The sea temperature at Phú Quốc (Sao Beach) today is 29.3 °C (85 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 29.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 30.1 °C to 29.3 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 28 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.5°C / 81.4°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F | 28.7°C / 83.7°F |
| February | 27.9°C / 82.2°F | 28.5°C / 83.3°F | 29.2°C / 84.6°F |
| March | 28.7°C / 83.7°F | 29.3°C / 84.8°F | 29.7°C / 85.5°F |
| April | 30.1°C / 86.2°F | 30.4°C / 86.8°F | 31.0°C / 87.8°F |
| May | 30.3°C / 86.5°F | 30.8°C / 87.5°F | 31.3°C / 88.4°F |
| June | 29.6°C / 85.3°F | 29.9°C / 85.8°F | 30.3°C / 86.5°F |
| July | 29.2°C / 84.5°F | 29.5°C / 85.0°F | 29.7°C / 85.4°F |
| August | 29.0°C / 84.2°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F | 29.7°C / 85.4°F |
| September | 28.9°C / 83.9°F | 29.0°C / 84.2°F | 29.2°C / 84.5°F |
| October | 29.1°C / 84.3°F | 29.5°C / 85.1°F | 29.9°C / 85.8°F |
| November | 28.9°C / 84.0°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F | 29.7°C / 85.4°F |
| December | 27.9°C / 82.2°F | 28.4°C / 83.0°F | 28.9°C / 84.1°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 26.7°C / 80.1°F | 27.3°C / 81.2°F |
| February | 26.5°C / 79.6°F | 27.1°C / 80.7°F | 27.7°C / 81.8°F |
| March | 27.1°C / 80.7°F | 27.6°C / 81.8°F | 28.2°C / 82.7°F |
| April | 27.9°C / 82.2°F | 28.4°C / 83.2°F | 28.8°C / 83.9°F |
| May | 28.1°C / 82.5°F | 28.5°C / 83.3°F | 28.7°C / 83.7°F |
| June | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 28.2°C / 82.7°F | 28.2°C / 82.7°F |
| July | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 27.8°C / 82.0°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F |
| August | 27.2°C / 80.9°F | 27.6°C / 81.7°F | 27.6°C / 81.7°F |
| September | 26.9°C / 80.5°F | 27.3°C / 81.2°F | 27.3°C / 81.2°F |
| October | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 27.4°C / 81.3°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F |
| November | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 27.4°C / 81.2°F | 27.9°C / 82.3°F |
| December | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.1°C / 80.9°F | 27.9°C / 82.1°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Sao Beach holidays
Along the south-east coast of Phú Quốc, Vietnam's largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand, Sao Beach (Bãi Sao in Vietnamese) curves in a long arc of fine white sand. Palm trees and a few beach restaurants line the shore, a short drive north of the port town of An Thới, and the island's resorts and towns are all within easy reach by road.
Beaches
Sao Beach slopes gently into calm, clear water that stays shallow for a long way out, which suits families with children; restaurants rent sun loungers and kayaks. Because the beach faces east, it is often calmer than the west coast during the south-west monsoon, from about May to October, while the north-east winds of the dry season can bring some waves. Khem Beach, just to the south, is a quieter cove backed by resorts, and Long Beach, Bãi Trường, runs for kilometres down the west coast from Dương Đông, with sunsets over the sea.
Things to do
From An Thới, the Hòn Thơm cable car crosses the sea to Hòn Thơm island, with its water park and beaches, over the islands of the An Thới archipelago; boat trips visit the same islands for snorkelling on coral reefs. The Phú Quốc Prison historic site, near An Thới, recalls the prisoners held at the prison during the Indochina and Vietnam wars. Dương Đông, the main town, has the Dinh Cậu shrine on a rock at the river mouth, a night market and traditional fish sauce factories, and pepper farms dot the countryside.
Weather and best time to visit
At Sao Beach the sea stays above 28 °C / 82 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Phú Quốc is warm all year. The dry season usually runs from about November to April, with the most sunshine from December to March, and the rainy season from about May to October, when showers are frequent. Weekends and Vietnamese holidays, including Tết, the Lunar New Year, bring crowds to Sao Beach.
Hotels and where to stay
There are only a few places to stay on Sao Beach itself; the neighbouring Khem Beach has large resorts, and most visitors stay in Dương Đông or along Long Beach and drive over by taxi or scooter.
Signature hotels: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa (Bãi Khem, An Thới) · New World Phu Quoc Resort (Bãi Khem, An Thới)
Airport and getting there
Phú Quốc International Airport (PQC), south of Dương Đông, is about 20 km from Sao Beach, roughly 30 minutes by car depending on traffic. It has frequent flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and direct international flights from several Asian cities. Fast boats also link Phú Quốc with Rạch Giá and Hà Tiên on the mainland. Phú Quốc has its own visa-exemption rules for some international arrivals, so check current entry requirements before travelling.