IRONMAN 70.3 Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc, Vietnam · November · IRONMAN
Why people love it
- Tropical island setting with a sea swim and coastal bike and run
- Flat 90 km (56 mi) bike and two-lap seaside run
- Sea-level resort island with many hotels
- International field of 2,000+ athletes from 60 countries in 2025
Watch out for
- Strong wind on the bike in 2023
- Tropical heat and humidity likely in November; not measured in any source
- Wetsuit not expected; water temperature not published
- Island travel often routed via Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi
- No first-person athlete reports found, so scores rest on press coverage
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
Press and visiting champion Mark Allen praised the scenery and facilities. No first-person athlete reports were found. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
Officials and Ironman staff describe world-class facilities, but there are no athlete accounts either way. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.3
Flat course, but likely heat and demonstrated wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.2
Flat but windy and hot. Winners went 4:22:48 in 2023 and 4:06:55 in 2025, slower than flat cool-weather races. · Low confidence
- Course easeTough2.8
Flat bike, but likely heat and humidity plus strong wind in 2023. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarely1.3
Tropical sea, so a wetsuit is very unlikely. Water temperature and rules were not found. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable1.9
Tropical water is probably above 27 °C (81 °F). Not measured in any source. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.4
Sea swim on a beach triangle. No chop reports. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
Simple anticlockwise triangle. One 2023 winner struggled after time away from swimming. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
Tropical beach swim with a marina base. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.7
Newer island roads are likely decent, but there are no reports. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.9
Government-backed flagship event, but closure details were not found. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.1
Coastal island roads. · Low confidence
- WindWindy2.2
The 2023 women's winner said the wind nearly made her fall several times. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.5
Flat coastal roads, but strong wind was reported in 2023. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessPancake flat4.5
Described as flat. Elevation gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple4.0
Two-lap coastal route. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
No atmosphere reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
No aid-station reports found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.2
Seaside road. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.4
Tropical November heat and humidity are likely, though no temperatures were reported. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.3
Two laps on the seaside road, described as flat. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureHarsh2.1
Tropical climate. No race-day temperature or humidity data found. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
November is the end of the rainy season. No cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyStunning4.5
Tropical beaches, praised by Mark Allen. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Marina base with two-lap bike and run. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level, about 5 m (16 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Resort island with many hotels. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Race-week prices are not reported. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Many resorts, but Phu Quoc is spread out. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection2.8
Island with limited direct international flights, often routed via Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.4
Marina-based event. Transition details are unknown. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.7
Resort dining. No race reports. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Phu Quoc, Kien Giang, Vietnam
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 15 November 2026
- Organiser
- IRONMAN
- Field size
- About 2,000 athletes
- First held
- 2023
- Distances
- 1.9 km (1.2 mi) swim, 90 km (56 mi) bike, 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Three Coconut Tree Beach / Phu Quoc Marina area (ocean)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run laps
- 2
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Phu Quoc International (PQC)
- Where to stay
- Phu Quoc Marina area, Long Beach
- Booking
- Resort island with abundant hotels; race centre at the Phu Quoc Marina complex.
What racers and reviewers say
- Tuoi Tre News: nearly 2,000 participantsRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Inaugural-race coverage: nearly 2,000 triathletes from 47 countries, billed as the first world-class sporting event on the island; Mark Allen praised the scenery.
- Viet Nam News: Mizushima, Cuong dominateRaced 2023 · article · Mixed
Winners Mizushima (4:22:48) and Nguyen Thi Kim Cuong (5:06:41). Cuong said the bike wind was strong and she struggled in the swim after time away; Mark Allen praised facilities and scenery.
- VOV: Uzbek and Singaporean athletes winRaced 2024 · article · Positive
2024 results report: Anfrey Sharipov and Ling Er Choo took the titles; bike described as a flat track.
- VOV5: Mizushima and Choo defend titles 2025Raced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 report: 2,000+ athletes from 60 countries and territories; Mizushima won in 4:06:55 on coastal roads.
- Viet Nam News: IRONMAN Phu Quoc is backRaced 2025 · article · Positive
2025 preview: triangle swim from Three Coconut Tree Beach, two-lap 90 km (56 mi) bike, two-lap seaside 21.1 km (13.1 mi) run, based at the Phu Quoc Marina complex.
Show 4 more
- VNA: nearly 1,500 athletes conquer tropical challengeRaced 2024 · article · Positive
2024 recap: nearly 1,500 athletes from over 61 countries; IRONMAN staff stressed the tropical setting for athletes and families.
- VOV: Phu Quoc to host IRONMAN 70.3Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Pre-race announcement of the new island race and its course distances.
- Angiang.gov.vn: BIM Group IRONMAN 70.3 Phu QuocRaced 2025 · article · Positive
Provincial overview of the event as community and tourism promotion, with water-safety training programmes.
- DTiNews: 2023 Phu Quoc triathlonRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Inaugural-edition news piece (seen via search snippet only).
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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