Tag: theme park

Visiting Sunworld Amusement Park in Vietnam

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to book a stay or purchase an item I may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Sunworld Amusement Park is a very strange (but quite typical for Asian countries) Theme Park. It is noticeably devoid of rides. It is in a crazy location. It is very opulent and extravagant. The entry price is very expensive for Vietnam and its probably not worth it unless you make a full day of the theme park; BUT there are a few worthwhile attractions here such as a very very high cablecar, a stunning bridge called the Golden Hand Bridge, a traditional french village and a few good rides.

The opulence of this place is incredible and they are still building more. The weirdest thing is that there isn’t a huge amount to DO but plenty to wander around and admire.

Top Tips for Visiting Sunworld Amusement Park:

If you decide to visit Sunworld Bana Hills and pay the huge entrance fee its probably to see the Golden Hand Bridge. Don’t get me wrong this place is very impressive but its still a lot of money and time out of your way to visit a bridge that is completely covered in tourists. I recommend making a full day of it (the complex is open from 7:30am until 10pm) as there are many other parts of the complex that are worth seeing while you are there anyway and you can make your day much more relaxed and comfortable by following a good plan. There are also some benefits to staying for a long day which I will go through in the ‘What to Expect’ section below.

Another thing to be aware of is that children under 1 metre enter free but there really isn’t a huge amount for them to do. The main drawcard for kids is the indoor arcade area which has a play area and arcade rides just for young kids. Ideally you want to bring enough adults so you can take turns spending time with the young kids in the arcade and visiting the rest of the park.

Where to stay:

I recommend staying in Da Nang or Hoi An – although it is possible to stay in a hotel in Sunworld itself you are far away from any other activities, stuck paying overpriced prices for food from the restaurants here and you don’t even get your cable car tickets for free. I recommend La An Central Boutique Villa in Hoi An as a good mid-range option and Paris Deli Danang Beach Hotel in Da Nang for something a bit more luxurious. There are tons of other options on Booking.com in both these locations too. Just do Sunworld as a day trip.

Getting there and away:

Sunworld Amusement Park is about 40 minutes drive from Da Nang or 1 hour drive from Hoi An. Da Nang is a major city with a busy airport with flights all over the country and Da Nang Train Station also has trains travelling the length of the country.

Getting around:

The best way to get to Sunworld is to hire a private driver. I suggest making use of a transfer between Hoi An and Da Nang but you can just hire a driver for the day to get there. Although there are plenty of tours available they require you to be back at a certain time and its best to not have a strict deadline while you are here right in the busiest part of the day. We hired Mr. Tim (Private Car with Driver – Watsapp +84 (0) 775 518 084) who we found online to take us from Hoi An back to Da Nang with a stop at Sunworld – he waited for us and continued to Da Nang when we were ready.

Food:

The food is pretty overpriced so make sure you expect to spend a bit of money and maybe take a few snacks in your bag to tide you over until mealtimes. The German Beer Hall is a good central spot to get a drink and a light meal after many of the other restaurants are closed around 6pm.

What to bring:

I suggest bringing a light jacket as it is much cooler up in the mountains. Also as mentioned above pack some extra snacks so you don’t need to stop for food all the time; and take your camera – this is a fascinating place that is worth snapping some memories of.

What to expect:

The complex is open from 7:30am until 10pm so I recommend you arrive as early as possible and stay until evening. BUT many of the eateries and rides etc. close up much earlier than 10pm and/or are closed due to weather and there isn’t really any information provided about this.

Arrive when you can in the morning (the earlier the better as many tourists are not morning people or are relying on tour buses) and making your first stop the Golden Hand Bridge especially as its just off the first cable car (which takes approx. 20 minutes). Then you have seen it once in case things get hectic in the evening – take lots of photos if their aren’t many people and enjoy the views but usually this place is pretty busy. Once you have checked the bridge out I would head straight up the next cable car to the top of the mountain and go on the outdoor rides. As you are so high up the mountain these are often shut down in ANY adverse weather conditions – when we were there it was just a bit of rain so get on these while you can even if the queues are long.

