📝 Quick Summary
- Private boat charters: $150–$280 half-day, $280–$550 full day (per boat, not per person)
- Two departure marinas: An Thoi (south, best for islands) and Duong Dong (north, sunset cruises)
- An Thoi archipelago route covers 3–5 islands; Hon Thom and Hon Mong Tay are the highlights
- Best season: November–April. June–September: swells often cancel trips
- Groups of 6+ get roughly the same per-person cost as a shared tour — with none of the strangers
- We arrange charters for all our villa guests — no extra fee, we handle the transfer too
📝 Contents
Why Combining a Villa Stay with a Private Boat Charter Works So Well
Most Phu Quoc visitors do island-hopping on a shared group boat — 20 people, a fixed route, and you're back at the dock by 2pm whether you want to be or not. A private charter flips all of that. Your group picks the islands, controls the pace, and has the deck to yourselves.
We've been arranging phu quoc villa yacht charter days for our guests since we started hosting, and the pattern is consistent: guests who do a private charter mid-trip call it the highlight. The combination works because your villa gives you a quiet base to return to — no rushing back to a hotel lobby, no shared shuttle. You leave the dock at 8am, spend the day out on the water, and come back to your pool.
It also removes a logistical headache. Both An Thoi and Duong Dong marinas are 25–45 minutes from most villa areas, and the transfer coordination alone puts people off. When we handle the booking and the pickup, the day becomes genuinely effortless. See our concierge services page for everything we arrange.
An Thoi vs Duong Dong Marina — Which to Depart From?
There are two realistic departure points for private charters on Phu Quoc. They serve different purposes.
An Thoi Marina (South)
An Thoi is the main port town at the island's southern tip, about 28 km by road from Duong Dong (~40–50 minutes). Most island-hopping boats depart from here because the An Thoi archipelago sits just 3–7 km offshore — you're at your first stop within 20 minutes of leaving the dock.
If snorkelling, coral reefs, and uninhabited beaches are the goal, An Thoi is where you start. The transfer from a Long Beach villa takes about 35–40 minutes; from villas near Bai Sao, you're there in 10. We pick up our villa guests, drive them down, and the boat is waiting.
Duong Dong Marina (North)
Duong Dong's pier sits near the river mouth, in the middle of town. It's more convenient for guests staying in the north, and some operators offer sunset cruises that are specifically designed to depart from here — heading south along the coast with drinks and watching the sun drop into the Gulf of Thailand.
For island-hopping, Duong Dong adds roughly 25–35 minutes of sailing each way compared to An Thoi. That's not a dealbreaker for a full-day charter, but on a half-day it eats noticeably into your time at anchor. My honest recommendation: if you want the islands, start from An Thoi. If you want a sunset cruise and your villa is in the north, Duong Dong is fine.
Taxis to An Thoi from Long Beach typically cost 200,000–300,000 VND (~$8–$12 USD) by metered Mai Linh taxi or Grab. We include transfer coordination for all villa guests who book a charter through us — one less thing to organise on the day.
Half-Day and Full-Day Private Charter Costs
Prices are quoted per boat, which is important — a group of 8 paying $350 for a full-day charter is paying $43.75 per person. Compare that to a shared tour at $30–$45 per person and the math starts to look reasonable quickly.
| Charter Type | Duration | Typical Cost (USD) | Per Head (8 pax) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-day, An Thoi | 4–5 hrs | $150–$230 | $19–$29 | 2–3 island stops, no lunch |
| Full-day, An Thoi | 8–9 hrs | $280–$450 | $35–$56 | 4–5 stops, seafood lunch on board |
| Sunset cruise, Duong Dong | 2.5–3 hrs | $120–$200 | $15–$25 | No islands, scenic coastal cruise |
| Full-day, Duong Dong | 8–9 hrs | $320–$550 | $40–$69 | Longer sailing time, fewer island stops |
These ranges are based on 2025–2026 rates from operators we use regularly. Fuel surcharges and peak-season markups (December–January, April) can push prices 15–20% higher. Always confirm the total with fuel and lunch included before you agree.
The biggest variable is vessel quality. A basic wooden motorboat at the lower end of the price range is perfectly adequate — they're stable, have shade canopies, and get you to the same reefs. Paying more buys you a newer, faster speedboat or a proper sailboat-style catamaran. We'll tell you honestly which operator fits your group's priorities. Check our villa amenities page for a full list of experiences we can arrange.
