Phú Quốc 30-Day Visa-Free for Everyone

Phú Quốc — the large island in the Gulf of Thailand, administratively part of Kiên Giang province — has a special visa arrangement: citizens of all nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, provided they fly directly to the island and stay on the island.

This is unique in Vietnam and aimed squarely at developing Phú Quốc's tourism economy.

Who it applies to

Every nationality. No exceptions.

Conditions

• Direct entry to Phú Quốc International Airport (PQC) from an international origin. You cannot use this scheme if you fly first to Hanoi, HCMC, Đà Nẵng, etc.
• Maximum 30 days on the island.
• You must remain in Phú Quốc for the duration of your visa-free stay. To travel to the Vietnamese mainland, you need a proper visa.

What it lets you do

• 30 days of island tourism.
• Multiple entries within a single 30-day period (you can hop to Cambodia and back, for example, on the same visa-free permission).

What it does not let you do

• Travel to the mainland. If you want to combine Phú Quốc with HCMC, Hanoi, Hội An, etc., apply for the e-visa instead. (You can fly to Phú Quốc via HCMC on the e-visa, no problem.)
• Stay longer than 30 days — extension is not possible under this scheme.

How it works at the airport

Show up at PQC on a direct international flight. At immigration, present your passport (6+ months validity) and a return ticket leaving Vietnam within 30 days. Immigration stamps you in. No paperwork; no fee.

Practical use cases

• A short Vietnam-only beach trip.
• A side-trip from Phnom Penh or Bangkok.
• A "mini-Vietnam" visit to see if the country is for you — though you'd be seeing the most tourist-developed corner.

What to know about the island itself

• Phú Quốc has changed dramatically since the 2010s — heavy resort development on the north and south coasts (notably around Phú Quốc United Centre and Vinpearl).
• The interior is still partly national park.
• The night market in Dương Đông is the food highlight.
• Squid fishing trips, snorkelling, and beach time are the main activities.
• The famous fish sauce of Phú Quốc has protected designation status; small family producers still bottle it.

If you want to extend

You can't extend visa-free entry, but you can leave the island (fly home or to a neighbouring country) and then re-enter Vietnam on the e-visa for a longer stay. Some people do this routinely.

What this does NOT let you do

• Travel to the Vietnamese mainland — this permission is island-only. Leaving Phú Quốc for Hồ Chí Minh City, Hà NộiHà Nội (Ha Noi)hah noyCapital of Vietnam, in the north. Population ~8 million. 1,000+ years as a Vietnamese capital., Đà Nẵng, or any other mainland destination voids your visa-free status; you need a valid e-visa or other visa to re-enter mainland Vietnam.
• Stay beyond 30 days — no extension is available under the Phú Quốc scheme. Anyone who needs more time should apply for the standard 90-day e-visa before travelling.
• Take paid employment with any Vietnamese employer — working for a Vietnamese entity requires a work permit and the appropriate visa class (typically LD). The Phú Quốc visa-free arrangement is a tourism-only concession.
• Establish tax residency or a business presence — the 30-day tourism entry does not confer any right to register a company, open a Vietnamese business bank account, or accumulate days toward tax residency; anyone pursuing those paths may need to verify requirements with a Vietnamese immigration lawyer.
• Use this scheme if you arrive via a mainland airport — flying Hà Nội → Phú Quốc on a domestic connection does not count as a direct international arrival; the exemption requires an inbound international flight landing at PQC.

Refer to the digital nomad reality check or the retirement reality check where remote work or retirement comes up — Vietnam has no confirmed general route for either.

Verify before acting. Visa rules change. Confirm with the Vietnamese embassy in your country or evisa.gov.vn before relying on any specific limitation here.