Private & tailor-made · 1–4 guests
Rach Vem Starfish Beach Tour, Private by Car and Boat
A morning on the north coast of Phu Quoc: the forest road through the national park, the fishing village of Rach Vem, and your own boat out to the starfish sandbar and Ham Rong Cape, with seafood lunch over the water. The boat and lunch are paid before you travel.
A sample day at a glance
What changes when the day is yours
A private car for your group alone
Private, 1-4 guests, and nobody outside your party is added to it
Your own licensed local guide
Fluent in English and explains the village, the sea and the starfish — to your group alone, not twenty strangers
Collected at your own hotel
Anywhere in central and north Phu Quoc. No meeting point to reach on your own
Every boat ride and meal prepaid
The boat, the snorkel gear and lunch are paid for. Nothing is collected from you at any gate
No shop stops, in writing
No detour to a honey farm or pearl showroom that pays to have you delivered
The sandbar before the crowds
Your own boat reaches the starfish while the water is still and the tour buses are still on the road
Duration
About 5.5 hours
Departure
07:30 pickup, or your time
Pickup
Any central or north Phu Quoc hotel
from · $63 · / person · ›Check your price ›
Choose your group size · price is the total for the group
Solo traveller$175 BOOK →2 guests$200 BOOK →3 guests$225 BOOK →4 guests$250 BOOK →Free cancellation up to 3 days before · every tour tailored on request
The morning, stop by stop
This is a sample day: add, skip or linger over any stop and we will adjust it. Timings follow the 07:30 pickup; start later and the morning simply shifts, though the water is clearest before noon.
Hotel pickup · 07:30 or the time you choose · anywhere in central and north Phu Quoc
Drive north · about 45 minutes · the last stretch through the forest of the national park
Rach Vem fishing village
08:15 · about 20 minutes · on foot
No entry fee anywhere in the village
1 photo · tap to enlarge
A working village of stilt houses and raft houses where the boats come in. Your guide walks you along the waterfront, explains how the families farm and catch their seafood, and picks a raft house for lunch before the midday crowd arrives.
The starfish sandbar
08:40 · about 90 minutes · by private boat, then in the water
Boat and snorkel gear included
4 photos · tap to enlarge
Your own boat takes you a short way out to the clearest part of the bay, where red cushion starfish lie on the sand in water you can stand in. Swim, snorkel and photograph them where they are — your guide shows you how to look without lifting them out, because out of the water they can die within minutes.
Ham Rong Cape
10:15 · about 30 minutes · by boat
Included with your private boat
1 photo · tap to enlarge
About ten minutes along the coast: white sand, scattered rocks and clear water with untouched forest behind. Time for another swim, or simply a quiet beach with far fewer people than the village.
Seafood lunch on a raft house
11:15 · about 1 hour · over the water
Lunch and soft drinks included
1 photo · tap to enlarge
Lunch comes from the live nets beneath the raft and is cooked to order — typically grilled squid, prawns and fish with rice and greens, and vegetarian dishes on request. Your guide orders at local prices, so there is no haggling and no bill to check.
Back at your hotel · around 13:00 · About 5.5 hours after pickup
A whole morning on the water, just your group
No stops we did not tell you about, nothing to pay at any gate, and any part of it can be changed.
Group total · everything included
Solo traveller$175 BOOK →2 guests$200 BOOK →3 guests$225 BOOK →4 guests$250 BOOK →Price is the total for the group · free cancellation up to 3 days before
WhatsApp · +84 368 938 081Want a different route, pace or group size? We will plan your day and send you an all-inclusive quote. ›What is in the price
Included
- 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
Not included
− Extra seafood or drinks you order beyond the set lunch
− A tip for your guide, driver and boatman — never expected, always welcome
− Travel insurance, which we recommend you carry
− A transfer surcharge for hotels in the south of the island
Is this the right tour for you?
A good fit if
You want to see the starfish properly, in clear water and without a crowd.
You would rather have your own boat than wait in a jetty queue.
You are a couple, a family or a small group and want the morning to bend around you.
You want one price that covers the boat, the lunch and everything else.
Look elsewhere if
You are one person on a tight budget.
You are visiting from May to October and the starfish are your only reason — in rough weather they can be hard to find.
Getting in and out of a small wooden boat is not possible for someone in your group.
You want a long day hopping between islands — the snorkelling trips from the south of the island are built for that.
If you want the whole north of the island in one day — the starfish, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves and a sunset to finish — the full day covers it at an easy pace. See the north island full day. Or tell us what you want to see, and we will plan a day around it.
Questions before you book
About the day
How long is the tour and when does it start?
It runs About 5.5 hours door to door; 07:30 pickup, or your time. You can start later, but the water at the sandbar is clearest before noon.
Where do you pick us up?
At your own hotel, anywhere in central and north Phu Quoc, with no meeting point to reach on your own. Hotels in the south of the island - An Thoi, Sunset Town, Bai Khem and Bai Sao - are collected too, with a transfer surcharge added at checkout. Your guide waits in the lobby for 20 minutes.
Will we definitely see starfish?
Starfish are easiest to see from November to April, when the north coast is calm and the water is clear. From May to October wind and waves often push them into deeper water, and on rough days the boat may not go out at all. Your guide checks the sea before you set off and knows where they gather on the day.
Can we change the route or the pace?
Yes. This is a sample day and every part of it can be adjusted: add a stop, skip one, or spend longer in the water at the sandbar. Tell us before you book and we confirm the plan and an all-inclusive price in writing.
Does the guide speak good English?
Yes. Your guide is a licensed local who speaks fluent English and explains village life, the sea and how to see the starfish without harming them as you go.
What about food allergies or vegetarian meals?
Tell us when you book. Lunch is built around seafood, but the raft kitchens cook vegetarian dishes and can leave out shellfish; with a serious allergy, your guide checks each dish with the cook before it reaches the table.
Booking and practicalities
Is the price per person or for the whole group?
For the whole group, from one to four guests: four people pay less each than two, and the car and boat are the same. Children under 5 travel free and do not count towards the group size; from 5 a child counts as one guest. Groups of five or more travel in a larger vehicle — message us for a quote.
How do I pay, and when?
Two ways: pay the full price online by card, or pay a 30% deposit online and the rest in cash on the day of the tour, in US dollars or Vietnamese dong. We can also send a secure payment link on WhatsApp. The booking is confirmed once the online payment goes through, and your pickup time and guide’s name arrive in writing.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Yes - free cancellation up to 3 days before departure for a full refund, and free rescheduling subject to availability. Within 3 days of departure, 30% of the tour price is charged because the car and guide are already committed. Date changes are arranged over WhatsApp.
What if the sea is rough?
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.
What should I bring, and do I need cash?
Swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and shoes you can get wet — there are sharp shells on the sand in places. You do not need cash at any gate; if you chose to pay the balance in cash, bring it for your guide.
Book your starfish morning
Private car, boat and licensed local guide, hotel pickup, every fee already settled.
Group total · everything included
Solo traveller$175 BOOK →2 guests$200 BOOK →3 guests$225 BOOK →4 guests$250 BOOK →Price is the total for the group · free cancellation up to 3 days before
WhatsApp · +84 368 938 081Want a different route, pace or group size? We will plan your day and send you an all-inclusive quote. ›