Phu Quoc's main night market is Phu Quoc Night Market, also called Bach Dang Night Market (formerly Dinh Cau Night Market), at 6 Bach Dang Street in central Duong Dong. As of October 2026 it opens every evening from roughly 5–6 pm until about 11 pm. Go for grilled seafood, sea urchin, goi ca trich (raw herring salad), banh mi, rolled ice cream and local sweets, and take home Phu Quoc pepper and fish sauce. To avoid overpaying, check whether a price is per 100 g or per kilo, and have your seafood weighed in front of you.
What the market is called and whether it is open
You will see it under several names: Dinh Cau Night Market, Phu Quoc Night Market, Duong Dong Night Market. The market originally sat next to Dinh Cau, the little shrine on the rocks at the mouth of the Duong Dong River, and in 2016 its stalls were merged with the market on Bach Dang Street. Today it is one place: a street about 500 metres long with around 100 kiosks and five entrances. One side is tanks and ice displays of seafood plus street food; the other is souvenirs, pearls, pepper, fish sauce and sim berry wine.
Its status matters. The market's lease ended on 31 December 2025 and trading was extended through Tet and beyond. According to local press on 23 October 2026, the market is operating, but it is expected to close at this site at the end of 2026. Island authorities say the night market will not disappear and they are looking for a new location. If you are travelling in 2027, check recent Google Maps reviews or ask your hotel.
- Hours: about 5 pm to 11 pm, busiest from 7 to 10 pm; the island's official tourism portal lists 6 pm to 11:30 pm. Check on the day.
- Best time: 6–7 pm, when it is calmer, the seafood is freshest and tables are easy to find.
- Other night markets: VUI-Fest Bazaar in Sunset Town in the south, the Grand World walking streets in the north, and the night market on the Sonasea walking street in the Bai Truong (Long Beach) area.
What to eat at Phu Quoc Night Market
- Grilled seafood. Prawns, squid, scallops and oysters topped with scallion oil (mỡ hành), and crab — Ham Ninh crab is a local point of pride. Pick it live and it is cooked in front of you.
- Grilled sea urchin (nhum nướng) — the roe is baked in the shell with scallion oil and peanuts.
- Goi ca trich (gỏi cá trích) — the island's signature dish: raw herring cured in lime juice with onion, grated coconut and roasted peanuts. You wrap it in rice paper with herbs and dip it in a fish-sauce dressing.
- Banh mi — a baguette with pâté, meat, pickles and herbs, the classic quick bite.
- Rolled ice cream — mixed with fruit on an icy plate and scraped into rolls.
- Local sweets: banh bo thot not (spongy palm sugar cakes), banh kheo, keo chi (fine sugar threads in rice paper), shaved coconut with palm syrup, and grilled rice paper with egg, often called Vietnamese pizza.
- Chou Chou peanuts — more than 30 flavours, with free tasting.
| What | Rough price (October 2026, check locally) |
|---|---|
| Grilled seafood skewer | 20,000–30,000 VND |
| Goi ca trich, portion for two | 100,000–150,000 VND |
| Rolled ice cream | 25,000–50,000 VND |
| Keo chi | about 20,000 VND |
| Banh bo thot not | about 5,000 VND each |
| Grilled rice paper | 15,000–25,000 VND |
| Coconut with palm syrup | 30,000–40,000 VND |
How to choose seafood and not overpay
Most surprise bills come from confusion about units, not outright cheating. Price tags are often per 100 grams rather than per kilo.
- Read the unit. A sign saying "120,000 / 100 g" means 1,200,000 VND per kilo, so a 700 g crab costs 840,000. Ask "per 100 grams or per kilo?" — vendors hear it all the time.
- Choose live seafood. Crabs and prawns in the tank should be moving, and shellfish should be closed. Skip anything that has been sitting on ice for a long time.
- Watch the weighing. Keep your eyes on the scale display and make sure there is no water in the bowl or bag.
- Agree on the total before cooking. Ask for it on paper or on a calculator, and confirm whether cooking is included and how it will be prepared: grilled, steamed, with garlic or with tamarind.
- Stay nearby while your order is cooked, and check the bill before paying.
