Living in Sunset Town Phu Quoc: My $500 Month in Hillside

Living in Sunset Town Phu Quoc for a month was not something I had planned. I booked an apartment almost on a whim, without really knowing what the area was like. All I knew was that there were shows, the cable car to Hon Thom, and that Kiss Bridge I’d been wanting to see for a while.

I’d planned to stay just a short while, but then I found the listing on Airbnb: a studio in a new building, a rooftop pool, a view of the sea and Kiss Bridge, utilities included. The price was around $500 a month. For Vietnam, in low season, that’s not the cheapest option — but when you’re standing on the roof in the evening looking at the sunset, the sea, and the fireworks, the questions about price mostly stop mattering.

A quick note on the prices below: I lived in Sunset Town for a month in 2025, and the apartment rate, cleaning fee, shuttle and buggy schedules, and ticket prices mentioned in this article are what I was actually quoted or paid during that stay. Treat them as a firsthand snapshot from 2025 rather than current pricing or schedules, and double-check before you book.

I moved here from Phu Quoc Marina; the taxi ride took about 15 minutes. We came in from the direction of the Vui-Fest market, and the area changed abruptly: narrow streets, tidy buildings, cobblestones, fountains, sculptures, greenery, quiet. It looked almost like a European resort quarter, just at the southern tip of a Vietnamese island.

Where I Lived in Sunset Town

I stayed in the Hillside complex, in the SKY block — buildings up on a hill with views of the sea, Kiss Bridge, and the evening shows. If you’re comparing Hillside with other parts of the area, see my guide to where to stay in Sunset Town Phu Quoc.

My studio was on the 11th floor: small, but fresh, quiet, and comfortable enough for a month-long stay. The apartment had a large bed, a TV, a workspace, a balcony, a washing machine with hot water, a small kitchen corner, a stovetop, and an air fryer. The internet was stable, which mattered to me since I do a lot of work from my laptop.

The building’s real highlight is the roof. The pool up there looks out over the sea, the bridge, sunsets, and fireworks. Some evenings it felt like living inside a postcard, minus the crowds of tourists.

Sunsets here really are their own thing. The name Sunset Town isn’t an accident — you can watch the sun go down from rooftops, balconies, the promenade, staircases, benches by the fountain, or just the street.

Living in Sunset Town Phu Quoc: My First Impressions

In the first few days, Sunset Town felt a little artificial. Too clean, too polished, empty in places. But after a couple of days, that feeling shifted into something calmer.

During my month there in 2025, the area didn’t yet feel fully “lived in.” A lot of it was still opening up — some buildings sat half-empty, and local life was still thin in places. That said, it felt safe, attractive, calm, pleasant to walk around in the evening, and easy to live in without a scooter if the south of the island was your main focus.

The area is walkable. Escalators carry you up the hillside, which helps a lot given that Sunset Town is built on a slope. During my stay in 2025, the main long escalator by the fountain generally shut down around midnight.

Small shuttle carts also circulate through the area. For a small fee, they’ll take you around Sunset Town if you don’t feel like walking uphill.

What Sunset Town Actually Is

Sunset Town is a large-scale Sun Group project on the south of Phu Quoc, built in a Mediterranean style: arches, towers, mosaics, staircases, fountains, pastel facades, a promenade, and plenty of decorative detail.

The heart of the area is the square by the clock tower, Roman Square, and its fountain. Evening performances, free shows, and small events happen here.

The area is still developing. In places it feels almost like a stage set, but that’s exactly what makes it distinctive: Sunset Town doesn’t look like typical Vietnam. It’s more of a resort cluster built around walkable architecture, shows, cafés, a promenade, and access to the south of the island’s main attractions. For a broader overview, see my full Sunset Town Phu Quoc guide.

What to See in Sunset Town

Free entertainment. During my 2025 stay, open-air stages regularly hosted Vietnamese performances and illuminated acrobatic shows, including Love Hurricane Vortex, a puppet show across from Starbucks, and performances along the promenade.

