Sao Beach Phu Quoc: How to Get There, Best Time & Tips

Featured image: Mgzkun, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.

Sao Beach at a Glance

Calm, shallow water makes this one of the easier swimming beaches on the island. Dry-season months from November to April are the usual recommendation. Local guides also praise June to October for flat water, so the season question has two answers. Entry costs nothing, and the beach is reported open 24 hours a day. Families, couples and snorkelers all find a fit here.

• Location: Bai Sao hamlet, An Thoi, southeast Phu Quoc
• Distance: about 28 to 30 km from Duong Dong and Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC)
• Entry: free public access, with free parking for motorbikes
• Length: a long crescent; published figures range from 2.5 km to 7 km
• Best fit: swimmers, families, sunset walkers and day trippers

Sao Beach vs. Starfish Beach: Clearing Up the Name

Bai Sao translates as Star Beach, and English pages often switch to Starfish Beach. One popular story says starfish once covered the sand here at night. Another account says Sao simply means star and has nothing to do with sea creatures. Sources vary, so treat the starfish origin as local lore rather than fact. Some guides also describe a separate Starfish Beach elsewhere on the island. Do not plan your day around spotting starfish on demand. Sand, shallow water and open views carry this beach without them.

How to Get to Sao Beach from Duong Dong and the Airport

Sao Beach sits in Bai Sao hamlet, An Thoi, about 30 km from both Duong Dong and the airport. By car, allow 35 to 45 minutes from Duong Dong. By motorbike, allow 45 to 60 minutes. Riders from Duong Dong follow 30 Thang 4 Road to the Ham Ninh roundabout, then turn onto DT46 Road, also called Nguyen Van Cu Road. Prices and hours here were checked in November 2026 and are reported rates that move with the season. A taxi from Duong Dong runs about ₫360,000 one way. Motorbike rental costs about ₫100,000 to ₫150,000 per day. Taxis are scarce at the beach itself. Book a round trip, or agree a pickup time with the driver before you get out. Airport arrivals face the same roughly 30 km, by taxi or pre-booked transfer. Staying on Long Beach? Treat this as a half-day trip and arrange the return before you leave.

Best Time to Visit Sao Beach

Two seasons compete for the title. November to April is the dry season, with sun through the day, small waves and warm water. High season also brings higher prices and more people on the sand. June to October is the rainy season. Local guides report that Bai Sao's water stays calm and clear while other beaches take big waves. Some operators warn that rain and rough seas can disrupt water sports from May to October. Claims about wind and wave direction vary, so check the forecast on the morning you go. Choose November to April for the best odds of sunshine and water sports. Choose June to October if you can trade sunshine for flat water, and pack rain cover. For national climate background, see Vietnam's national tourism site.

Things to Do at Sao Beach

Swimming comes first. Water is shallow, waves are small, and lifeguards are reported on duty. Walk toward the far end of the beach for fewer people. Photographers should arrive before 8 am or near sunset, when light is softer and midday heat is avoided. Which of sunrise or sunset faces the beach is disputed, so study the horizon on arrival before planning a shoot. Paid activities run from about 8 am to 6 pm at the reported prices below. Agree the price and duration before anyone starts the engine.

• Kayak: about ₫100,000 per hour
• Snorkeling or diving tour: ₫300,000 to ₫1,500,000 per person
• Coral snorkeling by boat: ₫600,000 to ₫1,662,000 per person
• Parasailing: ₫800,000 for one person, ₫1,300,000 for two
• Jet ski: ₫1,200,000 for 20 minutes, ₫1,700,000 for 30 minutes
• Banana boat: ₫1,500,000 per round
• Stand-up paddleboard: ₫500,000 per board

Who Sao Beach Suits Best

Families and non-swimmers get the most from the shallow water. Couples and photographers should aim for the hour before 8 am or the late afternoon. Snorkelers should ask tour operators about conditions on the day, since visibility changes with weather. Budget visitors can skip every paid activity and still enjoy sand, sea and a long walk. Travelers who want nightlife or shopping will find little here.

Costs and Time Planning for Sao Beach

Entry is free, so the baseline cost is transport. Round-trip taxi fares at the reported rate total ₫720,000, before any return discount. Renting a motorbike for the day costs ₫100,000 to ₫150,000 plus fuel. Add a snorkeling tour at ₫300,000 or more per person and the day grows quickly. Half a day covers the 35 to 45 minute transfer, a swim and a meal. Full-day plans leave room for Khem Beach or Coconut Prison on the way back. Even a 30 minute stop gives you the main draw: sand, water and a short walk.

Where to Eat and Drink on the Beach

Three venues line the sand, listed here from south to north. Seafood is the draw, and herring salad and grilled sea urchin are the Phu Quoc dishes most often recommended. Guests of a hotel or restaurant can use the sun beds for free. Other visitors should ask about sun-bed rates before settling in. Opening hours shift, so check on arrival.

• Chezdugong Restaurant: seafood and drinks, listed 8:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Sao Beach Restaurant & Club: seafood and drinks, listed 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
• Highlands Coffee: coffee, tea and pastries, listed 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Sao Beach vs. Khem, Long Beach and Ong Lang

Which beach is better depends on what you want. For long, calm swimming and a proper day out, Sao Beach wins, at the cost of a 30 km trip. Nearby Khem Beach Phu Quoc: Access, Costs & Best Time sits roughly 6 km away, so the two pair easily. Most visitors base themselves on Long Beach, which keeps you close to Duong Dong. Ong Lang Beach, Phu Quoc: Getting There, Sunset and Who It Suits is the quieter alternative.

Nearby Stops on the South Island

Roughly 6 km separates Sao Beach from Khem Beach, An Thoi and Sunset Town. That makes a loop easy by motorbike or hired car. Phu Quoc Prison, also called Coconut Prison, lies on the road from that side. Pick two stops, not six, so the sea stays the focus. Opening hours for these stops change, so check each before you set out.

• Khem Beach
• Coconut Prison (Phu Quoc Prison)
• Ho Quoc Pagoda
• Sunset Town and Kiss Bridge
• Hon Thom Nature Park
• An Thoi islands, reached by boat

Sao Beach Map and Access Points

Both main swimming spots can be reached by road and by boat. Chezdugong Restaurant and Highlands Coffee mark the first spot, Sao Beach 1. Sao Beach Restaurant & Club marks Sao Beach 2. Paradiso, a third swimming spot, sits near the north end. From the Khem Beach crossroad (10°02′08.3″N 104°01′03.4″E), follow DT46 Road north to 10°03′36.9″N 104°01′02.4″E, then turn right. Coming from Duong Dong, reach the same point and turn left. Keep going to the end of the lane to reach the sand.

Mistakes to Avoid at Sao Beach

Most problems come from timing and transport, not the beach. Fix those two and the rest is easy. For current local updates, Phu Quoc's tourism information site is the place to look.

• Going in the wrong season for the sea you want
• Skipping return transport when taxis are scarce at the beach
• Expecting starfish on demand
• Staying through midday heat without shade or sunscreen
• Accepting water-sport prices without agreeing them first
• Leaving valuables unattended on the sand