The Nha Trang cable car — what it is and how it was built
The Vinpearl Cable Car connects the southern end of Nha Trang’s beach road to Hon Tre Island, carrying visitors across the bay to the Vinpearl resort and entertainment complex. It was built by Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, and became an instant landmark when it opened — not just for what it connects, but for the scale of the engineering involved.
During construction, the Discovery Channel sent a team to Vietnam to document the project, a sign of how unusual the build was at the time. The cable car was awarded a Guinness World Record as the world’s longest sea-crossing cable car, originally spanning 3,320 meters. Following the relocation of the mainland station, the current distance between the two stations is 2,642.8 meters, with the cabins traveling at an average height of 54 meters above sea level.
Key facts and specifications
The system runs up to 120 cabins simultaneously, each holding 12 passengers, giving it a total capacity of around 5,280 passengers per hour. A one-way crossing takes 8 to 10 minutes depending on conditions.
All equipment was sourced from Europe and meets the safety standards of the International Cableway Association. The system is rated to operate safely in winds up to level 7 on the Beaufort scale — relevant given Nha Trang’s exposure to typhoon-season weather between September and December.
The seven support towers running across the bay are hard to miss from the beach road. Their red and white coloring has earned them an informal comparison to miniature Eiffel Towers, and they have become part of the visual identity of Nha Trang’s coastline.
The cable car serves as the primary way to reach Hon Tre Island and the VinWonders Nha Trang complex — covered in detail further in this guide.
The cable car ride — what to expect
Knowing what the experience actually looks and feels like helps you decide when to go and what to bring — so here is a straightforward account from station to arrival.
At the station
The mainland terminal sits on Tran Phu Street at the southern end of Nha Trang’s beach road. The building is spacious and air-conditioned, with a well-organised ticketing and boarding area. Queues move quickly under normal conditions — most visitors are through and on a cabin within a few minutes. The exception is after the evening shows at VinWonders, when a large number of people exit the island at the same time. If you are heading back late, expect a longer wait on the Hon Tre side.
The crossing
Cabins are fully enclosed with glass panels on all sides, giving unobstructed views in every direction. The ride is smooth and quiet. There is no open-air exposure, which makes it comfortable for most people regardless of how they feel about heights.
The views during the crossing are the real draw. Looking back toward the mainland, you get a wide aerial view of Nha Trang’s coastline, the long curve of the beach, and the city behind it. Below, the bay is active — fishing boats, small vessels, and the port area at Cau Da are all visible. Looking ahead, Hon Tre Island fills the frame as you approach, with the Vinpearl complex visible on the waterfront.
The crossing takes 8 to 10 minutes. It goes quickly, so have your camera ready before you board rather than spending the first half of the ride getting it out.
Day versus evening
Most people ride during the day, which gives the clearest views of the bay and islands. The evening crossing is a different experience — the city lights reflected on the water and the illuminated Vinpearl Harbour on the other side make it visually strong in its own right. If you are spending a full day at VinWonders, you will naturally get both directions at different times of day.
Arriving on Hon Tre Island
The cabin docks directly into the Hon Tre terminal, which opens onto Vinpearl Harbour — the commercial and entertainment area of the complex. From here, VinWonders Nha Trang is immediately accessible.
Part of VinWonders Nha Trang
The cable car is not a standalone attraction. It exists as the main link between Nha Trang city and Hon Tre Island, where the VinWonders Nha Trang complex is located. Understanding what is on the island helps you decide whether the trip makes sense for you.
VinWonders Nha Trang is a large-scale resort and entertainment complex operated by Vingroup. It covers a significant portion of Hon Tre Island and combines a theme park, water park, zoo, aquarium, and a commercial waterfront area called Vinpearl Harbour. It is one of the largest amusement parks in Vietnam and draws a mix of domestic tourists, regional visitors, and families.
The main areas of the complex:
- Adventure Land — the core theme park section, with rides and attractions across a range of intensity levels, from family-friendly to more thrilling options
- Water park — a full water park with slides and pools, a strong draw for families with children
- King’s Garden — the zoo section. Worth flagging honestly: the enclosures for larger animals, including tigers, lions, and bears, are small, and the animals show visible signs of stress. This is a consistent observation from visitors and not a minor detail. If animal welfare matters to you, skip this section
- Sea World / aquarium — freshly renovated and reopened in early 2026, this is now one of the stronger parts of the park. Worth including in your visit
- Vinpearl Harbour — the waterfront area directly accessible from the cable car terminal. Shopping, restaurants, and live entertainment, including the “Rise of the Ocean Princess” stunt show. Accessible without a full park ticket
- Tata Show — an evening performance that draws large crowds; a separate ticket tier covers this
For a full breakdown of the park, what is worth your time, and what to skip, read the VinWonders Nha Trang review.
Location and getting there
Where is the Nha Trang cable car station?
The mainland terminal is on Tran Phu Street, at the southern end of Nha Trang’s main beach road, approximately 4 to 5 kilometers from the city center. The landmark to look for is Cau Da Port — the cable car station is right in that area. From the beach road, the cable car towers are visible well before you arrive, so it is hard to miss.
How to get there
Grab or taxi is the easiest option for most visitors. The ride from the city center takes 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic and costs next to nothing by Western standards.
Motorbike works just as well. Tran Phu Street runs the full length of the beach, so the route is a straight line south from wherever you are staying. Parking is available at the station for both motorbikes and cars.
Bus is the budget option. City bus routes 04 and 05 both pass the station area, running from around 5:10 AM to 7:10 PM. VinBus Route 23 also connects various points in the city to the cable car terminal and is worth checking if you are coming from a different part of town.
