Phu Quoc Cable Car: Crossing to Hon Thom on the World's Longest Sea Cable Car

The Sun World cable car on Phu Quoc is legitimately impressive by any measure: 7.9 km of cable spanning open sea, connecting An Thoi port in the south of the island to Hon Thom. It held the Guinness record for world's longest non-stop cable car over water when it opened in 2018, and the ride still feels like a big deal on a clear day.

The Stats That Actually Matter

The cable spans 7,899.9 meters and runs on three supporting pylons — the tallest reaches 175 meters. Gondolas hold up to eight passengers. The ride takes roughly 15 minutes each way, and at the midpoint you're sitting about 60 meters above the water with nothing below but the South China Sea and a few fishing boats. On a clear morning, the outer islands of the An Thoi archipelago are visible in every direction. On a hazy afternoon, you get moody grey-blue flats. Both have their appeal.

The gondolas themselves are air-conditioned, which matters — Phu Quoc (푸꾸옥 / 富国岛 / フーコック) is hot and humid for most of the year, and you're in a glass box in direct sun for 15 minutes. The air-con doesn't always win that fight, but it helps.

What's Included in the Ticket

This is where people get confused. The cable car is bundled with entry to the Hon Thom Nature Park complex, which includes the Aquatopia water park. You're not buying just a cable car ride — you're buying a full-day package.

Ticket prices as of 2024:

• Adult: 800,000 VND
• Child (height 100–140 cm): 600,000 VND
• Child under 100 cm: free

That includes the return cable car journey and unlimited access to Aquatopia's slides, wave pool, lazy river, and kids' splash zones. If you break it down, the water park alone would justify most of that price at comparable resorts in Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム). The cable car is essentially free if you treat it that way.

Aquatopia is well-maintained by Vietnamese water park standards — equipment looks relatively new, lifeguards are present and attentive, and there are proper lockers and changing facilities. It's not a small operation: the park occupies a significant portion of Hon Thom's beachfront. Kids between about 5 and 14 tend to get the most out of it. The bigger slides have height requirements (typically 120 cm minimum for the steeper ones), so check before you go with younger children.

Beyond the water park, Hon Thom has a long beach on its south side that's relatively quiet, a few seafood restaurants, and some walking trails. You could easily spend 4–6 hours here if the kids want full water park time plus beach time.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Timing: Morning vs. Sunset

Most visitors make this a morning trip — arrive early, spend the day at the water park, cable car back before late afternoon. That's practical, but it misses one of the better experiences: the return ride at sunset.

The cable car runs until around 9 PM (last gondola up from Hon Thom side is typically 8:30 PM — confirm on the day, as schedules shift slightly by season). If you position the return journey between 5:30 and 6:30 PM depending on the season, you get the sun dropping toward the horizon over the An Thoi islands. The light on the water at that hour is genuinely good. It's also when the crowds thin out and you're less likely to be packed into a gondola with strangers.

If you're visiting primarily for the views rather than the water park, the sunset timing is the stronger choice. Come for the afternoon, walk Hon Thom beach, eat seafood, ride back at dusk.

The Ferry Alternative

A passenger ferry runs from An Thoi port to Hon Thom as well. It's significantly cheaper — around 100,000–150,000 VND return — and takes roughly 15–20 minutes on calm days. The ferry does not include Aquatopia entry.

The ferry makes sense if you want a quieter, cheaper day on Hon Thom's beach without the water park. It also makes sense if you're prone to motion discomfort on cable cars, or if you're traveling with elderly family members who'd find a swaying gondola uncomfortable. The boat ride itself is pleasant enough through the archipelago.

For families with kids who want the water park, the bundled cable car ticket is the obvious choice. For couples or solo travelers who just want to see the islands, the ferry is worth considering.

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels

Getting to An Thoi

An Thoi port is at the southern tip of Phu Quoc, about 25 km from Duong Dong (the main town). A taxi or ride-share from Duong Dong costs 200,000–300,000 VND depending on your bargaining. Some hotels in the south of the island, particularly around Long Beach and Phu Quoc town, are closer — 10–15 km. Budget 30–40 minutes from Duong Dong in normal traffic.

The Sun World terminal is right at An Thoi port, clearly signed. Tickets can be bought on-site or in advance through the Sun World website. Buying ahead doesn't save money but can skip a queue on busy weekends and Vietnamese public holidays.

Is It Worth It?

At 800,000 VND per adult it's one of the pricier day-trip options on Phu Quoc, but it's a self-contained day: transport, water park, and beach. Families with young children tend to get clear value. Couples who aren't fussed about water parks might find it hard to justify versus a cheaper day on a quieter beach elsewhere on the island — though the cable car ride itself is worth doing once purely for the views.

Practical notes: Bring reef shoes for the rocky areas around Hon Thom beach. Sunscreen is sold on-site at inflated prices — bring your own. The cable car operates year-round but can close during heavy weather; call ahead or check social media during the May–October wet season when conditions can be unpredictable.