The best Phu Quoc beaches in 2026

The 574 km² island — the largest in Vietnam — offers 150 km of coastline with white, yellow and even cream-coloured sand. This guide covers every beach with prices in VND (and a rough USD conversion), a look at the infrastructure, seasonal advice and how to get there. For an overview of the island, see our full Phu Quoc guide. Data is checked against 2025–2026 traveller reviews on TripAdvisor and Reddit's r/VietnamTravel.

Prices current as of March 2026. They can vary by season. Rough conversion: ~25,000 VND = $1.

All the Phu Quoc beaches on a map

Phu Quoc has ten beaches with very different characters — from the fully-kitted-out Long Beach with loungers and cocktail bars to Starfish Beach on the northern tip, reached down a dusty dirt track. Tap a marker to see the details and jump to the beach's description.

• Long Beach (Bãi Trường): 20 km, full infrastructure — Sun lounger: 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3.20)
• Bai Sao (Bãi Sao): White sand, basic infrastructure — Sun lounger: 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4)
• Bai Khem (Bãi Khem): White sand, premium zone — Free public side; JW Marriott deposit
• Starfish Beach (Rạch Vẹm): White sand, minimal infrastructure — No loungers, wild beach
• Ong Lang (Ông Lang): Shallow, no waves, gentle entry — Sun lounger: ~50,000 VND (~$2)
• Bai Dai (Bãi Dài): Yellow sand, next to VinWonders — Sun lounger: 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3.20)
• Vung Bau (Vũng Bầu): 3 km of sand, not a single café — Wild beach, no loungers
• Ganh Dau (Gành Dầu): Fishing village, views of Cambodia — Seafood cafés
• Sunset Sanato: Beach club, art installations — Free entry, cocktails from 80,000 VND
• Ba Keo (Bà Kèo): Planes overhead (50–100 m) — Sun lounger: 40,000–60,000 VND (~$1.60–2.40)

Worth saving this table to your phone — it comes in handy on the ground. Now, each beach in detail.

Long Beach — the island's main beach

Bãi Trường stretches 20 km along the west coast — the longest and most developed beach on Phu Quoc, home to 95% of the island's hotels. Fine light sand, a gentle entry into the water, dozens of restaurants and bars along the shore. The sunset over the Gulf of Thailand is the picture that ends up all over people's feeds.

The three zones of Long Beach

Twenty kilometres is not one beach but three completely different worlds.

The northern part (from Duong Dong to the InterContinental area) is the most touristy zone. The InterContinental and Novotel, restaurant after restaurant along the promenade. It is a 10-minute walk to the Dinh Cậu night market. It is always busy here — but everything is at hand: supermarkets, ATMs, pharmacies, massage parlours. For a first visit to Phu Quoc, it is ideal.

The central part is the prettiest stretch of Long Beach. A wide sand strip, less building, clearer water than up north. This is where people come for sunsets: the sun drops straight into the sea, with no hotel silhouettes on the horizon. Mornings bring runners and yoga groups; evenings bring couples with a glass of wine. Salinda Resort and a few boutique hotels sit on this stretch.

The southern part is the Grand World area, a new tourism mega-project. A shopping complex in an "Italian" style, restaurants, a nightly fountain show, a casino. The beach here is well-kept but has a commercial feel. It suits anyone who likes Vinpearl Land and the all-inclusive resort format.

What to do on Long Beach

Water sports are concentrated in the northern and central parts:

• Jet ski — from 300,000 VND (~$12) for 15 minutes
• Catamaran — from 200,000 VND (~$8) an hour
• Banana boat — from 150,000 VND (~$6) per person
• Parasailing — from 600,000 VND (~$24)

In the evening Long Beach turns into a food strip: grilled seafood, barbecue, smoothie bars. Oysters from 10,000 VND (~$0.40) a piece at a beach café, lobster from 400,000 VND (~$16).

The Dinh Cậu night market in the northern part of Long Beach is a reason to come on its own: seafood straight off the boats, grilled lobster, coconut ice cream. Open every evening 18:00–23:30. Oysters from 10,000 VND (~$0.40) a piece, grilled lobster from 400,000 VND (~$16).

Bai Sao — Phu Quoc's snow-white beach

Bai Sao (Bãi Sao) is the picture-postcard beach with powder-white sand and turquoise water that many people fly to Phu Quoc for. It sits on the southeast coast, 25 km from Duong Dong. The sea is calm year-round — the eastern side of the island is sheltered from the southwest monsoon.

