If you are considering which beach to stay at in Phu Quoc, you might be wondering about Sao Beach or Khem Beach. Let Lily’s Travel help you choose. Sao Beach offers a lively atmosphere and stunning natural beauty, while Khem Beach serves as an ideal destination for those seeking peace and luxury resorts.
Introduction – Sao Beach vs Khem Beach in Phu Quoc
Sao Beach is located in the South of Phu Quoc, in the An Thoi area. This is one of the most famous and beautiful beaches on the island, considered a “tropical paradise” with powdery white sand, turquoise seawater, and tall coconut trees reflecting their shadows. Sao Beach has a gentle coastline, very safe for swimming and playing. This area is quite bustling, with many tourist services such as diving to see coral, kayaking, canoeing, floating houses on the sea, and many restaurants along the shore serving fresh seafood. However, due to its popularity, during the peak season, Sao Beach is often more crowded and vibrant.
Sao Beach or Khem Beach are also located in the South of Phu Quoc and are more convenient when they are not far from each other. Even then, each beach has an entirely different beauty. This beach has a soft arc shape and is located between two green forest slopes, creating a more pristine, peaceful, and private feel. The seawater here is clear, the sand is white and smooth and there are few waves, making it very suitable for relaxation. Khem Beach is renowned for its luxury resorts along with high-class seafood restaurants.
Choosing between Sao Beach or Khem Beach always presents a difficult decision regarding which beach is the best to stay at. But if you like the bright beauty with the open space for sea entertainment activities, Sao Beach is the better choice. Meanwhile, Khem Beach is more suitable for a luxurious, quiet place to rest, relax, and enjoy the fresh sea air.
Read more: Sao Beach Phu Quoc: The untouched splendor you’ll never want to skip
Activities and experiences
In Sao Beach, you can participate in many fun and exploratory sea activities. The seawater is calm and the shore is gently sloping, so swimming here is very safe and comfortable. Sao Beach is also an ideal place for snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, or playing on a floating house on the sea—games that are loved by many families and groups of young people.
In addition, along the coast, there are many shore restaurants, sun loungers and hammocks under coconut trees, creating a relaxing but still vibrant feeling. Some areas near the beach also have jet ski rental or flycam photography services. Therefore, Sao Beach is suitable for visitors who like dynamic experiences, like taking pictures and having fun all day at the beach.
On the contrary, Khem Beach aims for a high-class resort style and more gentle experiences. The sea here is quiet, with few waves, suitable for relaxing swimming, walking along the sand, or watching the sunrise and sunset in a private space.
Visitors can take photos and check-in at beautiful natural corners such as rocky cliffs, coastal forests or the premises of luxury resorts such as JW Marriott Emerald Bay. With the advantage of clean sea and close proximity to fishing villages, the experience of enjoying fresh seafood, especially herring salad, is also a highlight not to be missed. In addition, some resorts here also organize activities such as yoga on the sea, SUP rowing, cycling along the coast, or private picnics, bringing a feeling of relaxation and luxury.
Sao Beach or Khem Beach is suitable for staying, depending on your purposes. If you like exercising, having fun, and immersing yourself in the vibrant seascape, Sao Beach is the best choice. Khem Beach is ideal for those seeking peace, relaxation, and exquisite experiences that blend wild nature with modern amenities.
Read more: Khem Beach: The resort paradise in Phu Quoc
Accommodation and facilities
In terms of accommodation and facilities, Sao Beach or Khem Beach also represent two different tourism styles: one is popular and vibrant and the other is luxurious, classy and quieter.
In Bai Sao, the accommodation options are mainly mid-range hotels, homestays and beachside motels, which are suitable for tourists who want reasonable prices or travel in large groups. Some resorts near the beach have lovely sea views, making it convenient to walk there to swim or eat. The services here are relatively complete. There are seafood restaurants, cafes, changing areas, freshwater showers, sun loungers for rent, or island tours.
However, the Sao Beach area hasn’t been planned all at once, and it gets a lot of tourists, so occasionally the public facilities and other infrastructure aren’t perfect. The good news is that travelers can readily locate places to stay near the beach that are affordable and can be booked for short stays.
On the contrary, Khem Beach is a high-end resort development area invested in by large corporations. There are many resorts and 5-star hotels here, most notably JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, along with villas and private resorts with swimming pools and private beaches. Visitors in this area can enjoy a full range of services: a spa, luxury restaurant, outdoor bar, gym, entertainment area, shuttle service, and international standard amenities.
Thanks to professional management, the space in Khem Beach is always clean, quiet, and has a feeling of absolute privacy. However, the cost of accommodation here is much higher than Sao Beach, aimed at groups of tourists who want a high-end experience and a real resort.
So, if you travel to Phu Quoc with friends or family, choose Sao Beach to save money and still have basic amenities. Meanwhile, Khem Beach is an ideal choice for special occasions, with lovers and newlyweds looking for luxury, privacy, and classy service.