Kiss Bridge

Kiss Bridge is one of the area’s main architectural landmarks. It’s built as a symbol of two hearts connecting: the two halves of the bridge don’t actually touch, but nearly meet.

The most iconic shot here is two people standing on opposite sides of the bridge, reaching toward each other across the small gap. That’s made it a popular spot for couples, wedding shoots, and evening photos. Our full guide to Kiss Bridge covers the bridge’s design and the best angles for photos in more depth.

Kiss of the Sea

Kiss of the Sea is a large-scale outdoor evening show combining water, fire, lasers, drones, and 3D graphics, closing with a five-minute fireworks finale. Tickets ran around $30 when I went.

The show combines water, fire, lasers, 3D mapping and live performance on a large outdoor stage with Kiss Bridge as its backdrop. Our Kiss of the Sea guide covers the format of the evening and what to expect in detail, and tickets can be booked in advance through Trip.com.

Symphony of the Sea

Symphony of the Sea is another light-and-music show with water, pyrotechnics, and lasers. Tickets start around 500,000 VND, though plenty of people watch from the Bavaria restaurant for about half that price, plus whatever you order off the menu. Our Symphony of the Sea guide goes into the show itself in more detail.

Sun World Hon Thom Cable Car

The Hon Thom cable car is one of the main reasons to head to the south of Phu Quoc. It connects Phu Quoc island to Hon Thom island, running nearly 8 km over the sea. The ride takes about 15 minutes, and the views over the An Thoi archipelago are genuinely impressive.

Hon Thom itself has beaches, a water park, and the Sun World entertainment zone. Tickets ran around $30. Our Hon Thom Cable Car guide has the technical details and practical tips for the ride.

Roman Square and the Clock Tower

This is the area’s central walking zone — nice staircases, fountains, floral displays, evening lighting, and plenty of spots for photos. It’s especially striking in the evening once the lights come on and the area starts to look like a film set.

Ceramic Road

A street decorated with mosaics and ceramic details. It’s not worth crossing the whole island for on its own, but if you’re already walking around Sunset Town, it’s worth a look.

Sun Signature Gallery

A well-designed gallery and cultural space. Entry was free during my 2025 stay. The building itself is worth seeing as an architectural point even if you don’t plan to spend long inside.

Cafés, Bars, and the Vui-Fest Market

Sunset Town has something new opening constantly. Over the month I lived there, several new cafés appeared, so it’s worth checking maps on the ground rather than relying on any fixed list.

A few places that stuck with me:

• Tiem Ca Phe Thoi Bao Cap — an atmospheric café full of vintage details and old artifacts, low prices, and a genuinely heartfelt interior. It became my morning ritual.
• SANTO Café — a modern café with a pleasant interior and a balcony.
• Senthy Coffee Lounge — a stylish spot with soft lighting and good coffee.
• Calem Phu Quoc — a calm, minimalist café with desserts.
• Starbucks by the promenade — the familiar option, if you want air conditioning, consistency, and a format you already know.
• Bar Con Soi — a small rooftop bar with a sea view and fireworks. The menu isn’t huge, but it’s worth a visit for the atmosphere.
• Ocean Hill Lodge Bar — a casual elevated bar with an evening view and drinks.
• Vui-Fest Bazaar — the evening market and food zone, with street food, cafés, bars, cocktails, street performers, and the occasional mini-festival. Most of the area ends up here in the evening.

Groceries and Everyday Shopping

When I lived there in 2025, Sunset Town wasn’t ideal for big grocery runs. There was no major chain infrastructure like VinMart or Circle K in the area. There were local shops, but prices tended to run higher than in Phu Quoc’s central areas.

The main supermarket sits in the Vui-Fest Bazaar zone. It covers basic shopping fine, but if you’re staying long-term and cooking regularly, keep in mind the selection is limited.

Getting Around Sunset Town and to Khem Beach

Inside Sunset Town, you barely need transport. The area is compact and walkable, though the hills mean your step count adds up.

