Khem Beach Phu Quoc: Access, Costs & Best Time

Featured image: trungydang, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Which Khem Beach? Main Island vs Hon Thom

Published guides describe two different places under one name. Bai Khem on the main island sits near An Thoi in the south and has public access. Bai Khem on Hon Thom island sits inside Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park. Sources disagree on which one owns the plain name, so we would not pick one for you. Use a quick test instead. A cable car ticket or a speedboat from An Thoi port means you are on the Hon Thom side. Arriving by motorbike or taxi from Duong Dong means the main island. Distances to Sao Beach differ by source: 2 km, 3–4 km, 4.6 km and 10 km. That spread suggests the figures start from different Khem beaches.

Where Khem Beach Is and What It's Like

Main-island Khem lies in An Thoi Ward on the southeast coast, 25–30 minutes by car from Duong Dong. It forms a natural bay that is partly sheltered from strong winds in some seasons. Sand is very soft and pale. Water is calm, and snorkelers report visibility of several meters. JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay is nearby, and the sections beside it are resort-managed. Public sections have no lifeguards, so watch children closely. Hon Thom's Bai Khem is a different setting. It has a 1,800-metre (about 1.1-mile) shoreline on the sheltered north shore, with white sand and turquoise water. Park infrastructure is polished, so expect a managed beach day rather than a wild cove. In our editorial assessment, the main-island bay is the more laid-back choice and Sao Beach is the busier one.

How to Get to Khem Beach

Starting point decides everything, so the table sorts options by where you begin. Prices and hours checked November 2026, and the ranges are indicative because sources quote different figures. Motorbike riders from Duong Dong join DT46 Nguyen Van Cu road and take one of two dirt tracks. One runs past Phu Quoc prison. Another starts opposite cafe 253, according to a 2018 route description. Families with luggage can take a taxi on the paved road from the JW Marriott Welcome Gate. The free Vinbus does not run to this area. For Hon Thom, leave your vehicle at the An Thoi cable car terminal, because the island has no parking.

Costs, Tickets and Opening Hours

Main-island Khem is free, with restrictions on resort-managed sections beside JW Marriott. Hon Thom is ticketed. Round-trip cable car plus park access is reported at ₫600,000–₫650,000 per person, with the park open 08:00–17:00 daily. Confirm the fare on the operator's Sun World page before you travel. Rules inside the park bar pets and restrict outside food and drink in some zones. Wheelchair provisions are not confirmed in detail, so contact Sun World directly before booking. For national entry and transport basics, see Vietnam's national tourism authority. For local updates, try Phu Quoc tourism information.

Best Time to Visit Khem Beach

Sources split on the dry season, with some saying October to April and others November to April. Main-island Khem is best from October to March, and its sheltered bay stays calmer than the west coast in the rainy months. Hon Thom works the other way. The southwest monsoon can bring winds that ground the cable car from May through October, so we would avoid those months for the park. Speedboats from An Thoi port, at about 15 minutes, are the backup. Time of day matters on both sides. Aim for 7–10 AM for softer light and fewer people, or 5–6 PM for sunset on the main island. Hon Thom gates open at 08:00, and that is the arrival time we would target. Our pick for either beach is November to March on a weekday, since numbers spike on Vietnamese public holidays.

Things to Do at Khem Beach

Swimming is the main event on both beaches, and the shoreline slopes gently. Photographers get two distinct shots. On the main island, the crescent bay looks best in morning light. At Hon Thom, shoot west along the sand with the cable car pylons receding behind you.

• Swim: calm water on the main-island bay and the Hon Thom north shore.
• Snorkel or paddle: nearby resorts rent kayaks and paddleboards on the main island.
• Ride the Hon Thom cable car: 7.9 km, about 15 minutes, with the station 100 m from the beach.
• Visit Aquatopia Water Park: Sun World says it opened in December 2019 and is part of the Hon Thom park.
• Add Sao Beach: the natural second stop on a southern Phu Quoc day.

Khem vs Sao vs Ong Lang vs Long Beach

Khem sits between the busy and the quiet options. Our full Sao Beach write-up covers the more famous neighbor in depth. Sao draws more visitors and offers more amenities. For a calmer contrast near Duong Dong, try the quieter Ong Lang shoreline. Read about Long Beach stays and restaurants if you want a base with more options. Treat the table as a quick filter, not a ranking.

Where to Stay and Eat Nearby

Food on Hon Thom is limited, so most people eat on the main island near An Thoi. Quan Oc Ha, a seafood and grill spot, sits 1.2 km from the cable car departure point. Bia Hoi Ha Noi ANN Restaurant is about 1.0 km away and serves Vietnamese, seafood and American dishes. Try herring salad and Phu Quoc banh canh if you want local dishes. Stays range from five-star resorts to modest guesthouses.

• JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay: luxury resort, 2.4 km from the Hon Thom beach listing.
• Sun Premier Residences: five-star resort on the same southern stretch.
• Positano 59: 0.6 km from the An Thoi area.
• Little Phu Quoc: mid-range, 1.1 km away.
• Sunset Town hotels: 10–15 minutes from the main-island beach, usually cheaper than resorts.

Plan Your Day: Half-Day and Full-Day

A motorbike gives you freedom, but a taxi or tour is simpler with children. Distances are short, so you can combine both beaches in one day. Choose one Khem for the morning and use Sao Beach as the afternoon extension, as covered in our Sao Beach guide.

• Half-day, main island: leave Duong Dong around 7:30 AM, swim between 8:00 and 10:00 AM, then eat in An Thoi.
• Full day, main island: add Sao Beach in the afternoon, 2 km along the connecting road.
• Full day, Hon Thom: be at the An Thoi terminal before the 08:00 opening, cross in about 15 minutes, and leave before the 17:00 close.

Who It's For and Mistakes to Avoid

Couples and photographers will like the main-island bay. Families with young children may prefer Hon Thom's on-site water park and calm north shore. Budget travelers should stay on the free main-island side. Mobility-limited visitors should contact Sun World before planning a cable car trip.

• Mixing up the two Khems: check whether your route includes a cable car.
• Going to Hon Thom in May–October: monsoon winds can close the cable car.
• Skipping a sun plan: public sections have no lifeguards and little guaranteed shade.
• Arriving late at Hon Thom: gates open at 08:00 and the park closes at 17:00.
• Bringing pets or outside food to the park: both are restricted.