Phu Quoc Island's night changes its look all at once when the lights come on along Vo Thi Sau Street. In the heart of Duong Dong town, this night market, where 167 stalls pack into a 412-meter street, is one of the largest in southern Vietnam. The smoke of charcoal-grilled seafood, the sweet scent of sim wine, and the calls of souvenir shops selling pepper and fish sauce mingle, and tourists and locals alike walk through the same heat. It's a place with island-only ingredients and souvenirs you can buy nowhere else.
An entrance that draws you in with the scent of charcoal-grilled seafood
The first things to catch your eye as you step into the market are the rows of live tanks and charcoal grills. Many of the 68 food stalls handle seafood, and customers point at the fish and shellfish laid out on ice to have them grilled. Grilled sea urchin drizzled with scallion oil is 45,000 to 60,000 VND (about 270 to 360 yen), and rock oysters are 20,000 to 30,000 VND each (about 120 to 180 yen), prices befitting a seaside island. Crab stir-fried with salt and pepper is 280,000 to 350,000 VND a kilo (about 1,680 to 2,100 yen). Grilled squid eaten with a pineapple fish sauce dip (85,000 to 120,000 VND, about 510 to 720 yen) is another popular plate.
The island specialty "bun ken" and sim wine
What you'll want to try between servings of seafood is Phu Quoc's local noodle, "bun ken." It's a coconut-flavored noodle soup made with mackerel, at 35,000 to 50,000 VND (about 210 to 300 yen). The right way is to slurp it at a stall table among the locals. Afterward, have sim wine, made from the fruit of the sim (rose myrtle) that grows wild on the island. It ranges from about 75,000 VND by the glass or small bottle, up to around 350,000 VND (about 2,100 yen) for a large gift-size bottle. To finish, coconut ice cream (30,000 to 45,000 VND, about 180 to 270 yen) is the standard.
Souvenirs to take home: fish sauce, pepper, pearls
Phu Quoc is a famous producer of fish sauce (nuoc mam) and black pepper, and souvenir shops line the back of the market. Fish sauce starts at 70,000 VND for a small bottle, with a well-aged large bottle running about 650,000 VND (about 3,900 yen). Black pepper is 50,000 to 180,000 VND per 100 g (about 300 to 1,080 yen), with the price changing by the strength of the aroma. The island is also known for pearl farming, and pearl accessories range widely from the 200,000-VND range to serious pieces; hand-woven beach bags (120,000 to 350,000 VND, about 720 to 2,100 yen) also make welcome souvenirs.
A market that's become easier to walk, and how to enjoy it
A 2025 renovation introduced 215 energy-saving LED lights, making the aisles brighter and easier to walk than before. The crowd peaks around 8 p.m., so if you want to shop at leisure go around 5 p.m. right after opening, and if you want to soak up the energy, after 8 p.m. is recommended. Admission is free. Since some seafood is priced by market rate, it's reassuring to confirm the weight and price before ordering.
| Shop name | Phu Quoc Night Market (Phu Quoc Night Market) |
|---|---|
| Address | 74 Vo Thi Sau, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc (Duong Dong town) |
| Specialty | Grilled sea urchin, salt-and-pepper crab, grilled squid, bun ken, sim wine, coconut ice cream |
| Price guide | Light meals from 35,000 VND (about 210 yen), seafood at market rate, souvenirs from 70,000 VND |
| Hours | Daily 5:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (until around midnight in the busy season), free admission |
| Access | 167 shops along a 412 m street in central Duong Dong town |
Summary
The Phu Quoc Night Market is the star of the night, where you can enjoy the island's seafood and local souvenirs all at once. Fill up on freshly grilled seafood and choose fish sauce, pepper, and sim wine as souvenirs, and you can take the memories of your trip home just as they are. If you're looking for a place to stay in the same Phu Quoc,Park Hyatt Phu Quocthis article is also a useful reference. For the latest trends in Vietnamese souvenirs,see this feature,and for other experience spots like the sea-of-clouds cafe,the Da Lat cafe articleintroduces them too.
Source: Vietnam Marvel Travel
