Rach Vem fishing village: What you will see
Rach Vem is a fishing village in north Phu Quoc, known to visitors as Starfish Beach: Floating rafts on wooden piers, live seafood pens and shallows with starfish.
Where is Rach Vem, and why is it called Starfish Beach?
Rach Vem is a fishing village in the north of Phu Quoc, in the former Ganh Dau commune. From central Duong Dong it is about 23.6 km, roughly 30 minutes by road.
Visitors call it Starfish Beach or Rach Vem Beach, because red starfish live in the shallow water in front of the village. Search "Starfish Beach" on Google Maps and you land in the right place.
What is there to see in Rach Vem fishing village?
Along the shore, floating rafts sit on the water, each joined to land by a wooden pier. Under the raft floors are pens of live seafood, and the fishing boats come and go right beside them. That is why many people call it a floating village.
Rach Vem is a working fishing village, not a ticketed attraction. There is no entry fee: You pay for what you eat, and for a boat ticket if you take one.
- Wooden piers and floating rafts: You walk out from the shore, no boat needed
- Seafood pens under the rafts: The catch is kept alive here until it is cooked
- The shallows in front of the village: At low tide the water is calf-deep and the starfish lie on the bottom
Where is Nha Be Khanh Hao in the village?
Nha Be Khanh Hao is in Group 3, Rach Vem quarter, and has welcomed guests since 2016. Cross the wooden pier and you are on the raft: Seafood pens below, a covered dining room open to the sea on both sides above.
We buy our seafood from Rach Vem fishermen and keep it in the pens until it is cooked. The raft is open 08:00–17:30 every day.
What to do once you are there?
Most guests sit down for a seafood meal on the raft, then take the speedboat out to Ham Rong Cape. Each way takes about 10 minutes, and the boat picks up guests from 08:30 to 17:30.
To see the starfish in front of the village, come at low tide. If the water is still high, sit on the raft, watch the sea and wade out once it drops.
A few small things we ask of every visitor
People live and work here every day. Walk slowly on the wooden piers, hold small children by the hand and do not climb onto someone else’s boat or raft without asking.
Watch the starfish where they are: Do not lift them out of the water for a photo, and do not step on the seagrass around them.
Written by
Admin NBKH
Local guides. This article reflects how things are at Rach Vem. Roads, weather, prices and services can change, so please check again with us before your date.
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