Sunny; the northeast monsoon is blowing | Streams like Suoi Da Ban run clear; good for walks |
| May – October (rainy) | Calmer east-coast sea while the west coast is rough | The east is the better side for the coast in these months |
| July – September | Storms with heavy rain and fairly strong wind are possible | Keep plans flexible; the guide watches the forecast |
Sunrise over the water is an east-coast event: in Duong Dong the sun comes up behind the town. If you want to photograph a sunrise over the sea, Ham Ninh is the nearer place to do it.
Sources: Mia.vn, when to visit Phu Quoc, 5 Apr 2026 (agency source); Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, vietnam.travel, Phu Quoc · checked .
Getting there
- By car from Duong Dong: about 14 – 15 km east; the airport and Bai Vong port are about 5 minutes away.
- By free electric bus: VinBus route 20 runs between Grand World and Bai Vong port from about 05:30 to 16:00 and stops at Suoi Tranh and in Duong Dong. Riding free requires a VinWonders, Safari or Grand World ticket.
- Arriving by boat: fast boats and car ferries from Rach Gia and Ha Tien dock at Bai Vong, so Ham Ninh can be your first stop on the island.
Sources: Vietnam Airlines travel guide, Ham Ninh fishing village; Sun Paradise Land, Phu Quoc bus times, 19 Aug 2026 (agency source) · checked .
What it costs here
| Item | Published cost |
|---|---|
| Ham Ninh blue swimmer crab | about VND 300,000 – 400,000 per kg, by season |
| Suoi Tranh ticket | about VND 30,000 adult |
| Suoi Da Ban ticket | about VND 10,000 – 20,000 |
| Ho Quoc Pagoda | Free |
| Car with driver, full day (if you hire your own) | VND 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 |
Seafood is sold by weight. Ask for the price per kilogram before the cooking starts; a guide will do this for you and explain the options.
Sources: Vietnam Airlines travel guide, Ham Ninh fishing village; Sun Paradise Land, Suoi Tranh tickets, 19 Aug 2026 (agency source); Sun Paradise Land, Suoi Da Ban, 5 Nov 2025 (agency source); vietnamtourism.com daily budget guide, 19 Sep 2026 (agency source) · checked .
Pictures of the east coast
Guided days that go here
Route B of the half-day guide pairs Suoi Da Ban with Ham Ninh in an afternoon. The south and heritage day starts on this coast at Ho Quoc Pagoda. And the photo walk can be switched to a Ham Ninh sunrise with a car.
When to skip the east coast
- If you want a swimming beach in the village itself: Ham Ninh is a fishing waterfront. For swimming, go to Bai Sao.
- If you are coming only for the old wooden jetty; it is closed.
- If you do not eat seafood. The village's restaurants are almost entirely seafood.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Is Ham Ninh worth visiting if we do not eat seafood?
Less so. The village is pleasant for an hour's walk, but most of what draws people is the crab and sea urchin. Pair it with a forest stream to make the trip worthwhile.
Can we walk on the Ham Ninh pier?
Not at present. The old wooden jetty is closed because of damage.
Which stream is better, Suoi Tranh or Suoi Da Ban?
Suoi Tranh has more water from May to November. Suoi Da Ban runs clear in the dry months from November to April.
Is the east coast better in the rainy season?
For the sea, yes. From May to October the southwest monsoon makes the west coast rough while the east-coast beaches are calmer.
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