The An Thoi Archipelago Route — What to Expect
The An Thoi archipelago has 15 islands scattered across roughly 100 km² south of Phu Quoc. A standard full-day private charter visits 3–5 of them, depending on sea conditions and how long you want to stay at each stop.
Hon Thom (Pineapple Island)
Almost every charter includes Hon Thom. It's the largest island in the group — about 7 km² — with a proper white sand beach on its western side, calm shallow water for swimming, and a small restaurant. It's also where the Hon Thom cable car terminus is located, so by late morning it can have day-trippers from the cable car side. Arrive before 10am if you want the beach to yourselves.
Hon Mong Tay (Finger Island)
Our personal favourite stop. A narrow spit of white sand barely 400 metres long, with turquoise water on both sides and almost no facilities — just a few palms and the reef below. Snorkelling visibility around the northern tip is typically 8–15m in dry season. We've had guests wade straight off the boat into 1.5m of water with fish at their feet. The island is small enough that if you arrive before the group tours, you might have it to yourself for 45 minutes.
Hon Dam (Prison Island)
Worth including on a full-day charter for the history rather than the beach. A French colonial-era prison complex sits in the jungle interior, accessible by a short walk from the landing point. The reef on the eastern side has decent coral for snorkelling — not as vivid as Hon Mong Tay, but the fish life is good.
Hon Gam Ghi and Smaller Stops
Depending on sea conditions and how much time you spend at the main stops, your captain may add Hon Gam Ghi or one of the smaller unnamed islands for a drift-snorkel. These spots come and go with current and weather — let the captain decide rather than insisting on a fixed fourth stop.
For a longer read on the southern part of the island, see our post on things to do in Phu Quoc — there's a full section on day trips from An Thoi.
What Does a Private Phu Quoc Boat Charter Include?
Standard inclusions on a full-day private charter from An Thoi:
- Captain and one crew member
- Fuel for the full itinerary
- Snorkelling masks, fins, and life jackets for all passengers
- Cooler with ice
- Fresh seafood lunch cooked on board — typically grilled fish, squid, and prawns, plus rice and a vegetable dish
- Drinking water (usually 500ml bottles per person)
- Mooring time at 4–5 stops
Half-day charters usually drop lunch and include just water. Beer, wine, and spirits are almost always bring-your-own — there's a small convenience store in An Thoi town, 200 metres from the main pier, where you can stock up before boarding. The operator's cooler and ice are yours to use.
One thing that surprises guests: the seafood lunch on full-day charters is genuinely good. The crew buys fresh that morning and grills it on a small charcoal setup on the boat's stern. It's not a full restaurant experience, but it's consistently better than the fixed meals on group tours. That said, if anyone in your group has specific dietary requirements, tell us when booking — we pass it to the captain and they usually sort it.
Group Size and Vessel Types
Private charters in Phu Quoc typically accommodate 6–15 passengers, and the vessel type matters more than most people realise before they get on the water.
Wooden speedboats (6–8 passengers): Faster, more nimble, better for reaching the outer reefs before the group tours arrive. The smaller size means they sit lower in the water — fine in calm seas, but on days when there's any chop (October, May), you'll feel it more than on a larger vessel.
Traditional covered wooden boats (10–15 passengers): The kind with a thatched canopy over the main deck. Slower, more stable, much more comfortable for families with kids or for groups who want to lounge rather than sprint between islands. The roof gives shade for everyone simultaneously, which is genuinely useful.
For groups of 4 or fewer, a full private charter is harder to justify economically — you end up paying for 6+ seats whether you fill them. We'd suggest a reputable shared tour instead, or talk to us about what makes sense for your dates. See our FAQ for more on what we recommend for different group sizes.
Best Season for Phu Quoc Private Boat Charter
November through April is the window to book. Seas are calm across the archipelago — typically 0.2–0.5m swells through peak dry season — and snorkelling visibility reaches 10–20m at the better reef spots. Sunrise over the islands is around 5:50–6:20am in this period; charters usually depart 7:30–8:00am to arrive at the first stop in morning light.
May is the transition month. Conditions can still be excellent in early May, but the southwest monsoon builds fast. By late May, operators start having cancellation days. June, July, and August are the roughest months — swells of 1–2 metres regularly make the An Thoi crossing uncomfortable, and many operators suspend private charters entirely or reduce to sunset cruises from Duong Dong only.
