Vu Yen Island: a day at VinWonders and a riverside stroll

After a few days in Hai Phong’s busy streets, you may want somewhere different for the afternoon. Perhaps the kids are asking for a proper day out, or maybe you’d prefer a riverside walk, a few photos, and a good dinner without traveling far. Vu Yen Island works for both. Spend the day at VinWonders, or cross the bridge from central Hai Phong for the island’s shopping streets and open spaces without a theme park ticket.

Where is Vu Yen Island, and is it worth visiting?

Vu Yen Island sits on the Cam River, opposite Hai Phong’s historic urban center. For years, it was mostly associated with its golf course and the Vinhomes Royal Island development. That changed when VinWonders Vu Yen opened in July 2025, giving families and visitors a new reason to cross the river.

Vu Yen is easy to reach. The Royal Bridge (Hoang Gia Bridge) officially opened to traffic on July 15, 2025, connecting Le Thanh Tong Street on the city side directly to the island.

The drive across the bridge takes roughly five minutes in favorable traffic, although the total journey from your hotel to the attraction will depend on where you’re staying.

Unlike Cat Ba or other islands off the Hai Phong coast, Vu Yen is connected by road, so a taxi, ride-hailing service, private car, or electric bus will get you there.

There are two quite different ways to experience the island.

The first is VinWonders Vu Yen, a ticketed entertainment complex with a zoo, indoor and outdoor rides, and a seasonal water park. The second is the surrounding Vinhomes Royal Island urban area, where you’ll find shopping streets, a large mall, and some public spaces where you can wander without paying for admission to VinWonders.

Decide what kind of day you want before leaving your hotel. A full theme park adventure and a relaxed afternoon of shopping and walking require very different amounts of time, energy, and money.

What is there to do at VinWonders Vu Yen?

VinWonders Vu Yen is divided into themed areas, with everything from animal encounters and family attractions to thrill rides and water slides.

Families with children will find enough variety to keep different age groups entertained.

01

Animal Kingdom

A Great Place to Start With Kids

The Animal Kingdom, known locally as Vuong Quoc Muong Thu, is one of the most appealing areas for families with young children.

Walking paths lead visitors through different animal habitats, with viewing areas and green spaces along the way. Children can take it slowly here.

Photo: VinWonders

You might plan to spend only an hour here, only to find your little one completely fascinated by an animal eating, resting, or wandering around its enclosure.

Give the children time with what they’re seeing; the next attraction can wait.

There’s also a special Junior Zoo Keeper workshop, where children can learn more about caring for animals and the work involved in running a zoo. This activity is sold separately, with a published reference price of VND 300,000. Check the schedule, age requirements, and availability if you’d like to include it.

Visit the zoo earlier in the day. Its operating hours may be shorter than those of the ride areas, so leaving it until late afternoon could mean missing out.

03

Warrior Land

For Roller Coasters and Thrill Seekers

Visiting with teenagers, older children, or a group of adventurous friends? Warrior Land (Vung Dat Chien Binh) will probably be high on your list.

This area focuses on outdoor rides, energetic attractions, and more intense experiences.

Even watching the rides can be entertaining, with the sounds of excited visitors and roller coasters moving overhead adding to the atmosphere.

Photo: VinWonders

Visit any ride you’re particularly excited about earlier rather than saving everything for the last hour. Some attractions operate on individual schedules or may close temporarily because of weather conditions.

VinWonders Vu Yen ticket prices in 2026

VinWonders Vu Yen organizes its admission categories primarily by height rather than age. Children close to the 100 cm or 140 cm mark are worth measuring before you book.

Below are the VinWonders reference ticket prices.

These are reference prices, not guaranteed rates for every visiting date. Official VinWonders pages have displayed different 2026 pricing tables depending on the promotion, weekday, weekend, and holiday period.

To get the most accurate amount, select your actual visit date, ticket category, and number of guests on the official booking platform before paying.

For families with younger children, the zoo and amusement park combination is often the easiest choice. It leaves plenty of time for exploring without having to prepare swimwear or plan around changing and showering after water activities.

If everyone genuinely wants to enjoy the water park and Aloha is operating, the three-area combination makes more sense. It makes for a long day, though, especially for children who still need an afternoon nap.

What about tickets with buffet meals?

VinWonders also publishes combination packages that include a buffet meal.

Buffet reservations should be made before 5:00 PM on the previous day. If fewer than 50 buffet meals are booked, the restaurant may serve a set menu instead, under the applicable package conditions.

Make sure you understand exactly which meals are included for each ticket category before purchasing.

Most tickets allow a single admission during their stated validity period. Planning to leave the park for lunch and return later? Check the re-entry rules for your specific ticket rather than assuming you can come and go freely.

