Phu Quoc is a long, heart-shaped island with a 20-kilometre beach aptly named Long Beach stretching along its western coast. This distinctive geography has made Long Beach the island’s most popular spot to watch the sunset — and with good reason. The shoreline is lined with laid-back cafés and bars that often host DJs or live bands, and excellent food is never far away.
If you’re looking for a fresh perspective, there are several other sublime yet lesser-known sunset viewpoints on Phu Quoc Island — and beyond it.
Ganh Dau Cape
Ganh Dau Cape sits at the northern tip of Phu Quoc’s western coast — the remote and unpretentious counterpart to Long Beach’s bustle and accessibility. The first ripples of the mountain range rise steeply just behind the sand, enclosing the calm, shallow waters in a protective ring of dense jungle foliage. This naturally secluded setting, combined with the absence of major construction and the low number of visitors, makes this tucked-away beach an exceptional pocket of peace.
Ganh Dau Cape is the closest point on Phu Quoc to Cambodia, and from here you can see the ridged blue outlines of Cambodian islands emerging from the sea. Moored fishing boats drift serenely in the glass-blue water between the beach and the distant coast across the ocean.
As the sun sets, the colours grow richer and more saturated, sharpening the contrasts of the world and turning the fishing boats into black silhouettes rising and falling against a glowing, pink-tinged horizon.
Dinh Cau Cape
Dinh Cau Shrine sits on a sliver of rock jutting out into the estuary where the Duong Dong River meets the sea. It remains an active spiritual site where fishermen come to pray for safety and success before venturing out on their journeys.
When sunset begins to warm the sky, climb the 29 stone steps to the temple grounds. Pink and orange hues mingle with the darkening sea ahead. To the left, Dinh Cau Beach tapers into the horizon between coconut palms; to the right, the current gently rocks hundreds of moored boats. As the sun touches the waterline and dusk deepens, the lights of squid-fishing boats blink on one by one, twinkling like stars across the ocean.
Ong Lang Beach
Just north of Duong Dong town and its busy harbour, Ong Lang Beach curves gently along the coast, its crescent-shaped sandy bays divided by slabs of black volcanic rock. The fine white sand is fringed by fertile earth from which orchards and gardens thrive. Palm trees and lush tropical foliage shade the trendy cafés and restaurants that dot the area.
Ong Lang has developed enough to be comfortable and convenient — with paved roads, international cuisine, and welcoming bars serving cocktails — yet, without any high-rise hotels, it has managed to retain its grassroots charm and relaxed atmosphere.
Watch the sunset from the sand as the world slowly melts into twilight, surrounded by nature on all sides — trees to the east, volcanic rock to the north and south, and the endless ocean stretching westwards. A short path leads to the Nguyen Trung Truc Shrine, where locals light incense, filling the breeze with a fragrant, prayer-like calm.
An Thoi Archipelago
The An Thoi Archipelago is a cluster of islands to the south of Phu Quoc, each with its own spectacular west-facing beach perfect for sunset watching. Take a boat tour to hop between them, and settle on a stretch of sand to watch the sun melt into the horizon. With little land in any direction, the sea reflects every shade of the sky, wrapping the islands in colour and calm.
Dam Ngang Island is perhaps the most striking viewpoint in the archipelago. Strange rock formations rise dramatically from the water, casting surreal silhouettes against the painted sky as the sun dips below the horizon.
You can take the cable car back to the main island after sunset — or, for a more unconventional and breathtaking experience, hop on the cable car just as the sun begins to set and watch it sink into the ocean from high above the horizon on your return to Phu Quoc.