Nearby: worth combining with a visit
Museum of Oceanography (Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography) is a 5-minute walk from the cable car station, at 1 Cau Da Street. Founded in 1922 and housed in a French colonial building, it is one of Vietnam’s oldest marine research institutions and one of the more genuinely interesting low-key attractions in Nha Trang. Inside: over 300 live marine species, a 26-meter whale skeleton, and more than 20,000 preserved specimens. Entry is around 40,000 VND and a visit takes 1 to 2 hours. It pairs naturally with a cable car visit — the two are close enough to combine in a single morning without any rush.
Cau Da Port is not an attraction in itself, but it is the main departure point for island-hopping boats heading to Nha Trang’s offshore islands. If you are planning a boat day, this is where you will leave from. Worth knowing if you are combining a VinWonders trip with island time on the same visit to this part of the city.
Tickets and opening hours
Before getting into prices, one thing worth clarifying upfront: there is no cable car ticket to VinWonders Nha Trang. The cable car ride is included in the park admission ticket — you do not buy them separately. The only situation where you can buy a cable car-only ticket is if you are visiting Vinpearl Harbour without entering the park.
Cable car only (Vinpearl Harbour access, no park entry)
If you want to cross to Hon Tre Island to visit Vinpearl Harbour — the waterfront area with restaurants, shopping, and the stunt show — without entering VinWonders, a standalone round-trip cable car ticket costs 200,000 VND per person. Guests staying at a Vinpearl resort on Hon Tre Island travel free.
VinWonders Nha Trang tickets (cable car included)
| Visitor | Standard ticket | After 4:00 PM |
|---|---|---|
| 140 cm and above | 950,000 VND | 660,000 VND |
| 100–140 cm | 710,000 VND | 500,000 VND |
| 60 years and older | 710,000 VND | 500,000 VND |
| Under 100 cm | Free | Free |
The after-4:00 PM ticket is worth considering if you are mainly interested in the evening show, Vinpearl Harbour at night, and the cable car crossing in both directions. You will not get a full day in the park, but the price difference is significant.
Various packages exist that bundle accommodation, meals, or additional activities. For current package pricing, check the official VinWonders website directly — these change regularly and listing them here would go out of date quickly.
Where to buy
Tickets can be bought at the counter at the mainland station, but buying online through the VinWonders website or app is the better option. It is faster, avoids any queue at the counter, and online pricing is sometimes lower than walk-up rates.
Opening hours
The cable car operates daily from 8:00 AM to 9:45 PM. During peak season or high demand, hours may extend to 11:00 PM with the last cabin at 10:45 PM.
The cable car suspends during bad weather — strong winds, heavy rain, or storms. When this happens, a high-speed boat service to Hon Tre Island operates as an alternative. September through December is Nha Trang’s rainy and typhoon season, so it is worth checking the forecast if you are visiting during those months.
Practical tips
Best time to ride
Morning crossings give the clearest views of the bay and coastline. The light is good and the water tends to be calmer. Evening is a different experience worth considering — the city lights reflected on the bay and the illuminated Vinpearl Harbour on the approach make for a strong visual. If you are spending a full day at VinWonders, you get both naturally.
Crowds and queuing
Queues at the station are generally short and move fast. The one exception is the return crossing after the evening shows at VinWonders, when a large number of visitors exit the island at the same time. If you want to avoid that, leave before the show ends or be prepared to wait.
Weather
September through December is Nha Trang’s rainy season and the period most affected by typhoons. The cable car suspends when winds are too strong or conditions are unsafe. If you are visiting during these months, check the weather forecast the morning of your visit. A high-speed boat to Hon Tre Island operates as a backup when the cable car is down, but it changes the experience significantly.
What not to bring on board
Pets and large luggage are not permitted in the cabins. Keep it to personal items — a day bag, camera, and whatever you need for the park.
Photography
The glass cabins give clean views in all directions, but reflections can be an issue depending on the light. Positioning yourself away from direct sunlight on the glass will help. The views looking back toward the mainland city are often better than the approach toward Hon Tre, so do not wait until the second half of the ride to start shooting.
Parking
Parking is available at the mainland station for both motorbikes and cars. It is well-organised and not something to worry about if you are driving yourself.
No height restriction for the cable car
Unlike some of the rides inside VinWonders, the cable car itself has no height restriction. Children of any height can ride, though children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Is the Vinpearl Cable Car worth visiting?
The answer depends on what you are actually paying for.
The cable car crossing itself is genuinely impressive. The views over Nha Trang Bay — the coastline, the islands, the fishing boats below — are among the best you will get in the city without getting on a boat. As an experience, it delivers. That part is not in question.
The real question is what you are buying when you buy a ticket.
If you are visiting Vinpearl Harbour only — the waterfront area with restaurants, shops, and the stunt show — the standalone cable car ticket at 200,000 VND is a reasonable price for the crossing. Combined with a visit to the Museum of Oceanography next door, it makes for a decent half-morning in this part of the city. For that purpose, it is worth it.
If you are buying a full VinWonders ticket, the cable car is included — but at that point the cable car is not really what you are deciding on. You are deciding whether a full day at VinWonders makes sense for you. For most travelers from Europe, North America, or Australia, the honest answer is probably not. You have theme parks at home. A full day at VinWonders is a full day not spent on a boat between islands or doing something that is actually unique to Vietnam. The cable car crossing is a highlight within that day, but it is not enough on its own to justify the full ticket price for a traveler who is not otherwise interested in the park.
For families spending extended time in Vietnam, or travelers based elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the calculation is different. The after-4:00 PM ticket at around 660,000 VND for adults brings the price down considerably, and pairing the evening park entry with the cable car crossing in both directions — city lights on the return — is a solid few hours out.
The bottom line: the ride itself is worth doing. How much you pay for it depends entirely on why you are going to Hon Tre Island in the first place.
