Bai Dai, set on the north-west coast of Phu Quoc, is 26km by road (motorbike only) from Duong Dong, and it takes about 30 minutes to get here by boat.
This long, long stretch of fine sand beach with turquoise water lapping at the exposed roots of casuarina trees, has for many years been one of my favourite beaches in Vietnam. IDai Beach has yet to see any development save for a handful of seafood shacks dotted on the grass under the shade of large tropical trees. A red dirt road runs along its entire length, with sandy tracks leading to countless secluded swimming spots. nting the tranquil Gulf of Thailand, the sea here is generally calm (outside of monsoon season) and there are none of the wild and choppy swells of the South China Sea. The water here is crystal clear, the sand virgin yellow/white, and there are coral islands only 10 minutes by canoe from the shore. Heading up the coast here from Duong Dong, look out for the anchovies and squid drying on racks on the side of the road. The anchovies are used to make nuoc mam, Phu Quoc’s most famous (and pungent) product. Just offshore rises Turtle Island (Doi Moi), a snorkeler’s delight with coral reefs and tropical fish galore. Look at it from the shore and decide if it really looks like a turtle.
There’s currently no accommodation here, but at my last visit (2014) a large section of the beach had been taken over by cranes, trucks and earth movers, clearing the land for a gigantic new resort complex Vinpearl Land and Vinpearl Resort , Grand World . Change is coming to Dai Beach.