Off the coast of Hon Thom Island, near Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam, an unusual water slide started running on June 25, 2026. Rather than the conventional type where you slide straight down a slope, it's an experiential attraction where you're swept along by the very flow of the water. Because the movement changes each time even on the same course, the maker is billing it as "a new genre of water attraction." For anyone considering a family trip to Phu Quoc, it adds one more option to their list of destinations. It's worth sorting out why it's worth the trip out to a remote island, along with practical points like how to get there and tickets.
A new "flow-driven" slider opens on Hon Thom Island
The new arrival is "Wavy Whirl – Tropical Cyclone" inside Aquatopia Water Park, operated by Sun World Hon Thom. You board a single- or multi-person boat and enjoy the irregular speed, sudden direction changes, and swirling motion created by the flow of water. Unlike a typical slider that accelerates by drop, the flow switches partway along the course, so you spin or suddenly speed up—the selling point being that no two rides are ever the same.
It's designed to handle up to 1,440 people per hour, with the next boat departing every 10–20 seconds. Even in peak season, turnover is fast, making it a type where wait times are easy to predict. With a minimum height of 1 meter to ride, everyone from elementary-school-aged children to adults can enjoy it together—another point that suits family trips.
The background behind choosing a "world-first" technology
This attraction is drawing attention because the "PowerRapids" technology it uses is the first of its kind put into practical operation in the world. It was designed and manufactured by Canada's ProSlide Technology, which positions the installation on Hon Thom Island as a world debut. The company's president, Rey Smegal, commented, "Technologies that change the water park experience come along now and then, and PowerRapids is one of them."
Technically, it's said to incorporate dynamic shallow-water channels into multiple sections of the course, alternately linking rapids-descent-like sections with conventional slide sections. Blooloop, an industry trade outlet, also introduced this method as "signaling a new category of water attraction." While water parks around the world line up similar slides, the fact that a remote Southeast Asian island was chosen as the first site for the latest technology hints at Phu Quoc's growth potential as a tourist destination.
Aquatopia and Hon Thom Island by the numbers
Hon Thom Island is accessed by cable car from the southern part of Phu Quoc's main island. This cable car stretches about 7,900 meters and is considered among the world's longest three-wire systems crossing over the sea. The trip takes roughly 15–20 minutes each way, with the waters of the An Thoi archipelago spreading out below. It's the type where the journey itself becomes a highlight of the trip.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| New attraction | Wavy Whirl – Tropical Cyclone (PowerRapids type) |
| Operator | Sun World Hon Thom (inside Aquatopia Water Park) |
| Capacity | Up to 1,440 people/hour, departing every 10–20 seconds |
| Ride restriction | Minimum height 1 meter |
| Opening date | June 25, 2026 |
| Access to the island | Cable car from the southern part of Phu Quoc's main island (about 7,900 meters long) |
Coinciding with the slider's opening, several new attractions are also making their debut in stages throughout the park's Exotica Village area. A beach club with restaurants, bars, and an infinity pool is also attached, making it a setup where you can spend a full day on the island.
Reactions from families and thrill-seekers
On local travel information sites and social media, voices of anticipation stood out even before the opening. Summarizing the reactions in paraphrase, the general tendencies are as follows.
- Repeat-minded anticipation: "If the course's movement changes every time, I'll want to ride it again and again."
- Reassurance from families: "If you can ride from a height of 1 meter, I can line up with my child."
- Voices of enjoying a full day including the journey: "The cable car views alone make it worth coming."
On the other hand, some voiced concerns about being tied to the cable car's operating hours because it's a remote island, and about getting from the main island's center to the cable car station. The more someone is after thrill-type attractions, the more how they structure their time on-site will likely shape their satisfaction.
A perspective Japanese travelers can use for their "next trip"
Phu Quoc has few direct flights from Japan, but as a tropical resort reachable via a transfer through Ho Chi Minh City, it is increasingly a candidate for family trips. Combining a plan to enjoy night markets and nightlife in the bustling northern area with a plan to spend an active day on the southern remote island makes it easy to add rhythm to your stay. For how to spend the night on the north side, refer also toour article summarizing Phu Quoc's night tourism.
If you're targeting the new slider with kids, the morning right after opening is realistic. The cable car splits its operating hours into morning and afternoon, with breaks in service around midday in some cases, so plan on crossing over in the morning and returning in the early afternoon, or on spending the whole day on the island—that way you'll miss less. Tickets are often sold as a set combining a round-trip cable car and water park admission, and securing them online in advance rather than at the on-site counter makes your movements on the day smoother.
Ripple effects on Phu Quoc tourism as a whole
In recent years, Phu Quoc has been moving beyond a resort-only image, including putting itself forward as a host for international conferences. The island's trend toward internationalization is as touched on inour article covering Phu Quoc's internationalization, and family-oriented theme park investment carries the work of lifting tourism behind the scenes. You could also read it as the island building an audience base strong enough to attract world-first technology.
Options are expanding for travelers after marine activities, too. A trip spent relaxing on the beach and a trip spent moving your body and playing can coexist; for example, in other areas of Vietnam, activities with distinct local characters have grown—such askitesurfing in Mui Ne. Phu Quoc's remote-island water park looks to be cementing its position within that as "a large facility where you can play safely even with children."
Practical notes and related links
- Access to the island is close to cable-car-only. Allow around 30 minutes by taxi or the like from the main island's center to the boarding station.
- Because the cable car's operating hours are divided, always check the time of the last return trip first.
- Tickets are basically a set of round-trip cable car plus admission. For a family, buying online in advance is the safe bet.
- A height of 1 meter is the guideline for the new slider. Families with small children should check in advance which attractions have height restrictions.
- Bringing a swimsuit, towel, and waterproof case is reassuring. Since it's an outdoor facility, don't forget sun protection either.
Summary: working a day on the remote island into your itinerary
Hon Thom Island's new slider is not merely a "new water slide"—it's also a symbol of Phu Quoc becoming an island capable of attracting the latest tourism investment. If you're considering Phu Quoc for your next Vietnam trip, first check online for a set ticket of round-trip cable car and water park admission, and try building a one-day plan that crosses over to the island in the morning. By connecting northern night tourism and southern remote-island activities into a single itinerary, you can craft a highly satisfying Phu Quoc trip for families and couples alike.
