Coconut Tree Prison
Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Sao Beach, Phu Quoc
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Photo: Vnecofriendly, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsThe essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free — it's a public beach
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Beach open at all times; cafés and sunbed rental roughly morning to evening
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 3 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Parking
- Scooters about 10,000–20,000 VND, cars 30,000–100,000; often free if you buy something at a café
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Sunbeds and umbrella
- Around 50,000–100,000 VND for a pair for half a day; free with an order at some clubs
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Fresh-water shower
- Around 20,000–30,000 VND
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Water
- Calm, with a shallow, gently sloping entry — good for kids
- Best time of day
- Morning — quieter, calmer water and sunrise over the sea
- Payment
- Cash in VND
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
Freeentry to the public beach; you pay only for parking and services
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Sun Paradise Land (12.08.2026)Local Vietnam guide (25.04.2026)South-eastcoast: the beach faces east, so it's for sunrise — sunsets are on the west side
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Vietnamese WikipediaLocal Vietnam guideShallowgently sloping entry and usually no waves — one of the island's easiest beaches for swimming
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Vietnamese WikipediaLocal Vietnam guide50,000–100,000VND for a pair of sunbeds for half a day, unofficially
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Sun Paradise Land (12.08.2026)2015CN Traveler named Sao one of the world's ten quietest, most unspoilt beaches
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Vietnamese Wikipedia≈ 27 kmby road from Dinh Cau Shrine in Duong Dong — about 30–40 minutes
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WikidataOpenStreetMapOSRM route≈ 5 kmto Phu Quoc Prison and ≈ 8 km to Kiss Bridge in Sunset Town
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OpenStreetMapOSRM routeMay–Octoberthe east coast is sheltered from the south-west monsoon, so the water is often calmer than in the west
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Local Vietnam guideIs Sao Beach free? What things cost
Yes, entry is free — it's a public beach with no tickets. You'll still spend a little. Parking by the road or at a café costs around 10,000–20,000 VND for a scooter and 30,000–100,000 VND for a car, and many cafés let you park free if you order. Some access points through restaurants ask for a small fee, but there are free ways onto the sand further along the road.
A pair of sunbeds with an umbrella costs around 50,000–100,000 VND for half a day, and some clubs waive it if you buy food and drinks. A fresh-water shower is 20,000–30,000 VND. Prices tend to be lower at the far end. These are unofficial figures, so ask before you sit down, and carry cash in dong.
What is Sao Beach like?
Sao Beach sits on the south-east coast of Phu Quoc, near An Thoi. It's often called the island's most beautiful beach: fine white sand, calm turquoise water, a shallow entry and leaning palms hung with swings and hammocks. In 2015 CN Traveler listed it among the world's ten quietest, most unspoilt beaches.
It isn't wild any more. Beach clubs, cafés, sunbed rental, photo spots and water sports line the shore. The managed stretches by the clubs look just like the photos; the free stretches can have litter and fewer facilities. How you find it depends a lot on where you walk onto the sand.
Things to do
- Swim — the water is usually calm and the entry shallow; easy with children.
- Watch the sunrise — the beach faces east, and the first hour of light is the best.
- Take photos on the swings and leaning palms in the northern section.
- Water sports — jet skis, parasailing, banana boats, and kayaks or SUPs in places; agree the price first.
- Have lunch at a beach café — seafood and Vietnamese dishes, pricier than in Duong Dong.
- Relax in the shade on a lounger or in a hammock at a club.
How to get to Sao Beach
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- From Dinh Cau Shrine and the night market in Duong Dong it's about 27 km south by road — 30–40 minutes by Grab or taxi. Search for "Bãi Sao" or "Sao Beach"; Grab shows the fare upfront.
- By rented scooter, take the same road south; a turn-off from the main road leads to the beach, with paid parking and cafés by the water.
- From An Thoi and Sunset Town it's about 8 km, 15 minutes by car.
- From Phu Quoc Prison it's about 5 km, 10 minutes.
- Once on the sand, walk along and pick your spot: the club stretches are cleaner and more comfortable but charge for loungers; further along it's emptier.
- Grab cars are available, but scarcer in the middle of the day — book ahead.
When is the best time to visit Sao Beach?
