Vietnam's Aquatic Entertainment Landscape Enters a New Era as Landmark Attractions Raise the Bar

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vietnam's aquatic entertainment landscape is entering a new chapter. As the country continues to develop major tourism and leisure destinations, waterparks are increasingly becoming signature attractions in their own right—combining distinctive design, record-breaking rides, innovative technology and experiences designed to give visitors new reasons to explore and return.

Over the past year, several major openings have demonstrated this momentum. From the record-breaking Rainbow Storm at VinWonders Vũ Yên and Southeast Asia's first SlideWheel^® at VinWonders Nha Trang to an ambitious collection of attractions at Sun World Vung Tau, Vietnam is welcoming a new generation of aquatic experiences.

For WhiteWater, these developments represent more than a series of new rides. They reflect long-term partnerships with some of Vietnam's leading entertainment operators, supporting them with attraction design, engineering, installation, commissioning and ongoing service.

The latest milestone comes at Sun World Vung Tau, which has become the first Vietnamese waterpark to receive a World Waterpark Association (WWA) Leading Edge Award.

Sun World Vung Tau Receives WWA Leading Edge Award

Located within Blanca City, Sun Group's nearly 97-hectare seaside urban development, Sun World Vung Tau is the ninth park in the Sun World system and its largest waterpark.

WhiteWater contributed to the development of the park's aquatic experience portfolio, including 32 slides, 10 spray toys and an interactive aquatic play structure. The attraction mix combines family-friendly aquatic play with regional firsts and record-breaking experiences.

Among the park's signature attractions is Mystic Ocean Voyage, Asia's first Mini Blaster. At nearly 100 metres in length, the attraction has been certified as the world's longest water coaster for children by the World Records Union.

Serpent's Aquarium, meanwhile, is Asia's first Wall Runner. Recognized with an IAAPA Brass Ring Award in 2025, the attraction introduces a distinctive lateral drifting sensation rarely seen in water slides. Riders travel in six-person rafts through sweeping arcs, moving from wall to wall, climbing, oscillating and accelerating sideways at speeds of up to 33 km/h across a 180-metre experience.

For families and younger visitors, Mekong Water Battle features an AquaForms 20—the world's tallest and largest AquaForms structure—spanning more than 1,800 square metres across 20 platforms and incorporating interactive aquatic play elements.

Together, these attractions were designed to create a diverse aquatic experience for different ages and preferences, while giving Sun World Vung Tau a collection of signature experiences with strong regional and international credentials.

Doug Smith, Head of Global Sales at WhiteWater, said: "We warmly congratulate Sun World Vung Tau on receiving the WWA Leading Edge Award. This recognition celebrates the vision and ambition of the Sun World team and everyone involved in bringing the project to life. We are proud to have contributed to the development of the park and to have worked alongside Sun World in creating distinctive aquatic experiences for guests in Vietnam. We look forward to seeing Sun World Vung Tau continue to grow as a destination and to welcoming visitors to experience the attractions for themselves."

For Sun World, the partnership extends beyond individual attractions.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh Linh, General Director of Sun World Vung Tau, said:  

"WhiteWater is one of our major partners, working alongside Sun World in general and Sun World Vung Tau in particular in developing international-standard entertainment destinations in Vietnam. WhiteWater's innovative water rides and technologies have made an important contribution to the success of Sun World's waterparks. The team consistently delivers internationally recognized engineering designs, operational documentation, installation and commissioning support from experienced engineers, and professional after-sales service. These capabilities help us shorten construction and maintenance timelines while increasing the reliability of our rides."

Safety is equally central to the development and operation of Sun World's parks.

"For Sun World, safety is both a mandatory requirement and a top priority. With more than 10 years of developing leading entertainment parks across Vietnam, we have cooperated with globally trusted partners to establish operation procedures, staff training programs, and regular maintenance practices to ensure that our equipment operates safely every day."

A Year of Landmark Openings Across Vietnam

The WWA recognition at Sun World Vung Tau comes during a year of significant development for Vietnam's aquatic entertainment sector.

In Hai Phong, VinWonders Vũ Yên has introduced Rainbow Storm, a 52.1-metre water slide tower that brings a new vertical dimension to the region's waterpark experience.

Located within the 480-hectare Vu Yen Royal Island development, VinWonders Vũ Yên is designed as a large-scale entertainment destination incorporating a theme park, zoo, fairytale land, shows and the 2.9-hectare Aloha Water World.

Rainbow Storm was developed with a clear ambition: to create a visually striking, high-intensity attraction capable of becoming a new landmark for the destination.

Nguyen Viet Dung, Water Park Manager at VinWonders Vũ Yên, said:

"At VinWonders Vũ Yên, we are always committed to developing innovative and unique products to elevate the experience for our guests. We've noticed a trend among travelers. They are increasingly seeking intense, unique and highly challenging experiences. Rainbow Storm is the answer to that need. That's why we've invested in Rainbow Storm, a water park attraction based on a vertical model, driven by the desire to create a new landmark for the region. It also helps to solidify the position of VinWonders on the regional entertainment map in Northern Vietnam."

Since opening, the attraction has received positive feedback from visitors.

"Most visitors are impressed by the unique design and the height. The overall experience is modern, professional and unique. In particular, many visitors have shared that Rainbow Storm offers a completely different experience compared to traditional water parks. That is exactly what we hoped to achieve from the very beginning."

For VinWonders Vũ Yên, the partnership with WhiteWater also extends beyond attraction design.

"For us, safety is always an absolute priority in operations. Every day, ensuring that all rides operate reliably and safely is not only a technical requirement but also a commitment to the guest experience and customer trust."

"We highly value the support of WhiteWater, one of the world's leading waterpark design and equipment providers. Its products and solutions not only meet international standards but also support us in optimizing operations, reducing risks and ensuring consistency in the guest experience."

Creating Attractions That Become Part of the Destination

At VinWonders Nha Trang, another recent opening has brought a first-of-its-kind experience to Southeast Asia with the SlideWheel^®, which opened in spring 2026.

The attraction combines the movement of a giant rotating wheel with water-based ride elements, creating an experience unlike other attractions currently available in Southeast Asia. Its scale and distinctive silhouette also give it a strong visual presence within the park.

Since opening, the SlideWheel has attracted sustained guest interest throughout the day. Visitors watch the rafts move through the structure, often reacting with surprise as they follow the ride's changing position, and many return for another experience.

The three projects demonstrate different approaches to creating signature aquatic attractions. Rainbow Storm uses height and intensity to establish a visual landmark. SlideWheel brings a completely distinctive ride concept to the region. At Sun World Vung Tau, a broad portfolio of regional firsts and record-breaking experiences is combined with large-scale family aquatic play and a strong destination concept.

What connects them is a growing focus on creating attractions that contribute to the identity of the destination itself.

From Attractions to Long-Term Partnerships

As Vietnam continues to develop its tourism, hospitality and entertainment infrastructure, the role of a waterpark is evolving. Increasingly, operators are looking for experiences that can attract attention, differentiate their destinations and create lasting memories for guests—while also meeting demanding requirements for safety, reliability and operational performance.

For WhiteWater, supporting this evolution means working alongside operators throughout the lifecycle of a project—from attraction concept and engineering through installation, commissioning and ongoing service.

The recent developments in Vietnam illustrate this approach in action: combining innovative attractions with the technical expertise, operational support and long-term partnership needed to bring them successfully into operation.

Vietnam's next generation of aquatic destinations is already taking shape—and WhiteWater is proud to be part of the journey.

SOURCE WhiteWater