After you have had enough of the outdoor rides you can explore the indoor rides and arcade and the french village and get some lunch at one of the many eateries here. Have a proper sit down lunch as snacks are all that will be available later in the evening.

Here’s the really important bit – all the day-trippers are trying to leave around 5pm so the cable car line becomes out-of-this-world long. Don’t wait in this line – go and have a drink and dinner, spend some more time at the arcade or wander the complex and then try heading down the cable car after 6. The whole hall in the photo below was filled with people waiting in line to go down in the cable car at 5pm.

When you do eventually saunter to the cable car when there is no line, if you have time stop again at the Golden Hand Bridge. It’s really quiet here in the evenings and you are likely to catch the bridge right at sunset for breathtaking views.

Erika xx

Itinerary: 3 days in Hoi An

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to book a stay or purchase an item I may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Hoi An is like Vietnam that has been dressed up and put on a pedestal. Everything is picturesque and traditional and laid out for you in a small area so you don’t need to walk too far. Except for the beach – we didn’t visit the beach here as we decided to have a bit of a beach break in Da Nang instead. Hoi An is where we wandered and soaked up all the beautiful lanterns and lights and culture.

GENERAL INFO

Getting there and away:

Hoi An is only about 1 hours drive from Da Nang Airport. Da Nang airport is a major hub and there are plenty of affordable flights around Vietnam from here particularly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City. Da Nang Train Station also has trains travelling the length of the country.

Getting around:

Once you have reached Da Nang, the easiest way to get into Hoi An is by private car – your hotel in Hoi An will arrange this for you. A transfer very affordable here (even more so than in the rest of the country) so I definitely recommend paying for the convenience in this instance.

If you wanted to visit some attractions outside of Hoi An then you can fit them in as part of a transfer also. We hired Mr. Tim (Private Car with Driver – Watsapp +84 (0) 775 518 084) who we found online to take us from Hoi An back to Da Nang with 2 out of the way stops – he waited for us and continued to Da Nang when we were ready.

Once in Hoi An, you can walk to all of the attractions in the ancient town and this is a great way to see the town as Hoi An is a great place to wander around.

Accommodation:

There are so many nice, affordable hotels all over the ancient town. Do a search on booking.com and you will come up with plenty of viable options. We stayed at La An Central Boutique Villa which was perfect as it was right next to the night market and the river and it had a pool which was very necessary in the sweltering heat.

Food:

Hoi An is a particularly pricey place to eat but there are definitely some great spots if you are prepared to pay a little more than usual!

  • Madam Kieu – We had a lovely drink by the water here. They also played Cocomelon songs for my daughter to keep her entertained while we were here so big ups to the staff.
  • The Soul – This restaurant is attached to a nice hotel. It’s pricey but well located, beautiful and has really tasty traditional Vietnamese dishes.
  • Pho Xua Restaurant – This is one of the few really good budget options in Hoi An – plus its very close to the Fujian Assembly Hall so you can time a visit to this with lunch or dinner. The Pho here is excellent. 35 Phan Chau Trinh Street.

Top Tip:

My top tip for Hoi An is to time your visit for the monthly Lantern festival (although Hoi An is such a drawcard that its pretty festive every night). During the lantern festivals hundred of lanterns are lit and boats are out on the water while people release lanterns into the water. The largest and most spectacular lantern festival is the first one of the new year.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

Get some clothes tailor made

Hoi An is famous for its hundreds of affordable and very capable tailors and they are so fast. You will find tailors everywhere and its a great opportunity to get something custom made. In high season you may need to wait 2-3 days for your clothing to be made so make sure this is the first thing you do. In low season, the tailor we went to produced 2 custom blazers in less than 24 hours.

Visit the Hoi An Night Market

The Night Market is located on An Hoi Islet right in the midst of the action. It opens at 6pm and closes around 10pm and it’s bustling atmosphere is perfect for nighttime when the temperature drops just slightly and you can brave coming out of your hotel. Many of the shops on either side of the market sell lanterns and they are beautifully lit and displayed. If you want to pose for a picture with the lanterns you will have to pay. The vendors here make most of their money charging for photographs rather than selling lanterns but we purchased one of the beautiful silk lanterns to take home as a souvenir.

