Long Beach — Bai Truong in Vietnamese — is the 20 km strip of west-coast beach that most visitors to Phu Quoc never leave. It runs from the Dinh Cau rock temple at the northern edge of Duong Dong town all the way south to the airport, and it is where the island’s best sunsets happen, where the hotels cluster, and where the main food and nightlife scene operates.
It is not the prettiest beach on the island — Bai Sao’s powder-white sand in the south takes that — but it is the most useful one: your accommodation is probably on or near it, you can walk between bars and restaurants without a scooter, and it faces due west, which means the sun drops straight into the Gulf of Thailand from your beach chair.
The short version
- 20 km of west-facing beach; calm, swimmable water from November to April
- Sand is golden-brown, not white — Bai Sao does the white-sand postcard; Long Beach does the sunset and the infrastructure
- Sunset Sanato Beach Club is the main event; entry around 100,000 ₫, arrive by 5pm for a front-row seat
- Restaurant mains along Tran Hung Dao Street: 100,000–400,000 ₫; fresh seafood at the night market from about 200,000 ₫ per dish
- GrabCar from the airport costs 150,000–200,000 ₫ (10–15 minutes); from Duong Dong town to mid-beach around 50,000–80,000 ₫
- Accommodation covers everything from 300,000 ₫ guesthouses in town to 10,000,000 ₫+ resort suites on the sand
- Rainy season (May–October): afternoon showers and occasional rough seas; prices drop 30–50%
Layout
Long Beach runs roughly south from Dinh Cau cape for about 20 km, with the airport sitting near its southern end (Khoe Tau Ru being the official southern point). Tran Hung Dao Street is the main road running parallel behind it — hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and scooter rental shops line this road or sit between it and the sand.
The northern section — the first 5–8 km south of Duong Dong town — is the densest. Most restaurants, the most bars, mid-budget accommodation, and the highest foot traffic all cluster here. The further south you go, the quieter it gets. From about 10 km south of town, the beach widens and development becomes more resort-focused. The final stretch near the airport is almost entirely high-end resort territory with near-empty public sections.
The beach itself is not privately owned, but practical access varies. The northern section is straightforward — public stretches between the beach bars. Further south, resort frontage, private sun-lounger setups, and construction in places make access more patchwork. The northern public sections are the most lively, and the easiest to simply walk onto.
The sand and the water
The sand at Long Beach is golden-brown to pale gold — fine enough, comfortable underfoot, and not the gritty grey of some mainland beaches. But after you visit Bai Sao, you notice the difference. That is the trade-off: Long Beach has everything else; Bai Sao has better sand but almost nothing else.
The water is calm and clear from November through April, with gradual depth — comfortable family entry. Long Beach is a swimming beach, not a snorkelling one; for underwater visibility go to the An Thoi islands in the south. From May onwards, the southwest monsoon brings rougher conditions: occasional swells, reduced visibility, and some murky days. Swimming is still possible through the wet season but less consistent; the best mornings are fine, the worst afternoons are not worth it.
Water temperature sits at around 27–29°C through the dry season. The Gulf of Thailand is warmer and generally calmer than the South China Sea.
The sunset
Long Beach faces due west, which makes every clear-sky evening a proper event. The sun drops into the Gulf of Thailand from around 5:30–6:30pm depending on the season — earlier in December, later in June. The entire beach migrates to the waterline in the late afternoon for this.
Sunset Sanato Beach Club is the main venue, about 5 km south of Dinh Cau. It is the most photographed spot on the island: art installations (a swing over the water, a gate arch, a ladder-to-heaven frame), beachfront bar seating, and the sunset as the centrepiece. Entry is around 100,000 ₫ per person (this covers access to the beach area and the art installations; food and drinks are charged separately). Food mains run 150,000–300,000 ₫; cocktails 80,000–130,000 ₫; cold Saigon beers from 50,000 ₫. Arrive by 4:30–5pm — the front-row seats go quickly.
For the same view without the entry fee: any public stretch of beach north or south of Sanato delivers the identical westward sunset. Local shacks along the northern section sell beer from 40,000–60,000 ₫ and put out plastic chairs by 4pm. The INK 360 rooftop bar at the InterContinental is a smarter alternative if you want a proper bar experience — cocktails from 250,000 ₫, with an elevated view that clears most of the beach-level clutter. Check with the hotel on current non-guest access during sunset hours, as policies vary by season.
Food and drinking
The main concentration of restaurants runs along Tran Hung Dao Street in the northern section. The range covers Vietnamese pho and com tam shops opening from 6am (50,000–100,000 ₫ a bowl), seafood restaurants with live tanks out front (200,000–600,000 ₫ per dish depending on weight and species), and Western and international options throughout the mid-budget range.
For fresh seafood, the Dinh Cau Night Market in Duong Dong — at the northern end of the Long Beach corridor — operates from around 5pm daily. Grilled prawns, squid, clams, and whole fish come off charcoal grills at a strip of stalls — prices are by weight, so confirm the cost before you order. Count on 200,000–400,000 ₫ for a solid seafood dinner for two including rice and a couple of drinks. The Phu Quoc food guide covers the full island picture.