September and October are hit-and-miss. Some September mornings are perfectly calm; others are not. Operators will cancel with 24-hour notice if conditions aren't right, which is the correct call but can disrupt trip planning. If you're travelling in this window, don't build your entire itinerary around a charter day — keep a backup activity ready.
December and January are peak demand. Book 5–7 days in advance minimum; over Christmas week and Vietnamese Tet, some operators are taken 2–3 weeks out. January in particular has the best combination of calm seas, clear skies, and low humidity — if you can plan around it, the best charter days of the year are in January.
For context on how season affects the broader villa stay, our guide on best areas for villas in Phu Quoc covers the seasonal trade-offs in detail.
Private Charter vs Group Island-Hopping Tour
Shared group tours run $30–$45 per person and typically include 3–4 island stops with 60–90 fixed minutes at each. They work fine. For a solo traveller or a couple, they're probably the right call.
Where private charters pull ahead: you spend 90 minutes at Hon Mong Tay instead of 45 if you want to. You skip the stop that's crowded and go to one that isn't. You eat lunch at the pace your group wants, not when the crew rings a bell. That flexibility has a real value — especially with kids, who don't always want to leave a beach when a tour schedule says so.
We've had guests do both on the same trip: a shared tour early in the week to see if they like the islands, then come back to us to book a private charter for the last day. That's actually a smart approach.
FAQ — Phu Quoc Villa Yacht Charter & Private Boat
A private boat charter in Phu Quoc costs roughly $150–$280 USD for a half-day (4–5 hours) and $280–$550 USD for a full day (8–9 hours), depending on vessel size, departure marina, and season. Rates are per boat, not per person — so larger groups get significantly better per-head value.
An Thoi marina in the south is the better choice if your main goal is the An Thoi archipelago islands and snorkelling — you save 25–35 minutes of sailing each way compared to departing from Duong Dong. Duong Dong marina suits guests whose villa is in the north and who want a sunset cruise rather than a full island-hopping day.
Most private charters include the captain, fuel, snorkelling masks and fins, a basic cooler with ice, and mooring stops at 2–4 islands. Fresh seafood lunch (grilled fish, squid, prawns cooked on board) is usually included on full-day charters and is an optional add-on for half-day trips. Drinking water and soft drinks are typically included; beer and spirits are bring-your-own or extra.
Typical private charter vessels in Phu Quoc carry 6–15 passengers. Smaller wooden speedboats take 6–8 people and are nimbler around shallow reefs. Larger traditional wooden boats (the kind with a roof canopy) take 10–15 and are more comfortable for families. Always confirm the licensed passenger capacity when booking, not the claimed maximum.
November through April is the best season for private boat charters in Phu Quoc. Seas are calm, visibility is 10–20 metres for snorkelling, and rain is rare. May sees increasingly choppy conditions as the southwest monsoon builds; June through September brings swells of 1–2 metres that make many operators suspend services entirely. Some operators run limited charters in October when conditions begin improving.
The standard An Thoi island-hopping route from Phu Quoc visits 3–5 islands from the 15-island archipelago. Hon Thom (Pineapple Island) is almost always included — it has a white sand beach, calm water, and a restaurant. Hon Mong Tay (Finger Island), Hon Dam (Prison Island), and Hon Gam Ghi are typical additional stops, depending on sea conditions and charter length.
Yes — we arrange private boat charters for all our villa guests. We work with two operators out of An Thoi and one out of Duong Dong marina, and we handle the booking, negotiate the price, and organise the transfer from your villa to the pier. Tell us your group size, preferred date, and whether you want a half or full day; we'll sort the rest.
For groups of 6 or more, a private charter typically works out the same price per person as a shared group tour — sometimes cheaper — while giving you your own schedule, no strangers on board, a flexible route, and the option to linger at a spot you love. For couples or groups of 3–4, shared tours are better value unless privacy is a priority.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen (required by most operators), a hat, prescription snorkelling masks if you need them (rental gear is basic), a dry bag for phones, and extra cash for beer or tips. Long-sleeved swimwear is useful for people who burn easily — the reflection off the water is intense, especially November to February when the sun angle is lower but UV remains high.
Book 48–72 hours in advance in low season (May–October) and at least 5–7 days ahead during peak season (December–January and April). The An Thoi archipelago gets busy over Christmas and Vietnamese Tet holidays — some operators are fully booked 2–3 weeks out. If your trip is during peak season, book before you even fly in.
Ready to Add a Private Charter to Your Villa Stay?
Tell us your group size and dates — we'll confirm availability with our operators and send you a quote within a few hours