Phu Quoc sights
Starfish Beach (Rạch Vẹm)
A shallow, calm beach on the island's far north named for the orange starfish that dot its sandy seabed, where stilted seafood shacks sit over the water. A laid-back, photogenic spot best at low tide — look, don't lift the starfish.
About
Starfish Beach, at the fishing hamlet of Rạch Vẹm on Phu Quoc's far northern coast, takes its name from the many bright orange-red starfish that live on its sandy seabed, clearly visible through the shallow, glassy water. The setting is the appeal: a calm, very shallow stretch of coast where stilted wooden seafood restaurants are built out over the sea, so you can sit above the water with a plate of fresh shellfish, then wade out to see the starfish dotting the sand around you. It is a relaxed, rustic, photogenic spot rather than a swimming-and-sunbathing beach, and it has become a popular half-day trip from the more developed west coast, reached along rough northern roads by motorbike or car. One important note: the starfish are living animals and are harmed by being lifted out of the water for photos, so the responsible (and increasingly required) thing is to look and photograph them where they lie, without touching or removing them. Low tide reveals the most.
Good to know
Opening hours and entry fees vary by season — check before you visit.