Fuoc Island Cable Car
This attraction on Fuoc Island is a must-see when you're heading to Vietnam, and I'm here to tell you why.
Getting There. Unfortunately, there's no free bus to get here yet, so you can take a taxi or rent a bike/scooter.
I was blown away to learn that this cable car is actually the longest in the world, and it's even listed in the Guinness Book of Records! When I found out, my interest in this place skyrocketed.
The longest cable car in the world, spanning 79 km, starts in An-Toy town, located on Vietnam's largest island, Fuoc. The cable car runs over the sea, passing through islands Hon Du and Hon Lo, and ends at the resort island of Hon Tom, also known as the 'Pineapple Island' due to its shape.
The cable car's length is approximately 7,899.9 meters or about 8 km.
The second plus is that it runs directly over the sea, connecting the southern part of Fuoc Island to another island, Hon Tom (also known as the Pineapple Island due to its shape). The breathtaking views are simply stunning as you soar above the endless blue sea, spotting fishing boats, speedboats, and tiny green tropical islands. Photos and videos can't do justice to the beauty. You'll be sitting there, frozen in awe, taking in the natural beauty from a bird's-eye view.
The cable car has been open relatively recently, in 2018. Sometimes it stops running due to maintenance or weather conditions, so be sure to check with a guide or locals for the schedule beforehand! But, most of the time, if the weather is great and it's peak tourist season, the cable car runs on its regular schedule.
Operating Hours. Here's the schedule, with a break in between, so be sure to plan your arrival time accordingly:
If you arrive during the break, don't worry - inside the building, there are all the amenities you need: a cozy restaurant with stunning sea views and a beach, an art gallery, and mini shops selling souvenirs, plus comfy leather sofas where you can hang out until the cable car opens. Free Wi-Fi is available.
Cost of an adult ticket is around 600,000 dong, which is roughly $23 on a person. This ticket includes a round-trip ride, as well as admission to the water park, amusement park, and a beach with lounge chairs, hammocks, and a photo zone. I think it's worth it – you'll get plenty of excitement for the whole day. Hold onto your ticket, you'll definitely need it for the return trip.
So, the gondolas are super spacious, can fit around 10-15 people, there are benches, and there's Wi-Fi! But personally, I was so captivated by the incredible beauty beneath us that I didn't even bother with the Wi-Fi 😄😍. Unfortunately, we didn't get a photo of the gondola, as we were traveling with a bunch of Chinese tourists.
You can see a bit of the comfortable benches throughout the gondola, everything is clean and well-maintained, and the huge windows offer an amazing view of the sea and islands.For those who might be worried, I'll say this: although the height is massive, the gondolas move so smoothly – I'd even say meditatively. They don't shake or sway. And the best part is when we're approaching the pole, which is the highest point, and then we get to enjoy a smooth descent – it's a thrilling experience, despite the smooth ride. It's exhilarating!
The one-way trip takes around 15-20 minutes. With views like these of the blue sea and green islands, time flies by. You can take photos to remember the moment and simply take it all in.
We arrive at Pineapple Island, and everything is super well-organized! There's a map of the area: you've got the amusement park with roller coasters, the water park, cafes, and a beach:
It's incredibly beautiful, with a green territory full of flowers and palm trees:
Right next to the cafe is a pond:
The park is huge, but walking around is a breeze. First, we headed to the water park - there are plenty of slides to choose from, a river with a current to float down on inflatable rafts. There's a big kids' zone. For convenience, there are lockers (they're paid, but it's nice not to have to carry everything with you) and changing rooms. The paths between the slides are lined with lush greenery, flowers, and big sculptures of marine life. It's really pretty and clean.
After the water park, we made our way to the beach - it's a real relaxation zone. There's greenery, palm trees, hammocks with a view of the sea. It's super quiet, so quiet that we even dozed off as a family. All we could hear was the singing of the local birds, and they sing really beautifully.
The beach was a letdown, unfortunately. I mean, everything was great up until then. But the ocean was a disappointment. The water was full of rocks, making it really uncomfortable to walk on, and in some places, it was even painful. Deeper in, there were big rocks that could hurt your ankle. The water was murky, which is not like the other beaches in Fukuoka, where the water is crystal clear. It felt like I was swimming in dirty water. There was no trash, though. And to the side, there was a construction site, which wasn't too loud, but it did ruin the view, and maybe that's why the water was like that. I didn't go back in the water, but lying in the hammocks was really nice.
There are also photo spots on the beach, like this staircase going up to the sky (the photo isn't great, but it gives you an idea):
You need to leave the island by 5 PM, or they'll stop working (we were really curious about what would happen to people who couldn't make it by then). So, at 4 PM, people start leaving the beach and the water park, gathering by the exit queue. You'll need to show your ticket again, which you had at the beginning.
Getting on the cable car is an adventure in itself, but that's not all you'll see. I'm going to give you a quick rundown of the place where the cable car building is located - it deserves its own review, but I'll give you the short version here.
Sunset Town - another stunningly beautiful place on the southern tip of the island. It's called that for a reason - it's the city of sunsets, with the best views of the sea. The city is designed so that each level of the buildings is higher than the last, giving you breathtaking views.
It's really interesting to see the escalators on the street, and there are a lot of beautiful and varied staircases.
Walking around here, you realize just how much investment has gone into this area - a spotlessly clean and beautiful district with buildings that look like they belong in Europe. There's even a Big Ben and a Colosseum (where the cable car entrance is located).
But behind the beautiful facade, everything is absolutely empty! The signs for cafes and boutiques are just for show, creating an atmosphere of Europe. It's really weird to walk around here completely alone.
The island is developing at a breakneck pace, and soon this area will be filled up. But for now, the crowds of 95% Chinese tourists are here in the evenings when the laser show starts at 20:30. You can even buy tickets for it at the box office. And during the day, there's a beautiful beach with free sunbeds and white sand.
I highly recommend taking a stroll through Sunset Town - it's beautiful both during the day and at night when the lights come on, the music plays, and the atmosphere is pure magic.
The Verdict. As you can probably tell, I highly recommend visiting this place! It's one that'll stay with you for a lifetime.
Check out our reviews of Vietnam's top attractions:
Vinpearl Safari park on Phu Quoc Island
VinWonders theme park on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam - a stunning tropical island, with a detailed review
Phu Quoc Island's Suoi Tre Waterfall - a paradise within the island