Hòn Thơm and the cable car across the sea
Hòn Thơm seen from the air at sunset. Photo: Vivu Vietnam / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
From An Thới at the southern tip of Phu Quoc, a cable car runs out over the sea to Hòn Thơm, the largest island in the An Thới archipelago. The span is around 7.9 kilometres and is recognised as the world's longest non-stop three-rope cable car. It takes roughly fifteen minutes each way.
The ride itself
This is the reason to come. The cabins leave the station above the rooftops of An Thới, cross the fishing harbour — hundreds of blue-hulled boats moored below — and then head out over open water, hopping between two smaller islands on the way. On a clear day you can see straight down through the water to the seabed.
At the other end
Hòn Thơm has beaches, a water park and the usual island-resort infrastructure at the station end, and quieter sand if you walk. Many visitors treat the island as the destination and spend half a day; others ride across, have lunch, and come straight back for the view.
Practical notes
- Late afternoon gives the best light for the crossing, and you come back over a sunset.
- The cabins are enclosed and air-conditioned, but the glass gets bright — sunglasses help.
- Check operating hours and whether the service is running before you drive down; strong wind can suspend it.
- Combine it with Bãi Sao or Bãi Khem in the morning, since all of it is at the same end of the island.