Swings and photo spots

The signature of Bai Sao is the wooden swings set right in the water. They are not just décor: the swings stand in the shallows, water up to your ankles, sand snow-white — the photos look like a beach ad. The queue at midday runs 10–15 minutes. Nearby are hammocks and woven-vine photo frames shaped like hearts and lotuses.

💬 "Best beach on Phu Quoc! White sand like flour, turquoise water. But come in the morning — after lunch the tour buses arrive." — traveller review, TripAdvisor, 2025

Infrastructure and downsides

Three cafés: Paradiso (the most famous, with the swings), My Lan (quieter, cheaper) and Long Beach Restaurant (at the southern end, fewer tourists). Toilets and a shower come with each café.

The downside is litter. From May to October (rainy season) the tide washes plastic and seaweed onto the shore. In the dry season (November–March) the beach is clean, the water clear, the bottom visible 3–5 metres down.

One more thing: taxi and Grab drivers inflate the fare for the trip back from Bai Sao — they know a tourist has nowhere else to turn. They ask 300,000–400,000 VND (~$12–16) for a ride that costs half that in the app. If you rent a scooter, the problem disappears. Scooter parking at the beach is 5,000 VND (~$0.20).

Getting to Bai Sao

• By scooter — 40 minutes from Duong Dong, the road is fully paved with signs
• Grab — from 180,000 VND (~$7) one way
• Taxi (negotiated) — from 200,000 VND (~$8), always haggle
• Tour (a loop of several beaches) — from 400,000 VND (~$16) per person

Bai Khem — the premium beach of the south

The Bãi Khem beach (also called Cream Beach) is one of the most beautiful on Phu Quoc. Fine white sand, clear jade-tinted water, a sea that stays calm all year. This is where the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay stands — the island's most luxurious hotel, rated 9.6/10 on Booking.

The two sides of Bai Khem

The beach splits into two worlds. The left side is the public zone: free entry, the same snow-white sand, the same jade water — but no loungers or cafés. Bring your own towel, water and umbrella.

The right side is the domain of the JW Marriott and Premier Residences Emerald Bay. Entry is via a 500,000 VND (~$20) deposit — the money is not lost; you can spend it on food and drinks at the hotel bar. Loungers, towels, service — all to five-star resort standard. A cocktail at the beachfront pool bar is from 180,000 VND (~$7).

The JW Marriott architecture deserves a mention of its own: the hotel was designed by Bill Bensley in the style of a "19th-century Vietnamese university" — columns, staircases, mosaics. Even if you don't stay, it is worth a look.

The sea and the seasons

Bai Khem is on the south coast. The monsoon swell that batters Long Beach from May to October doesn't reach here. You can swim any month. Visibility is 5–10 metres. For snorkelling, it is one of the best options on the island.

Next to Bai Khem is the cable car to Hòn Thơm island (the longest over-water cable car in the world, 7.9 km). A return ticket is 690,000–750,000 VND (~$28–30). You can combine the two in one day: beach in the morning, cable car in the afternoon.

Getting to Bai Khem

• Scooter — 50 minutes from the centre, the last 3 km is a turn off the main DT45 road
• Grab — from 220,000 VND (~$9)
• Taxi — from 250,000 VND (~$10), negotiate

Starfish Beach — Rach Vem

At Rạch Vẹm, the starfish beach, hundreds of red and orange starfish rest in the shallows. You can see them straight from the shore — the water in their zone is knee-deep, clear, over a sandy bottom. The best time to visit is the dry season, November to April. In the rainy months the water clouds and the starfish move deeper.

What you'll see

The starfish — bright red, the size of a palm — are scattered on the bottom at 30–50 cm depth. You can look, but touching or lifting them is banned: the fine runs up to 1,000,000 VND (~$40). Nearby is a floating fishing village: wooden stilt houses with boats darting between them. A restaurant on the water cooks fresh seafood straight off the boat.

Grilled crab from 250,000 VND (~$10) a portion. Charcoal-grilled prawns from 150,000 VND (~$6). Whole fish from 200,000 VND (~$8). Beer 20,000 VND (~$0.80). Prices are higher than in Duong Dong, but you pay for the setting: the beach, the quiet, water to the horizon.

💬 "The best beach on Phu Quoc and in all of Vietnam — azure water, white sand and a long gentle entry." — traveller review, TripAdvisor, 2025

When to come

The sweet spot is 8:00–10:00 in the morning. That is when there are most starfish in the shallows (at low tide), fewer tourists, and soft light for photos. After noon, small groups roll in on scooters and it gets louder.

Weekends are noticeably busier. If you want to shoot video without a crowd — a weekday, early morning.

Getting to Starfish Beach

The main hurdle is the last 5 km on a dirt road. After rain it is slick and loose — take the scooter carefully, especially if your riding experience is limited.

