Bai Truong (Long Beach)

Bãi Trường, often called Long Beach, isn't a single beach but the name for a long stretch of Phú Quốc's west coast, running about 20 km from the Dương Đông area south towards An Thới. The name simply means 'long beach', and it's often described as the longest on the island. It's also Phú Quốc's busiest tourism strip: Trần Hưng Đạo street runs behind it, lined with hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars, from simple guesthouses to big international resorts.

What everyone comes for is the sunset. Facing due west with nothing blocking the view, the beach is one of the best places on Phú Quốc to watch the sun drop into the sea, turning the sky orange, purple and gold. Many visitors rank its sunsets as the best on the island. The water is usually less clear than at Bãi Sao or Bãi Khem in the south, but the wide beach and relaxed late-afternoon atmosphere win many people over.

Bãi Trường is close to Phú Quốc International Airport - the nearest stretches are only a few kilometres away - so a taxi or motorbike taxi from the airport takes just minutes. If you arrive by fast boat from the mainland, you'll dock at Bãi Vòng port on the east coast; from there, take a taxi or rent a motorbike and cross the island to Trần Hưng Đạo street.

Many hotels and resorts have their own paths to the sand, and there are public access points along the road where you can ride a motorbike almost to the beach.

Expect a long sweep of sand fringed by coconut palms, with grey rocks here and there and beach bars playing chill music. The area has become much busier in recent years, with many Russian visitors.

Things to Do

• Sunset watching: the main event. Find a spot on the sand or at a beach bar around 5:30 PM and watch the sun sink straight into the sea.
• Swimming: best in the late afternoon on calm days. Check the waves first - on windy days they get big and currents can be strong.
• Kayaking and paddleboarding: rent on the beach and paddle along the shore, ideally when the sea is calm.
• Surfing: possible on days when the waves pick up.
• Parasailing and banana boats: offered by water-sports operators along the busier, resort-lined stretches. Agree on price and duration first.
• Beach massage: many visitors recommend a massage on the sand while the sun goes down.
• Fire shows: some beach bars put on fire-dancing shows in the evening.
• Seafood and drinks: eat at restaurants right by the water, or try cheap street snacks like fried fish balls.
• Night market: after sunset, head to the Phú Quốc Night Market for dinner and shopping.

Experiences vary widely, so set your expectations. Some visitors find the water clean with small waves; others report big waves, strong currents, a steeply shelving beach and murky water when the waves stir up the sand. Some stretches are tidy, while elsewhere litter and a lack of bins spoil the view - and a few visitors were badly disappointed by rubbish. In the rainy season, the beach can be wonderfully empty between short storms.

Treat Bãi Trường as your late-afternoon and evening base on Phú Quốc: spend the day at clearer beaches in the south, like Bãi Sao or Bãi Khem, or on an island trip, then come back for a swim, a drink and sunset, and stay for dinner and a fire show. Bring sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen, keep valuables to a minimum, and pick your access point carefully - the beach changes a lot from one section to the next.