Ha Tien to Phu Quoc Ferry: Can You Make It a Day Trip?

Yes, the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry is short enough for a same-day trip, but the actual time on the island depends on the operator and ferry schedule. Here are the current schedules for all four main operators and how to plan a one-day trip without losing hours to transfers.

Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry: Quick overview

Can you visit Phu Quoc in a day from Ha Tien?

Yes, but the real question is how much of your day you are willing to spend getting there and back. The sea crossing is only about 45 km, yet a standard ferry can take 2.5-3 hours each way. Add check-in, boarding, disembarking, and the transfer from Bai Vong Port to your first stop, and a large part of the day can disappear before sightseeing even begins.

That is why choosing the right ferry matters. A high-speed boat can give you several extra hours on the island, while a standard ferry makes more sense if you are bringing a motorbike or car.

Ferry or High-Speed Boat: Which suits a one-day trip?

The key is not to use the time saved by a faster boat to squeeze more attractions into the day. Use it to make the trip more relaxed: have a proper seafood lunch, spend a few hours by the beach, and visit one well-chosen attraction without constantly watching the clock.

If your plan already involves several places scattered across Phu Quoc, staying overnight is usually the more sensible way to experience the island. The ferry can get you there, but it cannot give you more hours once you arrive.

Ferry or High-Speed Boat: Which suits a one-day trip?

Ha Tien or Rach Gia - which mainland port actually saves time?

Ha Tien isn't the only mainland gateway to Phu Quoc, and travelers coming from Ho Chi Minh City sometimes default to Rach Gia simply because it's the more commonly advertised route. By sea, though, Ha Tien is the clearly shorter crossing at roughly 45 km, compared to about 120 km from Rach Gia - which is why Rach Gia's fast boats take closer to two hours or more despite being marketed as "high-speed." 

Rach Gia does have one real advantage: the overland drive from Ho Chi Minh City is about 250 km, roughly 90 km shorter than driving to Ha Tien. For a genuine day-trip attempt, though, the shorter sea crossing from Ha Tien usually wins, since every extra kilometer on the water is time that can't be spent on the island.

Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry schedule: Every operator, every departure

The Ha Tien-Phu Quoc route has several ferry and high-speed boat services, but their schedules are not evenly spaced. For a same-day trip, the outbound departure matters just as much as the return: leaving too late can leave you with very few practical return options.

Current Ha Tien-Phu Quoc ferry schedule

Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry schedule (Source: Binh An Ha Tien)

Phu Quoc Express departure times can vary by operating date, so check the latest schedule for your travel day before booking.

Hoa Binh Ship-02 is currently listed as temporarily suspended on the Ha Tien-Phu Quoc route, so it should not be counted as a regular option when planning a current trip.

Read more: How to Get to Phu Quoc from Ho Chi Minh: Flight, Bus & Ferry

Which departure and return times work best for a day trip?

For the maximum amount of usable time on Phu Quoc, the most practical approach is to take one of the earliest departures from Ha Tien and return on one of the latest services that still fits your travel date. Thanh Thoi currently has the earliest departures, including 03:30, while its latest Phu Quoc → Ha Tien service is 18:00.

That does not necessarily mean the earliest boat is the most comfortable choice. A 03:30 departure means reaching the port well before dawn, so travelers coming from elsewhere in Ha Tien may find the 04:30 or 05:30 departure a more manageable compromise. 

How much does the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry cost?

For the Ha Tien-Phu Quoc route, adult fares generally range from 185,000 to 230,000 VND one way, depending on the operator and vessel. The table below also includes Hoa Binh And Rach Gia high-speed services for price comparison.

Superdong ferry tickets for the Ha Tien - Phu Quoc route start at 230,000 VND per person per trip (Source: mia.vn)

Child-fare rules vary by operator. Thanh Thoi lists children under 1 metre as free, while Binh An offers free travel for children under 6. These conditions can change, so check the operator's latest fare policy before booking.

Can you bring a motorbike or car on the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry?

Yes. Some ferries on the Ha Tien-Phu Quoc route carry bicycles, motorbikes, cars, buses, and commercial vehicles. A bicycle is around 50,000 VND one way, a standard motorbike around 80,000 VND, while larger motorcycles can cost 150,000-200,000 VND depending on the vehicle type.

Cars and larger passenger vehicles are charged at higher rates:

For trucks, the rate depends on weight: vehicles from 500 kg to under 9 tons cost around 1.5-3 million VND, while trucks of 9 tons or more are charged at about 400,000 VND per actual ton. Container transport can range from 6-10 million VND, depending on size.

Some vehicle categories may include a passenger ticket for the driver, or for the driver and an assistant, but this depends on the operator and vehicle type. Confirm the exact policy when booking rather than assuming the driver travels free.

Some ferries on the Ha Tien-Phu Quoc route carry bicycles, motorbikes, cars, buses, and commercial vehicles (Source: Collected)

Additionally, you should have your original Citizen Identity Card and vehicle registration certificate ready, and arrive at the terminal 30-60 minutes before departure to complete procedures and board the ferry as directed by the staff. Before the trip, check the operator's fuel regulations, as some ferries may require you to reduce the fuel level in your tank for safety reasons.

Should you bring your vehicle or leave it in Ha Tien?

For a one-day trip, bringing a motorbike can be convenient if you want to move between several nearby stops without waiting for taxis or arranging a rental after arriving. It also gives you more control over your return to Bai Vong Port, which matters when the final ferry departure is fixed.

