An Island In Southeast Asia With Stunning Beaches Is A Less-Crowded And Cheaper Alternative To Bali

When longing for beautiful beaches, shimmering turquoise waters, intriguing food choices, and memorable sightseeing, Southeast Asia may rise to the top of the travel list — and for good reason since it can easily check all of those boxes. Each of the region's five million square miles features tropical and subtropical climates that can be conducive to a sunny vacation. So, if deciding to head to Southeast Asia, you might question the best place to stay.

Bali, Indonesia has long served as an in-demand vacation spot, with the Central Statistics Agency BPS Indonesia recording 6.3 million people checking in through the foreign visitors gate of the Ngurah Rai Airport in 2024. Through May 2025, 2.6 million people have done the same. Vacationers clearly love Bali, in part because it's one of the cheapest island vacations for budget-minded people. However, if you want to enjoy gorgeous beaches, and all that Southeast Asia has to offer, at an even lower price point, and with fewer crowds, you should consider Phú Quốc, Vietnam.

Budget Your Trip data for Bali indicates that, on average, a visitor will spend roughly $88 daily — including food, transportation, and hotel costs – making it a moderately priced choice in Southeast Asia. In contrast, the daily costs in Phú Quốc are only $55. This is partly because meal prices in Phú Quốc are especially affordable with breakfast averaging $2 to $5 per person, lunch costing $2 to $6, and dinner costing between $5 and $11.

There are also flight cost considerations for these destinations, so choosing the most strategic time to book flights and leveraging tools like Google Flights can be necessary to get the best deals. This includes setting up flight alerts from online travel agencies, and signing up for airline newsletters that often contain discount information. Also, make sure to check your credit cards, and rewards points, to see if any of them can apply discounts to airline expenses. Similarly, consider offbeat flight times and dates that can reduce costs, for instance shoulder season vacations can be cheaper and, if you're a member of AAA, AARP, or any other groups, see what discounts they might offer. The more cost effective the flight to Phú Quốc, the cheaper the overall vacation will be.

Money saved on flights can go towards snorkeling, scuba diving, and other island delights. Phú Quốc is known for its gorgeous Sao Beach on the southern part of the island. This beach features pristine sand alongside clear waters with coconut trees swaying in the breeze. Visitors often gather at Long Beach, located on the western portion of Phú Quốc, to watch brilliant sunsets and enjoy restaurants and bars. Coral reefs abound with 125 fish species living in the water, including the endangered marine Dugong.

Phú Quốc National Park covers about 70% of the island, with more than 470 plant species flourishing there, including the Melaleuca tree with its multi-hued leaves. The best part is this park is completely free to enter and explore. The Rach Cua Can River also runs through the park, supporting 43 mammal species, including the silvered langur, stump-tailed macaque, and small-clawed otter. Visitors can also hike the Ganh Dau Trail or the narrower Phu Quoc National Park Trail. After burning off calories, make sure to enjoy a dish that is exclusively found in Phú Quốc, Ken noodles. Made with a shredded fish and broth base, this dish also includes coconut milk, curry powder, bean sprouts, papaya, cucumber, and additional spices. Best of all, the average cost for a bowl of Ken noodles is less than $1.