Bring swimwear, water shoes, a hat and sunscreen put on before you arrive, cash in small Vietnamese dong notes, a dry bag for your phone, a towel and a change of clothes. Water shoes matter because of shell and rock fragments near the shore, and cash matters because vendors at Rach Vem generally do not take cards.
Shade on the sandbar is scarce, so sun cover is the item people most often regret leaving behind. Leave nets, buckets and anything for collecting sea life at the hotel: the starfish stay in the water.
Snorkel, life jacket, boat and lunch already packed
On our private morning tour the boat, snorkel set, water, lunch and a freshwater shower are 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 →The Starfish Beach packing list
A morning at Starfish Beach needs very little, but the few items it does need make a large difference. The table lists each one, why it matters at Rach Vem, and whether our private tour already covers it.
| Item | Why it matters at Rach Vem | On our private tour |
|---|---|---|
| Swimwear | You wade and swim to see the starfish | Bring your own |
| Water shoes | Shell and rock fragments near the shore | Bring your own |
| Hat and long-sleeved swim top | Almost no shade on the sandbar | Bring your own |
| Sunscreen, applied at the hotel | Strong sun on open water | Bring your own |
| Cash in small dong notes | Boats, food and drinks are paid in cash | Boat and lunch included |
| Dry bag or waterproof phone case | Boat rides and wading with a phone | Bring your own |
| Towel and dry clothes | The drive back is 40-60 minutes | Freshwater shower included |
| Snorkel mask and life jacket | Looking down at the starfish; the boat | Included |
| Drinking water | Heat on the water | Bottled water included |
Quick-drying clothes are more comfortable than cotton for the ride home. The boat trip and the wading usually leave everyone at least partly wet, and the drive back to Duong Dong takes 40 to 60 minutes.
A phone in a waterproof case on a lanyard is the simplest camera for the starfish. On a calm morning the clearest pictures are taken from just above the surface, with the starfish left where they lie.
Everything on the list fits in one small bag. The morning tour includes:
- Private air-conditioned car and driver
- Licensed local guide who speaks fluent English
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in central or north Phu Quoc
- Private boat from Rach Vem to the starfish sandbar and Ham Rong Cape
- Snorkel set and life jackets
- Seafood lunch on a raft house, with soft drinks
- Bottled water and a freshwater shower after the swim
How much cash should you bring to Rach Vem?
Rach Vem charges no entrance fee, so cash is only needed for what you use there. Guides to the village agree that vendors deal mostly in cash: some larger raft restaurants may take cards, but smaller eateries and boat operators generally do not.
| What you might pay for | Typical cost, Sept 2026 |
|---|---|
| Entry to the village and beach | Free |
| Boat to the sandbar or Ham Rong Cape | Roughly 150,000-300,000 VND per person, return |
| Seafood lunch at a raft house | A few hundred thousand dong per person |
| Parking a scooter or car | A small fee may be charged |
Small notes make paying simpler, and agreeing the boat price before boarding avoids surprises. Seafood at the raft houses is sold by weight, so ask the price per kilogram before it is cooked. The full guide to Rach Vem costs covers each item.
On our private tour the boat and lunch are already paid, so cash is needed only for extra drinks or anything you choose to buy in the village.
Sun protection that also protects the starfish
The best sun protection at Starfish Beach is cover rather than cream: a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved swim top. The north coast has less shade than the resort beaches, and the sandbar has almost none.
Sunscreen is still needed, but put it on at the hotel, not at the water’s edge. A marine-rescue expert quoted by VnExpress in 2021 said that handling starfish transfers sunscreen chemicals and bacteria onto them, which is one more reason to keep hands off. Starfish stay in the water: look at them and photograph them where they lie, and never lift them out - out of the water they can die within minutes.
The morning is the easiest time to be out on the sandbar. The water is clearest roughly between 7 and 9 am in the dry season, before the sun is overhead. The best time to see starfish in Phu Quoc explains the months and the tides.
What to add for the season, children and a longer day
In the rainy season, from May to October, add a light rain jacket and a proper dry bag. Rain is frequent in those months, the water off Rach Vem is often murkier, and the approach roads can be slippery after rain, which matters more on a scooter than in a car.
With children, add spare water shoes, a sun hat that ties under the chin and snacks for the drive. The guide to Starfish Beach with kids covers life jackets, shade and how children are counted on a private tour.
If you stay in the north until sunset, add insect repellent, which guides to Rach Vem recommend for the evening. The Rach Vem beach guide covers the rest of the village.
If you would rather pack light
The boat, snorkel set, life jackets, water, lunch and a shower are part of the private tour.
Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →What to bring to Starfish Beach: common questions
Do I need water shoes at Starfish Beach?
Water shoes are strongly recommended at Starfish Beach in Phu Quoc. The shore at Rach Vem has uneven rock and shell fragments, and water shoes protect feet while wading out to see the starfish.
Can I pay by card at Rach Vem?
Mostly no. Guides to Rach Vem report that vendors, boat operators and smaller raft restaurants work in cash, and only some larger raft restaurants may take cards. Bring Vietnamese dong in small notes.
Is there shade at Starfish Beach?
There is very little shade on the starfish sandbar at Rach Vem. Some coconut trees line the shore, but out on the water a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved swim top are the only protection.
Do I need to bring snorkelling gear to Starfish Beach?
On our private tour, a snorkel set and life jackets are included. Visiting on your own, a simple mask is enough, because the water at the sandbar is shallow and there is no coral reef to explore.
What should I not bring to Starfish Beach?
Do not bring nets, buckets or anything for collecting sea life to Starfish Beach. Starfish must stay in the water, because lifting them out harms or kills them.
Bring swimwear; the rest is on the boat
Private car, licensed guide, private boat, snorkel set and seafood lunch on a raft house. Choose your group size to see the total.
★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 →Local prices and payment habits at Rach Vem as reported in September 2026.