4-Island Tour vs Private Boat in Phu Quoc

A 4-island group tour is the cheaper and easier choice, while a private speedboat costs more but gives you your own schedule and fewer crowds. One operator lists the group tour at USD 31 (VND 799,000) per person, and one lists a private speedboat for 4 to 10 people at USD 98 to 196 (VND 2,500,000 to 5,000,000) per trip. These are guide figures checked on 5 November 2026.

How much does each option cost per person?

The group tour is priced per person, and the private boat is priced per trip, so you need to divide the private quote by your headcount to compare them fairly.

Each figure comes from only one operator, so treat them as a guide and not as the market. Prices move with the date, the season and the boat. Operators describe group tours as the cheapest and easiest option, and private speedboat tours as costing more.

To compare fairly, ask the private operator for a total quote for your date, divide it by the number of people in your party, and then check what each price covers. Message us on WhatsApp and we arrange it with local partners and confirm the exact price in the chat before you pay.

What does each option usually come with?

Inclusions belong to individual operators, so the safe approach is to ask what your specific quote covers.

For a group tour, some operators include hotel pick-up, transport to An Thoi Port, speedboat transfers, lunch and a guide. One operator reports that the tour returns guests to their hotel at 17:00, that round-trip car and boat transport is part of the price, that a cable car ticket is included, and that fishing equipment and life jackets are provided. A standard south island tour visits two or three snorkeling spots plus a stop at a fishing village. If the weather is bad, one operator says it can swap the pepper farm stop for a visit to a fish sauce factory.

For a private or small-group tour, one operator starts with a pickup from Phu Quoc Airport or your hotel. A private boat generally lets you set the start time and decide which stops to keep.

Ask each operator:

• Does the price include pickup and the return transfer?
• Is lunch included, and what does it cost if not?
• Is a cable car ticket part of the price?
• Are life jackets and snorkel gear provided, and in which sizes?

Which option gives you more freedom over the itinerary and timing?

A private boat gives far more freedom, because the plan is yours and not the group’s.

Operators report that private speedboat tours let you start earlier, avoid busy times, stay longer and skip unwanted stops. A group tour runs on one timetable for everybody. If you want to stay longer at a swimming stop, you usually cannot.

There is now a clear split on Phu Quoc between group tours, which are built for saving money, and private charters, which are built for control. If your plan is flexible and you mainly want to snorkel and see the islands, a group tour will do the job. If you have a fixed idea of what you want from the day, a private boat is the safer bet.

Which option is less crowded and more comfortable?

A private boat is usually quieter and more comfortable, because you share it only with your own party.

Group tours put many passengers on the same route at the same stops. Private trips can avoid the busiest times. Hon Dam is quieter and less developed, and standard group tours rarely visit it, so it is usually reached on private trips.

On any speedboat, operators report that you should wear a life jacket at all times and sit in the designated seats. Confirm the current rules with the operator on the day. Comfort on a group tour often comes from the extras, such as a guide and lunch, rather than from space on the boat.

Which group size favours each option?

Smaller parties tend to get better value from a group tour, and larger parties tend to get better value from a private boat.

If you are travelling with a large party, see Group Boat Day Phu Quoc for 12 People.

Who should choose which?

Pick a group tour if you want to save money and have a simple day. Pick a private boat if you value timing, privacy or a quieter island.

• Choose a group tour if you travel solo or as a couple, you want the lowest cost, and you are happy with a set route and a set return time.
• Choose a private boat if you travel as a family or with friends, you want to start early, stay longer or skip stops, or you want to reach a quieter island such as Hon Dam.

Before you book either one, ask about the cancellation terms. One operator reports that a cancellation received less than 72 hours before arrival, or a no-show, is charged the full package rate, and that a 30% deposit is due once the booking is confirmed. Confirm the current terms before you pay.

What to do next

If the private price is more than you want to spend, read Cheaper Alternatives to a Private Boat Tour. If a private boat looks right, see Private Boat Charter Phu Quoc Full Day Price for the full-day option. Then message us on WhatsApp with your date and headcount, and we will confirm the exact price in the chat before you pay.