Also, ride limits are separate from ticket categories: individual rides may have stricter height or safety requirements.

Tickets and current promotions are available through the official VinWonders Vu Yen website.

International visitors should keep their electronic ticket or QR code accessible on their phones. A passport or other accepted photo ID may also be needed when using an age-based ticket category.

VinWonders Vu Yen opening hours

The published general operating hours are:

These are the overall park hours, and individual areas may operate on different schedules.

For example, the zoo has had a published closing time of around 5:00 PM, while Aloha Water Park, when operational, has commonly been scheduled from approximately 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Some attractions may stop admitting visitors about 30 minutes before the park closes.

So if you arrive at 5:30 PM hoping to enjoy several major rides, you may find that there isn’t enough time left.

Opening hours can also differ slightly between the Vietnamese website, English-language pages, and promotional announcements. Check the schedule for your exact visiting date, especially during public holidays, special events, or periods of bad weather.

Half a day or a full day on Vu Yen Island?

VinWonders on its own takes less time than VinWonders plus a wander around the rest of the island.

Half-day itinerary: best for young families and short visits

With around four to five hours, focus on the zoo and a selection of amusement park attractions rather than trying to include the water park as well.

A comfortable morning could look something like this:

1. 9:00 AM

   Arrive at VinWonders and begin with Animal Kingdom while the weather is still relatively pleasant.
2. 10:30 AM

   Continue exploring the zoo, stopping whenever the children find something interesting.
3. 12:00 PM

   Take a break for lunch and recharge.
4. 1:00 PM

   Move on to Fairyland or a few suitable rides.
5. 2:00 PM

   Finish with some photos before heading back to the city or visiting Vincom Mega Mall Royal Island.

Afternoon arrivals should still make the zoo their first stop. Indoor attractions can wait, but the zoo may close earlier.

Don’t try to cram in every ride.

Full-day itinerary: for visitors who want all three areas

For teenagers, groups of friends, or families with older children, a full day is a better option if you want to experience the zoo, amusement park, and water park.

Try to arrive around opening time and begin with Animal Kingdom.

After lunch, spend some time exploring the indoor and outdoor rides, then leave a substantial part of the afternoon for Aloha if it’s open.

Allow time to shower, change clothes, and rest before heading home.

Skip the minute-by-minute plan. You’ll spend time walking between attractions, waiting in queues, finding somewhere to eat, and occasionally stopping because someone needs a break.

Choose three or four must-do attractions in advance.

Once you’ve enjoyed those, treat anything else as a bonus.

Can you visit Vu Yen Island without buying a VinWonders ticket?

Yes, so Vu Yen still works if theme parks aren’t your thing.

Outside VinWonders, the Vinhomes Royal Island development includes shopping streets, commercial areas, plazas, and riverside spaces that are accessible without purchasing theme park admission.

You can wander through the open public areas, take photos of the architecture, stop for coffee, or enjoy a walk when the afternoon heat starts to fade.

Individual shops, activities, and services may still charge their own fees, and access to certain areas may be restricted.

Visit Vincom Mega Mall Royal Island

One of the easiest places to start is Vincom Mega Mall Royal Island, located within the island’s urban development.

The shopping mall offers dining, retail stores, a cinema, a bookstore, and other leisure facilities.

It’s especially convenient on a rainy afternoon or when you’re traveling with children who need a break from the outdoor heat.

Regular opening hours are generally:

• Monday-Friday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
• Saturday-Sunday: 9:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Individual shops and services may operate on their own schedules.

From the mall, you can explore nearby publicly accessible streets or simply find a café and enjoy a slower afternoon.

The external commercial streets are not the same as Royal Boulevard inside VinWonders, which is part of the ticketed attraction.

The island is also home to Vinpearl Golf Hai Phong, a 36-hole golf complex. That’s a separate experience with its own booking arrangements and fees, so it’s better covered in a dedicated golf guide.

How to get to Vu Yen Island and find the right VinWonders entrance

Getting to Vu Yen is straightforward. Set your destination to the specific attraction you want, not the island in general.

Taxi or ride-hailing service

For most international visitors, particularly those traveling with children or luggage, a taxi or ride-hailing service is the easiest option.

From central Hai Phong, your driver can cross Hoang Gia Bridge and continue to your chosen destination.

Heading to the theme park? Search for “VinWonders Vu Yen” and select the correct park entrance on the map.

Don’t simply enter “Vu Yen Island” or “Vinhomes Royal Island,” as these names cover a much larger area.

Shoppers and diners should choose “Vincom Mega Mall Royal Island” instead.

The mall and theme park are not the same entrance, and arriving at the wrong location can mean an unnecessary walk or another short ride.

