Check-in the Beautiful ‘Starfish Kingdom’ at Rach Vem, Phu Quoc Island
More than 20 km from Duong Dong town on Phu Quoc island, Rach Vem fishing village, which is locating in the north of the pearl island, attracts a lot of visitors by the wild picture of floating houses and wooden bridges on the sea. This place is also considered the “starfish kingdom” of thousands of red sea stars because, in season, they come together in a herd, hidden under the clear water, and create a spectacle to hold tourists’ feet.
If you are familiar with the attractive destinations on Phu Quoc island such as Long Beach, Star Beach, Thom Islet, etc., you can go to Rach Vem fishing village and immerse yourself in a quiet, rustic space. Yes, a hidden gem that isn’t yet exploited for tourism too much.
The Best Time to Travel to Rach Vem
The dry season from November to April is an ideal time to visit Rach Vem. At this time, the climate is cool, sunny, and the waves are calm, helping visitors enjoy the most beautiful sea views. Furthermore, This is also the starfish season in Phu Quoc island.
In contrast, the rainy season from May to October is not the right time to check in the fishing village. During this period, the waves are strong and the water is cloudy so you cannot see the starfish. Besides that, moving to Rach Vem is also difficult. If you choose to go on this occasion, you should preview the weather forecast to make sure the trip more convenient and comfortable.
Different Ways to Going There
There are different ways to go to Phu Quoc island that you can choose. Then, depending on your location of staying, you will have 3 main roads to the fishing village of Rach Vem:
- Going from the center of Duong Dong town is the most popular direction. To illustrate, you just need to go straight towards ĐT973. Many people love this road because of its location near the airport with many resorts, eateries, restaurants, etc.
- From Vinpearl Phu Quoc, you take the way back to Duong Dong town. Before approaching the Cua Can bridge, turning left when you meet the intersection.
- Starting from Thanh Thoi ferry, you turn right to Duong Dong town, then Thom beach, and finally to Suoi Cai junction. This line is for those who take the ferry from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc Island.
To sum up, all three roads will reach the Suoi Cai – Ganh Dau junction. Afterward, you turn left, continue to run for about 6 km to reach the fishing village of Rach Vem. The passage to the fishing village is relatively difficult to go to, it’s quite dusty and bumpy.
Transportations on the Island
A motorbike or car is the popular means of transportation to Rach Vem. Indeed, many hotels or homestays offer motorbike rental for between VND 150,000 and 200,000 per day. In addition, a group of friends or a family can rent a car from VND 700,000 per day.
Things to Do at Rach Vem Fishing Village
Let’s get ready, a modest destination as Rach Vem has many attractions for visitors.
Taking Photographs with the Red Starfishes
As the nickname “starfish kingdom”, surely you will find here at the place a lot of red starfishes. Evenly, it’s the Chocolate Chip starfish, which is one of the most beautiful kinds of sea stars. Definitely, taking photos with the starfishes is an experience that shouldn’t be missed in “starfish kingdom”. It’s hard to find a herd of starfish on other beaches of Vietnam.
The sea in Rach Vem is not too deep. Particularly, in the dry season, it can be seen at the bottom so starfishes are also easier to see. Yes, you are welcome to take pictures with the starfish but make sure you do not bring them out of the water for more than 30 seconds. As they are sensitive to sudden temperature changes and can not breathe without water, they will die just a few seconds after exposing to the air. Thus, please take this note when you travel to this fishing village.
Swimming and Exploring the Raft House
The beach here is still unspoiled. Yet, the water level is not too deep, so it is quite safe for you to enjoy the activities on the sea. After swimming, you can explore the raft houses along the sea. Especially, the House of Love, with clear and clean water, is a popular place for tourists. Here, you can sunbathe and enjoy the fresh nature of the sunny and windy sea.
Enjoy the Seafood
In Rach Vem, seafood is caught during the day and processed fresh. Moreover, they have a fairly affordable price. Herring salad and crab fried rice are the must-try on the menu that you shouldn’t miss.
Some of the raft houses for seafood that you can refer to are Quán Con Sao, Sơn Hải, and Nhà bè Tình Yêu aka the House of Love.
Other activities
In addition, hunting dawn, sunset, fishing with villagers, or squid fishing at night are also unforgettable experiences in Rach Vem that you should try. Some of the activities require the right timing so you must consider that.
Places to Stay for the Trip
Hotels and resorts in Ganh Dau or Cua Can, which is about 8 to 10 km from Rach Vem fishing village are the perfect suggestion for staying. In particular, I have some particular accommodations that you can consider as below:
High-end
Vinpearl Discovery Greenhill Phu Quoc
Owning villas nestled along the mountainside with a broad view of heaven and earth. The interesting combination between the mountains and the sea is the main attraction that calls visitors here.
