Sao Beach (Bai Sao, “Star Beach”) curves along the south-east coast of Phu Quoc, a few kilometres from An Thoi. Its sand is some of the finest and whitest on the island, and the water shades from pale green to turquoise over a gently sloping bottom. It is the beach most people picture when they think of Phu Quoc.
Because it faces east, Sao Beach is sheltered during the southwest monsoon, roughly May to October, when the west-coast beaches can be rough and murky. It is lined with beach restaurants and bars renting sunloungers. Just to the south is Bai Khem (Kem Beach), another beautiful white-sand bay now occupied largely by resorts.
What to see and do: Sao Beach (Bai Sao)
Swim and lie on the sand
The main activity. The bottom slopes gently and the water is usually calm, which makes it good for children.
Lunch at a beach restaurant
Grilled seafood and Vietnamese dishes are served right on the sand; sunloungers are often free if you eat or drink.
Combine with the south
Sao Beach fits easily into a day with the Phu Quoc Prison, An Thoi and the cable car — exactly what many southern land tours do.
How to get to Sao Beach (Bai Sao)
- By road: about 30–40 minutes by car or scooter from Duong Dong, following the main road south towards An Thoi and turning east.
- On a tour: southern land tours often include a stop here.
Insider tips
- Come in the morning for the clearest water and fewer people.
- Sandflies can bite at dawn and dusk; use repellent.
- Some beach businesses ask for a small fee for parking or for using loungers; agree prices before you sit down.
- Take your rubbish with you — litter washed up after storms is a recurring problem on Phu Quoc’s beaches.
Best tours & tickets for Sao Beach (Bai Sao)
These bookable experiences are the easiest way to include Sao Beach (Bai Sao) in your trip:
Land tour with cable car from €66 Phu Quoc Land 4: Southern Phu Quoc Tour and Cable Car Ride
A land-based day around southern Phu Quoc that ends with the cable car. Good when the sea is rough or for travellers who would rather not spend the day on a boat; check the listing for the exact stops.
- Sightseeing stops in the south of the island
- Hon Thom cable car ride
- A day on land rather than on a boat
Private full-day tour from €137 Phu Quoc: Coconut Tree Prison, Cable Car, Kiss Bridge, Sunset
A private, full-day tour with hotel pickup that joins the island’s war history at the prison site with the cable car and the sunset at the Kiss Bridge. Priced for a private car and guide; only one review so far.
- The Phu Quoc (Coconut Tree) Prison
- Hon Thom cable car
- Kiss Bridge at sunset
Classic wooden-boat island tour from €33 Phu Quoc: 3-Island Adventure Guided Boat Tour
The classic budget island day: a guided boat trip to three islands south of An Thoi with swimming and snorkelling stops. It has the most reviews of any Phu Quoc product we list, with a solid four-star average — larger groups, but very good value.
- Three islands of the southern archipelago
- Slower, roomier boat with time to swim
- Lowest price of the island day trips
