An Thoi Market – Preserving the Local Rhythm of Life in the Heart of Phu Quoc

An Thoi Market is located in the center of An Thoi Town (now An Thoi Ward, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province), right on Nguyen Van Cu Street, just a few hundred meters from An Thoi Port. It is about 23–30 km south of Duong Dong center. Its prime location next to the largest fishing port in the south ensures a steady supply of freshly landed seafood. You can easily combine a market visit with nearby popular attractions: Hon Thom Cable Car, Sao Beach, Khem Beach, or Phu Quoc Prison.

Popular ways to get there:

• Taxi/Grab: 300,000–450,000 VND/one way (from Duong Dong).
• Self-drive motorbike: 150,000–200,000 VND/day, good and easy-to-ride roads.
• Bus or tour: Many South Island Phu Quoc tours include An Thoi Market.

The market operates from around 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily (may close early during bad weather). However, the best time to visit is from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, when seafood has just landed, ensuring maximum freshness and the most bustling market atmosphere.

An Thoi Market has a long history, originating as a small coastal market serving the trading needs of residents in fishing villages such as Cay Dua and Dam. Over time, along with the development of An Thoi Port—one of the oldest and most important fishing ports in Phu Quoc—the market gradually expanded to become the largest seafood purchasing and distribution hub in the southern part of the island.

Historically and administratively, the An Thoi area was once a hamlet under Phu Quoc Canton during the reign of King Minh Mang, later becoming An Thoi Commune during the Republic of Vietnam period. Notably, near the market is the Phu Quoc Prison historical site (Coconut Tree Prison), an important historical artifact that contributes to the cultural depth and traditional values of this area.

Today, despite Phu Quoc's rapid growth in tourism and infrastructure, An Thoi Market still retains its original rustic and authentic charm. Simple stalls, modest awnings, and traditional roadside trading spaces remain largely untouched by the wave of commercialization. For this reason, An Thoi Market is often described as “preserving the local rhythm of life in the heart of Phu Quoc,” a rare destination that fully preserves the soul of an ancient fishing village amidst modern tourism growth.

Visiting An Thoi Market, tourists can easily feel the abundance of local seafood with hundreds of varieties freshly caught by fishermen and brought ashore daily.

Featured Items

• Fresh seafood: Ham Ninh flower crab, herring, squid, cuttlefish, sea urchins, mantis shrimp, sweet snails, blood cockles, abalone, sea cucumber… all fresh and high quality.
• Dried seafood: Sun-dried squid, dried shrimp, dried yellowstripe scad, crispy dried crab (priced around 300,000 – 700,000 VND/kg).
• Phu Quoc specialties: Traditional fish sauce, Phu Quoc pepper, sim wine, wild forest honey, and local fruits like Siamese coconut, Cat mango, dragon fruit.

Reference Prices

• Fresh seafood: around 150,000 – 300,000 VND/kg (depending on type and season)
• Grilled sea urchin: 50,000 – 80,000 VND/piece
• Fresh squid: 200,000 – 350,000 VND/kg

In particular, vendors at the market are very friendly, ready to clean, cook on the spot, or pack in styrofoam boxes with ice (fee around 20,000 – 50,000 VND) for easy transport home.

Not only a place for buying seafood, An Thoi Market is also considered a “street food paradise” with affordable prices and authentic local flavors.

Must-Try Dishes

• Bun quay (Stirred noodle soup): a prominent specialty with fresh noodles combined with shrimp, squid, fish, and fresh herbs, priced at around 30,000 – 50,000 VND/bowl
• Herring salad (Goi ca trich): harmonious sweet and sour taste, served with refreshing fresh greens
• Seafood prepared on the spot: grilled sea urchin with scallion oil, lemongrass steamed crab, grilled squid with chili salt, crab noodle soup, sea urchin porridge…
• Drinks & Desserts: young coconut smoothie, refreshing mung bean sweet soup with coconut milk

The highlight is that all dishes are prepared directly from fresh ingredients, ensuring deliciousness, cleanliness, and food safety for diners.

To ensure your exploration of An Thoi Market in Phu Quoc goes smoothly and completely, you should prepare some practical tips in advance to optimize your time and experience.

Tips You Shouldn't Miss

• Go early between 6 AM - 10 AM to buy the freshest seafood; afternoon is suitable for choosing dried goods
• Bargain politely; you can get about a 10 – 20% discount when buying in large quantities
• Prioritize crowded stalls, check quality carefully before paying
• Carry small-denomination cash and keep personal belongings safe
• Ideal time: from November to April, dry weather, abundant seafood

Just by remembering these tips, you can easily enjoy the full beauty and distinct rhythm of life at An Thoi Market in the most convenient and memorable way.

An Thoi Market is not merely a trading place but also a space that vividly reflects the daily life and local culture of Phu Quoc residents. Every fresh seafood stall, rustic food dish, and friendly vendor creates a lively, warm, and highly attractive picture. For those who want to explore Phu Quoc in a deeper way—beyond just relaxation to discovering local culture—An Thoi Market is an ideal stop. It is also the place that allows you to fully feel the “breath” of the island region in every everyday moment.