What's on in Phu Quoc, month by month
Plan your dates · The sea
West coast or east coast?
On Phu Quoc the coast you choose matters as much as the month. The southwest monsoon piles waves onto the west; the northeast monsoon reaches the east. Here is how each side behaves, beach by beach, and where the sources disagree.
- Long Beach, from Dinh Cau southward
- ≈20 km
- Bai Dai, from Cua Can to Ganh Dau
- 15 km
- Bai Khem, in a south-east bay
- ≈3.5 km
- Bai Khem's calm months, per locals
- Jun–Sep
Why the coast matters more than the month
Phu Quoc is about 50 km from north to south and its main resort beaches face two different seas. The long west coast, from Ganh Dau in the north down past Duong Dong to Long Beach, looks out over the open Gulf of Thailand towards the sunset. The south-east bays at Bai Sao and Bai Khem, and the fishing coast at Ham Ninh, face the other way. When one side is rough, the other is often calm, so a rainy-season trip can still be a beach trip if you choose the right side.
Two monsoons
Southwest monsoon, roughly May to October. VnExpress names Long Beach, Bai Dai and Ganh Dau as the beaches that take the southwest wind: strong wind, big waves and murky water, not recommended for swimming. Bai Sao and Bai Khem on the south-east are sheltered, with fewer sudden showers and calmer water. A Vietnamese women's paper reported five tourists caught by big waves off Duong Dong on 31 August 2025; all were brought ashore, one needing intensive care. It noted that the west coast often has big waves from April to October.
Northeast monsoon, roughly November to March. The west coast flattens out; this is the classic Long Beach season. The northeast wind reaches the east side and the open water between the island and the mainland. On 20 November 2025 the An Giang weather station forecast northeast gusts of force 7 to 8 and waves of 1.5 to 2.5 m, and fast boats from Rach Gia and Ha Tien to Phu Quoc were halted.
Sources: VnExpress — where to stay in the rainy season; Phu nu & Gia dinh — five tourists rescued, Aug 2025; Tuoi Tre — fast boats halted by northeast wind, Nov 2025 · checked .
The west coast
Long Beach (Bai Truong). The beach that starts at Dinh Cau and runs south along Tran Hung Dao road, broken by rocky points and fishing hamlets. Sources give its length as nearly 20 km or more than 20 km. Many hotels and the Sonasea evening market are along it. Calm in the dry season, rough in the southwest monsoon.
Ong Lang. A west-coast stretch north of Duong Dong. Calm in the dry season; in the southwest monsoon a 2026 guide reports waves, rip currents and jellyfish there.
Cua Can. About 6 km north of Duong Dong, around 3 km long, with informal services.
Bai Dai and Ganh Dau. Bai Dai runs about 15 km from Cua Can to the Ganh Dau headland, and is often confused with Long Beach. Ganh Dau, at the northern tip, is a short curved bay from which Cambodian islands are visible. Grand World and the north-island resorts are here; both beaches take the full southwest wind.
Sources: Tap chi Cong Thuong — Phu Quoc beaches (2020); An Giang Department of Tourism — Long Beach; An Giang Department of Tourism — Cua Can; An Giang Department of Tourism — Bai Dai; VietnamTourism.com — calmest sea by season (guide) · checked .
The east and south-east
Bai Sao. A long crescent of fine white sand in the An Thoi area, shallow and sheltered from the southwest wind. Sources put it about 25 km or about 30 km from Duong Dong, and about 7 km long, though Vietnam Airlines only says 'several kilometres'. Vietnam Airlines recommends November to April; the people VnExpress quoted recommend it in the rainy season. Both can be right: it is usable most of the year, and its advantage is greatest when the west is rough.
Bai Khem. About 3.5 km long, in a closed bay on the south-east, with a gentle slope and shallow water. Local people quoted by VnExpress in 2024 recommend June to September, when the wind there is calm. It faces east, so it is a sunrise beach, not a sunset one.
Ham Ninh. One of the oldest fishing villages, on the east coast at the foot of the Ham Ninh range. It is for seafood and the morning boats rather than swimming. Distances from Duong Dong vary by source: 14–15 km (Vietnam Airlines) or about 20 km (the national tourism authority).
Sources: Vietnam Airlines travel guide — Bai Sao; VnExpress — Bai Kem in summer, Jun 2024; VnExpress — where to stay in the rainy season; An Giang Department of Tourism — Bai Sao; Vietnam Airlines travel guide — Ham Ninh; Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — island seafood · checked .
Which coast, which month
| Months | West coast | South-east (Bai Sao, Bai Khem) |
|---|---|---|
| December – March | Calm, dry, clear sunsets | Usable; breezier on northeast-wind days |
| April | Mostly calm, very hot | Calm |
| May | Waves begin; check daily | Calm |
| June – September | Often rough and murky | Sheltered and calm, but rainy |
| October | Mixed; sources differ | Mixed |
| November | Settling down | Windier as the northeast monsoon starts |
This is our reading of the sources on this page; the same months by rainfall are on Phu Quoc month by month.
Safety on the beach and on boats
On 11 July 2026 a tourist canoe returning from Hon May Rut Ngoai to An Thoi capsized in strong wind and waves; 15 of the 32 tourists on board died. Several operators paused island canoe trips from the next day, and on 14 July the special zone ordered that vessels must be registered, inspected and not overloaded, must carry life jackets and certified crew, and must not leave in bad weather.
- Swim where others swim and where lifeguards are posted; avoid the west coast on red-flag or big-wave days in the southwest monsoon.
- On any boat, wear the life jacket for the whole trip, not just at departure.
- If the crew says the trip is off for weather, take that at face value; it is now what the rules require.
Sources: Viet Nam News — canoe capsized, Jul 2026; VnEconomy — canoe trips paused, Jul 2026; Tuoi Tre — waterway safety directive, Jul 2026 · checked .
When choosing by coast is the wrong approach
- When the wind is from neither side. Storms in the rainy season can bring rain and squalls to the whole island for a day or two.
- When you want sunsets in summer. The calm summer beaches face east; the sunset coast is the rough one.
- When the evenings matter more than the swimming. Choosing Bai Khem in July puts you near Sunset Town and at the far end of the island from Grand World. See Evening shows.
- When you would change hotels mid-trip just for the sea. On a short stay a drive to the other coast, about 45 minutes from Duong Dong to Bai Sao by Vietnam Airlines' estimate, is usually simpler.
Common questions
Questions readers send
Which beach is calm in July?
The south-east bays: Bai Khem and Bai Sao. Long Beach, Bai Dai and Ganh Dau usually have big waves in the southwest monsoon.
Where can I watch the sunset on Phu Quoc?
Anywhere on the west coast: Long Beach, the rocks at Dinh Cau in Duong Dong, Ong Lang, Bai Dai and Ganh Dau. The south-east beaches face the sunrise.
Is Bai Sao good in December?
Sources differ. Vietnam Airlines recommends it from November to April, while the east side can be breezier on strong northeast-wind days. It is usable; the west coast is usually calmer then.
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Month by month
Rain, sea on each coast, holidays and crowds for every month of the year.
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Areas · The south
South and An Thoi
An Thoi, Sunset Town, the Kiss Bridge, Bai Khem and Bai Sao in the evening and by season.
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Areas · The north
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Bai Dai, Ganh Dau, Grand World's show times and the northern sunset coast.
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Areas · West coast
Duong Dong
The main town in the evening: Dinh Cau, the river, the market question and Long Beach.
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Plan your dates · Crowds
Peak dates
Tet, the April–May break, 2 September and year-end: crowds, prices and booking lead times.
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