Phu Quoc has dozens of beaches, but they are not all the same, and the best one depends on what you want and when you come. The two things that decide most of it are which coast and which month: the west coast (Long Beach, Ong Lang, Bai Dai) is at its best in the dry season, roughly November to April, when the sea is calm and the sunsets are clear; the south-east coast (Sao and Khem) is sheltered from the south-west monsoon and often calmer from May to October. See our weather guide.
This guide compares the main beaches on what visitors actually write about them: the sand and the water, crowds and rubbish, what you pay, and how easy they are to reach. Ratings are from Google Maps, October 2026.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Khem Beach — white sand, palms, calm water and good beach bars.
- For sunsets: Long Beach and Bai Dai, both facing west.
- For families: the public beach at the Grand World end of Bai Dai (gentle slope, lifeguards), and Khem.
- For quiet: Ong Lang, Cay Sao and Vung Bau.
- Most famous, most divisive: Sao Beach.
- For something different: Starfish Beach on the north coast.
The main beaches compared
| Beach | Coast | Google rating | Best months | What you pay | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khem | South-east | 4.4 (2,151) | Year-round; calmest May–Oct | Free; sunbeds about 150,000 VND | Swimming, white sand |
| Sao | South-east | 3.9 (8,217) | May–Oct calmest | About 60,000 VND entry via restaurants (early 2026) | Photos, water sports |
| Long Beach | West | 4.4 (777) | Nov–Apr | Free; beach bars | Sunsets, beach bars, staying |
| Bai Dai | North-west | 4.2 (519); Grand World beach 4.6 (351) | Nov–Apr | Sunbeds from about 50,000 VND | Families, sunsets |
| Ong Lang | West | 4.1 (750) | Nov–Apr | Free | Quiet coves, sunsets |
| Starfish Beach | North | 3.7 (3,718) | Nov–Apr | Boat rides vary widely | Starfish in shallow water |
| Cua Can | West | 3.8 (290) | Nov–Apr | Free | Sunset at the river mouth |
| Vung Bau | West | 3.8 (203) | Nov–Apr | Free, if you can get in | Empty sand |
| Cay Sao | East | — | May–Oct | Free | Sunrise, stilt restaurants |
Khem Beach — the best all-rounder
Fine white sand, coconut palms for shade and calm, swimmable water make Khem the beach most visitors rate highest. It is lined by big resorts, but the sand is open and a strip of beach bars in the middle rents out loungers. Two caveats: it is busy by mid-morning in the high season, and in early January 2026 water hyacinth and rubbish washed in from the sea for several days. Full guide.
Khem Beach. Photo: Алёна Чуракова, via Google Maps
Sao Beach — beautiful, but know what to expect
Sao is the postcard: a long curve of white sand and turquoise water a few minutes north of Khem. It is also the most reviewed beach on the island and one of the lower-rated, because of entry fees charged through the beach restaurants, jet skis close to swimmers, and rubbish on some days. Go early on a weekday, or go to Khem instead. Full guide.
Long Beach — sunsets and convenience
More than 20 km of sand down the west coast, with most of the island’s hotels, restaurants and beach bars behind it. The sand is not as white as in the south, and in the rainy season rubbish washes up, but for sunsets and for having everything within walking distance, it is hard to beat. Full guide · Beach clubs.
Long Beach. Photo: Faye Harper, via Google Maps
Bai Dai — soft sand, but find the way in
A long, soft-sand beach in the north-west with lovely sunsets and a gentle slope for children. Most of it is fronted by resorts and the Vinpearl complex, and non-guests are often turned away at resort entrances; the public beach at the Grand World end is the easy way in. Full guide.
Ong Lang — quiet coves
A string of small sandy coves between rocks, north of Duong Dong, backed by small resorts and good independent restaurants. It suits people who want a quieter base with sunsets, rather than a big beach. Full guide.
Starfish Beach — the north coast
Shallow, clear water at the end of the fishing village of Rach Vem, where red cushion starfish gather on the sand. It is a long way from everywhere, and the experience depends a lot on the boat touts and on visitors respecting the starfish — never lift them out of the water. Full guide.
The islands
Some of the best sand and water around Phu Quoc is on the small islands off the southern tip, reached by boat from An Thoi: Hon Thom (by cable car), Hon Gam Ghi (4.5 from 312) for snorkelling, Hon Mong Tay and Hon Xuong. See the An Thoi islands.
Before you go
- Rubbish is the most common complaint on almost every beach, worst on the west coast in the rainy season and after storms. Beaches in front of resorts are cleaned daily; open stretches often are not.
- Jellyfish turn up on some days and some beaches; ask locally before you swim.
- Fees are usually for sunbeds and towels, not for the sand itself — but ask before you sit down. Sao and Sunset Sanato charge for entry.
- Getting there: Grab and taxis reach the main beaches easily; for the remote ones (Starfish, Vung Bau, Rach Tram) book a car for the round trip.
Ratings and review counts: Google Maps, October 2026. Fees and conditions: visitor reviews, 2025–2026.
