Like an ocean world right in the heart of the city, Times City Hanoi Aquarium is one of the impressive entertainment destinations for families on weekends or holidays. Let’s explore the experiences of visiting Times City Aquarium on the weekend for an exciting trip!
Where is Times City Aquarium located?
Located in Vinhomes Times City Hanoi at 458 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Times City Aquarium (also known as Vinpearl Aquarium Times City) is the largest aquarium in Vietnam and the only underwater tunnel in Hanoi to date. Conveniently situated at the Vincom Mega Mall Times City commercial center, Times City Aquarium is one of the domestic tourist attractions that attracts many visitors and locals when visiting the capital city.
Built with the theme “A hundred rivers flow into one sea,” this Hanoi tourist destination currently houses over 30,000 marine species from around the world living together in a “sea tunnel” containing 3 million cubic meters of seawater. This place is likened to a lively and fascinating marine world, which is why tourists are increasingly drawn to Times City Hanoi Aquarium, especially families with young children and young people who enjoy exploring the ocean world.
How to get to Times City Aquarium?
As a tourist destination in Hanoi, getting to Times City Aquarium is quite easy and convenient, especially for those living and working in Hanoi. Based on Cuong’s Hanoi travel experience, there are many options to reach this modern entertainment area at Times City, such as by motorbike, car, or bus. Cuong will guide you on how each mode of transportation works right here. Cuong will choose the main entrance of Times City as the destination for easier visualization.
If you are traveling by motorbike or private car, you can open Google Maps and find the way to the main entrance of Times City. Google Maps will guide you on all routes to this Hanoi entertainment destination, so choose the most convenient route for your journey. After arriving at the main entrance of the commercial center, you will park your vehicle and then proceed to Times City Aquarium.
Note for those traveling by motorbike or private car regarding parking:
Once you reach the main entrance of Times City, if you want to go to the aquarium, walk straight about 200-300m until you see an arched gate named Vincom Mega Mall, which is where the aquarium is located. Next to this gate, about 50m down, is the parking entrance. In case you can’t find the way to the aquarium, don’t hesitate to ask the security guards for help, as trying to find the way on your own can be time-consuming.
For those taking a taxi, the transportation is easier. You won’t have to worry about parking; instead, just ask the driver to stop at the Vicom mega mall gate, then walk down and turn left to reach the aquarium.
In addition to the two modes of transportation Cuong just mentioned, another suggestion is to take a bus to Times City. The most convenient bus routes to Times City are bus numbers 19 and 24. After the bus stops at the main entrance of the commercial center, follow Cuong’s instructions as mentioned above to reach Times City Aquarium. You can visit timbus.vn to choose the most convenient bus route for your location.
Buying Tickets to Times City Aquarium
Once you arrive at the aquarium, what’s the next step? That’s to buy a ticket to enter the aquarium for a tour. When Cuong arrived, there was quite a long line of people waiting to purchase tickets. Next to the ticket counter, there is a schedule board with specific showtimes and activities. You can follow the schedule to ensure you don’t miss any interesting events at the aquarium.
There are two ways to buy tickets for Times City Aquarium: you can either buy them directly at the counter or purchase them online in advance via the website adayroi.com.
For those buying tickets directly at the counter, the ticket prices are as follows:
– For visitors over 140cm tall: 170,000 VND
– For visitors between 80cm and 140cm tall: 100,000 VND
– Visitors under 80cm are free of charge.
In addition, there is a way to save quite a bit on your visit: you can buy tickets via adayroi to get a discount. When you book tickets on this website, the ticket price will be 20% cheaper than the original price. That means adult tickets will be reduced to 136k, and child tickets will cost 80k. After successfully purchasing tickets on this website, you will receive a discount voucher on your mobile device. You can then present the voucher at the counter to get a pass for entry.
However, Cuong would like to remind visitors to the Vinpearl Aquarium Times City that the prices listed above only apply on weekdays, from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the ticket prices will be adjusted. Specifically, there will be an additional 50,000 VND per person. You will pay this surcharge at the ticket counter. Additionally, please note that the ticket is only valid for the day of purchase.
Experience the Exciting Things at Times City Aquarium
With its fascinating and unique space, Times City Aquarium is definitely an attractive destination that tourists visiting Hanoi should not miss. Especially for younger visitors, the aquarium is an ideal place for children to explore and learn about the ocean world.With a total area of about 4,000 square meters, Vinpearl Times City Aquarium holds nearly 3 million liters of seawater. It houses more than 30,000 marine life specimens from all over the world, and is divided into four main exhibit areas along with a play area for children.Let’s follow Cuong and explore what makes the Times City Aquarium so appealing to tourists visiting Hanoi.