Prices are seasonal: they climb during Tet and the high season. In February 2026 a visitor complained about paying 300,000 VND (about US$11.50) for a plate of six tiger prawns at a Phu Quoc restaurant; locals noted at the time that holiday restaurant prices can be two to three times the market price. Most stalls take cash in Vietnamese dong, so carry small notes; cards and QR payments are not accepted everywhere.
How to bargain and what to take home
Haggling over food and seafood with posted prices is not the norm — at most you can ask for a discount on a large order. Souvenirs, clothes and costume jewellery are a different story: bargain politely and with a smile, aiming for about 10–20% below the first price. If you cannot agree, simply walk on; the next stall almost certainly sells the same thing.
- Pearls. Cheap market pearls are often freshwater or imitation. For genuine Phu Quoc sea pearls, a pearl farm that issues a certificate is the safer bet.
- Pepper. Phu Quoc is known for its black pepper; buy it factory-sealed, whole, ground or mixed with salt and lime.
- Fish sauce. "Phu Quoc" is a protected designation of origin in the EU: only sauce made and bottled on the island can carry the name. Buy sealed plastic bottles. Vietnam Airlines allows up to 3 litres of odorous liquids in checked baggage, in plastic bottles with taped lids packed in foam boxes, and advises against carrying them in hand luggage (airline rules). Other carriers have their own rules, so check before you buy.
Food safety
- Choose busy stalls: high turnover means nothing sits around.
- Eat food that is cooked in front of you and served hot.
- Goi ca trich and raw oysters are raw fish and shellfish. If you have a sensitive stomach, are pregnant or are eating with small children, order something grilled instead.
- Drink bottled water and keep wet wipes handy.
- If you have an allergy, show the vendor "Tôi bị dị ứng hải sản" — "I am allergic to seafood".
- In the crowds, keep your phone and wallet in a zipped bag.
How to get there
The market is in old Duong Dong at 6 Bach Dang Street, next to Dinh Cau shrine. From hotels in Duong Dong and the northern end of Long Beach it is a walk or a few minutes by taxi. If you are staying in the south (An Thoi, Sunset Town) or the north (Bai Dai, Grand World), the trip takes noticeably longer, so check the route on Google Maps.
- Ride-hailing: Grab, Xanh SM (listed as Green SM in app stores outside Vietnam) and Be. In high season Grab cars can be slow to arrive after 7 pm, so switch apps if you are waiting.
- Traffic: from around 7:30 pm the streets near the market get congested, so get dropped a block away and walk in.
Seafood dinner without the crowds: an evening at sea
The night market means noise, queues at the stalls, weighing and haggling. Plenty of people love that, but if you would rather enjoy fresh seafood somewhere calm, there is an easier option: dinner out at sea.
On the Sunset at Sea & Squid Catching evening tour you are picked up from your hotel, the boat heads into the Gulf of Thailand for sunset, and after dark you fish for squid under the boat's lamps. A seafood dinner and fruit are served on board, with drinking water and local rum, and a Russian-speaking guide comes along. There is nothing to pick, weigh or recalculate, and kids usually find squid catching more fun than any market.
Save the night market for another evening — with this guide you already know what to eat and how not to overpay.
FAQ
Is Phu Quoc Night Market open in 2026?
As of late October 2026 the market on Bach Dang Street in Duong Dong is open. Local press reports it is expected to close at this site at the end of 2026 while authorities look for a new location, so check recent reviews before a 2027 trip.
What time does Duong Dong Night Market open?
Stalls open around 5–6 pm and run until about 11 pm, busiest from 7 to 10 pm. Arrive by 6–7 pm to avoid the crowds.
Can I pay by card at the night market?
Most stalls take cash in Vietnamese dong only, and cards or QR payments are not accepted everywhere. Bring small notes.
Can I take Phu Quoc fish sauce on a plane?
Vietnam Airlines allows up to 3 litres in checked baggage, in sealed plastic bottles packed in a foam box, and advises against hand luggage. Check other airlines' rules in advance.
Are there other night markets on Phu Quoc?
In the south there is VUI-Fest Bazaar in Sunset Town, in the north the Grand World walking streets, and in the Bai Truong area the night market on the Sonasea walking street.