The Rach Vem boat trip is worth it if you want clearer water and fewer people than the beach beside the village. Small wooden boats run from Rach Vem to the shallow sandbars where starfish gather in the dry season, and on to Ham Rong Cape, about 10 minutes away. Expect roughly 150,000 to 300,000 VND per person for the return trip as of September 2026, agreed before you board.
The boat is not worth it on a rough day, or if you only want a quick look. In season, starfish can also be seen by wading from the beach at Rach Vem, where the water is mostly knee-deep.
A private boat waiting when you reach Rach Vem
We drive north early and have a private boat ready for the sandbar and Ham Rong Cape, with life jackets and a snorkel set on board. Free cancellation up to 3 days before.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursSee the tour →What the Rach Vem boat trip actually is
The Rach Vem boat trip is a short ride in a small wooden boat from the village shore to the water where the starfish are. Local boatmen take a handful of passengers at a time and offer some combination of three stops: the shallow sandbar away from the village, Ham Rong Cape about 10 minutes along the coast, and the raft houses on the way back.
Boats at Rach Vem are charged mostly per person for the return trip. Quotes collected in 2025 and 2026 range from about 100,000 to 300,000 VND per person, and 150,000 to 300,000 VND is the most common range as of September 2026. Per-boat prices exist but vary too much to quote.
Many group tours treat the boat as an extra. One large group tour listing charges about 100,000 VND for the boat to the starfish area, and another itinerary puts the starfish boat in the afternoon, after lunch. That is the part of the day when the water is least clear.
Boat or wading from the beach: which is better?
The boat is better for clear water and space; wading from the beach is better for cost and simplicity. Both can show you starfish in the dry season, and neither can promise them. The table compares the two for a typical dry-season morning.
| Wading from Rach Vem beach | Boat to the sandbar and Ham Rong | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | About 150,000-300,000 VND per person return |
| Water | Mostly knee-deep, sand and seagrass | Shallow and usually clearer, away from the village |
| Crowds | Busy from late morning, when group tours arrive | Fewer people, especially early |
| Extra stops | None | Ham Rong Cape and the raft houses |
| Getting in | Walk straight in from the sand | Climb in and out of a small wooden boat |
| Suits | Short visits, limited budgets | Clear-water swimming, photos, a longer morning |
The practical difference is foot traffic. The shallows right by the village see the most visitors, and many feet on a sandy bottom cloud the water. A sandbar a few minutes out by boat simply has fewer people standing in it. The wider layout of the beach is in our Rach Vem Beach visitor guide.
How to hire a boat at Rach Vem without overpaying
To hire a boat at Rach Vem fairly, agree three things before you step in: the price per person or per boat, which stops are included, and how long you will stay at each one. A boatman who will not give a clear price on the shore is not the right boatman.
Overcharging is a real risk on the boats. TripAdvisor reviewers in November and December 2025 described boat fares more than three times the normal rate and charges announced only after the trip. A 2026 guide also warns about paid boat tours pushed at the village entrance. The other prices at the village are listed in Rach Vem costs.
Ask for life jackets before you leave the shore, especially for children and weak swimmers. The boats are small and open, and the ride to Ham Rong Cape crosses open water along the coast. Bring a dry bag for phones and wallets.
Once the boat reaches the sandbar, the same rule applies as on the beach: look at the starfish where they lie and never lift one out of the water. Our guide to seeing the starfish without harming them explains why.
When the boat is not worth taking
The Rach Vem boat is not worth taking on a rough or murky day. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings wind and waves to the north coast, the water turns cloudy, starfish move into deeper water, and on some days boats do not go out at all.
The boat is also poor value in the early afternoon in any season. By then group tours have arrived, the light is harsh and the water is usually less clear than at 8 or 9 in the morning. The month-by-month picture is in the best time to see starfish in Phu Quoc.
Finally, the boat is hard work for anyone who cannot step down into a small wooden boat from a beach or a raft. Wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility will find wading from the beach, or simply watching from a raft house, far easier.
If you would rather not bargain on the beach
The boat is booked before you arrive, it waits for you, and it goes where the water is clearest that morning.
Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →The Rach Vem boat trip: common questions
How much is the boat at Rach Vem?
The Rach Vem boat to the starfish sandbar or Ham Rong Cape costs roughly 150,000 to 300,000 VND per person for the return trip, as of September 2026. Agree the price and the stops before you board.
How long is the boat ride from Rach Vem to Ham Rong Cape?
The boat ride from Rach Vem to Ham Rong Cape takes about 10 minutes each way. Boatmen commonly combine it with a stop at the starfish sandbar.
Can you see starfish at Rach Vem without a boat?
Yes, in the dry season starfish can often be seen by wading from the beach at Rach Vem, where the water is mostly knee-deep. The boat mainly adds clearer water, fewer people and Ham Rong Cape.
Do boats run at Rach Vem in the rainy season?
Boats at Rach Vem run on calm days in the rainy season, from May to October, but not when the sea is rough. Starfish are also harder to see then because the water is murkier.
Are life jackets provided on Rach Vem boats?
Life jackets on local Rach Vem boats are not guaranteed, so ask before boarding. On our private tour, life jackets and a snorkel set are included.
Clear water at the sandbar, before anyone else
We collect you at your hotel, reach Rach Vem ahead of the tour groups and take a private boat to the sandbar and Ham Rong Cape. The boat and lunch are included.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursfrom$63/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$175BOOK →2 guests$200BOOK →3 guests$225BOOK →4 guests$250BOOK →See the full tour page →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursfrom$91/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$255BOOK →2 guests$295BOOK →3 guests$330BOOK →4 guests$365BOOK →See the full tour page →Boat fares and sea conditions as of September 2026.