• Scooter — 45 minutes from Duong Dong, the last 5 km is dirt road
• Grab — in the north of the island drivers aren't always around, a 10–20 minute wait
• Taxi (negotiated) — from 250,000 VND (~$10) one way

Ong Lang — the quiet beach for families

Ông Lang Beach is the choice of families with small children and anyone who wants quiet without the dirt-road adventures. The beach sits 7 km north of Duong Dong: easy to reach, and no crowds. Clear water, almost no waves, a gently shelving sandy entry — a child can wade knee-deep 20–30 metres from shore.

Coves and rocks

Two kilometres of shore are divided by rocky outcrops into cosy coves, each with its own character. At Chen Sea Resort — shady palms and groomed sand: staff clear seaweed and shells daily. At Mango Bay — a wilder look: boulders, eco-style wooden bungalows, hammocks slung between coconut palms.

You can move between coves on foot over the rocks — in some quiet pools you'll find crabs and sea urchins. Closed-toe shoes come in handy.

💬 "One of the best beaches on Phu Quoc island — it truly earns the name tropical paradise." — traveller review, TripAdvisor, 2025. With one caveat: in the rainy season (May–October) the west coast gets stormy, and Ong Lang is no exception.

Infrastructure

Moderate: a few resort restaurants (you can walk in without being a guest), small shops on the main road, a couple of cafés. There is no nightlife. One ATM. The pharmacy is in Duong Dong.

For kids: shallow, warm, quiet, no jet skis or motorboats. A gentle entry with no pits or rocks on the Chen Sea stretch. The downside — no dedicated kids' zones, playgrounds or beach entertainment.

Getting to Ong Lang

• Scooter — 15 minutes from the centre, the road is paved
• Grab — from 70,000 VND (~$2.80)
• On foot from Duong Dong — not realistic, 7 km with no pavements

Bai Dai — the Vinpearl beach

Bãi Dài once made ABC News' top 10 wild beaches in the world. A wide strip of yellow sand, blue water, few people. Today a large part of the 15-km coast is taken up by the Vinpearl complex: the VinWonders water park, Vinpearl Safari, a golf course, several resorts. But the wild stretches survive — you just drive a little further.

The two faces of Bai Dai

The developed stretches have loungers, umbrellas, resort restaurants, pools with a sea view. The wild ones have silence, sand, fishing boats and not a single umbrella. The contrast is like Long Beach versus Vung Bau on the same coastline.

The water is blue, the entry gentle, the bottom sandy without rocks. Depth builds slowly — 50 metres out you are still waist-deep. Good for children; for serious swimming you have to walk far.

Vinpearl and things to do

For families with kids, Bai Dai is a strategic base. Beach in the morning, park in the afternoon.

Guests of the Vinpearl resorts get discounts on the parks and a free shuttle.

Getting to Bai Dai

• Scooter — 30 minutes from Duong Dong on paved road
• Grab — from 120,000 VND (~$4.80)
• Vinpearl buses — free shuttle for resort guests from the airport and Long Beach

Wild beaches of Phu Quoc: Vung Bau, Ganh Dau and Sunset Sanato

Long Beach, Bai Sao, Bai Khem are the "civilised" Phu Quoc: loungers, cafés, Wi-Fi. The north and northwest of the island are for those who want the opposite. Three beaches for anyone chasing solitude, local colour or a sunset photo shoot.

Vung Bau — three kilometres without a single sign

Vũng Bầu — 3 km of soft sand in the northwest, 18 km from Duong Dong. No cafés, no loungers, no umbrellas, no toilets. Bring water, food and a towel. Seriously — there is nothing to buy here.

The access road is dirt — after rain you need scooter experience and confidence in your brakes. There are at most 5–10 people on the beach in the dry season. In the rainy season you can have three kilometres of shore to yourself. The quiet is so dense you can hear fish splashing 30 metres out.

The sand is soft, faintly yellow. The water is clear November–March, murky in the rainy season. The bottom is sandy, with no rocks or urchins. Depth builds gradually.

Getting there: scooter — 35 minutes from Duong Dong. The last 3 km is dirt road. Grab drivers often refuse to come out here.

Ganh Dau — a fishing village with a view of Cambodia

A 500-metre-wide crescent on the very northern tip of Phu Quoc. On a clear day you can see the coast of Cambodia — 15 km away across the water. Wooden boats, fishing nets on the shore, the smell of fried fish from the nearest café.

Nearby is a fishing village with a Buddhist temple and a few street-food cafés. Grouper soup — 80,000 VND (~$3.20). Fried squid — 70,000 VND (~$2.80). The atmosphere is the real Vietnam, without the international tourist gloss.

