Starfish Beach Phu Quoc in the rainy season, roughly May to October, is a gamble. The southwest monsoon brings wind, waves and murky water to the north coast, starfish move into deeper water and are harder to see, and on rough days the boats at Rach Vem may not go out. August is usually the wettest month, with around 545 mm of rain on average.
Calm, clear mornings still happen between the showers, and the fishing village, the raft houses and the seafood are there all year. Go early, keep your date flexible and treat any starfish as a bonus.
Visiting between May and October? Pick the morning, not just the day
If the sea is too rough for the boat, you can move to another date free of charge or spend the morning in the calmer shallows by the village. 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 →What changes at Rach Vem from May to October
From May to October, Phu Quoc is in its southwest monsoon season, and the north coast at Rach Vem feels it. Rain falls on most days, the wind picks up, the sea gets rougher and the shallow water over the sand turns cloudy. The table shows the averages month by month.
| Month | Average rain | Days with rain | What it means at Rach Vem |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 300 mm | 20 | Monsoon starts; some starfish still in the shallows |
| June | 415 mm | 22 | Frequent showers; water often cloudy |
| July | 420 mm | 22 | Rougher sea on windy days; boats may not run |
| August | 545 mm | 24 | Wettest month; starfish hard to find |
| September | 475 mm | 22 | Still wet; calm mornings possible |
| October | 385 mm | 22 | Transition; storm risk rises from mid-October |
For comparison, February averages about 30 mm of rain over 4 days, according to Climates to Travel. That contrast is why the dry season, November to April, is the usual recommendation for Rach Vem. The whole year is compared in the best time to see starfish in Phu Quoc.
The sea stays warm all through the rainy season, at around 29 to 30 °C, so swimming is still pleasant when the water is calm. The problem is visibility and waves, not temperature.
Can you still see starfish in the rainy season?
Sometimes, but far less reliably than in the dry season. VnExpress reported in 2021 that starfish are still present at Rach Vem in May and June, but in smaller numbers, and later in the monsoon the murky water makes them hard to spot even when they are there.
The starfish move with the conditions. When wind and waves stir up the north coast, they shift into deeper water away from the shore, where wading visitors cannot see them. A calm morning gives the best chance.
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.
If you do find starfish in the rainy season, the same rules apply as at any time of year: look, photograph them where they lie and never lift one out of the water. Our guide to seeing the starfish without harming them explains why.
What still works on a rainy-season day at Rach Vem
A rainy-season visit to Rach Vem still works if you come for more than the starfish. The fishing village, the raft houses and a seafood lunch over the water are there all year, and none of them depends on clear water.
The road is no longer the obstacle it was. The Suoi Cai to Rach Vem road was rebuilt in concrete and opened in March 2025, although short lanes near the raft houses can be slippery after rain. Scooter riders should take extra care on wet days; the route is in our guide on how to get to Rach Vem.
Ham Rong Cape and the sandbar depend on the boats. On calm days the boats run and the cape is quiet, as described in our article on Ham Rong Cape. On rough days they stay on the beach, and the shallows beside the village are the only water to wade in.
The rest of the island is not equally affected. In the southwest monsoon, the east and south coasts are usually more sheltered than the west, so a stormy morning in the north can be calmer elsewhere.
How our tour handles bad weather
Our private tour does not pretend the weather away. The boat goes out only when the sea at Rach Vem is safe, and the guide makes that call on the morning itself.
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.
Plans can also change without cost if you decide early. Our tours have free cancellation up to 3 days before departure, and the details are in our booking terms. For the whole picture of the area, start with our Rach Vem Beach visitor guide.
If your only free morning falls in the wet months
We pick the calmest start we can, and if the boat cannot go out the guide takes you to the calmer shallows instead.
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 in the rainy season: common questions
Are there starfish at Rach Vem in the rainy season?
Sometimes. Starfish are still present at Rach Vem in May and June in smaller numbers, but from May to October murky water and waves push them deeper, and sightings become unreliable.
What is the worst month to visit Starfish Beach?
August is usually the wettest month in Phu Quoc, with around 545 mm of rain over about 24 days on average. Starfish are generally hardest to find in the wettest months.
Do the boats at Rach Vem run in the rainy season?
The boats at Rach Vem run on calm days in the rainy season but stay on the beach when the sea is rough. Morning is usually the best chance of calm water.
Is the road to Rach Vem passable in the rain?
Yes. The Suoi Cai to Rach Vem road is concrete and opened in March 2025. Short lanes near the raft houses can be slippery after heavy rain, so scooter riders should slow down.
When does the dry season start at Starfish Beach?
The dry season on Phu Quoc’s north coast runs roughly from November to April. Tropical storm risk is highest from mid-October to December, peaking in early November.
The calmest morning of your stay, at Rach Vem
Tell us your dates and we will suggest the best morning. The private boat, guide and raft-house lunch are included, whatever the sea decides.
★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 →Climate averages and sea conditions as of September 2026; daily weather varies.