Hon Thom by cable car, a water-park day for the family

Day 1 · 08:15

Hotel to Sunset Town

The driver collects you at your hotel. From the Duong Dong and Long Beach area the drive to Sunset Town takes about 20 to 30 minutes by car. Pack swimwear under clothes, a dry change for each child, and a small bag per adult; big bags slow down the cable car gates.

We aim to reach Ga Anh Duong, the cable car station inside Sunset Town, before the first boarding at about 09:30, so you join the queue near the front.

Day 1 · 09:30

Cable car across to Hon Thom

Cabins hold 30 people: 24 seated and 6 standing, so a family usually shares with others. The line runs over Hon Roi and Hon Dua on six towers, and the crossing takes about 15 minutes; the cabin moves a little as it passes each tower. Some small children love it and some dislike the height, so hold younger ones beside you. The cabin has no toilet; take everyone before you queue.

Boarding runs in fixed time slots rather than continuously, so the queue moves in steps.

Day 1 · 09:45

Exotica first, while it is cool

The first coaster runs of the day have the shortest queue

Exotica opens at about 09:30. Older children and adults go straight to the wooden roller coaster, Moc Xa Thinh No: a track of nearly 900 metres, a top height of 32.4 metres and a ride of just over two minutes at up to 80 km/h. The height rule is posted at the ride entrance; we could not find a published figure, so we treat it as a ride for older children only until you see the sign.

Smaller children take the lookout and the gentler rides. The aim is to be done with Exotica before Aquatopia opens at about 10:00 and before the sun is high.

Day 1 · 10:30

Aquatopia in the morning window

Aquatopia covers more than 8 hectares. Lifeguards are posted at the pools, slides and kids' areas. Most slides need riders of about 120 cm and up; children of 106 to 119 cm often have to ride with an adult, and children under 1 metre are kept off some active rides. The kids' areas, such as Kids Splash Zone and Monkey Beach, and the gentle wave pool suit the smallest swimmers.

Life jackets for non-swimmers: the agency guide we used advises bringing them, and does not say the park provides them. If your child needs one, pack one that fits.

Day 1 · 11:45

Lunch and the heat break

From 11:00 to 14:00 the sun is strongest; local beach-safety advice is to stay out of the water and sun in that window. Lunch is either the Mango buffet, open 11:00 to 14:30 with the combo ticket, or a counter meal of your choice. After eating, find a covered seating area and let small children nap in the shade.

Day 1 · 13:45

Second water session or Bai Trao beach

A second round in Aquatopia, which closes at about 16:45, or a swim at Bai Trao beach, which is included in the standard ticket. The island buggy links the zones. Reapply sunscreen; even late afternoon the UV is high.

Day 1 · 15:45

Back across and the Kiss Bridge show

Awaken Sea water show at 17:00 in front of Kiss Bridge

Change, dry off and join the return queue before 16:00. The last return trip runs at about 17:30, and late afternoon is when the station gets busy. Back in Sunset Town the standard ticket includes a Kiss Bridge visit with a drink.

At 17:00 the Awaken Sea jet-ski and flyboard show runs in front of the bridge for about 15 minutes. Sunset over the sea comes between about 17:40 in November and 18:31 in July, so in the dry months you can stay for it and still be at the hotel by 18:30 to 19:00.