Within the day, go in the morning, before 10:00–11:00, when it's quieter, the water is calmer and the jet skis haven't started. Across the year, the dry season from November to April brings the most sunshine to Phu Quoc.
From May to October, when the south-west monsoon churns up the west coast, the east coast is sheltered, so the water at Sao is often calmer than at Long Beach. Rainy-season showers are usually short — pack a light rain jacket.
Is Sao Beach worth it?
Yes, if you have more than two or three days on Phu Quoc: the sand and water are the best on the island, and it fits neatly into a southern day with Phu Quoc Prison, the cable car and Sunset Town.
The YesGo take: it's beautiful but not perfect. It's commercial, noisy in places from jet skis, and the unmanaged stretches can be littered. To see Sao at its best, come early and pick a well-kept stretch by a club — the lounger fee buys you a clean patch of sand and some shade.
Before you go: checklist
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Beaches on Phu Quoc: compare and choose
Beaches and seaside spots on Phu Quoc rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Dinh Cau Shrine | 44 | 45 min | Free | 20.3 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starfish Beach (Rach Vem) | 26 | 2 h | Free | 37.3 km |
| Sunset Town | 25 | 2 h 30 min | Free | 4.4 km |
| Sao Beachyou are here | 24 | 3 h | Free | — |
| Grand World Phu Quoc | 24 | 3 h | Free | 36.1 km |
| Hon Thom Cable Car | 19 | 3 h | 850,000 VND return | 4.4 km |
| VinWonders Phu Quoc | 16 | 4 h | 1,050,000 VND; under 100 cm free | 37.5 km |
Southern Phu Quoc in one day
Sao Beach in the quiet morning, then Phu Quoc Prison and the Hon Thom cable car, and Sunset Town for sunset and the shows. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Sao Beachyou are here3 h · Free; sunbeds extra
- 39 min walk from the previous stopCoconut Tree Prison1 h · Free
- 39 min walk from the previous stopHon Thom Cable Car3 h · 850,000 VND return
- 4 min walk from the previous stopSunset Town2 h 30 min · Free entry; bridge and shows paid
4 places · about 10 h 52 min with walks · 82 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- For the classic shot, go to the leaning palms and swings in the northern part early, before the crowds.
- Skipping the lounger? Spread a towel on a free stretch, but keep well away from the jet-ski zone.
- Bring your own water — drinks cost more at the beach cafés.
- Don't leave belongings unattended while you swim.
- Afterwards, head to Sunset Town for sunset — about 15 minutes by car.
Questions
Is there an entrance fee for Sao Beach?
No. The beach is free; you pay for parking (scooters around 10,000–20,000 VND), sunbeds (around 50,000–100,000 VND a pair) and showers.
Where is Sao Beach?
On the south-east coast of Phu Quoc, near An Thoi — about 27 km by road from Duong Dong and 8 km from Sunset Town.
How do I get to Sao Beach?
From Duong Dong it's 30–40 minutes by Grab, taxi or scooter. Search for "Bãi Sao" or "Sao Beach".
When is the best time to visit Sao Beach?
In the morning, before 10:00–11:00. The dry season (November–April) is sunniest; from May to October the east coast is sheltered from the monsoon and often calmer than the west.
Can you watch the sunset at Sao Beach?
No — it faces east, so it's a sunrise beach. For sunset, go to the west coast or Sunset Town.
Is Sao Beach good for children?
Yes: the entry is shallow and gently sloping and there are usually no waves. Stay away from the jet-ski area.
Are there sunbeds and showers?
Yes, at the beach clubs and cafés: sunbeds around 50,000–100,000 VND a pair, showers 20,000–30,000 VND. Some waive the lounger fee with an order.
Is Sao Beach worth visiting?
Yes, for the island's best sand and water. Come in the morning and pick a well-kept stretch — it's commercial and can be noisy.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Vietnamese Wikipedia — Bãi Sao: location, sand and water, 2015 CN Traveler ranking
- Sun Paradise Land (12.08.2026) — free entry, parking, sunbed and shower prices, water sports
- Local Vietnam travel guide (25.04.2026) — swimming, beach sections, water sports, seasons, sunrise, getting there
- Wikidata Q32199900 — coordinates; OpenStreetMap and OSRM route — distances and times
- YesGo general facts for Vietnam — cash and Grab
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