Koh Rong or Phu Quoc? This is a tough question. Choosing between two stunning islands is never easy. The good news is that I am here to help you! I have visited both Koh Rong – Cambodia and Phu Quoc – Vietnam and I have spent one week on each of the islands.
I must say, they are both beautiful places but they are totally different in terms of accessibility, infrastructure, food, accommodation and beaches. I will break down each of the criteria above and help you decide which one is the perfect fit for you.
If you want to read my full Koh Rong travel guide, click here.
1. Accessibility
Koh Rong
Getting to Koh Rong is quite easy if you plan to stay at Koh Touch Beach. You will have to take the ferry (one hour) from Sihanoukville for $22 round trip. However, if you plan to go to any other beach in Koh Rong, you will have to take a taxi boat from Koh Touch which usually costs about $7/ person one way.
Phu Quoc
There are two options to get to Phu Quoc: by ferry or by plane. If you choose the ferry, you can only reach Phu Quoc from Vietnam. Although the island is closer to Cambodia, there are no routes yet. There are two starting points for the ferry: you can either take the ferry from Ha Tien or Rach Gia. Depending on which type of ferry you will choose (fast or slow), the trip will take between 45 minutes and 3 hours and a half. For ferry schedules please click here.
Conclusion
I think that Phu Quoc is definitely easier to reach. The airport is a plus and the ferry works quite well and it arrives on schedule.
2. Infrastructure
Koh Rong
Infrastructure in Koh Rong is close to nonexistent. The best way to get around the island is by boat. Tip: boats from Koh Touch are more expensive. Always buy a one way ticket from Koh Touch and the return ticket from the destination beach.
Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc has great infrastructure: wide roads, making any part of the island easily accessible. You can get around the island by taxi or scooter. I definitely recommend renting a scooter since it is the cheapest option (it should cost around 4-5$ per day). If you are wondering where you can rent a scooter, you can usually rent it from hostels, hotels or guesthouses.
Conclusion
By far, Phu Quoc is the winner again. With a great infrastructure, you can get easily anywhere on this island.
3. Food
Koh Rong
Depending on the beach you are visiting, food options can be limited or plentiful. Koh Touch is the best beach to go to if you like variety. However, beaches like Sok San or Coconut Beach have fewer food options. Here you might consider a bigger budget for food since the only restaurants are at hotels.
Phu Quoc
Finding food in Phu Quoc is not a problem. There are many restaurants and fruit markets all over the island. You can choose between both local and international dishes and the prices are accessible.
Conclusion
It seems that Phu Quoc keeps winning. Also, I found food prices in Phu Quoc slightly cheaper.
4. Accommodation
Koh Rong
My only advice about accommodation in Koh Rong would be to book well in advance. If you book last minute, chances are you won’t have so many places to choose from. Also, keep in mind that most of the hostels/ guesthouses on the island do not have hot water. If hot water and electricity are important to you, definitely go for a resort or hotel.
Below are my recommendations for accommodation in Koh Rong, for every budget:
- Budget – Sweet Dreams Hotel – beautiful pool, situated right on the beach, clean rooms, great breakfast included
- Mid-budget – Tamu Resort – incredible location, excellent staff & breakfast, spacious rooms
- Luxury – Sok San Beach Resort – beautiful pristine beach, great restaurant, friendly staff, perfect for families
Phu Quoc
From hotels, resorts, hostels or guesthouses, Phu Quoc has it all. There are options for any budget. I’ve searched for the best accommodation around the island and below are my recommendations:
- Budget – Azura Resort – excellent location, amazing pool, spacious & clean rooms, great breakfast
- Mid-budget – Green Bay Resort – rustic architecture, beautiful pool, excellent breakfast and clean rooms
- Luxury – Lahana Resort – eco-friendly, fantastic pool, excellent service & breakfast, beautiful rooms
Conclusion
And the winner is…. Phu Quoc again!
5. Beaches
Koh Rong
Are you a party animal? Koh Touch Beach has you covered. Are you looking for a bit more privacy? Sok San Beach is the one. The good thing about Koh Rong is that it has beaches for everyone. I loved that the beaches were not crowded and the sunsets were just mesmerizing.
Click here to check out my Sok San Beach Resort review.
Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc has many beautiful beaches to choose from. If you like marine life, you can visit the Starfish Beach or if you just want to relax in the sun, I definitely recommend Long Beach. The beaches in Phu Quoc are clean and the water is perfect for swimming.
Conclusion
I would call this a tie. Both islands have beautiful beaches. I just cannot decide which one I liked more. However, if I had to choose only one winner it would be Koh Rong because the beaches here were not crowded.
Koh Rong or Phu Quoc?
Even though it seems that Phu Quoc is the best option, it really depends on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a quiet place, far away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, then definitely go for Koh Rong. However, if you are looking for an island with all the amenities of big cities, then Phu Quoc is the right choice for you.
May the travel bug bite you!
More about Cambodia:
- A complete travel guide to Koh Rong – click here
- Top 10 Angkor Wat Instagrammable places – click here
- How to get your Vietnam visa from Sihanoukville – click here
Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!
Such a good way to compare both – very useful!! Cannot believe scooters are only $4 a day, definitely adding to the bucketlist!
Missing island life in South East Asia!!! Beautiful photos hun. Luckily I will be visiting both of these islands next trip but this is great info to prepare for each location.