Beach bars along the northern section stay open until midnight or beyond in peak season. Beers run 60,000–90,000 ₫ at most of them. OCSEN Beach Bar, about 3 km south of Dinh Cau, has the most consistent following among the free-entry options — orange sun loungers, cold drinks, and an unobstructed beach view without the Sanato crowd. Cocktails on the casual end run 120,000–180,000 ₫; the more upmarket hotel bars start higher.
Activities
Watersports operators are thick on the northern section in peak season. Jet ski hire: 600,000–800,000 ₫ for 30 minutes (prices are posted but negotiable in the shoulder months). Kayak hire: 100,000–200,000 ₫ per hour. Parasailing runs 350,000–500,000 ₫ for a single pass. Stand-up paddleboards can be rented through several resorts to non-guests at 150,000–250,000 ₫ per hour — the calm dry-season conditions make this genuinely accessible for beginners.
For anything further offshore — snorkelling the southern islands, speedboat island hopping, or diving — trips depart from An Thoi pier at the south of the island rather than from Long Beach itself. The An Thoi cable car and islands guide covers what the southern cluster offers.
Getting there
From Phu Quoc International Airport: The airport sits at the southern end of Long Beach — some resort rooms face the runway. A GrabCar to mid-Long Beach takes 10–15 minutes and costs 150,000–200,000 ₫. Metered taxis at the airport (Mai Linh and Vinasun are the reliable operators) run 200,000–300,000 ₫ for the same trip. Hotel private transfers are typically 250,000–350,000 ₫ — convenient, not good value.
From Duong Dong town: If you are already in Duong Dong and heading south along the beach, a Grab runs 50,000–80,000 ₫ to the mid-section. A scooter rental at 150,000–200,000 ₫ per day is the most practical option for the whole trip — Long Beach is 20 km long, and the difference between the northern bars and a southern resort is a meaningful ride. Full options are in the getting around Phu Quoc guide.
Where to stay
Long Beach holds roughly half of the island’s hotel inventory, covering every budget tier. The key decision is which section of the beach suits you — see the Duong Dong vs Long Beach guide for the zone-by-zone breakdown.
On price: budget guesthouses in and around Duong Dong town run 300,000–700,000 ₫ per night for a clean room with air-con and Wi-Fi. Independent mid-range resorts with a pool and direct beach access sit at 1,200,000–2,500,000 ₫. International-brand and boutique properties on private beach stretches start around 2,800,000 ₫ and rise well above 10,000,000 ₫ for villa categories at the top end.
The best mid-range value right now is in the 8–12 km south-of-town zone: less noise than the northern end, direct beach access, resort-quality rooms for US$60–100 per night in mid-season. December–February peak rates are typically 40–60% above that, and the better rooms sell out months in advance.
For a full breakdown of which properties actually sit on the sand versus nearby, the Phu Quoc beachfront hotels guide has the detail.
Best time to visit
November to April is the reliable window: 28–33°C days, manageable humidity, calm water across the full beach length. January and February are the peak months, with international and domestic visitors at their highest volume. Book the better rooms 2–3 months ahead for this period.
March and April hit a sweet spot — still dry, water still calm, noticeably fewer people, and prices beginning to soften from the February peak.
May through October is the southwest monsoon. Rain typically arrives in the afternoon; mornings are usually clear. The sea gets rough enough on the worst days to make swimming unpleasant, and some beach bars reduce their hours. Prices drop 30–50% versus peak, which makes it a real option if you are price-sensitive and flexible on conditions. The full seasonal picture is in the best time to visit Phu Quoc guide.
FAQ
How long is Long Beach Phu Quoc? Long Beach (Bai Truong) stretches approximately 20 km along the western coast of Phu Quoc, from Dinh Cau cape in the north to the airport road in the south.
Is Long Beach the best beach in Phu Quoc? For sunsets, infrastructure, and accommodation choice, yes. For sand quality, Bai Sao in the south is significantly better. For quiet, Ong Lang to the north has fewer crowds. Long Beach wins on convenience.
How far is Long Beach from Phu Quoc airport? The airport sits at the southern end of Long Beach — 5 to 15 minutes by car depending on where you are staying. A GrabCar to the mid-section of the beach costs 150,000–200,000 ₫.
Is Sunset Sanato Beach Club worth the entry fee? For the setting and photos, yes — at least once. The 100,000 ₫ entry covers access to the beach and art installations; food and drinks are charged separately on top. If you have already been or just want a quiet sunset beer, the public beach gives you the same westward view for free.
Can you swim at Long Beach? Yes, reliably from November to April. Water is calm, clear, and around 27–29°C. From May through October it can get rough and murky on bad days — swimming is possible but inconsistent.
Is Long Beach walkable? The northern 3–4 km near Duong Dong town is walkable: restaurants, bars, and beach access are all close together. Anywhere south of that, you need a scooter or Grab; 20 km of beach in 33-degree heat is not a walking proposition.
