A Starfish Beach group tour costs about US$43 to US$80 per person as of September 2026. It collects you around 8:15 to 8:30, usually stops at a bee, pepper or pearl farm, and reaches Rach Vem around midday. A private tour is one price for a group of one to four, leaves when you choose and skips the shop stops.
For a solo traveller on a budget, the group tour is the better choice and reaches the same beach for a fraction of the price. A private tour makes more sense for couples, families and anyone who wants the clearer morning water.
A private morning at Rach Vem, on your own schedule
Your own car, guide and boat, at the sandbar well before midday. Private boat and lunch included, 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 →Group tour or private tour: how do they compare?
A group tour and a private tour visit the same fishing village and the same starfish sandbar. The differences are the price, the time you arrive, the stops on the way and who else is in the vehicle. The group column below reflects the standard north-island tours on GetYourGuide, Klook, Viator and KKday as of September 2026.
| Group tour | Our private morning tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About US$43-80 per person | One price per group of 1-4 guests |
| Who is on board | A shared minibus of strangers | Your own group only |
| Pickup | Around 8:15-8:30 | 07:30 pickup, or your time |
| Arrival at Rach Vem | Around midday, often for lunch | Early to mid-morning |
| Shop stops | Usually a bee, pepper or pearl farm | None unless you ask |
| Boat to the starfish sandbar | Often extra or optional | Private boat included |
| Lunch | Included on some tours, not all | Seafood lunch on a raft house included |
| Cua Can kayak and Ganh Dau | Usually included | Full-day private tour only |
| Back at the hotel | Around 15:30-16:30 | About 5.5 hours after pickup |
The group tour packs more places into the day for less money. The private tour spends its time at Rach Vem and on the water, and returns earlier.
Why the arrival time matters for the starfish
The arrival time matters because the starfish sandbar is easiest to see early in the day. In the dry season, from November to April, the water off Rach Vem is calmest and clearest in the morning, roughly 7 to 9 am, and visibility drops later in the day.
Most shared tours reach Rach Vem around 12:00, after the farm stop and sometimes after the kayak. One KKday itinerary lists a 12:00 check-in and lunch at Rach Vem with the starfish boat in the afternoon. The starfish are still there at midday; the water is simply less clear and the sun is directly overhead.
The season matters more than the hour. From May to October the southwest monsoon makes the north coast rougher and murkier, and no tour can change that. The best time to see starfish in Phu Quoc covers the months in detail.
What does a group tour do well?
A group tour does three things well: it is cheap, it covers a lot of the north in one day, and it is well reviewed. Klook’s Northern Phu Quoc Day Tour holds 4.3 stars from 117 reviews, and Viator’s north island tour with kayaking and Starfish Beach holds 4.7 stars from 334 reviews, both as of September 2026.
For about US$44, a group tour usually includes hotel pickup, a drive through Phu Quoc National Park, a kayak or basket boat on the Cua Can river, Rach Vem and a stop at the Ganh Dau viewpoint. That is a full day of the north for not much more than a Grab car there and back plus a boat.
The shop stops are the main trade-off. Pepper, bee and pearl farms in Phu Quoc are free to enter and earn their money from sales, and a visit usually lasts about 30 minutes. Buying is optional, but the time is part of the tour.
Who should pick a group tour, and who a private one?
Solo travellers on a budget should pick a group tour. A single seat costs a fraction of a private tour for one, and the company of other travellers is part of the day.
Couples who can ride a scooter legally may not need either. Rach Vem is free to enter and about 40 to 60 minutes from Duong Dong, and the Rach Vem beach guide covers the village on your own.
Families and groups of three or four get the most from a private tour. The price is per group, so it falls per head as the group grows, and children under 5 travel free. The cost of a private tour in Phu Quoc sets our prices against the rest of the market.
Photographers and anyone who dislikes shop stops should also pick private. Arriving in the morning light and leaving when you are done is the part a group tour cannot offer.
If the morning water is what you are after
A private car and boat get you to the sandbar hours before the shared tours.
Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Group vs private Starfish Beach tours: common questions
How much is a Starfish Beach group tour in Phu Quoc?
A Starfish Beach group tour in Phu Quoc costs about US$43 to US$80 per person as of September 2026 on GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. Jeep versions cost more, at about US$98 to US$146 per person.
What time do group tours arrive at Starfish Beach?
Group tours usually arrive at Rach Vem Starfish Beach around midday, after a farm stop and sometimes a kayak on the Cua Can river. They return to the hotels around 15:30 to 16:30.
Do group tours include the boat to the starfish sandbar?
Not always. Some group tours include the boat to the starfish sandbar, while others list it as an optional extra paid on the day, for example about 100,000 VND on one Viator tour.
Is a private starfish tour better than a group tour?
A private starfish tour is better for families, couples who want an early start and people who dislike shop stops. A group tour is better value for solo travellers on a budget, and it visits the same beach.
Can I see the starfish without any tour?
Yes. Rach Vem is free to enter and reachable by Grab car or scooter in 40 to 60 minutes from Duong Dong. A local boat to the sandbar costs roughly 150,000 to 300,000 VND per person, return.
Skip the shared minibus and the farm stop
Your own car, licensed guide and private boat, with seafood lunch on a raft house. Choose your group size to see the total price.
★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 →Group tour prices, timings and ratings as listed on booking sites as of September 2026.