Pepper farms, bee farms and pearl farms in Phu Quoc are free to enter. They make their money by selling peppercorns, honey and pearl jewellery, which is why group tours of the island build them in as regular stops of about 30 minutes each. Buying is always optional.
Some visitors enjoy these stops: pepper vines are worth seeing, the honey drinks are free, and the shops are an easy place to buy gifts. Others would rather spend the time at the sea. Our private tours skip the farm shops unless you ask for one, and adding one is simple.
A north-island day without the farm stops
We drive straight to Rach Vem while the water is clear and spend the day on the sandbar, at Ganh Dau and on the Cua Can river. Ask and we add a farm. Free cancellation up to 3 days before.
★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 →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 →Why do group tours stop at pepper, honey and pearl farms?
Group tours stop at pepper, honey and pearl farms because the farms are free to enter and earn from what visitors buy, so they welcome tour groups. For the tour operator, a farm stop fills part of the itinerary at no cost and gives guests something to see between the longer drives.
Group north-island tours cost about US$40 to 80 per person as of September 2026. A typical itinerary collects guests around 8:15 to 8:30, visits a bee or honey farm first, sometimes adds a pepper farm or a pearl showroom, then goes on to the Cua Can river and reaches Rach Vem around midday. Those early stops are one reason the starfish sandbar comes after lunch rather than in the clear morning water. Our one-day north Phu Quoc itinerary explains why the order matters.
What happens at each farm stop?
Each farm stop follows the same pattern: a short explanation or walk, a tasting, and time in the shop. Visits usually last about 30 minutes.
| Stop | What you see | What is sold | Typical prices, Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepper farm | Pepper vines climbing tall poles; drying peppercorns | Black, red and white pepper; pepper salt | Pepper salt about 30,000-150,000 VND a pack |
| Bee or honey farm | Hives, orchards, a talk on how honey is made | Honey, royal jelly, honey drinks | Varies by product |
| Pearl farm or showroom | Showroom and jewellery counters | Pearl jewellery | About 500,000 VND to several million VND |
| Fish sauce house | Wooden fermenting barrels | Bottled fish sauce | Varies by grade and brand |
Pepper farms
Phu Quoc pepper grows as a climbing vine on tall poles, and the berries ripen from green to red on long clusters. Black pepper is picked early and dried; red pepper is left to ripen fully; white pepper has the outer skin removed. Freshly harvested peppercorns are dried in the sun before they are sorted and packed.
Bee farms
The best-known bee farm is about 13 km north of Duong Dong. Entry is free, and visitors usually get a honey drink, a look at the hives and the orchard, and a walk through the shop. Sim wine, made from the berry of the rose myrtle, is another Phu Quoc speciality sold along the tour routes.
Pearl farms and fish sauce houses
Pearl showrooms sell jewellery from about 500,000 VND to several million VND. Ask for a certificate with any expensive piece. Fish sauce houses show the wooden barrels used for fermenting anchovies; Phu Quoc fish sauce has held EU Protected Designation of Origin status since 2012, and in Vietnam only registered producers may use the name.
Are the farm shop stops worth your time?
The farm stops are worth it if you want to buy local products or learn how pepper and fish sauce are made. The explanations are free, the drinks are free, and nobody has to buy anything. For travellers who enjoy food and markets, a pepper farm can be a highlight of the day.
The farm stops are less useful if your day is short. Two or three 30-minute stops, plus the detours between them, take up a good part of the morning, and on a north-island tour that is the time when Rach Vem is at its best. A TripAdvisor reviewer also noted that bee-farm shop prices were somewhat higher than in local supermarkets.
How to handle the shop
Treat a farm shop like any other shop: look, taste, and buy only what you would buy anyway. A polite no is enough.
For honey and pepper, compare the price per gram with a supermarket before buying in bulk. For pearls, ask whether the piece is a saltwater or freshwater pearl, ask for a certificate, and take time to decide. Keep receipts for anything expensive.
If you want Phu Quoc pepper or fish sauce to take home, both are also sold in Duong Dong’s markets and supermarkets, where prices are easy to compare. Our guide to north or south Phu Quoc covers what else each half of the island offers.
How do our tours handle farm stops?
Our private tours skip the farm shops by default. The time goes to the sea instead: an early arrival at Rach Vem, a private boat to the sandbar and Ham Rong Cape, and a longer lunch at a raft house. The Rach Vem costs guide shows what those boats and meals cost if you go on your own.
If you would like a farm stop, tell us when you book. A pepper farm or bee farm sits close to the road north, so one stop fits into the day with little change to the rest of the route.
Would you rather spend that time at sea?
Our north-island day goes straight to the water; a farm stop is added only if you ask.
North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Pepper, honey and pearl farm stops: common questions
Is there an entrance fee at Phu Quoc pepper farms?
No. Phu Quoc pepper farms, bee farms, pearl farms and fish sauce houses are free to enter. They earn from selling their products, and buying anything is optional.
Why do Phu Quoc group tours stop at so many shops?
Phu Quoc group tours stop at pepper, honey and pearl farms because the farms are free to visit and welcome buyers, which fills the itinerary at no cost to the operator. Each stop usually lasts about 30 minutes.
What is the difference between black, red and white Phu Quoc pepper?
Black pepper is picked before it ripens and dried. Red pepper is picked fully ripe. White pepper is the peppercorn with its outer skin removed.
Are pearls from Phu Quoc pearl farms genuine?
Pearl showrooms in Phu Quoc sell jewellery from about 500,000 VND to several million VND. Ask for a certificate with any expensive piece and compare prices before buying.
Can a private tour include a pepper or bee farm?
Yes. Our private north-island tours skip farm shops by default, but a pepper or bee farm can be added on request because both sit close to the road north.
Starfish, Ganh Dau and Cua Can, no sales counters
A private car and guide from your hotel, an early boat at Rach Vem, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can river and sunset. A farm stop only if you want one.
★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 →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 →Farm access and shop prices as of September 2026.