Freshwater Area
The first area you will visit when entering Thuy Cung Times City is the freshwater fish zone. Stepping in, you will feel like you are lost in a vast ocean world. Right from the start, Cuong was impressed by the decoration in this freshwater area, scenes that seem to only appear in movies or documentaries about the primeval forests of the Amazon, are now vividly recreated in this exhibition area. On both sides of the path are freshwater fish tanks gently swimming in the clear water with many diverse and colorful fish species, each with different appearances and characteristics, making viewers very excited and curious. Cuong sees that the children are very excited here, each one of them cheering and enjoying watching the fish in the tanks. Especially with the explanations from the tour guides, the children are all focused and eager to learn.
Visitors to the freshwater area can freely explore large freshwater fish originating from the Amazon River basin (South America) such as arapaima, alligator gar with their long and fierce mouths. Alongside are gentle discus fish in various colors; black dragon fish symbolizing luck or Japanese-origin koi fish and goldfish in various colors. The brown color of the forest wood combined with the green of the indigenous vines creates a space that is both intimate and very peaceful.
Reptile cave
Leaving the tropical forest area, we move on to the next section, which is the reptile cave area. Here, you will have the chance to see reptiles and amphibians living in this area up close. Cuong’s feeling when arriving at this area is a mix of strangeness and excitement. According to Cuong, Vinpearl Aquarium at Times City amusement park is the first aquarium in Vietnam to have a reptile world. Stepping into this reptile area, you will witness a world of rare reptiles and amphibians such as albino pythons, South American dragons, Australian dragons, chameleons, mantises, crocodiles, etc. Additionally, this cave also houses various types of insects typical of the tropical ecosystem, such as venomous spiders, red ants, which are also very fascinating. The guide will talk about the names and preferences of the animals.Cuong observed that the children were a bit scared when they entered this reptile area because there are many species like pythons or crocodiles that seem very dangerous, but after the guide explained in detail about the names and characteristics of these animals, the children became excited again, realizing that they were not as scary as they thought.
Saltwater Fish Area
The next stop on the journey to explore Thủy cung Times city right after the reptile cave is the saltwater fish area. When you arrive at the saltwater fish area, you will have the chance to admire the adorable and mischievous penguins originating from the southwestern coast of Africa. Here, the penguins will have their own island with an environment similar to their homeland, they will be nurtured in a special care system with artificial nests designed for pairing and breeding. Furthermore, when visiting the saltwater fish area, you can take souvenir photos with the fairytale “mermaid” at Thủy cung. Information about marine creatures can be easily looked up through a modern touch screen and LCD system.
Moreover, you will immerse yourself in the deep blue Ocean space with a 90m long arched tunnel filled with a variety of colorful fish species with bizarre body shapes like the Devil fish, Needlefish, Ribbonfish mainly living in waters of China and Japan; the Angel fish from tropical seas of the Indian Ocean – Pacific Ocean… or the “ocean predators” like the Great white shark; Giant grouper, Electric ray… and hundreds of other fascinating fish and marine creatures living together to create a miniature Ocean right in the heart of Hanoi.
Specimen exhibition area
With the support of 3D lighting technology, you can admire over 200 models of aquatic species from around the world at this exhibition area. This is also an opportunity for you to deepen your knowledge and learn more about underwater animals for yourself and your family. Isn’t that very useful?
In a magical light space with an interesting behind-the-scenes film, you will have special experiences and create unforgettable impressions for visitors. The displayed models here are very diverse, including corals, fish, snails, penguins… all made from living organisms through chemical processing. With such a realistic experience, visitors, especially children, will surely enjoy it here.
See more: 10 Must-Try Foods When Traveling to Hanoi 2019
Programs at Times City Aquarium
After enjoying watching the colorful fish in the tank and feeling intrigued by the reptiles, when you visit Times City Aquarium, you can also immerse yourself in unique art performances that change regularly according to different themes at various times such as:
-Photo with Mascots: this is the first activity that visitors to Vinpearl Times City experience, which takes place at 4 different times during the day and lasts for 15 minutes: specifically at 9:45, 14:45, 16:30, 19:45 daily. With this activity, children can pose next to mischievous and fun Mascots, such as Panda, dolphin, Mario, Alvin the chipmunk… these are all familiar characters associated with the childhood of the little ones. Therefore, every child who comes here must have some cute photos with those mascots, everyone’s faces are very happy and radiant.
