Starfish Beach at Rach Vem is at the opposite end of Phu Quoc from Sunset Town and An Thoi. Allow around 1.5 hours each way by car, which makes it roughly three hours of driving for a morning at the beach. A Grab car, a rented scooter, a group tour or a private car will all make the trip.
Because the starfish are easiest to see in the morning, guests in the south need an early start. Our private tours collect from southern hotels too, with a transfer surcharge added at checkout, and many group tours charge extra for southern pickups as well.
From Sunset Town to the starfish sandbar without the logistics
We collect you from your southern hotel early and have a private boat ready at Rach Vem. 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 →How long does it take to get from the south to Starfish Beach?
The drive from the south of Phu Quoc to Rach Vem takes around 1.5 hours each way. The road runs the length of the island: north past the airport and Duong Dong, up road DT973 through the edge of Phu Quoc National Park, then along the concrete Suoi Cai to Rach Vem road, which opened in March 2025.
| Starting from | Allow each way to Rach Vem |
|---|---|
| Sunset Town and An Thoi | Around 1.5 hours |
| Bai Khem and Bai Sao | Around 1.5 hours |
| Duong Dong and Long Beach | 40-60 minutes |
| Ganh Dau and Bai Dai | About 30 minutes |
A southern start crosses the whole island, so it leaves more room for delay than a start in town. The route to Rach Vem, turn by turn covers the northern half of the drive in detail.
Why an early start matters more from the south
An early start matters because the water at the starfish sandbar is clearest in the morning. In the dry season, from November to April, the best window is roughly 7 to 9 am, and visibility drops later in the day.
From Sunset Town, reaching Rach Vem by 8 am means leaving around 6:30. Sunrise in Phu Quoc falls between about 05:41 and 06:27 depending on the month, so a 6:30 departure is after sunrise all year.
A later start still reaches the starfish, only in less clear water and stronger sun. Shared north-island tours reach Rach Vem around midday even from Duong Dong, so from the south a group tour arrives after the best of the morning has gone. The best time to see starfish in Phu Quoc explains the season and the tides.
Grab, scooter, group tour or private car from the south?
Every option works from the south, but the long distance makes the return trip the deciding factor. The table compares them for a guest staying in Sunset Town or An Thoi.
| Option | From the south | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Grab car | Easy to book outward | Few drivers in the far north for the return; a longer fare than from Duong Dong |
| Rented scooter | About 120,000-150,000 VND a day | Around 3 hours of riding; licence rules apply |
| Group tour | About US$43-80 per person | Free pickup often limited to Duong Dong; midday arrival |
| Private car and guide | One price per group | A transfer surcharge for southern hotels |
A Grab car to Rach Vem is straightforward, but getting one back is not. Drivers rarely wait at the far north of the island, so agree a return time with the same driver before getting out of the car.
A scooter needs an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, carried with a home licence that covers motorbikes. Three hours on a scooter in the heat is also a long ride for a morning at the beach.
Group tours often treat the south as an extra-cost zone. One Viator north-island tour, for example, offers free pickup from Duong Dong town and charges US$7 to US$20 per person for areas including Bai Khem and Bai Sao, as of September 2026.
Our private tours collect from the south as well. 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.
Morning or full day when you start in the south?
From the south, a full day in the north often makes better use of the drive than a morning. Roughly three hours in the car is the same whether you stay for five hours or ten.
The full day adds Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves and a sunset on the west coast to the morning at Rach Vem. The north Phu Quoc itinerary shows how those stops fit together in one day.
The morning tour suits guests in the south who want the afternoon back for the beach or the pool. The comparison of north and south Phu Quoc helps if you are still deciding whether the north is worth a day at all.
If the long drive is the part putting you off
Sleep in the car on the way north; the guide and a private boat are waiting at Rach Vem.
Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Starfish Beach from the south: common questions
How far is Starfish Beach from Sunset Town?
Starfish Beach at Rach Vem is at the far north of Phu Quoc, and Sunset Town is at the southern tip. Allow around 1.5 hours each way by car.
Can I take a Grab from Sunset Town to Starfish Beach?
Yes, a Grab car from Sunset Town to Starfish Beach is easy to book outward. The return is harder, because few drivers wait at Rach Vem, so agree a pickup time with the driver before arriving.
Do Starfish Beach tours pick up from An Thoi?
Some Starfish Beach group tours pick up from An Thoi for an extra charge, for example US$7 to US$20 per person on one Viator tour as of September 2026. Our private tours collect from An Thoi, Sunset Town, Bai Khem and Bai Sao, with a transfer surcharge added at checkout.
What time should I leave Sunset Town to see the starfish?
Leave Sunset Town around 6:30 am to reach Rach Vem by about 8 am. The water at the starfish sandbar is clearest in the morning, roughly 7 to 9 am in the dry season.
Is Starfish Beach worth the drive from the south of Phu Quoc?
Starfish Beach is worth the drive from the south in the dry season, from November to April, especially as part of a full day in the north. In the rainy months, or with only a short stay, the islands and cable car near An Thoi are closer.
The whole island in one early start
Pickup from your southern hotel, a private boat at Rach Vem and seafood lunch on a raft house. Choose your group size to see the total; the southern transfer is added at checkout.
★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 →Drive times are estimates; group tour pickup terms as listed on booking sites as of September 2026.