If seeing starfish in their natural habitat is something on your bucket list, then you definitely are in the right place. Phu Quoc Starfish Beach is the perfect place to observe these little creatures and admire their beauty.
The beach has only been recently discovered but it instantly gained popularity among tourists due to the countless red starfish that can be found here. The white sand and the palm trees add to the beauty of this place.
In this guide, I’ll share with you everything you everything you need to know about this unique and fascinating beach. If you’re traveling to Phu Quoc, make sure to add the Starfish Beach to your itinerary!
1. What you need to know about the Phu Quoc Starfish Beach
This beach is one of those place that makes you forget about all the worries. It’s isolated, pristine, and a well-hidden secret. Few tourists make it here. However, you’ll find a few sunbeds and shops on the seashore.
The Starfish Beach was the highlight of my trip to Phu Quoc and one of the best memories I have from my one and half year trip around Asia. The water here is extremely clear and you can easily see lots of starfish.
It’s important to remember that nature is not ours to play with. The Starfish Beach is an amazing place and it would be a shame if future generation won’t be able to enjoy its beauty. This is why, I recommend keeping in mind a few things before visiting it in order to avoid hurting the marine life.
Also planning to visit Hoi An? Click here to read about the top attractions.
Do not step on starfish
You might be temped to take a swim in the clear water and there is nothing wrong with that. Just make sure that you are not stepping on starfish along the way. These creatures are very fragile.
Do not take starfish as souvenirs
You might think that this is stupid but I have actually seen people removing starfish from the water and putting them in plastic bags as souvenirs.
While I believe that some people are ignorant and are not aware that starfish are actually living creatures, it is our duty to stop this from happening. We can do this by informing these people about the effects of their actions.
Click here to read more about one of the most unusual places in Vietnam.
Do not remove starfish from the water
There has been much debate whether or not taking the starfish out of the water hurts them or not. The only thing I know for sure is that starfish are marine animals and this means that they are build for living in water.
Taking them out of the water means that you are exposing them to an environment they are not used to. If you want to read more about how removing starfish from the water can damage them click here.
The main reason why people are taking starfish out of the water is to take photos or selfies. I believe that the best photos you can take are with the starfish in their natural habitat. Check out a few of my photos from Phu Quoc Starfish Beach. If you want to take underwater pictures, I recommend the following accessories:
- for Go Pro – I recommend using a Go Pro Dome – click here
- for mobile phone – I recommend using a waterproof case – click here
- for camera – I recommend using a waterproof camera case – click here
2. Things to do at Starfish Beach, Phu Quoc
Apart from admiring the starfish, there are a few activities you can do on the island. Phu Quoc is a big island with a lot to offer in terms of tourist attractions. If you have a few days to spend on the island I recommend the following activities:
- Snorkeling and fishing tour to the South of the island – click here
- Phu Quoc Cruise Adventure – click here
- Phu Quoc Nature Discovery Tour – click here
Now let’s talk a bit more about one of the most beautiful beaches on Phu Quoc – the Starfish Beach. Below are a few things you can do here.
Eat at a floating restaurant
Are you craving some seafood? You are definitely in the right place! Right on the Starfish Beach there is a floating restaurant with tasty food.
Take a walk on the beach at sunset
There is nothing more romantic than taking a walk on this white sand beach at sunset while gazing at the orange sky.
Visit the nearby floating village
On our way to the beach, we got lost and we were lucky to discover this hidden gem. Right near the Phu Quoc Starfish Beach there is this beautiful village built on wooden stilts. It is definitely worth a visit. For the exact location clik here.
3. How to get to Phu Quoc Starfish Beach
If you are wondering where is the Starfish Beach, please check the map above for the exact location. The road is mostly good and easily accessible. There are many options to get to the Starfish Beach. Please find all the details below.
By organized tour
Since the Starfish Beach started becoming more and more popular, there are a few guided tours available. Please keep in mind that these tours are usually more expensive than going there by yourself.
However, if you want a hustle free experience, then an organized tour is definitely the right choice for you.
By car
Renting a car without a Vietnamese driver’s licence is not possible. However, you can hire a private taxi with a driver for one day. The price for this service starts at around $25 per day. Click here for more details.
By motorbike – recommended
Exploring Phu Quoc Island by motorbike is the best option. It is cheap and convenient. You can rent a motorbike directly from your accommodation.
If not, try and ask at a few hotels or hostels and you will definitely find one to rent. The price per day for motorbike rental is about $10, depending on your negotiation skills. Please beware that driving a motorbike without a helmet is illegal.
4. Where to stay on Phu Quoc
I’ve searched for the best accommodation on the island. Below are my recommendations:
- Budget – Cottage Village – beautiful pool, good location, breakfast & dinner included
- Mid-Budget – Lahana Resort – incredible infinity pool, amazing view, spacious rooms, excellent breakfast
- Luxury – JW Marriott – amazing beach pool, beach access, luxurious rooms with modern design, excellent breakfast, friendly staff
I hope that you have found this guide about the Starfish Beach useful. Enjoy this beautiful place and don’t forget to respect the nature around you.
May the travel bug bite you!
More about Vietnam:
- Ninh Binh must see attractions – click here
- Love Waterfall, Sapa – why you should visit it – click here
- Top 10 things to buy in Hoi An with prices – click here
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Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!
The starfish are so pretty! thank you for reminding people not to step on them or take them!
Yes, they are beautiful! <3
Looks like a beautiful place to go visit! I would love to add this to my list of places to visit in Asia! So magical.
It is definitely worth visiting! And the good part is that Starfish Beach is not yet full of tourists.
Woah I’m all about this starfish beach. That’s just so cool! A friend and I have unofficially decided to make a bucket list of all of the beaches with fun, yet strange animals, and I think this qualifies! So excited to visit one day.
Haha! That’s so awesome! I would love to read that list!
This beach looks absolutely wonderful. We totally missed it when visiting Vietnam. Next time 🙂
Now you have a good reason to go back! 😉
Wow what an amazing place to visit! Totally adding this to my bucket list!
You will love it! <3
I am thinking to go this beach tomorrow but one friend told me that as is now rainy season maybe we won’t find starfish there. Anyone could confirm this?
Thanks
I wish I could help you but I haven’t visited the Starfish Beach during the rainy season.
I’ve been there in april with my girlfriend and was amazing…sad part is that during the sunset hours you don’t realize that thousand of sand flies would eat you totally! On the next day we waked up with 120/150 bites all over the body despite repellent and without noticing any bite during previous night. Bites were so itchy abd laste 2-3 weeks so we had to take antistamimic and really a lot of aloe and cortisone cream…did someone got the same bad experience? Please share !!
Wow! thanks so much for this message. I am sure that this information will be helpful for so many people! I didn’t visit this beach during the sunset. Therefore, the sand flies were not a problem. Thanks again for sharing!
It s unfortunately horrible there. Full of tourists unconscious touching , carrying and taking out the stars from water. I stayed 5 min and thought I will cry or kill somebody. The government have to react, humans are too stupid for an instagram picture
I am so sorry to hear this. Unfortunately people are irresponsible. When I visited the Starfish Beach there was a lady taking the starfish out of the water. I got so mad that I went straight to her and told her that what she’s doing is not ok because she’s hurting the marine life. 🙁
Visited 21/12/2019. The pier and other restaurants dump rubbish into the sea. The place was swarming with tourists picking up these delicate creatures. There was a stench and rubbish everywhere. There would have been more than 300 people there. We left after 5 minutes.
Wooow. This place has definitely changed! When we visited there were only another 5 tourists on the beach. It’s a shame that this incredible place was spoilt. I just hope that the starfish will survive.