- Address: Long Beach or Bai Dai, Ganh Dau, Phu Quoc island.
- Room rate: Starting from VND 5.4 million (~ USD 235) per night.
Fusion Resort Phu Quoc
Villas with a private swimming pool, sea view, or green garden. Luxurious amenities combined with natural scenery bring a relaxing vacation for visitors.
- Address: Vung Bau Beach, Cua Can.
- Room rate: Starting from about VND 6.4 million (~ USD 280) per night.
Mid-range
VinOasis Phu Quoc
This is a complex of high-tech entertainment, dining, shopping, and events. The hotel has a mini water park, which is suitable for guests staying with children.
- Address: Bai Dai, Ganh Dau.
- Room rate: From VND 2 million VND (~ USD 87) per night.
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Khoi Nguyen
Khoi Nguyen builds The Broad Life with a desire to inspire people go exploring the world and live a more interesting, experience, and adventurous life. This blog shares the stories, pictures, and experiences at destinations where he has traveled to.
36 Comments
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Khoi Nguyen
I’m so sure that you will be stunning by the beautiful scene at this place.
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Kevin Brotac
I did not know about this place, it will be the perfect destination for my next vacations, I want pictures with the starfish.
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Khoi Nguyen
So you may need a ticket to Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam when the time comes.
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kidneyfornikki
That looks amazing! It reminds me of Stingray City in the Caymans. I love the red starfish!
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Khoi Nguyen
One of the best places to travel right after the pandemic ends to relax with the starfish.
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Gervin Khan
The place looks so awesome, and mesmerizing. This is what everybody wants right now and hoping to materialize in the near future.
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Khoi Nguyen
Absolutely!
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Dris w
This place looks like paradise. The color of the water alone is quite magical!
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Khoi Nguyen
Yes, it’s even the first island city of Vietnam. Don’t miss it when traveling to the country.
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Meki
I have always loved visiting Vietnam, but have not heard of this yet! The beach looks inviting, and those red starfish would be so photogenic! Will note this for my next visit.
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Khoi Nguyen
Surely you will love this place in your next visit.
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Marina
I don’t travel so much. That is why I love posts like this… You take me to places and I really enjoy it!
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Khoi Nguyen
I hope my blog is able to take you around the world. Hope you enjoy it!
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Eileen M Loya
I have only seen a live starfish once in my entire lifetime. It would be lovely to see a lot of them in their natural habitat. Hopefully someday we can visit Rach Vem Fishing village! It is so beautiful there!
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Khoi Nguyen
You could put this place on top of your bucket list as a nice reminder for the next trip.
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Angela Ricardo Bethea
Wow, that definitely looks like a wonderful place to visit with the family and have a vacation in. The view looks absolutely beautiful and all those starfish are quite amazing.
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Khoi Nguyen
Definitely!
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Daniel Sierra
The beach looks amazing, it is for sure one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. I need some vacations having a good time on the beach.
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Khoi Nguyen
Certainly, you will love this beach when traveling there.
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Claudia Blanton
the midrange hotel is quite affordable, not too bad for a trip of a lifetime. And I adore the color of these starfish! Beautiful – blessings!
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Khoi Nguyen
Thanks for your comment!
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Samantha
Wow that starfish picture is amazing!! I would love to visit.
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Khoi Nguyen
Sure you will love them in real!
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emman damian
There’s so many starfish! I want to visit Rach Vem Fishing Village! Maybe after the pandemic?
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Khoi Nguyen
Absolutely!
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Ivan Jose
What a stunning-looking place. I do miss traveling when I read travel posts such as this one.
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Khoi Nguyen
There are many posts in my blog that will surely inspire you. Have a read.
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anas
I was in Phuc Quc 2015! LOVED the place and all the places to eat! will keep this spot in mind for my next visit.
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Khoi Nguyen
I hope you enjoy your next trip to the island.
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Anosa Malanga
Love the place! I hope I can visit this too in the future. Hopefully we can travel back normally very soon and yeah, I used booking.com to book too!
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Khoi Nguyen
Yeah, the pandemic will end soon and we can continue traveling around.
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katrina m kroeplin
i would love to visit here, it sounds amazing.
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Khoi Nguyen
You will love the place when visiting it.
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Khoi Nguyen
You will be able to go to the beach soon when the pandemic ends.
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Cristina Petrini
Some places don’t even seem to exist in real life due to their uniqueness and beauty, I was thrilled!