There are stalls in the middle selling all types of knick-knacks and this is a great place to practice your bargaining. You can also have some local snacks (such as grilled octopus or banana crepes) here as there are a few street food stalls or you can eat at one of the many restaurants or bars in this part of town.

Be wowed by the Fujian Assembly Hall

The Fujian Assembly Hall is one of the most opulent buildings in all of Hoi An and is well worth a look – you can go inside and take a look there is no fee.

Explore the Ancient Town

Walk along the riverside and the streets around the ancient town taking in the atmosphere and doing some shopping in the little stores. Explore the cobbled lanes around the Japanese Covered Bridge and watch the boats in the water of the river.

Visit Sunworld Amusement Park

Sunworld Amusement Park is about 40 minutes drive from Da Nang or 1 hour drive from Hoi An. It is a very strange (but quite typical for Asian countries) theme park. The entry price is very expensive for Vietnam and its probably not worth it unless you make a full day of the theme park but there are a few worthwhile attractions here such as a very very high cablecar (the theme park is situated up a mountain), a stunning bridge called the Golden Hand Bridge and a few good rides.

Visit My Son Sanctuary

My Son Sanctuary is a UNESCO world heritage site very close to both Da Nang and Hoi An (approximately 1 hour’s drive). It is a well preserved ruin of the ancient base of the Champa Kingdom. Its a bit of a walk to the ancient site and around in heat and it gets quite busy so I recommend visiting early in the morning/ Exploring the area should take about 2-3 hours. There is a traditional dance show performed every morning also that is worth watching.

Take in the Bamboo Circus Show

I didn’t personally go to this as I had to look after my kids and the circus is adult only but a couple of my family members went to see the bamboo circus and said it was absolutely phenomenal. It is a great local show to take in and also see the bamboo performing centre which is stunning too.

If you have an extra day to spend in the area I would head to the beach or out to the Cham Islands (there are lots of day tour options or you can head out onto the Islands and stay overnight). We didn’t do either this time around but would love to fit this in next time.

Erika xx

Best Activities for Children in Vietnam

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to book a stay or purchase an item I may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Vietnam is full of great activities for children. Although it can be a bit of a ‘tricky’ country to wrangle your children in (think hot, chaotic, dirty, noisy) it’s worth it for the wonder and excitement that it brings and all the cool things available for them to do. Also the Vietnamese people are so friendly and love children so I highly recommend visiting with children.

Here are our top activities in Vietnam for children:

Water puppet show, Hanoi

This is a delightful and SHORT (60 minute) puppet show in water unlike anything you have ever seen before. Centrally located in the Old Town of Hanoi you will be able to walk there from your hotel even with young children. My 3 year old was transfixed the whole time despite me being convinced we would have to walk out halfway through. Even my 3 month old baby loved it. Tickets were very affordable too. Show times vary but generally take place 5 times a day at approx. 3 PM, 4:10 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. You can buy a ticket on the day.

Old Quarter Night Market, Hanoi

The Hanoi Night Market is only on on the weekends but is a great experience for kids if you are in Hanoi at the right time. It gets dark early in Hanoi so kids get the excitement of being out and about when its dark without staying up too late past their bedtime. Plus the market has lots of fun things to look at and buy for cheap so you aren’t breaking the bank including lots of kids clothes and toys and junk that kids like to collect or ‘tat’ as we call it. There is also some food and drinks to purchase. My 3 year old acquired a purple crocheted turtle which has a measuring tape inside that you can pull out at this market and she LOVES it.

Ride a Cyclo around Hanoi

Hanoi is such a great place to watch all the hustle and bustle of a city and what better way to do that than the novelty of a Cyclo. The Cyclo is a bicycle taxi that you can find all over Hanoi. They are pretty pricy and more of a tourist attraction than an actual convenient way to get around but your children will love them and the slight breeze provides a welcome break from the heat of the city.

Try all the fresh fruit juices available

Kids love fruit and they looooove juice. Vietnam is a paradise as they can get a huge variety of fresh fruit juices on the street anywhere in the country. Made fresh in front of you its great to keep your kids hydrated and get in their 5 plus a day. We love watermelon, lime, passionfruit and mango juices!