Dining options and local food
In terms of food and dining experiences, Khem Beach or Sao Beach both have their strengths, but the service style and dining atmosphere in the two places are completely unique. Each variety reflects the true nature of each beach: Sao Beach is vibrant, popular, and closed, while Bai Khem is luxurious, sophisticated, and quiet.
In Sao Beach, you can easily find many coastal restaurants serving fresh seafood at reasonable prices. Popular menus include steamed crab, grilled squid, grilled fish, grilled clams with scallion oil, steamed shrimp, sea urchin porridge, or herring salad – a specialty of Phu Quoc. The dining space here is often simple; many restaurants are built right on the sand, with wooden or plastic tables and chairs, allowing you to eat while watching the sea and listening to the waves.
The atmosphere is friendly and comfortable to enjoy fresh, local seafood without being too fussy. In addition, visitors can easily buy fresh seafood at the nearby An Thoi market to take home to cook or give as gifts.
In Khem Beach, the culinary style is more upscale and sophisticated. Because this area is home to many luxury resorts and hotels, the restaurants here are often designed to international standards, serving a diverse menu from high-class Vietnamese dishes to modern European-Asian cuisine. In particular, the most prominent is Khem Beach herring salad, which is considered the best in Phu Quoc thanks to its unique preparation and fresh ingredients.
In addition, many restaurants here focus on the spatial experience. For example, outdoor dining, barbecue parties on the beach, or dining by the pool with sparkling lights. Some resorts, such as JW Marriott Emerald Bay, also have a chain of luxury restaurants, such as Tempus Fugit, Pink Pearl, and Red Rum, that serve exquisite dishes, high-class wines, and cocktails.
Best time to visit
The best time to travel to Sao Beach and Khem Beach is from November to April of the following year, when Phu Quoc enters the dry season. At this time, the weather is mildly sunny, the sea is calm, and the water is clear and turquoise, making it ideal for swimming, taking photos, and participating in activities such as diving, kayaking, or canoeing. This month is also the peak tourist season, so the atmosphere is vibrant; however, visitors should book rooms early if they want to stay at the resorts in Bai Khem.
From May to October is the rainy season, but the South of the island, where these two beaches are located often has few big waves; you can still swim and relax if you choose the right sunny day. The advantage of this period is low cost and quiet space, suitable for those who want to avoid crowds. However, you should limit your trips to days of heavy rain or rough seas to ensure safety and have the best experience.
Travel tips for choosing between Sao Beach and Khem Beach
Here are some useful travel tips that Lily’s Travel suggests for you when coming to Sao Beach or Khem Beach to have the most complete experience:
- Time and transportation
- You should go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the harsh sunlight and take the best photos.
- From Duong Dong Center, you can rent a motorcycle or take a taxi for about 30–40 minutes to arrive there. Renting a private vehicle for the day will allow you to visit both beaches if you want greater convenience.
- Clothing and equipment
- Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and slippers.
- Please ensure you have a spare charger, a waterproof bag for your phone, and some cash, as some small restaurants may not accept electronic payments.
- Food and drink
- In Sao Beach, you should try the seafood restaurants along the coast—fresh, delicious and reasonably priced.
- In Khem Beach, you can enjoy herring salad or dine in the restaurants of high-end resorts if you want a luxurious experience.
- Small note
- You should take your trash home or dispose of it properly, because this area is still quite natural.
- If you go during the rainy season (May-October), you should verify the weather forecast in advance to avoid rough sea days.
FAQs about Sao Beach or Khem Beach
Despite the detailed explanation, Lily’s Travel still receives some questions from customers.
Can I visit both in one day?
You can swim at both Sao Beach or Khem Beach in the same day. It’s easy to get to both because they are just 5–6 kilometers away. For example, you could swim or snorkel at Sao Beach in the morning and then rest at Khem Beach in the afternoon.
Which beach is better for snorkeling?
Between Sao Beach or Khem Beach, Sao Beach is better for diving, especially snorkeling. Its clear, shallow water and gentle sandbank make it ideal for beginners. Nearby, the An Thoi archipelago offers vibrant coral reefs and excellent visibility of 5–10 meters, with many tours combining snorkeling and canoeing. In contrast, Khem Beach suits swimming and relaxation more, as most diving here requires booking through resorts or private tours, focusing on exclusivity and tranquility.
Is Khem Beach or Sao Beach suitable for adventure activities?
Sao Beach is more suitable for adventure activities. The water here is clear and has a moderate depth, ideal for snorkeling, canoeing or participating in water sports. Nearby is the An Thoi archipelago – a famous destination for snorkeling tours to explore coral and colorful sea fish. Khem Beach, on the other hand, primarily caters to those seeking a tranquil environment and a luxurious resort.
