If you’ve been planning a Vietnam beach holiday and haven’t heard of Starfish Beach, you’re about to understand why it keeps showing up on every traveler’s shortlist. Located on the northern tip of Phu Quoc Island, this stretch of coastline is one of the few places in Southeast Asia where you can reliably spot dozens of live orange sea stars scattered across a shallow, crystal-clear seabed. It’s genuinely unlike anything else on the island.
This guide covers everything you need to know before you go: where Starfish Beach is, what makes it worth the trip, the best time to visit, how to get there, and what to eat and do while you’re in the area.
What Is Starfish Beach?
Starfish Beach (locally called Bai Sao Bien or Bai Sao, though it is more commonly known among tourists simply as Starfish Beach) is a natural beach on the northern coast of Phu Quoc Island in An Giang Province (Kien Giang Province, before the Vietnam provincial merger in 2025), southern Vietnam.
The crystal-clear waters and famous red starfish of Rach Vem Beach create a stunning natural wonder in Phu Quoc.
The beach takes its name from the large population of orange-red sea stars (starfish) that live in the seagrass beds just offshore in water barely knee-deep.
The sea stars here belong primarily to the species Protoreaster nodosus, often called the horned sea star or chocolate chip sea star. They’re large, often 20 to 30 cm across, and visible without snorkeling gear. You just walk out, look down, and there they are.
What makes the spot genuinely interesting, beyond the novelty, is the setting. The water is calm and shallow for a good distance from shore. The sand is soft. There are no jet skis buzzing around. It has the quiet, unhurried feel of a fishing village beach rather than a developed resort, which is exactly what it is.
Where Is Starfish Beach Located?
Starfish Beach is in Rach Vem village, in the Ganh Dau Commune on the northern tip of Phu Quoc Island. The coordinates are approximately 10°24’N, 103°51’E.
It sits about 25 km north of Phu Quoc’s main town, Duong Dong, and roughly 30 km from Phu Quoc International Airport. The road there passes through some of the island’s less-developed interior, which means you’ll see a side of Phu Quoc that resort zones don’t show you.
Getting to Starfish Beach:
- By motorbike: The most common approach. Rent a scooter in Duong Dong (around 100,000 to 150,000 VND per day, or approximately $4 to $6) and ride north on Nguyen Trung Truc Road, then follow signs toward Ganh Dau and Rach Vem. The ride takes about 40 to 50 minutes.
- By taxi or car: A one-way taxi from Duong Dong runs roughly 250,000 to 350,000 VND (~$10 to $14). Grab (Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing app) is available on the island.
- By tour: Several Phu Quoc day tours include Starfish Beach as part of a northern island itinerary. This is a practical option if you want to combine it with Ganh Dau Cape or the fishing village without navigating on your own. Contact us for more information!
The road to Rach Vem is mostly paved but gets narrow toward the end. On a motorbike, it’s an easy ride. In a standard car, it’s fine. There’s no boat required.
Best Time to Visit Starfish Beach
Phu Quoc has two seasons, and the timing makes a real difference for this particular beach.
Dry season (November to April) is the recommended window for visiting Starfish Beach. Skies are clear, seas are calm, and the water visibility is at its best. Temperatures sit around 27 to 31°C (81 to 88°F). December through February is peak tourist season on the island, so the beach sees more visitors, but it still feels uncrowded compared to the southern resort beaches.
Wet season (May to October) brings heavy rainfall and stronger winds, especially from July to September. The water can turn murky and choppy, which makes spotting the sea stars harder. Some of the beach shacks close or reduce hours. That said, May and June can still be reasonable, and the lower visitor numbers mean the beach is almost empty on good-weather days.
The best months for Starfish Beach specifically:
- December to February: Clear skies, best visibility, ideal temperatures
- March to April: Still good conditions, slightly fewer crowds than peak season
- November: Transitional month, often fine with occasional rain
If you’re planning a Vietnam beach holiday around the island’s weather patterns, the dry season window is the one to aim for.
What Makes Starfish Beach Worth the Trip
This is the section that matters most if you’re deciding whether to add it to your itinerary.
Kayaking at Rach Vem offers a stunning perspective of Phu Quoc’s clear waters and lush coastline.
1. The Sea Stars
Let’s be direct: the main draw is the starfish, and they really are there. Walk about 50 to 100 meters into the water (which stays very shallow) and you’ll start spotting them. On a good day, you might count 30 or 40 in a single wade.