Train Street, Hanoi

Train Street in Hanoi is the coolest experience for kids – nowhere else in the world are they going to see a train moving by at that speed up close. It’s also a great spot for pictures. Obviously caution is recommended and you need to be actively parenting your children while you are here. However, the trains are scheduled at set times of the day so you will have a lot of advance warning of the approaching train and the locals will let you know when you need to get out of the way. The Train Street is ‘officially’ closed but if you turn left when facing the main entrance to the street and then right down the next road someone will find you and lead you through a tunnel to come out into the open of the street.

Trang An Boat Ride, Ninh Binh

Kids love every form of transport – a little rowboat is definitely an exciting experience. Add to that a trip through gorgeous green landscapes with big limestone karsts, long caves where the adults need to duck so that they don’t hit their heads and lots of chances to get out and stretch their legs. The kids will decide that sightseeing is cool and be way more patient at the next stop. I highly recommend bringing your own children’s lifejackets on this boat ride as the ones provided were very ill-fitting.

Halong Bay Cruise

What could be better than enjoying some luxury along with your kids? Enjoying some luxury without them. But jokes aside if you have to take your kids along a Halong Bay Cruise is beautiful, entertaining, relaxing and kid-friendly. They can’t escape the boat easily so you can let your guard down a little and there are tons of activities, not to mention a buffet and a pool (depending on your cruise). Also the novelty of sleeping on a boat and buying things from the little market boats that float past does not wear off fast.

The Beach

The classic – if you are ever stuck for somewhere to take your kids in a hot climate, the beach is always a winner. An Bang Beach in Da Nang is perfect as its right in the city and close to lots of amenities + you can get a hotel right by the beach through booking.com. There are nice beaches all over Vietnam though so you can’t go wrong wherever you are going to be based!

Sunworld Amusement Park, Da Nang Hills

This place is CRAZY. It’s not a traditional amusement park so you don’t need to try to entertain the kids while you line up for rides all day. The first attraction that will interest the kids is that you need to take a cable car to get here as its waaay waaay up a mountain. I think you are on the cable car for about 20-30 minutes!!
Then once you get up the top there is a giant hand bridge, another cable car, food outlets, a french colonial village to wander through, a cool fountain and some interesting gardens, a full indoor arcade area, a kids play area and some indoor rides for smaller kids and some for big kids/adults. There are a couple of rollercoasters too but these close when the weather is bad as they are outdoors.

Visit somewhere rural

The Vietnamese people are so lovely and even more so when you get out of the cities. It’s a great idea for children to experience the realities of Vietnamese life and get an authentic experience of the country. That’s what travel is about after all! We travelled to Vinh Hy Bay which is very off the beaten track and only popular among local tourists. Our 3 year old had a great time wandering through an indigenous village and also playing at the local playground with some of the local children. Our baby made friends with a local grandmother. I definitely suggest enjoying some everyday activities with your children such as taking a walk and playing on a playground in a place like this.

Stay in a nice hotel

My last suggestion of what to do with children in Vietnam is to have a stay in a nice hotel. Your money goes a lot further here so you can get luxury for less. You can find a great hotel with child friendly amenities on booking.com. Just relax at the hotel and enjoy all the things you can’t normally afford or wouldn’t do at home. My suggestions are:

  1. Hang out at the hotel swimming pool all day
  2. Order room service
  3. Let your children have anything they want at the buffet breakfast and be okay with them leaving piles of food on their plate because they selected too much
  4. Go up and down all the floors in the lift as many times as your kids want
  5. Take advantage of your hotel’s babysitting service (if they have one – many in Vietnam do) and go out for a nice meal while your children make a new friend.
  6. Lie in bed and watch movies
  7. Have a bubble bath
  8. Get your kids special mocktails at the hotel bar
  9. Jump on the bed (especially if they aren’t allowed to at home!)

I hope you have found this list helpful! I also think the Mekong Delta would be an amazing spot for children but we didn’t get down that far south this time around. Please do let me know of any other great activities for kids in Vietnam in the comments!

Erika xx