Avoid “Starfish Beach” in Phu Quoc: A Tourist Trap You Should Know About
If you visit the island of Phu Quoc in Vietnam, you’ll probably hear about the famous starfish beach, or “Starfish Beach”. On social media, the photos look stunning — crystal-clear water, white sand, and peaceful starfish scattered across the shore. In reality, the experience can be very different… and honestly, quite disappointing.
🚫 The Tourist Trap: Beware of Misinformation
As you get closer to the area, locals will approach you on motorbikes, pretending to “help”.
But they’re not offering a friendly alternative — they’re straight-up lying, telling you that the main path is closed or no longer accessible.
👉 That’s completely false.
They redirect you somewhere else, make you take a detour… and only once you’re there, they tell you you need to pay— for a boat ride or an entry fee.
In reality, there’s a free path, easy to walk, visible on Google Maps, that takes you to the beach in just 10 minutes.
Even if some parts look blocked (with tarps, tree trunks, etc.), you can simply walk along the shoreline. The access is open.
💀 Dead Starfish for the Gram
Once you arrive: total disappointment.
The famous starfish seen all over Instagram are actually dead. They’ve been collected and placed there purely for decoration and tourist photos.
Nothing natural. Nothing alive. Just a sad, staged scene that’s rearranged daily.
And yet, tourists keep touching them, moving them… without asking questions.
💸 Don’t Fall for the Trap
Some simple advice:
- Ignore people who tell you the road is closed
- Don’t follow anyone on a motorbike — it’s a redirection tactic
- Use the actual walking path (10 minutes, free)
- Don’t touch the starfish (dead or alive)
- And remember: this is a photo setup, not a natural spot
🏝️ And Phu Quoc as a whole?
Honestly? We don’t recommend it.
Phu Quoc is far from the paradise it’s marketed to be.
Much of the island feels almost abandoned:
- Empty buildings as far as the eye can see
- Whole areas left unfinished
- Ghost hotels
- A strange, slightly eerie atmosphere
At times, it feels like you’re walking through a beach resort built for mass tourism… that never actually came.
Here our TikTok about Phu Quoc The Ghost Island 👻
🚫 In Summary: Just Skip It
If you’re looking for an island that’s authentic, alive, or peaceful: Phu Quoc is not the place.
Between tourist traps, misinformation, dead starfish and fake access points, it all feels off.
Even when we tried to find something charming, we struggled.
Save your time, your money, and your energy for places that truly deserve it.
Check our tiktok about Starfish Beach in Phu Quoc 👈
