Which Beach in Phu Quoc Actually Has Starfish?
The starfish are not at Bãi Sao in the south, despite what several major travel sites say. They’re near Rạch Vẹm, on the north coast — specifically at Mũi Hàm Rồng, a stretch of beach east of the village. To make it more confusing, the “Starfish Beach” pin most people find on Google Maps sits in Rạch Vẹm village itself, and there aren’t starfish there either. Here’s exactly where to go, and when.
Three Things That Confuse Everyone About This
1. The famous southern Bãi Sao isn’t it anymore
For years, this was the beach people meant by “Starfish Beach” — it’s what several major travel sites still say. Starfish were genuinely there once. They’ve moved on since.
2. There’s a second beach also called Bãi Sao
West of Rạch Vẹm, there’s a smaller, less photogenic beach that locals also call Bãi Sao — a coincidence of naming, completely unrelated to the famous one in the south. We use it as a backup in rough weather (more on that below).
3. The map pin in Rạch Vẹm village has no starfish
If you search “Starfish Beach” on Google Maps, the pin that comes up sits in the village itself. There aren’t starfish at that exact spot — you need to go further, by boat.
THE REAL SPOT
Mũi Hàm Rồng, East of Rạch Vẹm
Mũi Hàm Rồng — “Dragon’s Jaw Cape” — is a long stretch of beach east of Rạch Vẹm, right at the edge of Phu Quoc National Park. This is where the starfish actually are: a genuinely long stretch of shoreline scattered with them, not a handful near the shore. It’s quiet and undeveloped — you go by boat, look, and come back.
This only works in the dry season, roughly November to April. For the full month-by-month breakdown, see our guide to the best time to visit →.
WHEN THE CAPE IS TOO ROUGH
The Smaller Beach We Use Instead
During the rough-water months, the current and waves at Mũi Hàm Rồng make it unsafe or just not worth the trip. So we take people to the other beach — the small one west of Rạch Vẹm, the one that’s also confusingly called Bãi Sao. It’s not as picturesque as Mũi Hàm Rồng, and it won’t fill up your camera roll the same way. But there are still real starfish there, and it’s the honest option rather than pretending the good beach is open when it isn’t.
Which Beach You’ll Go To Depends on the Season, Not the Day
We run our own boat from the restaurant. In the dry season, it’s always Mũi Hàm Rồng. In the rainy season, it’s always the smaller beach. There’s no daily guesswork or judgment call involved — it’s simply which season you’re visiting in.
Boat: 200,000₫ (return, 4 adults or more). Ages 7–12: half price. Under 7: free.
REVIEWS
What People Say
Exceptional Starfish Beach 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I highly recommend experiencing this with the Nha Trèn Bien Joy Adventures team. Everything was perfect: the welcome, the boat, the atmosphere, the restaurant recommendations. It’s an authentic experience! I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
I had a wonderful experience with Joy Adventures – Restaurant & Boat to Starfish Beach. The entire trip was well-organized, and the team was friendly, professional, and very accommodating throughout. The boat ride to Starfish Beach was smooth and enjoyable, offering beautiful views along the way. Starfish Beach itself was absolutely stunning—clear waters, peaceful surroundings, and a unique opportunity to see starfish up close in their natural habitat.
We had great day trip with combo experience package.All the communication was done via whatsup,very reliable and profesional.We were picked up from our hotel and taxed over by boat to starfish beach which is beautuful.After 4 hours on the beach we were picked up to have delicious lunch at the family restaurant over the water.Would recommend
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bãi Sao the same as Starfish Beach?
No — the famous southern Bãi Sao lost its starfish; the real spot is Mũi Hàm Rồng near Rach Vem
Why are there two beaches called Bãi Sao?
“Bãi Sao biển” translates directly to “Starfish Beach,” so it’s simple and straightforward to name the beach after the thing that made it famous.
Can I just walk to the Starfish Beach pin on Google Maps?
No, that pin does not have starfish. You need to take a boat to Mũi Hàm Rồng. You can also walk to the beach, although it is a 3–4 km walk along the sandy beach.
What if I visit in the rainy season?
Mũi Hàm Rồng isn’t accessible during that period. Instead, we go to Bãi Sao Beach, just west of the fishing village.
Skip the wrong beach entirely
Boat: 200,000₫ (return, adults, for 4 or more). Ages 7–12: half price. Under 7: free.