May Rut Island (Hon May Rut) is a pair of small islands, May Rut Trong and May Rut Ngoai, in the south of the An Thoi archipelago, about 10 km from An Thoi in southern Phu Quoc and reachable only by boat in about 20 minutes. May Rut Trong has the long white-sand beach, the restaurant and most of the activities, while May Rut Ngoai is quieter and rockier, which suits snorkelling. Food on both islands is mostly seafood, so vegetarian, Jain or Indian meals need to be arranged before the trip rather than on arrival.
This guide covers how the 2 islands differ, how to get there from An Thoi, the best months to visit, things to do, a 1-day itinerary and the tips that matter most on the water.
May Rut Island at a Glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | South of the An Thoi archipelago, Phu Quoc Special Zone, An Giang Province |
| Islands | May Rut Trong (inner) and May Rut Ngoai (outer) |
| Distance from An Thoi | About 10 km |
| Boat time | About 20 minutes by speedboat; over 1 hour by wooden boat |
| Best time | November to April |
| Facilities | Restaurant, bar, toilets and freshwater showers on May Rut Trong; lunch spot and hammocks on May Rut Ngoai |
| Overnight stays | Tent camping only, on May Rut Trong; no hotels |
| Cheapest way there | Water bus at US$23 (about ₹2,185) per person, or a group trip from about 700,000 VND (₹2,565) |
May Rut Trong vs May Rut Ngoai
May Rut Trong is the busier island with a long white-sand beach and more services, while May Rut Ngoai is the outer, quieter island with a smaller rocky beach suited to snorkelling.
| May Rut Trong | May Rut Ngoai | |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | Lively, more visitors | Wild and quiet |
| Beach | Long white-sand beach | Smaller, rocky beach |
| Main activities | Swimming, paddleboarding, water sports, camping | Snorkelling, relaxing, photography |
| Facilities | Restaurant, bar, toilets, freshwater showers, campsite | Lunch spot, hammocks, freshwater rinse |
| Best for | Families, groups, first-time visitors | Snorkellers and travellers seeking quiet |
May Rut Ngoai Island
May Rut Ngoai (Hon May Rut Ngoai) is the outer and quieter of the 2 islands, with a small rocky beach and clear water that suits snorkelling. The shoreline turns to rock in several places, which is where the coral sits closest to the surface. Services are limited to a lunch spot, hammocks under the coconut trees and a freshwater rinse, so travellers who want a quiet afternoon rather than a busy beach spend most of their island time here.
May Rut Trong Island
May Rut Trong is the busier of the 2 islands, with a long white-sand beach, a restaurant, a bar and water sports on site. The beach is long enough to spread out even when several boats arrive together, and kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, banana boats and parasailing are all available on the island. May Rut Trong is also the only island of the pair with overnight camping.
How to Get to May Rut Island
Travellers reach May Rut Island by boat from the southern tip of Phu Quoc near An Thoi, on a water bus, a group island-hopping trip or a private canoe. No public ferry runs to the islands. Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) has direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other cities, and the drive from Duong Dong to the southern piers takes about 40 minutes.
| Water bus | Group trip | Private canoe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | US$23 (about ₹2,185) per person | From about 700,000 VND (₹2,565) per person; 4-island trips with the Hon Thom cable car up to about 1,450,000 VND (₹5,310) | From about 3,000,000 VND (₹10,990) per boat |
| Timing | Hourly speedboats, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with unlimited trips in the day | Fixed route and schedule shared with other travellers | Travellers choose the islands, the order and the time on each |
| Usually included | Boat ride to May Rut Trong | Hotel transfer, canoe, life jacket, snorkel gear, lunch, insurance | Canoe, life jacket, snorkel gear; lunch and transfers vary |
| Best for | Independent travellers spending the day on May Rut Trong | Couples and solo travellers on a budget | Families, groups and longer snorkelling stops |
Private canoes are priced per boat, so the cost per person falls as the group grows, and for a family the 2 boat options can end up close per person. 3 things are worth checking before booking:
- Which May Rut island the trip stops at: some trips take lunch on May Rut Trong, others on May Rut Ngoai.
- Pier and pickup: boats leave from An Thoi Harbour or the Khem Beach floating pier, and hotel pickups outside Duong Dong may cost extra.
- Meals: vegetarian, Jain or Indian meals need to be requested at the time of booking.
A May Rut day depends on the boat, the sea and the lunch being right before leaving the pier. Share the travel dates in the form below, and a local expert at Vietnamtour.in will arrange the boat, the island stops and vegetarian or Jain meals in advance.
Best Time to Visit May Rut Island
November to April is the best time to visit May Rut Island, when the dry season brings calm seas and clear water for snorkelling. From May, the rainy season brings rougher water, as the Vietnam in May weather on Phu Quoc shows, and July to September are usually the roughest months, when some boat trips pause. Mornings to midday give the clearest water, and departures always depend on sea conditions on the day.
