The best places to watch sunset in north Phu Quoc are on the west coast, which faces the sun as it goes down over the sea: Ong Lang beach, about 7 km north of Duong Dong; Bai Dai, the 15 km beach between Cua Can and Ganh Dau; and the west side of Ganh Dau Cape. Sunset falls between about 17:38 in mid-November and 18:30 in July.
Rach Vem Starfish Beach faces north, so it is not a reliable place for a sea sunset. The clearest evenings come in the dry season, from November to April.
Stay for the sunset instead of heading home at four
Most group tours are back in town by mid-afternoon. Our north-island day finishes on a west-coast beach at sunset, then drives you back to your hotel. Free cancellation up to 3 days before.
★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 →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 →Where does the sun set over the sea in north Phu Quoc?
In north Phu Quoc the sun sets over open sea only along the west coast, between Duong Dong and Ganh Dau Cape. The three places below all face west and are easy to reach from Duong Dong or from the last stop of a north-island day.
| Place | From Duong Dong | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| Ong Lang | About 7 km, 15-20 minutes | Small sandy and rocky coves, calm shallow sea |
| Bai Dai (north-west Long Beach) | About 25-30 km to its north end | A 15 km beach; long stretches fronted by resorts |
| Ganh Dau Cape, west side | About 30 km, 40-50 minutes | Rocky headland with Cambodian islands to the north |
Ong Lang
Ong Lang is the nearest sunset beach to Duong Dong. The turn-off, marked by resort signs, comes about 4.5 km along the Duong Dong to Cua Can road, and the beach is a chain of small coves with a calm, shallow sea. Ong Lang is public with no official entrance fee, but many access lanes pass through resorts, and visitors have reported being asked to pay at some of them.
Bai Dai
Bai Dai in the north-west runs about 15 km from Cua Can up to Ganh Dau Cape and faces west. The large VinWonders, Safari and Grand World complex sits along it, and long sections are fronted by resorts, so it is best reached through a place you are staying at or eating in.
Ganh Dau Cape
The west side of Ganh Dau Cape looks out over open sea, with Cambodian islands to the north. Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset for the colour in the sky. The drawback is the drive home: Duong Dong is 40 to 50 minutes away in the dark.
What time is sunset in Phu Quoc?
Sunset in Phu Quoc ranges from about 17:38 in mid-November to about 18:30 in early and mid July. The times below are calculated for the north of the island and vary by only a minute or two between Rach Vem and the west-coast beaches.
| Month | Sunset on the 1st | Sunset on the 15th |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17:54 | 18:01 |
| February | 18:08 | 18:12 |
| March | 18:14 | 18:15 |
| April | 18:15 | 18:15 |
| May | 18:16 | 18:18 |
| June | 18:23 | 18:26 |
| July | 18:30 | 18:30 |
| August | 18:28 | 18:23 |
| September | 18:14 | 18:05 |
| October | 17:55 | 17:47 |
| November | 17:41 | 17:38 |
| December | 17:40 | 17:45 |
Times are local time, UTC+7, calculated with the NOAA solar method and checked against the NOAA Solar Calculator.
The sky usually colours in the 20 to 30 minutes before the sun touches the horizon, and it gets dark quickly afterwards. In the tropics twilight is short, so plan the drive back for shortly after sunset.
Why not watch the sunset at Rach Vem?
Rach Vem Starfish Beach sits on the north coast and faces north, not west. At Phu Quoc’s latitude the sun sets between west-south-west in December and west-north-west in June, so from a north-facing beach it goes down off to the side, along the coast, rather than out in front of you. The west coast faces the sunset directly in every month of the year.
Rach Vem is at its best at the other end of the day. The starfish sandbar is clearest in the morning, roughly 7 to 10 am in the dry season, which is why our north Phu Quoc itinerary puts Rach Vem first and the west coast last. The complete Rach Vem Beach guide covers the morning half of that day.
Which months have the best sunsets in north Phu Quoc?
The best sunsets in north Phu Quoc come in the dry season, roughly November to April. February is the driest month of the year, with around 30 mm of rain against about 545 mm in August.
From May to October the south-west monsoon brings rain, cloud and big waves to the west coast, with August the wettest month. Clear evenings still happen between storms, but a sunset plan in those months is a gamble rather than a fixture. If the sea is too rough for the boat, your guide takes you to the calmer shallows by the village instead and the rest of the day runs as planned - or you can move to another date free of charge. The price stays the same; only a storm that makes the tour impossible is refunded in full.
Fitting sunset into a north-island day
On a full north-island day, sunset is the last stop. Finish kayaking on the Cua Can river about an hour before sunset, take the short drive south to Ong Lang, and you are on the sand with time to spare. From Ong Lang, Duong Dong is another 15 to 20 minutes after dark.
Want the day to end on a west-facing beach?
We finish the north-island day at Ong Lang or Bai Dai, depending on the month and the sky.
North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Sunset in north Phu Quoc: common questions
Where is the best place to watch sunset in north Phu Quoc?
The best places to watch sunset in north Phu Quoc are on the west coast: Ong Lang, Bai Dai and the west side of Ganh Dau Cape. All three face west over open sea.
What time is sunset in Phu Quoc?
Sunset in Phu Quoc falls between about 17:38 in mid-November and 18:30 in July. In the dry season, from November to April, it falls between about 17:38 and 18:15.
Can you see the sunset from Starfish Beach at Rach Vem?
Rach Vem Starfish Beach faces north, so it is not a reliable place to watch the sun set over the sea. Head to Ong Lang or Bai Dai on the west coast for sunset instead.
Is Ong Lang beach free to visit for sunset?
Ong Lang beach is public with no official entrance fee, but many access lanes pass through resorts, and visitors have reported being asked to pay at some of them.
How long after sunset does it get dark in Phu Quoc?
Twilight in Phu Quoc is short because the island is close to the equator. It is usually dark within about half an hour of sunset, so plan the drive back accordingly.
Starfish at nine, sunset on the west coast
A private car and guide from your hotel, the starfish sandbar in the morning, lunch at Rach Vem, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can river and a west-coast sunset.
★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 →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 →Sunset times calculated for 2026; access details as of September 2026.