North Phu Quoc & Rạch Vẹm Starfish Lagoon: a quieter island day

North Phu Quoc is the least-visited part of the island — forested roads, working fishing villages and a coastline that looks the way the south did twenty years ago. This north Phu Quoc tour to Rach Vem is built for travellers who want to see a different side of Phú Quốc, well away from the cable car queues and resort strips.

The centrepiece is Rạch Vẹm lagoon, a shallow inlet in the north where starfish gather in the clear water. Add a boat trip to Dragon Jaw Cape, lunch on a floating house restaurant and a film camera to document it all, and you have a full day that feels genuinely different.

Itinerary

08:00 — Pickup from your hotel. The drive north takes you through the interior of the island — pepper farms, stands of fruit trees and small fishing settlements that most visitors never see.

~09:30 — Arrive at the northern coastline and board the boat for Mũi Hàm Rồng (Dragon Jaw Cape). The boat hugs the forested shoreline — there’s almost no development on this stretch. The cape itself has dramatic rock formations and views back down the island’s spine.

~11:00 — Rạch Vẹm lagoon. The boat moves into the shallow inlet where starfish rest on the sandy bottom. You can wade in the shallows to get closer — the water is clear and calm. This is a protected area, so the guide will brief you on how to behave around the starfish.

Note on seasonality: Rạch Vẹm starfish are most reliably visible in the dry season (November–April). In the wet season they may have moved to deeper water. Luna checks conditions and will let you know before confirming your booking.

~12:30 — Lunch at a floating house restaurant (nhà bè) on the water. The menu is fresh fish and seafood — whatever came in that morning. Eaten on a platform over the sea, with fishing boats passing by.

~14:00 — An afternoon stop at one more northern point of interest before heading back. Your guide will suggest options based on what’s accessible on the day.

16:15 — Return to your hotel.

What’s included

• Round-trip transfer and licensed local guide
• Boat trip to Mũi Hàm Rồng
• Rạch Vẹm lagoon visit
• Lunch at the floating house restaurant
• Bottled water throughout the day
• Film camera photos (the guide shoots throughout the day — a nice analog record of the trip)
• Travel insurance

Not included: Personal drinks beyond water. Tips for the boat crew or guide.

Good to know

Seasonality: This tour runs year-round but the Rạch Vẹm starfish are the main draw, and they’re most reliably visible November–April. If you’re visiting in the wet season, the rest of the tour — boat trip, floating lunch, forested north — still holds up, but confirm with Luna about starfish conditions before booking.

What to wear: Light clothes you don’t mind getting wet at Rạch Vẹm. Reef-safe sunscreen. A hat and sunglasses for the boat sections.

Swimming: The wading at Rạch Vẹm is shallow (knee-to-waist depth). There’s no dedicated swimming stop, but the boat trip includes some time on the water where a quick dip is possible depending on conditions.

The film camera: The guide carries a film camera throughout the day and takes candid shots of the group. You get physical photos — a different format from the usual holiday snaps. No extra charge.

Children: The pace is relaxed and the activities are gentle. Good for kids old enough to wade and follow instructions around the starfish (don’t pick them up or stand on them). Younger children are fine with an adult holding their hand in the shallows.

This is not a beach-day tour. There’s no dedicated swimming beach or snorkelling. If you want that, the sunset yacht cruise or island-hopping tours are a better fit.

How to book

Luna handles bookings and pickup coordination for this tour. Because the north Phu Quoc tour is weather and season-dependent, we’ll check current conditions and confirm the Rạch Vẹm situation before locking in your date.

Reach us via the contact page or go straight to the book page. We recommend booking the evening before at the latest — morning departures at 08:00 require confirmed numbers the night before.