Things to Do on May Rut Island
The main things to do on May Rut Island are snorkelling, paddleboarding, swimming, water sports, a sunset BBQ and overnight camping, with each island suited to different activities.
Snorkelling
Snorkelling is best around May Rut Ngoai, where the clear water shows coral close to shore. Snorkel gear and life jackets are usually included in boat trips, and Hon Gam Ghi, a short hop away in the same island group, is also known for its coral and often appears on the same route.
Paddleboarding and Water Sports
Kayaks and paddleboards are rented on May Rut Trong, where the calm, clear water lets paddlers see the seabed below. Jet skis, banana boats and parasailing are also run on the island, and all rentals are paid separately from the boat trip, with life jackets provided.
Swimming
Both islands have clear water for swimming, with the long beach on May Rut Trong the easier option for families. The water shelves gently along that beach, while May Rut Ngoai has rock underfoot in places, which makes water shoes useful.
Overnight Camping
May Rut Trong offers overnight tent camping from 800,000 VND (₹2,930) per person in a shared 2-person tent, including a BBQ dinner and breakfast. The price also covers bedding, a sun lounger, towels and freshwater showers, while lunch is extra and a private tent costs 300,000 VND (₹1,100) more. Camping needs booking at least 1 day ahead, and it is the only way to see both sunset and sunrise from the beach.
Sunset and BBQ on May Rut Trong
A standard morning trip returns to the pier by mid-afternoon, so sunset on May Rut Trong needs either an afternoon trip with a beach BBQ dinner or an overnight stay. The BBQ menu is mostly grilled fish, squid, shrimp and chicken, with a vegetarian menu available only when booked in advance.
Private tables on the beach or the wooden pier make the sunset dinner a popular choice for couples, and it fits easily into Vietnam packages for couple trips that include Phu Quoc.
Suggested 1-Day Itinerary with May Rut Island
A May Rut day works best starting early from the southern pier, spending the morning and lunch around the islands and ending the evening in Sunset Town.
| Time | Stop | Note |
|---|---|---|
| About 8:30 AM | An Thoi Harbour | Boat to the southern islands |
| Mid-morning | Fingernail Island, Gam Ghi Island | Beach time and snorkelling |
| Late morning to early afternoon | May Rut Trong or May Rut Ngoai | Swimming, paddleboarding and lunch, with vegetarian or Jain meals booked ahead |
| Mid-afternoon | Back to the pier | Timing depends on sea conditions |
| Late afternoon | Sunset Town and Kiss Bridge | Enter Kiss Bridge before 5:30 PM |
| Evening | Dinner on Amalfi Street, then Symphony of the Sea at about 7:30 PM | Indian restaurants on Amalfi Street; no show on Tuesdays |
The Kiss Bridge in Phu Quoc closes at 5:30 PM to prepare for the evening show, so returning from the islands by mid-afternoon leaves time for the sunset walk.
Tips for Visiting May Rut Island
- Food and vegetarian meals: island food is mostly seafood, and vegetarian meals are available only when booked in advance; Vietnamtour.in can arrange vegetarian, Jain (no onion, garlic, root vegetables or egg) or Indian meals for the island lunch, and the Indian restaurants in Phu Quoc cover meals before and after the trip.
- Boat safety: travel in the dry season where possible, wear a life jacket for the whole ride and be ready to change plans if the sea turns rough.
- What to bring: sunscreen, swimwear, a hat, water shoes for the rocks on May Rut Ngoai, a dry bag and cash for island rentals.
- Coral care: avoid touching or standing on coral, since the reefs near May Rut Ngoai sit close to the surface.
FAQs About May Rut Island
Can non-swimmers visit May Rut Island?
Yes, boat trips provide life jackets, and non-swimmers can relax on the beach or paddleboard while wearing one. The shallow water along the beach on May Rut Trong is the easiest place to stay within standing depth.
Is May Rut Island suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes, the speedboat crossing takes about 20 minutes and the long beach on May Rut Trong is the easier island for families. A private canoe allows a slower pace than a shared schedule for travellers with young children or older parents.
Is May Rut Island the same as Fingernail Island?
No, Fingernail Island (Hon Mong Tay) is a separate islet in the An Thoi group, often visited on the same boat trip as May Rut. Most 3-island and 4-island routes include both, along with Gam Ghi Island.
Plan Your May Rut Trip
May Rut rewards a slow day rather than a checklist: an hour on the sand at May Rut Trong, a snorkel over the coral off May Rut Ngoai and lunch under the coconut trees, with calm seas from November to April. May Rut fits into most days spent around southern Phu Quoc, and every Phu Quoc island tour package from Vietnamtour.in can include the southern islands, with the boat timing and meals planned around each traveller.
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