–Aquarium Discovery Tour: the aquarium consists of 4 zones as Cuong mentioned above, so the time to explore this entire area is longer than usual, the Vinpearl Aquarium discovery tour will last for 45 minutes. This activity will take place from 10:00 – 21:00, with a discovery tour every hour.
–Koi fish feeding show: This show takes place from 14:00 to 14:15. After completing a tour of the aquarium, children will have the opportunity to experience feeding the Koi fish in real life. At this point, the guides will release the food for the fish. This scene is truly fascinating, Cuong sees the schools of fish eagerly coming to the surface to eat, the children are very excited to watch this scene, all gather around the fish tank to see the fish feeding. Moreover, the children can even feed the fish directly, surely this will be a memorable experience for them.
–Program to learn about the meals of turtles: This is also an interesting experience when visiting Thuy Cung Times City that you shouldn’t miss. When participating in this program, you will gain more knowledge about the eating habits of turtles through the explanations of the guides, thereby expanding your knowledge about the animal world. Cuong notes that this activity only takes place at a specific time during the day, which is from 16:15 to 16:30, lasting only 15 minutes, so try to stay to experience this program, it will definitely not disappoint you.
–Reptile Show, Getting to Know Reptiles: Honestly, Cuong is eagerly looking forward to this show the most, do you know why? Because Cuong likes species like snakes, lizards… so when seeing a performance featuring these animals, Cuong really enjoys it. Coming to this show, you not only get to admire the golden snakes, lizards on the trainer’s shoulders, but also experience the real feeling of having them on your shoulder. It’s very interesting, you see, they may look dangerous but they are actually quite gentle, under the control of the trainer, these animals are very friendly. Cuong even let one climb on his shoulder, the initial feeling was a bit scary but after getting used to it, it was really enjoyable. The duration of this performance is 30 minutes, from 16:30-17:00.
–Art performance show “Ocean Dance”: Cuong was a bit disappointed with this performance show, because when you hear “ocean dance” you would expect a large group of performers, right? But here, there were only 3 people, so it was a bit underwhelming and lacking. Hopefully, Vinpearl Times City will improve this performance to be more grand and unique in the future to provide the audience with a better experience. This show takes place at 10:30 and 17:00, and lasts for 30 minutes.
–Flashmob performance show: Similar to the ocean dance performance show, the Flashmob performance show also only consists of 3 people performing. I found it a bit monotonous and not very impressive.
–Penguin feeding show: with 3 time slots during the day: 10:00-10:15, 15:00-15:15, 19:30-19:45, this is also an activity that attracts a lot of audience participation. When the guide brought the food, the penguins were already lined up waiting to eat, which looked very cute. What I liked was how organized the penguins were, they didn’t push or cut in line, each one took their turn to receive the food and then the next one, very polite. The kids watching also clapped and cheered a lot.
–Show displaying feeding sharks and rays: The show starts at 10:30 and 17:00, each show lasts for 15 minutes. In this show, you can also admire the sharks and rays swimming one by one to the feeding spot. One ray is enough for a meal, but sharks need 2-3 rays at a time. The fish are very disciplined like penguins, they do not push or rush to the food, but rather follow the order of one fish eating and then the next. It’s like everyone has their turn.
–Mermaid underwater performance show: This show is more diverse, it takes place at 4 different times during the day so you don’t have to worry about missing it, those times are at 11:00, 15:30, 17:30, 20:00. This activity only lasts for 10 minutes so make sure to watch the whole interesting performance. An interesting point of this show is that our mermaids do not need the support of breathing tubes or other underwater equipment, after 2-3 minutes they will come up to the surface to breathe, then dive back down and perform for the audience, with very impressive dances. They wave goodbye and even pick up trash in the tank as a message to everyone to be conscious about protecting the natural environment and marine ecosystem.
–Photo with the mermaid, sea prince: After watching the mermaid performance, children will have the opportunity to take photos with the mermaid and sea prince next to the mysterious clamshell. This activity will last for 20 minutes, so children should stay calm and capture the most beautiful photos.
–Tour visiting the specimen exhibition area: Starting at 10:15 daily, lasting for 45 minutes, the tour visiting the specimen exhibition area is quite impressive. You will be guided to each displayed specimen and explained about it, so everyone will gain valuable knowledge about the natural world. To have a complete journey visiting Vinpearl Aquarium Times city, do not miss this tour.
