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📍 beach · phu quoc

Khem Beach

Khem Beach on Phú Quốc's southeast coast is one of the island's most beautiful beaches - a long arc of fine white sand with clear turquoise water, best visited May-September when the southeast-facing coast is sheltered from the northeast monsoon. The name likely comes from 'kem' (cream) - a nod to the soft, white, cream-like sand underfoot.

🏖️ White Sand Beach🌅 Sunrise Spot🌊 Southeast Coast🧂 Salt History
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Overview

Best Time to Visit
📅 May - Sep (southwest monsoon season; Khem faces southeast so it is sheltered from the southwest wind and the water is at its clearest and calmest during these months)
Entry Fee
🎟️ Free (public beach section). Resort section: sunbeds 100,000-150,000 VND per 4 hours (some free with food/drink purchase).
Opening Hours
🕐 Open 24/7 - best visited early morning for sunrise and before crowds arrive
Address
📌 An Thới, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang

Things to Know

👥Crowds
Large and well-known beach - always busy in peak hours. Arrive before 8 AM for the best experience. Free sunbeds at the resort section are gone by 10 AM.
🥾Difficulty
Flat easy beach access. The road down from An Thới is steep - take care on motorbike.
⚠️Safety
Lifeguards present in the resort section. During northeast monsoon (Nov-Mar) waves can be strong - check conditions before swimming. Some reports of security guards restricting access near resort boundaries.
🚶Accessibility
Easy flat beach access. Paid bathrooms available (10,000 VND). Motorbike parking nearby.
🌤️Seasonal
Critical: Khem faces southeast. Best May-Sep (sheltered from southwest monsoon, calm clear water). Worst Nov-Mar (northeast monsoon brings rough surf, murky water, floating debris). This is the opposite of most Phú Quốc beaches.
ABOUT THIS PLACE

What Makes Khem Beach Special

Khem Beach sits on Phú Quốc's southeastern coast near An Thới, approximately 25km south of Dương Đông. The name's origin is debated - one theory traces it to the Khmer word for salt, as the area was historically used for salt production. The more widely believed explanation is simpler: the sand here is so fine, white, and soft that it feels like cream (kem) underfoot, and the name evolved from that sensation. The beach is a long, gently curving arc of approximately 1.3km of fine white sand with water that runs from pale turquoise in the shallows to deep blue further out, backed by forested hills. Unlike most of Phú Quốc's famous beaches which face west, Khem faces southeast - which means it is sheltered from the southwest winds in summer, but exposed to the northeast monsoon from November to March when conditions deteriorate significantly. Timing the visit correctly is the single most important factor for Khem.

How to Get There

🚗 Getting There

From Dương Đông, head south approximately 25km to An Thới, then follow signs toward Khem Beach - the final descent is steep and requires care on a motorbike. Total journey: 40-45 minutes by motorbike. No public transport serves this route. The beach is a natural stop on a southern Phú Quốc day that also includes Hòn Thơm Cable Car or Bãi Sao Beach.

What to Expect

👀 On the Ground

The beach is approximately 1.3km long and divides into two sections. The northern public end is quieter with no facilities. The southern section has resort infrastructure: sunbeds, beach bar, restaurant, paid bathrooms, and lifeguards. The water is very shallow throughout - chest-deep at 100 metres out - making it safe for children and non-swimmers. In peak summer conditions (May-September), the water is genuinely vivid turquoise and calm, with morning hours the flattest. SUP rental is available. At the far end of the beach, fishing boats moor each morning next to a small local seafood market - the adjacent local restaurant is where Vietnamese visitors eat rather than the resort options. The beach is one of the few on Phú Quốc still free for local residents, which keeps the far end more authentic in character.

Travel Tips

🧳 Tips

The most common mistake at Khem is visiting in the wrong season. Most visitors to Phú Quốc come November-April, which is exactly when Khem is at its worst due to the northeast monsoon hitting the southeast-facing coast directly. If your trip falls in this window, prioritise the west-coast beaches (Bãi Sao, Long Beach) and treat Khem as a secondary stop rather than a highlight. May-September visitors should put Khem near the top of the list. For a full southern Phú Quốc day: Khem Beach in the morning for sunrise and swimming, then Bãi Sao for comparison, then Hòn Thơm Cable Car in the afternoon.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Check the season before prioritising this beach - Nov-Mar visitors should manage expectations or skip it entirely
Bring own food and drinks for the public section - no vendors, and restaurant prices in the resort section are high (250,000+ VND per dish)
At the far end of the beach there is a local restaurant serving fresh seafood at lower prices than the resort section - popular with Vietnamese visitors but no-frills
Khem faces southeast - best for sunrise, no sunset view here
May-September: water is exceptionally clear, calm, and vivid turquoise - the best swimming conditions on the island. Morning hours are the calmest.
November-March: northeast monsoon hits this southeast-facing coast directly - rough surf, murky water, debris washes ashore. Opposite of most Phú Quốc beaches.
June-July is peak Vietnamese domestic tourist season (school summer holidays) - expect noticeably more crowds than other summer months. Vietnamese visitors tend to arrive from 4 PM onward to avoid the midday heat, so mornings are significantly quieter.
The beach is approximately 1.3km long and very shallow - 100 metres out the water is still chest-deep. Lifeguards on duty at all times. Safe for families.
Sand is fine and swept daily - one of the cleaner beaches on the island
SUP (stand-up paddleboard) rental available on the beach
At the far end: a small local seafood market where fishing boats moor each morning. Next to it is a local restaurant serving fresh seafood cheaply - popular with Vietnamese visitors, recommended by locals. One honest downside: flies.
One of the few beaches on Phú Quốc still free for local residents - the local atmosphere at the far end reflects this
Paid bathrooms: 10,000 VND. Towel rental: 20,000 VND. Sunbeds in resort section: 100,000-150,000 VND per 4 hours.
The road down from An Thới is steep - take it slowly on a motorbike

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

Why is Khem Beach best in summer when most Phú Quốc beaches are best in winter?›
Khem faces southeast, so it is sheltered from the southwest monsoon wind (May-September) that affects west-coast beaches. In contrast, the northeast monsoon (November-March) - which brings calm conditions to the west coast - hits Khem directly, causing rough surf, murky water, and debris. Plan accordingly.
Is there a public section or is it all resort?›
The northern end of the beach is public with no facilities. The southern section has resort infrastructure - sunbeds (100,000-150,000 VND per 4 hours, some free with food purchase), paid bathrooms (10,000 VND), towel rental (20,000 VND), and a beach bar. Both sections share the same sand and water quality.
What time should I arrive?›
Before 8 AM for the quietest experience and to secure a free sunbed if you want one. By 10 AM the resort section is significantly more crowded and free sunbeds are taken. Early morning also gives the best sunrise light on this southeast-facing beach.

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