The water is calm, the bottom sandy and shallow. Fine for swimming, though the bottom is silty in places. For kids it is okay, if murky water near the shore doesn't bother you.

Getting there: scooter — 50 minutes from Duong Dong, the last 10 km a quiet road through villages and pepper plantations (Phu Quoc is Vietnam's biggest pepper producer). Grab — from 250,000 VND (~$10), but drivers don't always accept a trip this far.

Sunset Sanato — sunsets and wooden elephants

Sunset Sanato Beach Club is on the southern part of Long Beach, below the airport. Technically not a wild beach, but included here for its one-of-a-kind format. It is famous for art installations: giant wooden elephant sculptures, floating jetties, bamboo photo frames, nest-shaped swings.

It is one of the most photogenic places on the whole island. Every evening, dozens of people with cameras wait for the sunset. The sun sets between the sculptures, and the first 10 minutes after sundown are the golden hour for photos.

Entry is free, but there is a minimum bar spend — from 100,000 VND (~$4). A "Sunset" cocktail is 150,000 VND (~$6), beer 40,000 VND (~$1.60). The music is unobtrusive, lounge-style.

Getting there: scooter — 15 minutes from Duong Dong, search the map for "Sunset Sanato Beach Club." Grab — from 60,000 VND (~$2.40).

The sea at Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is washed by the Gulf of Thailand — part of the South China Sea, not the Pacific. The difference matters: the gulf is an enclosed body of water, so the waves are moderate, currents are weak in the dry season, and dangerous marine life is minimal. The water warms to +27–30 °C year-round — even in "cold" January it is comfortable to swim without a wetsuit.

Clarity and snorkelling

Underwater visibility runs 5 to 15 metres depending on the season and beach. The best clarity is December–February on the east coast. For snorkelling, Bai Sao and Bai Khem are best: shallow near the shore, sandy bottom, fish visible without a mask.

On the northern beaches (Rạch Vẹm, Gành Dầu) clarity is worse due to silt, but marine life is richer — you'll find starfish, clownfish and moray eels among the rocks.

Hazards

The main hazard is rip currents on the western beaches from May to October. Never ignore the red flags. Jellyfish are rare, mostly in June–August, and the stings aren't serious. There are no sharks near the shore.

Beach season: when to go

The best beach season on Phu Quoc is November to March. Dry, sunny, calm sea on every coast, clear water. This is high season: hotel prices are 30–50% higher, the beaches busier, but swimming is safe everywhere.

April is a transitional month. The sea is still calm, but the heat builds: +34–36 °C by day, rising humidity. Comfortable in the morning and evening; by midday you want air conditioning.

May to October is the rainy season. The rain isn't all day — usually 1–2 hours after lunch, with sunnier mornings. But the western beaches (Long Beach, Ong Lang, Bai Dai, Vung Bau) have rip currents, waves and red flags. Swimming is dangerous.

Phu Quoc gets around 280 sunny days a year. Even in the "bad" months there is sun every day — the clouds just gather closer to evening.

For trip planning, remember Phu Quoc's 30-day visa-free scheme if you fly straight to the island; otherwise the e-visa covers up to 90 days.

Which beach in which month

• November–January — the best time, all beaches open, water crystal clear, not too hot (+28–30 °C). Long Beach is at its finest.
• February–March — peak season, slightly more tourists, calm sea. Bai Sao in the morning is almost empty.
• April — hot (+34–36 °C), but the sea is still calm. Better to pick beaches with shade: Ong Lang, Ganh Dau.
• May–September — only Bai Sao and Bai Khem for swimming. The western beaches are for walks and sunsets, not the water.
• October — transitional, the west eases off, you can try Long Beach on calm days.

Getting to the Phu Quoc beaches

The main way around Phu Quoc is a rented scooter. Without one, reaching the northern and eastern beaches is slow, expensive and at the mercy of Grab drivers. There is effectively no public transport on the island: no buses, no minibuses.

Transport and prices

On scooters: you can rent at any hotel or rental shop on Long Beach. The deposit is $50–100 in cash or a passport copy (the copy is preferable — don't hand over your actual passport). Petrol is about 25,000 VND (~$1) a litre, and a full tank lasts 150–200 km. The roads on Phu Quoc are good — the main routes are paved and marked. Dirt roads appear only on the approach to the wild beaches. Note that a foreign licence needs an International Driving Permit with the A category to be legal; police checks do happen.

On Grab: it works reliably around Duong Dong and Long Beach. In the north (Gành Dầu, Starfish Beach) drivers turn up only half the time. In the south (Bai Khem, Bai Sao) there are usually cars, but with a 10–15 minute wait. If you plan to roam the whole island, a scooter is the only reliable option.