Fun activities right inside Times City for kids to have a blast all day
1. Playing at VinKE Times City entertainment area
The journey to explore the aquarium is not over yet, Cuong will take you to visit another fun and exciting entertainment area called VinKE Times City.After a long journey with many new and exciting things at the aquarium, the educational entertainment area VinKE quickly attracts many customers, becoming an attractive destination on weekends. The ticket prices for VinKE depend on height, ranging from 120k – 150k per ticket on normal days and 170k – 200k per ticket on holidays. Children under 80cm tall are free, while guardians pay 50k per ticket.
With a total area of up to 6,000 m2, VinKE creates a space for play and learning for children with a series of experiential play areas to explore interesting professions for children to get acquainted with, self-study, and discover knowledge about professions and the world around them. The fun experiences with play areas include: Fire Station, Hospital, Police Station, Military Academy, Dance Club, Creative World, TV Station, Post Office… stimulating the curiosity and passion for exploration and learning of the little ones. Here, children will explore and absorb knowledge about their favorite professions by pretending to be employees working in the fire station, hospital, restaurant, company. This gives them the opportunity to be exposed to various professions, choose their own purpose, and suitable direction for themselves.If you bring children to VinKE for the purpose of playing and entertainment, the game area and creative physical activities such as mazes, bumper cars, and conquering heights are places for families to have fun together. Furthermore, parents can rest assured because the play equipment at VinKE meets international safety standards and there are always professional staff with rich knowledge ready to help when needed.
One special thing about VinKE is the Elance Chocolate world. Modeled after the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” kids will surely be thrilled to come here. In addition, they will learn more about the history and production process of delicious food, see with their own eyes a giant 3.5m tall chocolate waterfall or cute-shaped chocolate bars. On special occasions such as International Children’s Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, or Christmas… kids will participate in many fun programs organized by VinKE. They will dress up as characters from fairy tales, make cakes, lanterns, masks… Besides fun educational programs for children, VinKE also organizes many programs for parents about educating young children, guiding and developing their potential, or handling common situations between parents and children.
2. Shopping at Vincom supermarket
When visiting the modern Times City urban area, you cannot miss out on shopping activities. Vincom Mega Mall Times City is a true paradise for shopping enthusiasts. With a scale of over 82,000m2, this is where hundreds of high-end fashion, jewelry, perfume, and furniture brands are gathered… famous domestically and internationally. Specifically, with over 300 furniture and fashion – accessory stalls, you will not miss the opportunity to beautify your home, family, and yourself, this will surely be the ideal destination for our housewives.
3. Watching movies at CGV cinema
Another fun point that you should not miss when visiting the Times City aquarium is watching movies at the CGV cinema, especially for movie lovers. Located on B2 floor, Vincom Mega Mall, CGV cinema attracts many young people to not only watch movies but also to enjoy taking photos for social media.
4. Taking an electric train tour around Vincom Times City
I’ll let you in on a secret, in Vincom Times City, there is an electric train service to tour around the shopping center. Families with young children will love this activity because the electric train is smooth and convenient for moving around.
5. Reading and buying books at the bookstore
Did you know that there is a bookstore in Times City? I suggest that after visiting the Times City aquarium, you can visit the Tan Viet bookstore on the B1 basement floor of Times City, where there are many types of books and various souvenirs that you can buy as gifts.
What to eat at the Times City aquarium?
After completing a tour of the Vinpearland aquarium, your stomach must be growling, right? So why wait, let’s explore the delicious food at Times City with Cuong. At Times City aquarium, specifically at the octopus stage, there is a small counter selling snacks such as popcorn, milk, popcorn, soft drinks, mineral water, sausages… so if you feel hungry during your journey, you can stop by this counter. In addition, the counter also sells souvenirs, so if you want to buy something as a gift, it’s convenient. If you are in a large group, you can consider some of the following restaurants and eateries in the Times City urban area with good quality:
1. Korean street barbecue hotpot buffet never goes out of style at K-Pub
K-Pub – the paradise of “fun grilling meat” from Korea is here. At K-Pub, you can recharge and enjoy the atmosphere of a real Korean street pub. The menu is easy to order with combos named by size such as a large barrel for 4-6 people, a small barrel for 2-4 people, or buffet options, ordering dishes according to your needs. The meats are placed on long wooden boards up to 1m long, looking very unique. You can choose from pork, beef, seafood with impressive names like fresh rolled American beef belly; spicy baby octopus; K-Pub beef brisket; honey glazed American beef belly. The meat portions are thickly sliced and evenly marinated to deeply absorb the spices inside and still maintain sweetness and tenderness when enjoyed.
