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Is Ha Tien worth visiting?
Ha Tien is the delta’s quiet seaside corner. It’s on the Gulf of Thailand, a few kilometres from the Cambodian border, and the limestone hills that rise out of the flat rice country give it a different look from the rest of the delta. Since June 2025 it has been a ward in An Giang province, after the old Kien Giang was merged into it, though ferry and bus sites still say Kien Giang.
The town’s Chinese history is the reason it exists: it was a trading port founded by Mac Cuu, a Chinese merchant from Guangdong who settled in the 1700s and whose tombs are on a hill outside town. Today it’s a relaxed place of seafood, beaches and caves, and the ferry port for Phu Quoc.
How long from Saigon to Ha Tien by car?
A private car takes 5½-6¼ hours, about 330 km. It follows the delta expressways towards Can Tho and then national roads west, so the long stretch is the second half. Our prices include tolls.
That makes Ha Tien a different kind of transfer to the others in the delta. Nobody goes to Ha Tien and back in a day. Make the car the first half of a two-day plan: drive down, sleep in Ha Tien or Can Tho, and take a morning boat across.
Allow the time: even the 1 pm boat means leaving Saigon at about 5-6 am. If you only want a quick crossing and the shortest sea time, Ha Tien is the best port; if you want the shortest drive, Rach Gia is.
Ha Tien ferry: timetable and fares (2026)
The boats from Ha Tien take about 1¼ hours to cross to Phu Quoc, arriving at Bai Vong, and you check in at least 30 minutes before. In April 2026 one operator listed departures at 6:10, 8:20, 11:15 and 13:00, with adult fares of about 215,000-250,000₫ and children from about 170,000₫.
Timetables change by season and with weather, and rough sea cancels boats. Check the operator’s page the week you travel and buy tickets early for weekends and holidays.
Ha Tien: car, bus or flight?
Flying to Phu Quoc is quicker if you can get a seat. If the flights are full, or you’re making a trip of the delta first, the car and ferry are a pleasant alternative.
The bus from Saigon takes 7-8 hours, from a bus station, and drops you at another one. A booked private car takes you to the town or the pier directly. You know the car and driver beforehand, the price is fixed, and we hold drivers to a calm, non-smoking, seatbelts-working standard with no overpowering air freshener, which is what you want for six hours. A 7-seater suits families and luggage, and a stop on the way is easy to add.
Meeting your driver
- Book in the box at the top of the page; you get an email confirming your booking, and the driver’s name, photo and number plate the evening before.
- Put the ferry time in the notes if you’re catching a boat. We set the pickup to match.
- Pay the driver in dong or by VietQR transfer. Tolls and parking are included.
- For the return from Ha Tien, book a transfer from the pier with your ferry arrival time.
Things to do in Ha Tien
Mac Cuu tombs
The tombs of Mac Cuu and his family sit on a hillside just outside the town and are the main historic site.
Thach Dong cave
Thach Dong is a cave temple in a limestone hill, a short ride from the centre, with shrines and a view over the border country.
Mui Nai beach
Mui Nai is the town’s beach, on a headland with calm water and seafood restaurants. It’s popular with Vietnamese visitors, and quieter on weekdays.
Phu Dung pagoda
A well-known pagoda in the hills above the town.
Night market and seafood
Ha Tien’s night market and seafront are where you eat, with crab, squid and fish grilled to order. It’s a cheaper and calmer table than Phu Quoc.
The Cambodian border
The Xa Xia crossing leads to Kampot in Cambodia. Foreigners need a visa, and rules and opening details change; check before you plan around it.
When to go to Ha Tien
The dry season, November to April, has the calmest sea and the best beach weather. May to October brings rain and rougher water, which can cancel ferries. Tet (early February in 2027) and public holidays are busy.
Onward from Ha Tien
Rach Gia is the other port for Phu Quoc, about 80 km back along the coast. Chau Doc is the delta’s other border town, and Can Tho is the best place to break the drive from Saigon. To book any of these legs, change the From and To in the booking box.