Land Tour 2: Discover the North – Kayaking & Starfish beach Phu Quoc (Not Lunch)

Phu Quoc’s wild side comes with wet feet. This seven-hour North Island trip mixes a Cua Can River kayak ride, a forest walk, a Cambodian border view, and time at Rach Vem’s famous Starfish Beach. I like the variety of activities and the fact that round-trip transfers, bottled water, transport, admissions, and kayaks are covered in the $44 price.

I also like the local flavor at the floating fishing village, where lunch can be arranged beside the water, and the guides often add humor and useful explanations. The main concern is uneven timing and changing stops. Some people find the beach stay too long, some see very few starfish, and a required boat ride to the best viewing area may cost an extra 100,000 VND.

Key points before you book

• Kayak through Cua Can’s mangroves: The 45-minute paddle is the clearest activity highlight, with calm river water and nature on both sides.
• Starfish Beach is not guaranteed: Conditions and season affect how many starfish you see, and the best area may require an extra boat ride.
• The road north can be rough: Expect long stretches of poor road, especially near the national park, if you suffer from motion sickness.
• Rach Vem is more than a beach stop: You get time to eat, swim, stroll, and see a working fishing village.
• Guides make a big difference: Ren, Viet, Woa, Duc, and other guides have been praised for humor, English, flexibility, and family-friendly help.
• Lunch is not included: You stop at a local restaurant, but you pay for your own meal.

What this Phu Quoc day tour is really like

This is a group outing built to cover several northern Phu Quoc sights without the cost of a private car. At about seven hours, it gives you a broad look at the island rather than a slow, single-focus day.

You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, with hotel pickup offered in Phu Quoc. The maximum group size can reach 100 people, although the actual group may be much smaller. One person even ended up with a private-style outing when nobody else joined, but you should plan for a proper group tour rather than expect that result.

The price of $44 is fair if you want transport and several admissions bundled together. It is less attractive if your main goal is only kayaking or swimming. Lunch is extra, and you may also need to budget for a boat transfer to the best section of Starfish Beach.

The tour is most useful for first-time visitors who want to see the north without arranging several separate rides. It is less suitable if you dislike bumpy roads, sales-oriented stops, or a schedule that may change with weather and local conditions.

Walking beneath old trees in Phu Quoc National Park

The first listed stop is a 35-minute walk on a forest trail in Phu Quoc National Park. The attraction is the setting: old trees, shade, and a chance to see a quieter side of the island away from resort beaches.

The trail is not presented as a long hike. Think of it as a short nature walk that breaks up the drive. You may get lucky and see monkeys, though there is no promise of wildlife. The appeal comes more from the forest atmosphere than from a major viewpoint or a demanding route.

Here is the catch. The road to this area can be rough, with long sections of gravel or poor pavement. If you are prone to motion sickness, bring whatever helps you and keep a plastic bag handy. The drive may be harder than the walk.

Some people find the forest dark and underwhelming, especially if they expect a large national park experience. I would keep expectations modest. This stop works well as a brief change of pace, but it is not the reason to book the tour.

Mui Ganh Dau and the view toward Cambodia

The next stop is Mui Ganh Dau, a coastal point where you can look toward Cambodia. The scheduled visit lasts about 25 minutes, so this is a photo and scenery stop rather than a beach afternoon.

The border view gives the tour a geographic hook. You are not simply visiting another patch of sand. You are looking across the water toward another country, which helps explain Phu Quoc’s position at the edge of the Gulf of Thailand.

The short visit also keeps the day moving. Still, the route can change. One person reported that Ganh Dau was skipped, while other schedules may include extra stops or substitutions when weather or timing causes trouble. Ask your guide early in the day which stops are confirmed.

That flexibility can work in your favor. A guide named Ren reportedly replaced a weather-canceled activity with three additional things to do. The tradeoff is that the printed plan should be treated as a general outline, not a minute-by-minute promise.

Rach Vem floating village and the long beach break

Rach Vem is the heart of the day for many people. This floating fishing village gives you about an hour and a half for lunch, swimming, walking, and time around the beach.

The restaurant setting is part of the experience. Fish can be selected from pens in the water and prepared nearby, giving the meal a more local connection than a standard roadside stop. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so bring extra money and check what your meal will cost before ordering.

The beach time can be wonderful for families. The water is shallow, and children can enjoy getting close to the starfish by paddling or snorkeling. You should handle the animals carefully and follow local instructions. Starfish are living creatures, not beach decorations.

The name Starfish Beach creates high expectations, and nature does not always cooperate. Some visits produce many starfish, while others turn up only two or three. Season, tide, water conditions, and the exact beach area all matter.

There is another practical point. The beach with the best starfish viewing may require a separate boat ride costing about 100,000 VND. That fee is not included, and you should confirm it before setting off. Some people feel the first beach area has little to see without making this extra trip.

The stop can also feel too long. If the weather is hot and you are not swimming, 90 minutes or more may drag. If you want a relaxed lunch and a proper swim, the same timing may feel just right.

