Phu Quoc restaurant sparks controversy over $2 beach access fee
Tourists at Bai Sao beach on Phu Quoc Island on Dec. 30, 2025. Photo by Chez Dugong restaurant
A restaurant on Phu Quoc Island has sparked public debate after introducing a fee for access to Bai Sao Beach, which had previously been free.
Chez Dugong restaurant, which had long allowed visitors to pass through its premises to reach Bai Sao Beach at no charge, began collecting an entrance fee of VND60,000 (US$2.28) per person on Dec. 23.
The move has drawn mixed reactions from both domestic and international tourists.
On Dec. 28, tourist Hoang Minh said he was required to pay the fee at the restaurant’s gate in order to reach a coffee shop along the beach.
Several foreign visitors also complained about being charged to enter the restaurant area that leads to the beach.
In response, Phu Quoc authorities have requested a review to clarify the tourists’ complaints.
Anh Thu, a representative of Chez Dugong, said the charge covers services such as showers, which previously cost VND20,000 per use, and free access to restrooms.
The fee is also issued as a voucher that can be deducted from food and beverage bills at the restaurant’s bar, where prices range from about VND130,000 to VND320,000 per item.
At present, visitors can reach Bai Sao Beach via three main routes: one through Chez Dugong’s property; another by parking at the forest edge and walking a considerable distance past the My Lan restaurant; and a third route through the Paradiso restaurant, which charges an access fee of VND100,000.
Thu said the introduction of the fee is intended to improve management, protect property, and control the flow of visitors.
She added that before 2019, when tourism in Phu Quoc was still limited, locals and a small number of visitors typically accessed Bai Sao Beach via the My Lan restaurant's route, parking their vehicles at the forest edge.
In 2019, the owner of Chez Dugong opened an additional access road across its land.
The road is about 400 meters long and 10 meters wide.
The road and surrounding area were cleaned, and parking and shower facilities were installed, making the route a convenient and familiar access point to Bai Sao Beach for both locals and tourists from 2023 onward.
During the period of free entry, the restaurant reportedly received up to 2,000 visitors a day.
Thu said many visitors used the facilities for check-ins or restrooms without purchasing any services, creating operational difficulties, particularly when large groups arrived.
"Charging an entrance fee to protect the landscape is not a new practice for businesses," Thu said, stressing that the VND60,000 fee is also intended to encourage spending.
She also cited rising operating costs and staff shortages on Phu Quoc Island, which have forced the restaurant to hire additional workers to clean the beach and repair its facilities to better serve customers.
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A cover charge sign is placed at Chez Dugong restaurant in Phu Quoc Island. Photo courtesy of Chez Dugong restaurant
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Thu acknowledged that the restaurant's sign about cover charge may have caused misunderstandings.
She said staff are now stationed at the entrance to explain the nature of the fee in order to avoid negative reactions from tourists.
After Minh shared his experience on social media, many commenters said the fee was reasonable since it can be deducted directly from food and drink bills.
Others, however, argued that the charge could negatively affect the overall tourist experience.
Phu Quoc is predicted to become a booming destination during the New Year holiday, with 99% of hotel rooms already sold out, and many hotel agents refusing last-minute bookings.
For the whole year the island is estimated to receive 8.1 million tourists including 1.8 million foreigners.