A car is less practical for a short visit. Leaving it in Ha Tien means you can travel light and use a taxi or rental vehicle on Phu Quoc instead of dealing with vehicle check-in and loading at the ferry terminal.

How to book Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry tickets

For a one-day trip, book the outbound and return tickets together. The return sailing is just as important as the morning departure because a full or poorly timed boat back to Ha Tien can turn a day trip into an overnight stay.

For a one-day trip, book the outbound and return tickets together (Source: Binh An Ha Tien)

Where to book Ha Tien-Phu Quoc ferry tickets

You can book directly through the operators' online systems or at their ticket counters:

• Phu Quoc Express: online.phuquocexpress.com 
• Binh An Ferry: binhanhatien.vn 
• Superdong: online.superdong.com.vn  
• Thanh Thoi: Check the operator's current ticket office or booking channel

When booking, select Ha Tien → Phu Quoc for the outbound trip and Phu Quoc → Ha Tien for the return. Enter the correct passenger details and add any motorbike or car if you are taking a vehicle.

For a same-day visit, choose the return departure before paying for the outbound ticket. This makes it easier to build the sightseeing plan around the actual ferry times rather than trying to fit a return boat around the itinerary later.

A few small details make the ferry day much easier:

• Arrive at the port early: Give yourself enough time to find the ticket counter, confirm the booking, and get to the boarding area without rushing. Around 45-60 minutes before departure is a useful buffer, especially when travelling with a vehicle.
• Keep the e-ticket and ID together: Save the ticket on your phone and have the required identification document ready. Avoid relying on a screenshot buried among other files when boarding.
• Leave a proper buffer before the return ferry: Do not plan to leave the final attraction at the exact time needed to reach Bai Vong. Traffic, finding transport, and boarding can all take longer than expected.
• Arrange your ride before leaving Bai Vong: Grab or another app-based ride is easier to manage when the booking is made before walking out of the port. If someone offers you a ride and asks you to cancel your existing booking, decline and wait for the vehicle you booked. Before getting in, check that the license plate matches the details shown in the app.
• Keep some cash available: It is useful for small purchases and local transport if the phone signal, app, or card payment is inconvenient around the port.
• Do not assume the port has everything you need: Bai Vong is mainly a transport point, so it is better to use the toilet, buy water, and handle other small needs before boarding or after leaving the port rather than relying on the pier for a long stop.

Read more: Ho Chi Minh City to Mekong Delta Distance: Transport & Travel Time

Cancellation and change policies to check before paying

If booking with Phu Quoc Express, check these conditions before payment:

These conditions are specific to the operator and should not be assumed to apply to Thanh Thoi, Binh An, or Superdong.

For a day trip, one final check is particularly useful: look at the return ticket again the evening before departure. Confirm the departure time, port, and booking details, then plan to reach Bai Vong with enough time for boarding rather than treating the listed departure time as the time to arrive.

A sample one-day itinerary from Ha Tien

A one-day trip from Ha Tien works best with an early ferry and a short list of stops. This route focuses on Sao Beach, Ho Quoc Pagoda and the An Thoi area, keeping the sightseeing mainly in southern Phu Quoc.

• 4:00-4:30am - Ha Tien Ferry Port: Arrive early, check in and prepare for boarding.
• 5:00am - Ha Tien → Phu Quoc: Take an early ferry to Bai Vong Port.
• 8:00-8:30am - Bai Vong Port: Arrive, collect your vehicle or arrange transport, then head south.

Bai Vong Port (Source: Collected)

• 9:00-11:00am - Sao Beach: Spend the morning swimming, walking along the beach or having coffee by the coast.

Spend the morning swimming, walking along the beach (Source: Collected)

• 11:15am-12:00pm - Ho Quoc Pagoda: Visit the temple and take in the sea views.
• 12:15-1:30pm - Southern Phu Quoc: Stop for lunch, with seafood and local dishes being practical choices in this area.
• 1:45-2:45pm - An Thoi area: Make one short afternoon stop at a nearby viewpoint or coastal spot.
• 2:45-3:00pm - Head back to Bai Vong: Start the return journey rather than adding another distant attraction.
• 3:30-4:00pm - Bai Vong Port: Arrive with enough time to return a rental vehicle if needed and complete the boarding process.
• Late afternoon-early evening - Phu Quoc → Ha Tien: Take the return ferry to Ha Tien.

If arranging the ferry, local transport and sightseeing schedule feels too rushed for a one-day trip, let Sinh Cafe Travel take care of the logistics. With years of experience organising trips across Vietnam, Sinh Cafe provides package tours that handle transport and timing, leaving more time to enjoy the journey.

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FAQs

How long does the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry take? 

The standard ferry takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, while high-speed services cover the same 45 km crossing in roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes.

How much does the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry cost? 

Passenger fares generally range from 160,000 to 330,000 VND depending on the operator and ticket class.

Can I bring a car on the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry? 

Yes, vehicle-carrying ferries transport cars, with a 4-5 seat car costing around 850,000 VND per one-way crossing.

Does bad weather affect the Ha Tien to Phu Quoc ferry? 

Yes, rough seas can suspend service entirely. In September 2024, the route stopped running for five days due to force 7-8 gusts before resuming operations.

Is Ha Tien or Rach Gia closer to Phu Quoc? 

By sea, Ha Tien is closer at about 45 km, compared to roughly 120 km from Rach Gia.