For international travelers, saving the destination name in Vietnamese is helpful when communicating with drivers.

When leaving, choose an official or suitable pick-up point rather than waiting at a restricted entrance.

Free VinBus: routes HP1 and HP2

To save money on transport, use the free electric VinBus routes that serve Vu Yen Island.

From November 15, 2025, VinBus adjusted the HP1 and HP2 routes to operate daily while maintaining free fares.

After the change, HP1 runs approximately from 8:00 AM to 9:10 PM, with departures roughly every 60 minutes.

HP2 runs approximately from 8:00 AM to 9:20 PM, with departures roughly every 50 minutes.

These are reference schedules, so check the latest timetables before your trip.

The free VinBus routes terminate at Vincom Royal Island, not at the VinWonders entrance.

Amusement park visitors need to allow for an additional transfer or walk from the bus stop to the correct entrance.

Check the distance on your map before deciding whether to walk. With young children, a stroller, or lots of belongings, arranging a short connecting ride may be more comfortable.

HP1 is generally the more useful option for visitors staying in central Hai Phong because it passes through parts of the city’s main urban area.

HP2 is more convenient for travelers coming from Minh Duc and Thuy Nguyen.

The official VinBus website has route information.

Driving yourself

If you have a private car or are traveling with someone familiar with Hai Phong’s roads, driving gives you more flexibility.

After crossing Hoang Gia Bridge, follow the map directions to your actual destination.

For VinWonders, look for the designated theme park parking area. The shopping mall and commercial streets have their own parking facilities, so use those instead.

Parking locations and fees can change, so check the information displayed at the entrance.

If you’re traveling with a stroller or anyone who has difficulty walking long distances, ask which parking area provides the easiest access.

Practical Vu Yen Island travel tips for families with children

For a family day at VinWonders, settle on a schedule everyone can manage before picking the ticket with the most attractions.

If the weather is warm, start with outdoor activities and the zoo before the midday heat becomes uncomfortable.

Bring hats, sunscreen, tissues, and essential items for the children. You should also check the park’s rules on bringing food and drinks inside. Exceptions may apply for specialized baby food or visitors with particular dietary requirements.

During summer, lightweight clothing makes walking between attractions much more pleasant.

Winter in Hai Phong is different. It can be cool, damp, and windy, especially in exposed areas near the river, so a light jacket or an extra layer is useful.

For toddlers who still need an afternoon nap, a half-day visit may be easier than staying until closing time.

If you do plan to spend the whole day, build a proper rest period into your schedule rather than hoping the children will somehow keep going.

Measure your child’s height before booking tickets and check the requirements for attractions they’re particularly excited about.

And if grandparents are joining the trip, consider a slower itinerary with fewer stops and more opportunities to sit down.

What can you do on Vu Yen Island in the evening?

VinWonders is primarily a daytime and early-evening attraction, operating according to its published closing hours.

Once the park closes, don’t assume you can stay inside to walk around freely.

To continue your evening on the island, head to Vincom Mega Mall Royal Island, a convenient option for dinner, shopping, or a movie.

After a busy day at the theme park, it saves another long journey before dinner.

Or explore accessible commercial streets or riverside areas, where cafés and restaurants may offer a more relaxed atmosphere after sunset.

Individual businesses keep their own opening hours.

Or head back to central Hai Phong

On a first visit to Hai Phong, spend the evening back in the old city center.

The atmosphere around Hai Phong Opera House, Tam Bac Lake, and the surrounding food streets is quite different from the modern development on Vu Yen Island.

You can stroll along the lake, try local street food, or find a café and watch the city settle into the evening.

That puts two sides of Hai Phong into one day: modern family entertainment in the afternoon and local city life after dark.

If you’re relying on VinBus for your return journey, check the last departure carefully. The shopping mall may remain open until 10:00 PM, but the last bus may leave before then.

Is Vu Yen Island worth adding to your Hai Phong itinerary?

Families traveling with children can fill a full day on Vu Yen Island, especially when the weather is pleasant and the family enjoys wildlife parks and amusement rides.

For groups of friends who love roller coasters or water attractions, VinWonders can also be a fun change from sightseeing. Just make sure Aloha Water Park is open if that’s one of your main reasons for visiting.

With only one day in Hai Phong on a first visit, don’t spend all of it on Vu Yen.

You might prefer exploring the historic center in the morning, trying local dishes for lunch, and heading to the island later for shopping or a relaxed walk.

But for a stay of several days in Hai Phong, or an easy family outing over the weekend, Vu Yen is a convenient choice.

No ferry, no complicated transfer, no overnight stay. Choose the part of the island that interests you most and set the map to the right entrance.