Kayaking the Cua Can River

The 45-minute kayak trip on the Cua Can River is the strongest part of the experience for many visitors. You stop beside the river, receive a kayak, and paddle through a quieter stretch surrounded by natural vegetation and mangrove trees.

This is not a whitewater outing. The appeal is the calm setting and the chance to see Phu Quoc from water level. You can take photographs, watch the riverbanks, and enjoy a slower pace after the vehicle rides.

Kayaks are included, as is bottled water. That makes the activity good value, especially if you have never tried river kayaking and do not want to arrange equipment separately.

The activity does require some physical effort, but the scheduled time is fairly short. If weather makes kayaking unsafe, the guide may need to alter the plan. One of the useful features of this tour is that guides have sometimes adjusted the day rather than simply canceling the whole outing.

If kayaking is your priority, tell the guide early. The tour covers many places, and the timing may shift depending on traffic, weather, group preferences, and local conditions.

The optional bee farm and extra stops

The wider North Island route can include a bee farm, and some schedules also mention a pepper farm. The bee farm has been described as a small, pleasant stop where you can learn about bees. It is closed on Wednesdays and selected holidays.

A pepper farm can add another taste of local agriculture. Be careful with fresh green pepper. It can be much hotter than you expect, especially straight from the plant.

The problem is that these added stops are not always presented consistently. Some outings have included a silk factory or other sales-focused visits that were not expected by the people who booked. A brief stop can be interesting, but an extra hour spent looking at merchandise changes the value of the day.

If you do not want shopping stops, ask the guide or operator before departure. This is especially important because the route appears to vary. Guides may use extra time to replace canceled activities, but that can also mean a stop you did not plan on.

Guides, group size, and the human side of the day

The guides are a major part of the experience. Ren is repeatedly praised for good English, jokes, local explanations, and keeping people relaxed. Viet has been described as reassuring and attentive, while Woa earned praise for helping families and keeping children entertained.

Duc has also been praised for good humor and for speaking French, which may help French-speaking visitors. Another guide was called the magician after entertaining the group and making the lunch stop memorable.

These details matter because the route involves a lot of driving and several short visits. A quiet guide could make the day feel like a transfer service with stops. A lively guide can turn the road time into part of the outing, with stories, jokes, and even magic tricks for children.

The possible group size is large, up to 100 people. That can mean waiting during boarding, meal arrangements, and beach transfers. On the other hand, the shared format keeps the price down and makes the tour practical for solo visitors.

The $44 price and what you still pay

At $44 per person, the tour includes several useful costs: air-conditioned transport, hotel transfers, bottled water, kayak use, and admission fees. You do not need to pay entrance fees at each listed stop, which makes budgeting easier.

The value is best when you want a full day of transport and variety. Booking separate taxis to the national park, Ganh Dau, Rach Vem, and Cua Can would take planning and could cost more, especially for one or two people.

You should still budget for lunch. The restaurant stop is part of the route, but the meal itself is excluded. Also allow for the possible 100,000 VND boat ride to the strongest Starfish Beach area.

I would not book this solely because of the starfish. That part is weather and season dependent, and the extra boat charge may surprise you. Book it for the full mix: river kayaking, forest, coastal views, a fishing village, and the chance to see starfish.

Who should book this North Island excursion?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to northern Phu Quoc in one day. Families may like the shallow water, short nature walk, friendly guides, and varied schedule.

It also suits solo visitors who prefer not to arrange transport alone. The small chance of a very small group is a bonus, but you should be comfortable sharing the vehicle if demand is high.

You may want another tour if you need a polished, tightly timed itinerary. You should also think twice if you have serious motion sickness, dislike long road journeys, or want a quiet beach day with no possible sales stops.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you value variety, included transport, and a guide who can add personality to a busy day. The kayaking and Rach Vem village are the strongest reasons to go, while the forest walk and Cambodia view fill out the picture.

Go in with realistic expectations about Starfish Beach. You may see an impressive number of starfish, or only a few. Confirm the boat cost, ask about extra stops, bring motion-sickness protection, and carry money for lunch.

At $44, this is a good-value introduction to Phu Quoc’s north, but not a perfect sightseeing machine. Its success depends on weather, road conditions, guide quality, and how the day’s timing unfolds.

FAQ

How long does the Phu Quoc North Island tour last?

The tour lasts approximately seven hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Round-trip hotel transfers in Phu Quoc are included. The listed meeting point is 143 Đường Trần Hưng Đạo, Dương Tơ, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang, Vietnam, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. The tour stops at a local restaurant in Rach Vem, but lunch is not included.

Are kayaks provided?

Yes. Kayak use is included, and the Cua Can River kayaking portion lasts about 45 minutes.

Is the boat ride to Starfish Beach included?

A boat ride to the proper Starfish Beach area may cost an additional 100,000 VND. This fee is not included in the tour price.

Is the bee farm open every day?

No. The bee farm is closed on Wednesdays and selected holidays.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, you will also be offered a different option or a full refund.