Discover Rach Vem Fishing Village - Phu Quoc's Starfish Kingdom

Rach Vem Fishing Village in Phu Quoc, a hidden gem on the pearl island, offers visitors a peaceful escape, completely separate from the hustle and bustle of city life. This place captivates tourists with the unspoiled, rustic beauty of a traditional fishing village, long stretches of white sand beaches with crystal-clear turquoise waters, and especially the unique “starfish kingdom”. Rach Vem is not only an ideal destination to relax and immerse yourself in nature but also a wonderful opportunity to explore local culture and enjoy fresh seafood. Join “Du lịch khắp thế gian” to discover the most interesting things and detailed travel experiences in Rach Vem fishing village in the article below.

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Rach Vem fishing village in Phu Quoc, a hidden gem on the pearl island

Best Time to Visit Rach Vem & See Starfish

To have a complete trip to Rach Vem fishing village and admire the wonderful beauty of the “starfish kingdom”, choosing the right time is extremely important. According to the experience of many tourists and locals, the best time to visit Rach Vem is from November to April.

During this time, Phu Quoc enters the dry season with extremely pleasant weather:

Dry and sunny weather: Little rain, bright yellow sunshine, very suitable for sightseeing, swimming, and exploring activities.
Calm sea, gentle waves: The sea is calm and clear, creating ideal conditions for watching starfish and participating in water activities.
Starfish appear a lot: This is the season when starfish reproduce and move closer to the shore, you will easily encounter thousands of bright starfish on the sand.

In particular, March and April are considered the golden time to see starfish in Rach Vem. At this time, the weather is most beautiful, the sea is calm, and starfish gather in large numbers, creating an extremely impressive and unique scene.

Conversely, from May to October is the rainy season in Phu Quoc. Weather during this period may not be favorable for tourism:

Heavy rain: Rainstorms can be prolonged, affecting outdoor activities.
Rough sea, murky water: The sea often has large waves, and the seawater becomes cloudy, unsuitable for swimming and watching starfish.
Difficult to move: Traveling to Rach Vem may be difficult due to muddy roads, especially during the rainy season.

However, if you still want to travel to Rach Vem in the rainy season, please monitor the weather forecast regularly and prepare carefully to ensure a safe and smooth trip.

Admire the shimmering beauty of Rach Vem starfish in the dry season

How to Get to Rach Vem Fishing Village in Phu Quoc

Rach Vem fishing village is located in the North of Phu Quoc Island, about 25km from the center of Duong Dong town. There are many ways to get to Rach Vem, you can choose the means of transport and route that suits your preferences and conditions.

Transportation Options

Motorbike: Motorbikes are ideal for those who love freedom and exploration. You can easily rent a motorbike at your hotel or motorbike rental shops in Duong Dong town for prices ranging from VND 150,000 – 200,000/day. Traveling by motorbike helps you be proactive about time and can stop to admire the scenery along the way.
Car: If you are traveling with family or a large group of friends, renting a car is a more comfortable and safer option. The rental price for a self-drive car or car with a driver is about VND 700,000/day.
Taxi: Taxis are a convenient means of transport but the cost will be higher than motorbikes and self-drive cars.
Tourist car: If you are on a tour or a large group, a tourist car is the most suitable choice.

Routes to Rach Vem

Here are 3 popular routes to Rach Vem fishing village, depending on your starting point:

From Duong Dong Town: This is the most chosen route by many tourists because most hotels and guesthouses are concentrated in Duong Dong.
- Follow DT973 road towards the North of the island.
- At the Suoi Cai – Ganh Dau intersection, turn left.
- Continue straight for about 6km to Rach Vem.
This route is quite easy to travel, the road is large and there are clear signposts.

Map of the route from Duong Dong town to Rach Vem fishing village
From Vinpearl Phu Quoc Area: If you depart from Vinpearl Phu Quoc, you can go in the opposite direction towards Duong Dong town.
- Follow DT45 road towards Duong Dong.
- At Cua Can bridge, turn left.
- Go straight to the end of the road, meet a three-way intersection and turn left.
- Continue straight to Rach Vem fishing village.
This route is also quite convenient for both motorbikes and cars.

Map of the route from Vinpearl Phu Quoc to Rach Vem fishing village
From Thanh Thoi Ferry Terminal: If you arrive in Phu Quoc by ferry from Ha Tien, this is the most suitable route.
- Leaving Thanh Thoi ferry terminal, turn right onto Duong Dong – Bai Thom road.
- Go straight to the Suoi Cai – Ganh Dau intersection, turn right.
- Continue straight to Rach Vem fishing village.
Although this is the longest route (about 29km) but it is quite easy to travel.

Map of the route from Thanh Thoi ferry terminal to Rach Vem fishing village on Google Maps

Note: The last section of road to Rach Vem can be a bit difficult to travel, especially in the rainy season, the dirt road can be muddy. However, the scenery along the way is very beautiful and unspoiled, worth your experience.

