Since 1 July 2025, Phu Quoc has been a special zone, or dac khu, of An Giang province. Resolution 1654/NQ-UBTVQH15 of 16 June 2025 merged the former Phu Quoc City’s two wards and six communes, including Ganh Dau where Rach Vem lies, into a single special zone. Kien Giang province, which Phu Quoc used to belong to, was merged into An Giang at the same time.
For visitors, little changed in practice. The airport, the beaches, the roads and the island’s own 30-day visa exemption carried on. What changed is paperwork: addresses now read Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province.
The north coast has not moved
Rach Vem, the starfish sandbar and Ham Rong Cape are exactly where they were. We collect you at your hotel and take a private boat out. Free cancellation up to 3 days before.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursSee the tour →What is the Phu Quoc special zone?
The Phu Quoc special zone is a commune-level administrative unit created on 1 July 2025, when Vietnam reorganised its provinces and removed the district level of government. Phu Quoc stopped being a city of Kien Giang province and became one of three special zones in the enlarged An Giang province, alongside Kien Hai and Tho Chau.
Because the special zone is itself a commune-level unit, there are no longer any wards or communes inside it. Names such as Duong Dong, An Thoi, Cua Can and Ganh Dau still exist as place names, but not as separate administrative units.
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| Early 2021 | Phu Quoc becomes a city, Vietnam’s first island city, with 2 wards and 7 communes |
| 12 June 2025 | Resolution 202/2025/QH15 merges Kien Giang province into An Giang |
| 16 June 2025 | Resolution 1654/NQ-UBTVQH15 sets up the Phu Quoc special zone |
| 1 July 2025 | Both changes take effect; Phu Quoc City ceases to exist |
The new An Giang province has 102 commune-level units: 85 communes, 14 wards and 3 special zones.
Which places became part of the special zone?
Eight former units were merged into the Phu Quoc special zone: the wards of Duong Dong and An Thoi, and the communes of Duong To, Ham Ninh, Cua Duong, Cua Can, Ganh Dau and Bai Thom. Tho Chau, a remote group of islands off Vietnam’s south-west coast that had been part of Phu Quoc City, became a special zone of its own.
| Former unit | Places visitors know there | Since 1 July 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Duong Dong ward | Duong Dong town | Phu Quoc special zone |
| An Thoi ward | An Thoi port, Sunset Town, Hon Thom | Phu Quoc special zone |
| Ganh Dau commune | Rach Vem, Ganh Dau Cape, the north end of Bai Dai | Phu Quoc special zone |
| Bai Thom commune | Rach Tram, the north-east coast | Phu Quoc special zone |
| Cua Can commune | Cua Can river and village | Phu Quoc special zone |
| Duong To, Ham Ninh, Cua Duong | Ham Ninh fishing village and the centre of the island | Phu Quoc special zone |
| Tho Chau commune | Tho Chau islands | Tho Chau special zone |
Rach Vem village sat in the former Ganh Dau commune, and Ham Rong Cape lies between Rach Vem and Rach Tram, in the former Bai Thom commune. Both are now simply in the Phu Quoc special zone.
What does the change mean for visitors?
For a visitor, the special zone changes names on paper rather than anything on the ground. Flights still land at Phu Quoc International Airport, hotels and beaches are where they were, and the road north to Rach Vem is the same new concrete road described in our guide on how to get to Rach Vem.
Visas
Phu Quoc’s own visa exemption, which lets foreign visitors stay on the island for up to 30 days without a visa, was still being applied in 2026. In April 2026 VnExpress reported an Indian embassy advisory reminding travellers that the exemption covers the island only: a visitor who enters without a visa cannot continue to mainland Vietnam without one.
Addresses, maps and bookings
Hotel confirmations, maps and booking sites now mix old and new names. An address written as Ganh Dau commune, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang province and one written as Rach Vem, Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province point to the same place. Drivers and guides still use the old place names every day.
APEC 2027
The Phu Quoc special zone will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in November 2027. A convention and exhibition centre is being built for it, and VnExpress reported in September 2026 that security and public-order measures on the island are being stepped up ahead of the meeting.
How should you write a Phu Quoc address now?
Write a Phu Quoc address as the street or village, then Phu Quoc special zone, then An Giang province. For the starfish beach that gives: Rach Vem, Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province, Vietnam. Adding the old place name, such as Ganh Dau or Duong Dong, helps drivers and does no harm.
Many travel blogs, including some updated in 2026, still give the pre-2025 form with Kien Giang province. The same blogs often repeat other outdated details, such as a red dirt road to Rach Vem that was replaced by concrete in March 2025, so treat any page that still says Kien Giang with some care. Current prices at the village are in our guide to Rach Vem costs, and the choice between the island’s two halves is set out in north or south Phu Quoc.
If you would rather leave the map reading to someone else
Tell us your hotel, old address or new, and we collect you there for the drive north.
Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Phu Quoc special zone: common questions
Is Phu Quoc still a city?
No. Phu Quoc City ceased to exist on 1 July 2025. Since then Phu Quoc has been a special zone (dac khu) of An Giang province, set up by Resolution 1654/NQ-UBTVQH15.
Which province is Phu Quoc in now?
Phu Quoc is in An Giang province. Kien Giang province, which Phu Quoc belonged to before, was merged into An Giang by Resolution 202/2025/QH15, effective 1 July 2025.
Does the Phu Quoc 30-day visa exemption still apply?
Yes. The Phu Quoc visa exemption was still being applied in 2026. It allows a stay of up to 30 days on the island only; travelling on to mainland Vietnam requires a visa.
What is the address of Rach Vem Starfish Beach now?
Rach Vem Starfish Beach is at Rach Vem, Phu Quoc special zone, An Giang province, Vietnam. Before July 2025 the same place was written as Ganh Dau commune, Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang province.
Did anything change at Rach Vem because of the special zone?
Nothing a visitor would notice. Rach Vem still charges no entrance fee, and the starfish season is still November to April. The new concrete road to the village opened in March 2025, before the special zone was created.
A morning at Rach Vem, whatever the map says
We collect you at your hotel, drive the forest road north and take a private boat to the starfish sandbar and Ham Rong Cape. Every boat ride and lunch is included.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursfrom$63/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$175BOOK →2 guests$200BOOK →3 guests$225BOOK →4 guests$250BOOK →See the full tour page →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursfrom$91/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$255BOOK →2 guests$295BOOK →3 guests$330BOOK →4 guests$365BOOK →See the full tour page →Administrative status and visa exemption as reported up to September 2026.