Price range: 150,000 – 250,000 VND/person
2. King BBQ – No. 16, Street 3 – Basement 1, Times City Shopping Mall, 458 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung District
As one of the leading culinary brands in Vietnam, King BBQ is known as the “King of Korean BBQ” with the exclusive “King sauce” formula created by a famous chef with over 40 years of experience in research and cooking.
Price range: 200,000 – 350,000 VND/person
3. ThaiExpress – No. 18, Street 3 – Basement 1, Times City Shopping Mall, 458 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung District
If you are a fan of Thai cuisine, you must visit this Thai restaurant named ThaiExpress. Here, you can enjoy a variety of authentic Thai specialties, from appetizers to main dishes, all with the true flavors of Thailand that will make you feel like you are in the land of the Golden Temple.
Price range: 210,000 – 250,000 VND/person
4. Al Fresco’s – No. 6, Street 9 – Basement 1, Times City Shopping Mall, 458 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung District
Present in Vietnam since as early as 1996, Al Fresco’s is like a romantic corner of Europe, standing out and attracting attention among the restaurants in Times City. The space and food carry a strong touch of modern European tradition, elegance.
5. East Sea Seafood – Lot 22, Street 3, Basement 1 Times City Shopping Mall, 458 Minh Khai, District Hai Ba Trung
As one of the most popular restaurants in Times City attracting a large number of discerning diners, East Sea Seafood is famous far and wide for its range of fresh seafood from common to high-end, both local and international, with prices ranging from: 250,000 – 350,000 VND/person
6. Thiên Di Quán – T6 Times City, 458 Minh Khai, District Hai Ba Trung
Times City is indeed one of the leading shopping centers in Hanoi. That’s why the restaurants and eateries in Times City are diverse and bustling. Thiên Di Quán stands out with its distinctive Hong Kong culinary style, bringing the authentic taste of China.
Price range: 200,000 – 300,000 VND per person
See more: Things to Know When Eating in Hanoi to Avoid Overspending
Some Notes When Visiting Thủy Cung Times City
– Do not bring weapons, flammable items, or pets into the play areas.
– Do not use flashlights in areas with signs in Thủy Cung; and do not use cameras or video recorders for commercial purposes.
– Thủy Cung does not offer storage services for visitors, so if you are visiting for the day, it’s advisable to bring a backpack for convenience, or if you are driving, remember to leave your belongings in the car for easy access.
– If you wish to buy souvenirs, there is a souvenir shop in the main aquarium area of Thủy Cung with a variety of gift items for you.
– Thủy Cung is open for visitors from Monday to Sunday every week. The opening hours are from 9:30 am to 10:00 pm.
– You can spend a weekend day at Time City following this itinerary: Be here at 9:30 am, visit and shop at showrooms, bookstores, or watch a movie as a suggestion.
– At 1:30 pm, head to Thủy Cung to buy tickets and start exploring. The itinerary Cuồng has researched and experienced is as follows: At 2 pm, watch the koi fish feeding, as it only happens once a day, usually with a guide waiting for visitors. After that, join the guided tour of the aquarium. After the tour, watch the penguin feeding show, a Flashmod performance, then the mermaid show, followed by getting acquainted with the animals, and the turtle feeding show. Once the turtles are fed, watch the shark and stingray feeding show, then the ocean dance, and finally the specimen tour.
– It’s recommended to visit Thủy Cung Times City on weekdays to avoid the weekend crowds, as tickets are cheaper and less crowded.
– Note that you cannot bring food into Thủy Cung Times City, but you can purchase food at the Octopus Stage area at the end of the aquarium, with prices ranging from 15,000 VND and up.
– At Thủy Cung Times City, you can conveniently pay with card for all services.
Thủy Cung Vinpearland Times City is not just a place for entertainment but also an educational tour destination. Besides marveling at the diverse and colorful marine life, tourists visiting Thủy Cung Times City have the opportunity to participate in educational tours designed for various groups, especially students, to provide enriching and captivating knowledge about the ocean world. With the information Cuồng has shared, we hope it will help you in your upcoming Hanoi trip, visiting Thủy Cung Times City, and have the best experience at this attractive Hanoi tourist destination.