During my 2025 stay, a shuttle bus ran to Khem Beach, starting from the cable car area, stopping near Vui-Fest, and continuing on to the beach. It was a convenient option if you didn’t have a scooter and wanted to reach the beach without a taxi. Based on the schedule posted during my 2025 stay, the free shuttle ran roughly 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM, connecting stops including Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, Kem Beach Square, New World Phu Quoc Resort, Sun World Hon Thom / Kiss of the Sea, Sun Signature Gallery, and the Vui-Fest Bazaar supermarket. The buggy prices posted during my 2025 stay were generally 10,000 VND per guest for the internal routes, with buggy rental around 200,000 VND per hour. For a broader transport plan, see my Phu Quoc without a scooter guide.

Khem Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the south of Phu Quoc. There are free sections, cafés with sunbeds, and an area next to the Marriott. Swimming and walking are generally unrestricted, though security may ask you not to set up in the hotel’s private section. Keep the season in mind too — the beach can look considerably less pretty when there’s a lot of debris washed up. Our full guide to Khem Beach and the JW Marriott covers the beach’s infrastructure and finer points in more depth.

Wi-Fi and Connectivity

Wi-Fi in Sunset Town was a pleasant surprise. It worked reliably not just in the apartment and cafés, but in places right out on the street, especially around Vui-Fest.

That said, it’s still worth having mobile data for getting around Phu Quoc generally — maps, taxis, translation, schedules, and messaging all get complicated fast without a connection.

Renting an Apartment in Sunset Town

I rented through Airbnb. If you’re looking for a month-long stay, filter for stays of 28 days or more — that’s often when special monthly rates show up.

Things worth checking before booking:

• the host’s rating;
• reviews on the specific listing;
• reviews on the host’s other listings;
• whether utilities are included;
• whether cleaning is available, and what it costs;
• whether there’s a washing machine;
• how stable the internet is;
• which floor it’s on, and whether there’s a view;
• exactly where the building sits, since the area is built on a hillside.

In my case, cleaning and a linen change cost around 150,000 VND, booked through the host.

Renting a Scooter or E-Bike

The area offers both regular scooters and e-bikes. Electric ones are usually rented by the hour or two; regular scooters by the day or longer.

If you don’t have experience riding in Asia, though, I wouldn’t start here. Phu Quoc’s roads can be calm in places, but traffic still demands attention. For a short trip around the south of the island, it’s often simpler to use a taxi, a shuttle, or a car with a driver.

Photo Spots

Sunset Town has plenty of visual spots even if you don’t buy tickets to any of the shows. My favorites:

• the flower-covered staircase across from the fountain near La Festa;
• Roman Square;
• the promenade by Kiss Bridge;
• the arches and streets near Sun Signature Gallery;
• the Hillside rooftops;
• the view from the SKY block;
• the evening lighting around Vui-Fest;
• the staircases and fountains in the central part of the area.

If you want photos without the crowds, walk in the morning or closer to sunset — the area looks best in the evening, but the central spots also get busier then.

Who Sunset Town Is For

For me, Sunset Town turned out to be a rare area where a vacation and a month of actual living unexpectedly lined up well.

You can watch sunsets, walk the promenade, sit in cafés, work from a laptop, head to Khem Beach, and still not feel like you’re in the chaos of a big resort district.

Sunset Town suits you if you love promenades, evening light, and striking architecture; you want to be able to walk around calmly in the evening; you’re traveling without a scooter and want things within reach; you’re drawn to the south of the island — Hon Thom, the cable car, Kiss Bridge, Khem Beach, the evening shows; or you want to live somewhere new, tidy, and safe.

It might not suit you if you’re after the real, noisy Vietnam of markets, chaos, and local street life; you need large supermarkets and plenty of cheap shopping nearby; you’d rather be based in the center of the island; or what matters most to you is an authentically local atmosphere rather than a resort project.

In those cases, Duong Dong, Sonasea, or another part of Phu Quoc is probably a better fit.

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