Bai Khem Beach Guide: What to Know Before You Go

What Bai Khem is

Bai Khem sits on the southern tip of Phu Quoc island, a crescent of white sand roughly 700 meters long that faces south toward the Gulf of Thailand. For years it was a restricted military zone, which kept it off the tourist circuit while the island's western beaches filled up with resorts. That changed around 2017 when the area opened to visitors, and development followed — but at a slower pace than Long Beach or Ong Lang to the north.

The name translates loosely to "Cream Beach," a reference to the fine, pale sand. Compared to the busier strips, Bai Khem still feels like the Phu Quoc (푸꾸옥 / 富国岛 / フーコック) that travelers describe from a decade ago: relatively quiet on weekday mornings, with water calm enough for small children.

Why travelers go

Three reasons, mostly:

1. The water clarity. The south-facing orientation shields Bai Khem from the seasonal winds that churn up the western coast between July and October. On good days, visibility is 5-8 meters — solid for snorkeling without a boat trip.

2. Fewer people. Bai Khem is 25 km from Duong Dong town center. That extra distance filters out a chunk of the day-trip crowd. You'll share the sand with resort guests and the occasional motorbike traveler, not tour buses.

3. Sunsets from the south. Unlike west-coast beaches where everyone clusters for the same sunset shot, the southern angle here gives you light that rakes across the water at a lower trajectory — photographers prefer late afternoon here for that reason.

Best time to visit

Phu Quoc's dry season runs November through April. Bai Khem is swimmable year-round thanks to its sheltered position, but December to March gives you the clearest skies and calmest seas. Avoid Vietnamese public holidays — especially Tet and the April 30 long weekend — when domestic tourism spikes island-wide.

June through September brings afternoon rain (usually 30-60 minutes, then clearing), but room rates drop 30-40% and the beach is almost empty on weekdays.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

How to get there

From Phu Quoc International Airport, Bai Khem is about 20 km south — roughly 30 minutes by motorbike or 25 minutes by car. Options:

• [Motorbike rental](/posts/renting-motorbike-vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)-legal-insurance): 150,000-200,000 VND/day from shops in Duong Dong. The road south is paved and straightforward.
• Grab/taxi: Around 200,000-250,000 VND one way from Duong Dong. Grab works on the island but drivers are fewer in the south — book your return in advance or get the driver's number.
• Hotel shuttle: The resorts at Bai Khem run transfers for guests. If you're staying at a budget place in town, ask if they can arrange a drop-off.

If you're coming from the mainland — say, from Can Tho or Rach Gia — the fastest route is a Superdong ferry from Ha Tien or Rach Gia to Phu Quoc (about 1-2.5 hours depending on departure point), then overland to the south.

What to do

Swimming and snorkeling

The beach itself is the main draw. Bring your own mask and snorkel — there's some coral near the rocky edges on the eastern end of the crescent. Don't expect a reef system, but you'll see small tropical fish and the occasional sea urchin (watch your feet).

Walk to Bai Sao

Bai Sao, the more famous postcard beach, is only 4 km northeast along the coast road. You can motorbike between the two in 10 minutes and compare — Bai Sao has more food stalls and swing-photo setups; Bai Khem has more quiet.

Visit the fishing villages

An Thoi town, the island's southern port, is 5 km away. The harbor there is working, not touristic — squid boats, ice trucks, the smell of fish sauce fermenting in wooden barrels. Early morning (5:30-6:30 AM) is best for watching the catch come in.

Island hopping

An Thoi port is also the departure point for boat trips to the southern island cluster (Hon Thom, Hon Mong Tay, Hon May Rut). Half-day snorkeling trips run 300,000-500,000 VND per person with lunch included. Book the night before at any tour desk in Duong Dong or directly at the port.

Where to eat

Bai Khem itself has limited independent dining — the beach is dominated by one large resort. For food with more character:

• An Thoi market (5 km north): "Hu tieu" soup for breakfast, around 35,000 VND. The pork-and-shrimp version here uses a sweeter broth than the Saigon style.
• Seafood shacks along the road to Bai Sao: Grilled "goi cuon (고이꾸온 / 越南春卷 / ゴイクオン)" with shrimp, clams in tamarind sauce, fried squid. Budget 150,000-250,000 VND per person for a full seafood meal with rice and beer.
• Duong Dong night market (25 km north): Worth the ride if you want variety. Grilled scallops, "banh canh (반깐 / 粗米粉汤 / バインカイン)" crab noodles, and Phu Quoc's signature "bun quay" — a DIY fish noodle soup you assemble at the table.

For vietnamese coffee (베트남 커피 / 越南咖啡 / ベトナムコーヒー), there's a small cafe about 1 km before the beach turnoff that does decent "ca phe sua da" and has hammocks. No English sign — look for the yellow house with a rooster mural.

Photo by Quang Vuong on Pexels

Where to stay

High-end: The main resort property on the beach charges from 4,000,000 VND/night in peak season. It's polished, with a private beach section and pool.

Mid-range: There's almost nothing directly at Bai Khem in this bracket. Your best bet is staying in the Bai Sao or An Thoi area (3-5 km away) where guesthouses and smaller hotels run 600,000-1,200,000 VND/night.

Budget: Duong Dong town has hostels from 200,000 VND/night, but you'll spend 30 minutes each way to the beach. Fine if you have a motorbike and want nightlife access.

Practical tips

• Bring reef-safe sunscreen. There's no shop at the beach selling it.
• Cash is safer than cards down here. The nearest ATM is in An Thoi town.
• Mobile signal (Viettel, Mobifone) is decent but not fast — don't count on streaming.
• If you're visiting Phu Quoc as a side trip from the Mekong Delta (메콩 델타 / 湄公河三角洲 / メコンデルタ), combine it with a night in Ha Tien, which has its own quiet-coast appeal and good "banh canh" crab soup.

Common mistakes

• Coming only for the afternoon. Morning light (7-9 AM) is when the water is glassiest and the beach is empty. By midday the resort guests are out.
• Not bringing water. There's one small kiosk near the parking area. If it's closed, you're stuck.
• Expecting a party scene. Bai Khem is not Long Beach. There are no beach bars, no fire shows, no backpacker crowd. That's the point — but if you want energy, head back to Duong Dong after dark.
• Skipping An Thoi. Most visitors drive straight to the beach and back. The fishing port is five minutes away and gives you actual local texture that the resort beach doesn't.