First, a word about which Phú Mỹ you mean
"Phú Mỹ" is a name shared by many places in Vietnam, from wards of Ho Chi Minh City and Thủ Dầu Một to communes in Cà Mau, An Giang, Kiên Giang and elsewhere. The practical guidance below is written for the place most visitors mean when they search for "Phu My": the former provincial city in the old Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province, which has since been incorporated into Ho Chi Minh City, and its commercial port where cruise ships call. If your ticket or booking names a different Phú Mỹ, check the province before relying on anything here.
How visitors actually move around
Phú Mỹ is not a city you explore on foot or by local transit. The port area is a working commercial port, and cruise ships dock at unused container terminal piers in what is essentially undeveloped land. There is nothing of visitor interest nearby, so getting around here is really about getting out — to Ho Chi Minh City, to Vũng Tàu, or onward to the Mekong Delta and Củ Chi. Plan your transport before you arrive rather than expecting to sort it out on the pier.
Rail, metro and trams
Do not count on trains to connect you to Ho Chi Minh City or Vũng Tàu from here; arrange road or boat transport instead.
Buses and public transport
There is no ordinary local bus network described for the port area. The bus options that exist are organised for cruise passengers and tour groups:
- Cruise ship shuttle to Ho Chi Minh City: typically departs around 9 AM and is transport only — no guide and no meal. It is priced per person and is the simplest shared option if your ship offers it.
- Shuttle toward Bà Rịa: a shuttle may run to Bà Rịa, southeast of the port, from where you can pick up a taxi onward to the beach resort city of Vũng Tàu.
- Hydrofoils (fast boats): these run to a timetable, so expect to wait for the next departure. They are an alternative to road transport but require fitting your day around the schedule.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis wait outside the port, but not all of them hold the permits needed to enter it. If your driver can't come in, you may face a long walk through wasteland to the main road to meet one. Most drivers do not speak English, so write your destination on paper before you set off.
Private cars and tours
Booking a private car with a driver in advance is the most dependable way to see the region from Phú Mỹ. Note that entering the port requires permits and paperwork, which the travel agency must arrange early; guides need your passport details in advance to obtain port passes. There is also a per-person port fee, and passengers without a permit must walk outside the port to meet their transport. Rates are quoted per group by vehicle size (roughly 4-, 7- and 16-seat classes), with larger vehicles carrying more passengers but fewer people per seat once luggage is loaded. The source's sample prices date from 2014 and exclude the port fee, guide, meals and entrance fees, so treat them as a rough shape of the cost rather than current rates. Typical bookings include a round trip to Ho Chi Minh City with a city tour, a round trip to Vũng Tàu with a city tour, or a one-way transfer to Ho Chi Minh City's airport.
Walkability
Walking is not a practical way to get around. The port sits in undeveloped surroundings with nothing within easy reach, and the only walking most visitors do is the unwelcome trek from the pier to the main road when their driver lacks a port permit. Wear comfortable shoes and build in time for that walk if you haven't arranged permitted transport.
Getting from the airport into the city
The option it covers is a pre-booked private car: a one-way transfer from Phú Mỹ to Ho Chi Minh City airport, priced by vehicle class and capped by passenger numbers with luggage. If you are arriving by air and heading to the port to join a ship, book this in advance and give the operator your passport details so port permits can be arranged. Allow generously for the drive — the trip between the port and Ho Chi Minh City takes a couple of hours or more, and the return leg in the afternoon can run slightly quicker depending on traffic.
Making the most of a port call
Because Phú Mỹ itself offers little to walk to, think of it as a gateway. With two days at the port, the source suggests the Mekong Delta (Bến Tre) on one day and either the Củ Chi tunnels or Ho Chi Minh City on the other. In Ho Chi Minh City, the Post Office and Notre Dame Church, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, and Chợ Lớn with the Thiên Hậu Pagoda are the classic stops — but many attractions close for a long lunch break, so plan around it. In Vũng Tàu, the Buddha Shrine, the French-built lighthouse, the Giant Jesus, the Maria Statue and the Minh Đạm Caves are the highlights. Whichever you choose, confirm your transport and permits before you dock.