Phu Quoc is the last stop on our Deep Liquidity route, and it's the stop I'd keep if I could only keep one. It's an island off the far south of Vietnam, closer to Cambodia than to Saigon, with long west-facing beaches and sunsets that land right in the middle of the London session. Here's what it's actually like to trade from.
What are the trading session times in Phu Quoc?
Phu Quoc uses Vietnam time, UTC+7 all year. From November to mid-March, London opens at 15:00 and New York at 20:00, with the overlap running until midnight. From mid-March, New York moves to 19:00, and from late March London moves to 14:00.
That gives a clean day: snorkel or dive in the morning, lunch by 13:00, desk by 14:30. The sun sets around 17:45 to 18:15 in winter, while London is open, so pick a room that faces west and has a desk by the window. The full table, including gold fixes and US data, is in our forex hours in Vietnam guide.
When is the best time to go to Phu Quoc?
November to April. The dry season brings calm water and clear skies on the west coast, with December to March the peak. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain and rougher seas on the west side, though the east coast stays calmer.
| Months | Weather | For a trading trip |
|---|---|---|
| Nov | Rains easing, sea calming | Good, quieter, better rates |
| Dec–Mar | Dry, sunny, calm west coast | Best; book early for Christmas and Tet |
| Apr | Hot, still dry | Good; aircon matters at the desk |
| May–Oct | Wet, storms, rough west coast | Possible, with more power and signal blips |
Where should a trader stay in Phu Quoc?
Long Beach, near Duong Dong town, is the easiest base: 10 to 15 minutes from the airport, the widest choice of hotels with fibre, and restaurants open late. The south suits luxury and quiet; the north suits families and space, but it's further from everything.
| Area | Feel | To airport | Trader notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach (Bai Truong) | Sunsets, restaurants, busiest | 10–20 min | Most choice of desks and fibre; late food delivery |
| Ong Lang | Quiet bays, boutique villas | 20–25 min | Calm; check the Wi-Fi in your actual villa |
| South (Bai Kem, An Thoi) | Luxury resorts, cable car to the islands | 25–35 min | Big resorts usually wired well; few places outside them |
| North (Ganh Dau, Bai Dai) | Large resorts, safari, theme parks | 30–45 min | Good for families; you'll eat in the resort most nights |
Is the internet in Phu Quoc good enough for trading?
In established hotels and resorts, usually yes: fibre is standard and speeds are fine for charting and execution. The weak points are villas far from town, Wi-Fi that's strong in the lobby but weak in your room, and storms in the wet season. Always keep a mobile hotspot as backup.
- Test in your room on the first evening, at the hour you'll trade, not at check-in.
- Ask for an ethernet port or a room near the access point. Our trading room checklist has the questions to send before you book.
- Carry a local SIM on a different network from the hotel's line. See our eSIM and SIM guide.
- Run EAs on a VPS, not your laptop, so a resort power cut doesn't touch your positions.
How do I get to Phu Quoc, and do I need a visa?
Fly. It's about an hour from Ho Chi Minh City and around two hours from Hanoi, with direct flights from several Asian hubs. Foreigners who fly straight into Phu Quoc and stay on the island can usually stay up to 30 days without a visa.
The exemption is specific: if you plan to continue to the mainland, you need normal entry for Vietnam, which for many passports means the 25 USD e-visa. Rules change, so check before you book; our Vietnam e-visa guide covers who needs what. From the mainland, add Phu Quoc to the end of a trip, as we do on Deep Liquidity, so your hardest travel day isn't a trading day.
What can I do in Phu Quoc before the London open?
Most of the island's best things happen in the morning: snorkelling or diving in the An Thoi islands, the cable car over the sea, a pepper farm, the night-market seafood saved for Friday. Plan anything big for the weekend, when markets are closed.
Saturday is the day for a full island-hopping boat. Sunday is lazy until the weekly open on Monday morning in Asia. If you'd like a private villa with a chauffeur instead, that's what our Green Candle Luxury leisure service is for.
FAQ
What time does the London session open in Phu Quoc?
15:00 local time from late October to late March, and 14:00 from late March to late October. Phu Quoc uses Vietnam time, UTC+7, with no daylight saving. New York opens at 20:00 in winter and 19:00 in summer.
What is the best month to visit Phu Quoc?
December to March is the peak, with dry weather and calm water on the west coast. November and April are also good. May to October is the rainy season, with rougher seas on the west side.
Which part of Phu Quoc is best to stay in?
Long Beach near Duong Dong is the easiest base for most visitors and traders: close to the airport, with the widest choice of hotels and restaurants. The south has luxury resorts and quiet beaches; the north has large resorts and theme parks.
Is Phu Quoc internet reliable for trading?
In established hotels and resorts, fibre is standard and usually reliable. Test the connection in your room in the evening, ask for ethernet, keep a local SIM on another network as a hotspot backup, and run automated strategies on a VPS.
Do I need a visa for Phu Quoc?
Foreigners who fly directly into Phu Quoc and stay on the island can usually stay up to 30 days visa-free. If you also visit mainland Vietnam, you need standard entry, such as the Vietnam e-visa. Check current rules before booking.
The bottom line
Go between November and April, stay on Long Beach or at a southern resort with fibre, test the room on night one, and keep your island days for the morning and the weekend. London opens with the sunset, and that's hard to beat.
Next: compare it with Bali, Da Nang, Chiang Mai and Phuket, or plan a cooler reset in Da Lat.