Unexpected Fees on Phu Quoc Boat Tours

The extras to watch for are a transfer surcharge outside the main pickup areas, holiday surcharges and meals that are not in the tour price. One operator lists a round-trip transfer outside Duong Dong Town, Bai Truong and An Thoi at USD 11 to 27 (VND 290,000 to 690,000) per group, a guide range checked on 5 November 2026.

What extra fees are common at An Thoi pier and on the tour?

Most surprise charges fall into four groups: transfers, holiday dates, meals and add-ons chosen on the day.

Operators and local sources report these:

• Transfers. Pickup and drop-off are free in Duong Dong Town, Bai Truong and An Thoi on one operator’s tour. Outside those areas, a transfer may be charged. One operator lists a round-trip transfer outside those areas at USD 11 to 27 (VND 290,000 to 690,000) per group. Some operators charge per person instead, so ask which applies. The same operator reports that Ham Ninh and the east coast are not served by its snorkel tour pickup.
• Holiday surcharges. A surcharge may apply on Vietnamese public holidays, Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year, confirmed before the tour. Local sources name New Year, Tet, 30 April to 1 May and 2 September.
• Meals. One operator reports that lunch and dinner are not included in its tour price. Some other operators include lunch.
• Add-ons on the day. Extra drinks, snacks and gear can be offered once you are on the boat. Decide before you leave whether you want them, and ask the price first.

The table summarises what to check. Amounts for items not in the table depend on the date and operator.

What fees are usually charged on top of the tour price?

The ones that most often sit outside the tour price are transfers outside the main pickup area, holiday surcharges, meals and add-ons.

For a plain 4-island speedboat tour, one operator lists a range of USD 29 to 45 (VND 750,000 to 1,150,000) per adult, a guide range checked on 5 November 2026. A quote far outside that range is a reason to ask what is in it. Prices that include the cable car or a buffet are listed higher, so do not compare them with a plain tour.

If a seller adds a charge that was not in the original quote, ask them to show you where it was agreed. Operators differ, and one operator advertises transparent pricing with no commission stops such as sea walking or pearl-farm shopping. That is one operator’s claim, so ask whether your tour has any extra stops that are not in the quote.

What should already be included in the price?

The tour price should cover what the operator states in your written quote, and nothing more can be assumed.

Inclusions belong to individual operators. Some operators include pickup, a boat transfer, lunch, snorkel gear, life jackets and drinking water, and some do not. Do not assume that every tour includes these items. Instead, ask for the answer to each question in writing:

• Is pickup and drop-off included at my hotel, and is there a surcharge?
• Is lunch included, and if not, how much is it?
• Is snorkel gear included, and what sizes are available?
• Are there entrance or cable car fees?
• Is there a surcharge on my date?
• Will the boat make any stop that is not in the quote?

How do you ask for the full price in writing?

Message the operator before you pay and ask for one total price that lists what is included and what is not.

You can copy this short message:

“Hello, I would like a total price for [number] people on [date] for the 4-island tour. Please list what is included, what is not, my pickup point, any holiday surcharge and the return time. I will pay the total you confirm.”

Save the reply. If you book through us, we arrange it with local partners and confirm the exact price in the chat before you pay. Keep the messages on your phone so you can show them at the pier.

How do you refuse an extra fee politely?

Stay calm, stay friendly, and point to the written price you agreed.

Try these steps:

1. Say, “I agreed the total price in writing. Can you show me where this extra charge was agreed?”
2. Show the message from your phone.
3. If the charge is a real new service you want, such as extra drinks, ask the price first and decide.
4. If the staff insist on a charge you did not agree to, take photos of any posted prices and ask for a receipt.
5. Message us on WhatsApp with the details if the booking came through us.

A polite, steady tone works better than an argument, and a written price makes the conversation short.

What to do next

To see how very cheap quotes can hide extras, read Cheap 4-Island Tour Scams in Phu Quoc. For the typical per-person cost of the main tour, see 4-Island Tour Price From An Thoi Per Person. For the booking steps, see How to Book a 4-Island Tour From An Thoi. Then message us on WhatsApp with your date and pickup point.