An Thoi Market (Chợ An Thới)
Set a 5:30 am alarm and head straight to An Thoi Market — this is where the real Phu Quoc wakes up, long before the resort beach bars open their shutters. Fishing boats dock at the adjacent port and offload their catch directly onto stalls dripping with ice and colour.
The Morning Fish Rush
Located near the An Thoi port at the southern tip of Phu Quoc, the market bursts into life at first light as dozens of boats return with fresh shrimp, squid, herring, green crab, barracuda and mackerel — all displayed the moment they hit the dock.
The seafood supply is exceptionally fresh because the market sits right at the gathering point for fishing boats after each trip; there is no middleman, no overnight cold storage — just fish straight from the Gulf of Thailand.
Wander the aisles early and you will find stalls selling everything from tiger prawns and blue crabs to sea snails and octopus, all at prices far below what resort restaurants charge.
Dried Goods, Street Food & Souvenirs
Beyond the wet fish section, rows of dried-seafood stalls offer sun-cured squid, anchovies, dried shrimp and yellow-fin scad — all processed from locally caught fish and naturally dried under the island sun, giving them a rich sweetness and characteristic aroma that makes them perfect edible souvenirs.
A small food-court area serves hot bowls of bún quậy (Phu Quoc's signature stirred noodle soup with shrimp paste broth) and grilled skewers to market workers and early-bird visitors — the cheapest, most authentic breakfast on the southern island.
The market also carries fresh tropical fruit, vegetables and household goods, reflecting its role as the everyday anchor of An Thoi town rather than a tourist attraction — which is precisely what makes it so worth visiting.
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