Distances from Duong Dong to each beach

Change money before you head out — the VND exchange rate on the island is slightly worse than in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. ATMs are common around Duong Dong and Long Beach; carry small notes (50,000 and 100,000 VND) for beach loungers and cafés.

Hotels by the best Phu Quoc beaches

Choosing a hotel on Phu Quoc is, above all, choosing a beach. Each coast has its own level of infrastructure, quiet and price. Here are the key pairings.

Most five-star resorts are on Long Beach and Bai Dai. Budget stays cluster in Duong Dong — the island's town centre, 10–50 minutes by scooter from any beach.

If staying right on the beach isn't essential, take a guesthouse in Duong Dong for ~$20–35 a night and ride a scooter. The saving is 3–5 times against a resort, and every beach is within reach.

What to bring to the beach: a checklist

A short list of things that come in handy on the Phu Quoc beaches — especially the wild ones, where there are no shops.

• Sunscreen SPF 50+ — the sun is equatorial; you can burn in 40 minutes
• Reef shoes (water shoes) — some beaches have rocks and coral
• Mask and snorkel — for snorkelling at Bai Sao and Bai Khem
• 1.5–2 L of water per person — nowhere to buy on the wild beaches
• Cash in small notes — 50,000 and 100,000 VND for loungers and cafés
• A rubbish bag — the wild beaches have no bins
• Wet wipes and hand sanitiser — toilets on some beaches are "basic"

Data current as of March 2026. Prices and conditions can change — check before you travel.

Frequently asked questions about Phu Quoc beaches

Which beach on Phu Quoc is the most beautiful?

Bai Sao — powder-white sand and turquoise water, often called "the most beautiful on Phu Quoc." For photos, it is best in the morning, before 10:00, before the tour groups. Bai Khem is a close rival — jade-tinted water and the lavish JW Marriott architecture on the shore. But it is further to reach, and part of the beach is closed off by the hotel grounds.

Where are the white-sand beaches on Phu Quoc?

White sand is at three beaches: Bai Sao (southeast), Bai Khem (south) and Starfish Beach (north). On Long Beach and Ong Lang the sand is light but not snow-white — more of a cream tone. On Bai Dai it is yellowish and coarser. For postcard photos, Bai Sao has no equal.

Can you swim on Phu Quoc during the rainy season?

Yes, but only on the eastern and southern beaches. Bai Sao and Bai Khem have calm seas year-round, sheltered from the monsoon. From May to October the west coast (Long Beach, Ong Lang, Bai Dai) has rip currents, high waves and red flags. The rain is usually 1–2 hours after lunch, with sunny mornings.

Are there wild, empty beaches on Phu Quoc?

Three options. Vũng Bầu — 3 km of sand with not a single café or lounger, reached by dirt road, empty on weekdays. Gành Dầu — a fishing village on the northern tip, 500 m of beach, views of Cambodia. The wild stretches of Bãi Dài — beyond the Vinpearl grounds. You need a scooter for all three; there is no public transport.

Where are the best sunsets on Phu Quoc?

The best sunsets are on the west coast. Top three: the central part of Long Beach (a wide sand strip, minimal building), Sunset Sanato Beach Club (art installations plus cocktails) and Ong Lang (quiet, palms, an intimate mood). The sun sets straight into the Gulf of Thailand. Peak beauty is January to March, when the sky is clear.

Which beach is best with kids?

Ong Lang — shallow, almost no waves, gentle entry, clean water, 15 minutes by scooter from the centre. For older kids, Bai Dai: the VinWonders water park and Vinpearl Safari zoo are next door. Long Beach also works — all the infrastructure is within walking distance, but it is busy. Bai Sao and Starfish Beach are far from the centre, and the long trip is tiring with a small child.

How much do sun loungers cost on Phu Quoc beaches?

A lounger with an umbrella on Long Beach is 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3.20) for the whole day. On Bai Sao it is 50,000–100,000 VND (~$2–4). On Ong Lang and Bai Dai the loungers are often free with a food or drink order at the resort restaurant. On the wild beaches (Vũng Bầu, Gành Dầu, the wild stretches of Bãi Dài) there are no loungers — bring a beach towel, a mat and an umbrella.

What is the beach with planes flying over on Phu Quoc?

Ba Keo Beach (Bà Kèo) is the part of Long Beach next to the airport. Planes come in to land right over the sunbathers' heads — 50–100 metres up. Striking shots, especially at sunset. The sand is light, the water clean, the night market close by. Easy to find: 5 minutes by scooter south of Duong Dong.