Which beach in Phu Quoc has starfish? Not Sao Beach

In short: For starfish, go to Rach Vem, not Sao Beach

Sao Beach (Bai Sao) is a white-sand swimming beach in the south of the island, near An Thoi. The area usually mentioned for starfish watching is at Rach Vem in the north. The similar names are easy to mix up, but the two places are in different directions.

The starfish gather in the shallow water in front of Rach Vem fishing village, in the north. The two places are almost the full length of Phu Quoc apart, about 45–50 km by road, so going to the wrong one costs you half a day.

• Sao Beach - South, near An Thoi: A white-sand swimming beach, not a starfish spot
• Rach Vem - North, former Ganh Dau commune: The shallows where starfish live
• Khem Beach, Truong Beach, Long Beach: Swimming beaches, not starfish spots

Why the starfish gather at Rach Vem

The water in front of Rach Vem is shallow, the bottom is sand mixed with silt, and the bay is sheltered enough that the waves stay gentle. That is the kind of seabed red starfish usually live on, and because the water is only calf- to knee-deep at low tide, anyone standing on the shore can see them just by looking down.

They are not there on every visit. How many you see changes with the tide and the monsoon season, so if your trip only has one afternoon, ask before you make the drive.

Look all you like, but do not lift the little ones

Starfish are marine animals. Lifting them out of the water for a photo can harm them, so please leave them where they are.

Watching them responsibly is simple: Look or take photos from above, and avoid stepping on the starfish or nearby seagrass. You still get a lovely photo while helping care for the shallows.

“The best starfish in a photo is the one still alive after we have gone.”

Getting to Rach Vem

From central Duong Dong, ride or drive north for about 23.6 km, roughly 30 minutes, mostly on sealed road. From the south of the island or An Thoi it is considerably further, so count the return leg before deciding on a day trip.

At the village, the floating restaurants sit along the shore, each joined to land by a wooden pier. Nha Be Khanh Hao is in Group 3, Rach Vem quarter; most guests combine a seafood meal with the starfish watching in the same trip.

Starfish Beach Phu Quoc: The questions guests ask us most

Most of the messages we get about Starfish Beach are the same five questions, so here are the honest answers from people who live here.

• Is there an entry fee? No. Rach Vem is a working fishing village, not a ticketed attraction. You pay for what you eat, and for a boat ticket only if you take one
• Can you swim there? Not really. In front of the village the water is calf- to knee-deep at low tide, so it is for wading and looking down, not for swimming
• Can you drive there? Yes. Sealed road nearly the whole way from Duong Dong, by car or motorbike; the last stretch into the village is short
• Is it worth the trip? At low tide in the morning, yes. At high tide in the middle of the day you may see very few, which is why some visitors leave disappointed
• What is it called in Vietnamese? Rạch Vẹm, or bãi sao biển - Ask a local for "Rach Vem" rather than "Starfish Beach"