Unique Experiences to Discover in Rach Vem Fishing Village

Coming to Rach Vem fishing village, you will have the opportunity to experience many interesting and memorable activities:

Enjoy the Simple Life and Peaceful Atmosphere of the Fishing Village

Rach Vem bears the hallmarks of a traditional Vietnamese fishing village with simple stilt houses, fishing boats docked close together, and the simple life of local people. Walking around the fishing village, you will feel the peace and tranquility that is far from the bustling pace of city life.

You can explore the floating rafts on the sea, learn about traditional seafood farming and fishing, chat with friendly locals, and enjoy fresh seafood right at the rafts.

Explore the simple life in Rach Vem fishing village

Check-in at the “Starfish Kingdom” and Admire the Brilliant Starfish

Rach Vem is known as the “starfish kingdom” of Phu Quoc because it concentrates the largest number of natural starfish on the island. In the dry season, especially in March and April, you will easily encounter thousands of bright orange-red starfish lying close together on the sand or under the clear water.

This is a great opportunity for you to admire the unique beauty of starfish and take impressive “check-in” photos. However, remember to only look and take pictures, do not touch or bring starfish ashore to protect their natural ecological environment.

Check-in at the "Starfish Kingdom" Rach Vem

Swim at Rach Vem Beach and Relax on the Smooth White Sand

Rach Vem beach boasts unspoiled, peaceful beauty with long stretches of smooth white sand, clear blue sea water and cool green coconut trees. This is an ideal place for you to swim, relax, and enjoy the fresh air.

You can freely swim in the cool water, sunbathe on the sand, or simply lie on a hammock under the shade of coconut trees and enjoy the tranquility of the sea.

Swim and relax at Rach Vem Beach

Experience Fisherman’s Life and Participate in Fishing

Coming to Rach Vem, you can experience the life of local fishermen by asking permission to participate in fishing activities at sea. You will go to sea with fishermen on bamboo basket boats, manually cast nets, fish, and discover traditional fishing techniques.

This is an extremely interesting and meaningful experience, helping you better understand the hard but also interesting work of the villagers.

Experience fishing with Rach Vem fishermen

Enjoy Fresh Seafood on a Floating Raft Restaurant

One of the unmissable experiences when coming to Rach Vem is enjoying fresh seafood at floating raft restaurants on the sea. Seafood here is caught directly from the sea, so it always ensures freshness and quality.

You can choose your favorite seafood such as shrimp, crab, squid, snails, sea urchins… and ask the raft restaurant to prepare them according to your taste. Enjoying fresh seafood while admiring the vast sea view and enjoying the fresh air will be an unforgettable culinary experience.

Enjoy fresh seafood at a Rach Vem floating restaurant

Where to Stay When Traveling to Rach Vem Fishing Village?

Currently, accommodation services in Rach Vem fishing village are not strongly developed. Most tourists usually choose to stay in the center of Duong Dong town or nearby resorts and travel to Rach Vem during the day.

However, if you want to experience life close to nature and explore the fishing village in its entirety, you can look for some homestays or small guesthouses in the Rach Vem vicinity.

In addition, you can also refer to some high-end resorts near Rach Vem to enjoy the best services and amenities, such as Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island, a luxury resort located on the west coast of Phu Quoc, not too far from Rach Vem. Salinda Resort offers a peaceful space, professional service, and world-class amenities, an ideal choice for those who want to combine exploring Rach Vem with luxurious relaxation.

Salinda Resort Phu Quoc – Ideal accommodation choice near Rach Vem fishing village

Reviews and Travel Experiences of Rach Vem Fishing Village from Tourists

Rach Vem fishing village has received many positive reviews from tourists for its unspoiled, peaceful beauty and the unique experiences it offers. Here are some typical comments from tourists:

Dr.Travelling: “Unspoiled, rustic fishing village. Fresh seafood, reasonable prices. Beautiful sea, especially Starfish Beach and Dragon Beach. This place is also known as the starfish kingdom. Recommend everyone to come and experience.”
lekhac: “The village is quite beautiful although Phu Quoc is now over-developing tourism. Should go here in the afternoon and especially starfish season.”
Nathan Ruan: “Lucky to come to the fishing village on a cool afternoon. Fresh, airy atmosphere. Enthusiastic locals guided where to park to visit the fishing village. All free!”
phuong: “Going to Rach Vem fishing village is a memorable trip because of nearly 10km of dirt road… However, this place is still very unspoiled and has rustic beauty. Coming here you will check in the wooden bridges leading straight to the sea very beautiful… Food at the outdoor huts is very cheap, fresh seafood, sitting and eating, enjoying the cool breeze, watching the scenery is great.”

Check-in photos of tourists at Rach Vem fishing village:

Tourist check-in photo at Rach Vem fishing village

Conclusion

Traveling to Rach Vem fishing village in Phu Quoc is a unique and memorable experience, especially for those who love unspoiled, simple beauty and want to explore local culture. From admiring the magical “starfish kingdom”, swimming in clear blue waters, enjoying fresh seafood to experiencing the peaceful life of the fishing village, Rach Vem will surely bring you unforgettable memories. Come and feel the rustic and charming beauty of Rach Vem fishing village to make your Phu Quoc trip more complete and meaningful.