A few things worth knowing:
- Don’t remove them from the water. It’s both ecologically harmful and illegal. Take photos with them in the water.
- Don’t walk on the seagrass. The seagrass beds are the habitat that supports them. Stick to sandy paths.
- Morning visits are better. The water is calmer before noon, and there are fewer people. The starfish seem more dispersed by mid-afternoon when the beach fills up.
- The population has thinned over the years compared to photos from a decade ago, mostly due to tourism pressure. They’re still there in good numbers, but a responsible approach matters.
2. The Water and Setting
The bay faces Cambodia to the west, which means sunsets here are genuinely good. The water temperature hovers around 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F) year-round. The seabed is a mix of sand and seagrass, and the visibility is usually clear enough to see the bottom at 1.5 to 2 meters.
The beach itself is quiet by Phu Quoc standards. There are no large resorts fronting it, no parasailing operations, no banana boat vendors. A handful of small wooden stilt houses and seafood shacks line the waterfront, some of them on piers extending over the water.
3. The Rach Vem Floating Village
Just beside Starfish Beach is the Rach Vem floating fishing village, a small community of houses built on stilts and floating platforms over the water. It’s home to a few hundred residents who fish the surrounding waters.
Visiting the floating village adds real context to the beach. The combination of the sea stars, the fishing community, and the northwest coast views gives the whole area a character that the resort beaches on the island’s southern and eastern shores don’t have. Boat tours of the village run around 100,000 to 150,000 VND per person (~$4 to $6) and depart from the beach.
4. Food at the Beach
The small restaurants and shacks at Starfish Beach serve fresh seafood at prices well below what you’d pay at resorts. A grilled fish will cost you around 80,000 to 150,000 VND (~$3 to $6). Fresh coconuts are usually 20,000 to 30,000 VND (~$0.80 to $1.20). The quality varies by vendor, but the fish is genuinely fresh.
A few stalls also sell cold drinks and fried snacks. Nothing fancy. It suits the beach.
Other Things to Do Near Starfish Beach
Starfish Beach is in the northern part of Phu Quoc, and the surrounding area has a few stops worth combining into a half or full day.
Ganh Dau Cape is about 3 km northwest of Rach Vem. It’s the northernmost point of Phu Quoc, with views across to the Cambodian coast on clear days. There’s a small temple and a lighthouse. The drive there from Starfish Beach takes about 10 minutes on a motorbike.
Rugged beauty of Ganh Dau Cape
Phu Quoc National Park covers more than half the island’s land area, and parts of it are accessible from the northern roads. If you’re on a motorbike, the roads through the forest between Duong Dong and Ganh Dau pass through secondary jungle. Not a formal hike, but a good drive.
Exploring the tranquil trails of Phu Quoc National Park — a paradise for nature lovers and eco-adventurers.
Ham Ninh Fishing Village is on the eastern coast, about 20 km from Rach Vem. It’s another working fishing village with seafood restaurants over the water, similar in character to Rach Vem but slightly more developed. The grilled squid here has a reputation among repeat visitors to the island.
Ham Ninh Fishing Village offers a lively glimpse into the traditional coastal life of Phu Quoc.
Duong Dong Market (Night Market) is in the island’s main town and runs from about 6 pm to 10 pm. After a day in the north, the night market is a practical stop on the way back. Street food prices run 20,000 to 60,000 VND ($0.76 to $2.30) per dish.
Duong Dong Market is the vibrant heart of Phu Quoc, where locals and visitors gather for fresh seafood and local goods.
Estimated Cost for a Day Trip to Starfish Beach
The numbers below are based on a realistic solo traveler doing the northern Phu Quoc circuit independently, without a package tour. Couples or groups will split transport costs and bring the per-person total down noticeably.
| Expense | VND | USD (approx.) |
| Motorbike rental (full day) | 120,000 | ~$4.60 |
| Petrol (round trip from Duong Dong) | 30,000 | ~$1.15 |
| Beach entry | Free | Free |
| Floating village boat tour (per person) | 100,000 to 150,000 | ~$4 to $6 |
| Lunch at beach shack (grilled fish + rice) | 100,000 to 150,000 | ~$4 to $6 |
| Fresh coconut x 2 | 40,000 to 60,000 | ~$1.50 to $2.30 |
| Cold drinks / snacks | 30,000 to 50,000 | ~$1.15 to $1.90 |
| Grab or taxi back if needed (one way) | 250,000 to 350,000 | ~$10 to $14 |
| Total (motorbike, self-guided) | 420,000 to 560,000 | ~$16 to $22 |
| Total (taxi both ways) | 800,000 to 1,100,000 | ~$31 to $42 |
A few notes on these figures. The motorbike option is much cheaper and gives you flexibility to stop along the way, which is worth it if you’re comfortable riding. The floating village boat tour is optional but genuinely good value for what it shows you. Food at the beach is inexpensive, and there’s no reason to budget more than 200,000 VND (~$7.65) for a full meal with drinks.
