Tourists shocked as trash swamps Phu Quoc's most famous beaches

On the morning of Jan. 2, Elena, a Russian tourist staying at a villa near Khem Beach, said the shoreline was blanketed with debris, most of it water hyacinth washed ashore by tides. Despite spending around 10 days on the island, she said she had not dared to swim.

Friends had warned her that trash can appear during this season, but she said the scale of pollution was still shocking.

On New Year's Day, Elena saw European tourists joining local residents to clean the beach, yet conditions remained unsuitable for swimming.

"I love this island. The beaches are beautiful, but it is a pity there is so much trash," she said, adding that she would still consider returning in the future.

Juanito, a tourist from the Philippines who visited Khem Beach in late December, described the scene as "very bad, with trash everywhere."

He said staff from nearby resorts were cleaning only the sections of beach directly in front of their properties, while large stretches nearby were left untouched.

Given Khem’s reputation as one of Phu Quoc’s most famous beaches, he called the situation "truly unfortunate" and urged both visitors and locals to be more mindful about protecting the coastline.

Similar conditions have been reported at Sao Beach.

On the morning of Jan. 2, tourists said thick layers of water hyacinth had piled up along the shore, changing what is normally a postcard-perfect beach into a cleanup zone.

"Instead of sunbathing and enjoying the scenery, I was surrounded by sanitation workers rushing to clear trash," one foreign visitor said.

A representative of Chez Dugong restaurant at Sao Beach said the problem had persisted for three days.

On Jan. 2, the restaurant mobilized nearly all staff to collect debris until evening but still could not keep up. About 70% of the material was water hyacinth and 30% was household waste, the representative said. Cleanup efforts have so far been limited to areas directly in front of businesses, while other parts of Sao Beach remain heavily affected, discouraging swimming.

Local authorities said debris and water hyacinth drifting from the mainland is a recurring seasonal phenomenon.

According to Phu Quoc’s Department of Agriculture and Environment, water hyacinth is often carried from rivers and canals out to sea by currents, then pushed ashore by tides, especially after the rainy and flood season. Officials said they are aware of the situation and are working on cleanup measures.

The scenes contrast sharply with Phu Quoc’s growing international reputation. In October 2025, travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler named the island the most beautiful in Asia with a score of 95.51 out of 100, ranking it third globally.

Sao and Khem have long been regarded as the island’s two most beautiful beaches, making the current situation all the more jarring for visitors arriving in peak travel season.