Discover the three-day itinerary for exploring Sentosa Island in Singapore

Try out thrilling adventures or engage with dolphins - perfect experiences for your children this summer.

Discover the three-day itinerary for exploring Sentosa Island in Singapore

Ms. Minh Thư, residing in Hanoi, recently embarked on a journey to explore Sentosa Island in Singapore with her daughter. Below is her account of the three-day trip.

Sentosa, an island situated off the southern coast of Singapore, once hosted the historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. There are now numerous direct flights from Vietnam to Singapore operated by various domestic and international airlines.

Departing from Hanoi, I opted for a Vietnam Airlines flight scheduled for 10:30 AM. If booked in advance, round-trip fares from Hanoi are approximately over 5 million VND.

Day 1

Opting for accommodation at the luxurious Hard Rock Hotel, I indulged in its premium design, embodying the global standards across all its establishments. This hotel is a fusion of fashion, rock and roll vibes, and impeccable 5-star quality.

The hotel offers Limousine service for airport transfers. After completing customs procedures and collecting luggage, we were chauffeured back to the hotel. Room rates here average around 5.5 million VND, inclusive of airport transfers.

Sentosa Island boasts 6 hotels, with over 1,500 rooms. The most exceptional is the Ocean Suite overlooking the world's largest aquarium. The Tree Top Loft is a 12-meter-high treehouse. Additionally, there's a large saltwater pool where my daughter, Vân, was joyfully engaged from afternoon till closing.

After frolicking in the hotel's pool, both my daughter and I decided to explore the Malaysian street food district. Located within the hotel premises, it's only a 5-minute walk. There's a variety of affordable dishes like stir-fried noodles, chicken rice, spare ribs rice, fried rice, and wonton noodles, perfect for dinner.

Day 2

Typically, Universal Studios Singapore (USS) opens at 10 am daily and closes at 7 pm. However, the opening and closing times may vary depending on the season. Adult tickets range from 76 SGD (1,2 million VND) for ages 12 to under 60, children aged 4 to under 12 are 56 SGD (950,000 VND), seniors aged 60 and above are 38 SGD (640,000 VND), and children under 4 enter for free.

Depending on your preferences and needs, you can choose from gentle or thrilling rides. For instance, if you're accompanying young children, you might opt for A Crate Adventure in the Madagascar zone. You and the kids will embark on a boat ride through an artificial waterway inside a ship. Alternatively, you could try the high-speed mini coaster AirWays or catch the 4D film Sherk at FarFarAway building.

As a fan of adrenaline-pumping rides, you should test your limits with Canopy Flyer or Water World in the Lost World zone (Dinosaur zone). If the high-flying Canopy Flyer leaves you screaming, Water World will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions with its action-packed live shows. The Line Cyclon ride offers even more excitement with its twisted design, where the safety harness will secure your torso while your legs dangle freely.

Additionally, within the amusement park premises, there are numerous eateries and cafes. To save on expenses, you can bring a plastic bottle to refill with free water at the entrances of restroom areas, as a bottle of water inside the park can cost up to 8 SGD (approximately 136,000 VND).

According to regulations, outside food is not allowed in USS. Staff members will inspect your backpacks. To avoid long queues in USS and have enough time to experience all the rides, you may consider purchasing an Express pass, priced between 30 and 70 SGD (500,000 – 1,1 million VND), depending on the day.

In the evening, I treated my daughter to dinner at a Teppan restaurant, a 'super hot' spot with Michelin-starred chefs. The restaurant only has 3 rooms, each with 7 seats. The dishes here are meticulously prepared and cater to Asian palates. Lunch prices start from 78 SGD (1,3 million VND), and dinner from 188 SGD (3,1 million VND).

Day 3

Making the most of our final day in Singapore, my daughter and I eagerly headed to Dolphin Island early in the morning. Here, visitors can have up-close experiences with the well-trained dolphins.

There are over 20 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins nurtured in 11 interconnected large pools. Every day, the dolphins consume around 160 kg of high-quality imported food from countries like the USA, Canada, etc. The water is also crystal clear, allowing for easy observation of these adorable creatures' swimming activities.

If you wish to engage in dolphin-friendly activities such as petting, touching, playing, and receiving friendly kisses from them, you must wear a full-body swimsuit and refrain from carrying hard objects to avoid scratching the dolphins' skin before entering the water. Each group will be divided into small groups of about 3 – 4 people. You will receive instructions from the trainer on how to interact with the dolphins to ensure their safety.

Before entering the dolphin enclosure, the trainer will thoroughly guide you through a stuffed dolphin toy to ensure both you and the dolphin remain safe. There are 3 packages available for visitors to choose from to experience this. The half-hour package costs around 90 SGD (1.5 million VND).

By noon, after thoroughly enjoying our time with the dolphins, we checked out and were driven to the airport to fly back to Hanoi. Currently, the check-in counter for Vietnam Airlines is located at Terminal 4 (Gate 4), a newly constructed area where self-check-in is available.

By Minh Thư/Vnexpress

***

Reference: Travel guide Mytour