If you’re on a multi-day Phu Quoc stay, accommodation is the larger cost variable. Budget guesthouses in Duong Dong run 300,000 to 600,000 VND per night (~$11.50 to $23), while mid-range hotels sit around 800,000 to 1,500,000 VND (~$31 to $57). Resort properties on the southern coast start at 2,000,000 VND (~$77) and go well above that in peak season.
Is Starfish Beach Good for Families?
Yes, particularly for families with children. The shallow, calm water means kids can wade safely, and seeing the sea stars in their natural habitat tends to make an impression on younger travelers in a way that a standard beach day doesn’t. There’s no strong current in the bay, and the gradual depth progression means it’s easy to keep track of where children are.
The lack of water sports operations is actually a benefit here. It’s a quieter experience than Phu Quoc’s resort beaches, which can feel overwhelming for families looking for something low-key.
Tips Before You Go to Starfish Beach Phu Quoc
A few practical notes from the experience of travelers who’ve been there:
- Bring cash. The vendors at Rach Vem do not accept card payments. The nearest ATM is in Duong Dong.
- Wear water shoes or sandals. The entry to the water involves some uneven rock and shell fragments near the shore.
- Sunscreen is worth applying before you arrive, not after. The northern coast has less shade infrastructure than resort beaches.
- If you’re renting a motorbike, fill up on petrol in Duong Dong. Gas stations get sparse heading north.
- Start before 9 am if possible. The beach is genuinely quieter in the early morning, and the light is better for photos.
Planning a Phu Quoc Trip Around Starfish Beach
Starfish Beach works best as part of a broader Phu Quoc itinerary rather than a standalone day trip from Ho Chi Minh City. Most visitors use it as a northern day excursion during a 3 to 5 night stay on the island.
If you’re building a southern Vietnam tour that includes Phu Quoc, a reasonable structure is:
Day 1: Arrive, settle in, explore Duong Dong and the night market
Day 2: Northern tour: Starfish Beach, Rach Vem floating village, Ganh Dau Cape
Day 3: Southern beaches (Sao Beach, Khem Beach), Phu Quoc Prison historical site
Day 4: Optional island-hopping trip to the An Thoi archipelago or a free beach day
That’s a solid 4-day Phu Quoc stay that covers the island’s main points without feeling rushed. Phu Quoc day tours with a local guide can make the northern route especially efficient, since the roads aren’t always clearly signposted for first-time visitors.
For those combining Phu Quoc with other destinations, the island pairs naturally with Ho Chi Minh City (1-hour flight) and the Mekong Delta (can be done by road and ferry). IDC Travel’s Vietnam tours include Phu Quoc as part of multi-destination itineraries, which is worth considering if you want to see more of the south in a single trip.
Quick Facts: Starfish Beach Phu Quoc
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Starfish Beach (Vietnamese: Bai Sao Bien or Bai Sao) |
| Location | Rach Vem village, Ganh Dau commune, Phu Quoc Island |
| Distance from Duong Dong | ~25 km north |
| Best months to visit | November to April (dry season) |
| Water temperature | 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F) year-round |
| Entry fee | Free |
| Average food cost | 50,000 to 150,000 VND (~$2 to $6) per dish |
| Getting there | Motorbike, taxi, or tour (no boat required) |
| Travel time from Duong Dong | 40 to 50 minutes by motorbike |
| Key nearby sites | Ganh Dau Cape, Rach Vem floating village, Ham Ninh |
Starfish Beach is one of those places on Phu Quoc that rewards visitors who go a little further than the resort zone. The sea stars, the fishing village atmosphere, the northwest coast light at sunset. It’s not a polished beach experience. That’s exactly what makes it memorable.
If you’re putting together a Vietnam trip and want to include Phu Quoc, the northern part of the island has a different feel from the developed south. Starfish Beach is the clearest example of that. We can customize a unique and exciting trip just for you!
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