Vietnam (Phu Quoc & Gulf Islands)

The Gulf of Thailand wears a different face from Vietnam's exposed eastern coast, and around Phu Quoc that difference is everything. From November through April the northeast monsoon curves around the Cambodian landmass and arrives here as a gentle, reliable north-northeasterly — typically eight to fifteen knots — pressing you south and west toward An Thoi at the island's lower tip with easy beam or broad reaches.

Seas stay short and manageable, rarely above a metre, which makes day sailing between islands genuinely relaxed rather than merely survivable.

The An Thoi archipelago is where you'll spend most of your time. Anchor off Hon Mong Tay for translucent water above healthy coral, or tuck behind Hon Dam when an afternoon squall builds faster than the forecast suggested. The national park boundary matters here — anchoring in the wrong spot draws attention from park wardens, so carry your permit paperwork and plot waypoints carefully before departure.

Sea turtles surface around the southern reefs at dawn, and the reef diversity rivals anything I've seen in the region without the crowds that have thinned it elsewhere.

Charter logistics are still developing. Bareboat options out of Phu Quoc town are limited; most operators run skippered liveaboards from An Thoi, which is honestly the smarter choice given unmarked shoals, sporadic buoyage, and the occasional unmarked fish trap running wire just below the surface at night.

Provisioning in Duong Dong market is excellent for fresh produce, seafood, and Vietnamese staples, though specialist chandlery is thin — bring your own spare impellers and paper charts as backup.

Vietnamese cruising permits require advance planning and are typically arranged through your charter operator; attempting to sort them independently on arrival rarely ends quickly.

Avoid the May-to-October wet season entirely — the southwest monsoon brings persistent swell, squalls, and poor visibility.