As the industry prepares to return to China for IAAPA Expo Asia, ProSlide examines highlights and trends for APAC waterparks
interview by Martin Palicki
Waterparks in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region experienced rapid growth during the 2010s. After a pandemic-related slowdown, the parks are back, reinvesting and expanding. Though China has long been the dominant player in the market, new hot spots are emerging, including Vietnam. Water attractions manufacturer ProSlide has played an important role in the recovery and recently opened four projects in the region: Sầm Sơn and Hà Nam in Vietnam, as well as OCT Yueqing Maya (scheduled to open summer of 2025) and an expansion at Chimelong Water Park, both located in China.
We asked two ProSlide leaders for their takes on the region, and what makes these new projects notable. Steve Avery is ProSlide’s Vice President of Business Development and focuses on Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Ray Smegal is ProSlide’s Chief Commercial Officer and specializes in the Chinese market.
What are some of the trends for waterparks in the APAC region, and Vietnam in particular?
Steve Avery (SA): There are industry trends and water ride trends. On the industry side, waterparks are increasingly becoming anchors within larger mixed- use developments with attractions designed to appeal to both domestic and international guests. We also see parks investing more in immersive theming and storylines to elevate the guest experience. When designing these parks and attractions, we consider the theme and storyline first – often turning to local folklore and traditional architecture for inspiration. Parks in the region are also moving towards more night operations and incorporating live entertainment in their parks.
In Vietnam, we are seeing more parks move to year-round operations as well as the addition of more indoor waterparks. Larger, mixed-use developments and resorts are expanding, often anchored by waterparks, theme parks and FECs. For example, Hà Nam is a 1,000-hectare development that includes a waterpark, cultural and historical exhibits, commercial, residential, as well as a theme park. There is a growing middle class in Vietnam with a younger population, so both parks and water rides are being designed with a focus on the multigenerational family dynamic.
On the water ride side, we are seeing a trend for larger and more state-of-the-art water coasters like our ProSlide Dueling RocketBLAST, as well as competitive racing rides like our RallyRACER. And we can’t forget the kids! We’re seeing a lot more focus and investment in kids’ attractions. When China first started building parks they seemed to focus on the large attractions, and now the established parks are creating smaller versions of the big rides for kids to experience.
Talk about your work on Sầm Sơn park and what makes it notable.
SA: Sầm Sơn was initially designed to open all at once, but due to the pandemic it was split into three phases. Phase One launched in June 2024, and we helped bring Phase Two to life in April 2025.
What sets this park apart is the sheer scale and ambition behind its ride offering. Sầm Sơn is designed to appeal to local and regional guests who come to the area by the millions to enjoy the beaches. It does not currently have a big international draw. So, we knew a broad suite of water rides and compelling theming were needed to drive demand. They really have one of the most impressive collections of ProSlide attractions spread across each phase.
Sầm Sơn’s look and feel are inspired by the “Birth of Earth and Water,” with architecture, landscaping, and ride design reflecting this legend and nature’s balance.
Among its marquee attractions are the region’s tallest TornadoWAVE 60 and BehemothBOWL 60, plus the region’s first KIDZ TornadoWAVE and PowerRIVER Generation 2. The Phase Two launch added even more excitement, with a MammothBLAST, Dueling PIPEline, two FreeFALLs, and two exhilarating SkyBOX features for the park’s most daring guests.
Hà Nam is going to be Vietnam’s first nighttime waterpark. How do you design for that?
SA: When you know a park will operate at night from the start, you design pathways, walkways and trees so that guests can navigate them safely and easily at night. We include more clear or translucent fiberglass for the slides (which allows more light to enter inside the ride) so guests can anticipate the drops and turns along with thematic lighting for the exteriors. We can also incorporate LED lighting inside the slide that can change with the beat of the music. Experiencing a waterpark at night is a very unique experience as compared to traditional daytime operations. Night operations provide a unique opportunity to incorporate thematic lighting into the design which dramatically elevates the park experience at night. For Hà Nam, we worked hand in hand with the park’s design team and our channel partners to come up with the final solution that really must be experienced in person.
Hà Nam has a cultural component. Can you talk about how you integrated that into the attractions?
SA: The park is based on the cultural tradition of water puppets that is popular in the region. They shared the theme and storyline with us early on so we were able to design the colors for all the rides to fit within that theme. Each ride complex has a unique color and style to it, from the roof all the way down to the ground. Our RideHouse 600 is heavily themed to incorporate the characters of the water puppet show, including the legendary Chú Tễu narrator character. We see the color and theming across the entire suite of rides, which spans more than 10 complexes, including the PowerRIVER Generation 2, Dueling RocketBLAST, BehemothBOWL 60 and TORNADO 60, and OctopusRACER. Essentially, the park developed a custom IP based on the history and folklore of the town of Hà Nam. It’s really stunning.
What does the future hold for the waterpark market in Vietnam?
SA: Vietnam’s waterpark market represents one of the most competitive landscapes in the APAC region, which forces operators to continuously create unique experiences for their guests. Over the next five to 10 years, I expect Vietnam will continue pushing boundaries and challenging us as manufacturers to exceed expectations while constantly innovating to keep pace with growing demand.
We’re already seeing increasingly technologically advanced parks throughout Vietnam and the broader APAC region. There’s a new era of opportunity emerging as Vietnam rises on the global stage, and ProSlide is positioned to continue supporting their ambitious vision.
What sets Vietnam apart in the regional market is their sophisticated understanding that world-class waterparks require more than just great water rides. Vietnamese operators recognize that exceptional guest experiences demand safety, excellent theming/storylines, customer service, thoughtful landscaping with natural vegetation, quality food and beverage offerings, and impeccable cleanliness standards. This approach to park development is what’s driving Vietnam’s leadership position in the market and creating such exciting opportunities for continued growth and innovation.
Speaking of China, you have two projects opening there: an expansion at Chimelong Water Park and the grand opening of OCT Yueqing Maya. Share with us your perspective on the Chinese waterpark market today.
Ray Smegal (RS): The Chinese market slowed down during the pandemic, so I think we are now entering a great and promising phase of their rebound. Last year we saw big attendance numbers in parks, so I anticipate a great summer season for China.
Looking at Chimelong, there are several “firsts” at this installation. Can you talk about what those are and why they are important in the Chinese market?
RS: China is one of the most futuristic cultures in the world. It’s a market that craves innovation. For Chimelong it was important that they had highly marketable firsts that also provided exceptional experiences and added capacity. This expansion includes the world’s first Family HIVE (HIVE 35). We also installed the first HydroMAGNETIC MAMMOTH LIM coaster with a flat launch. The acceleration and the speed are amazing. Finally, we built our first Double TORNADO 60. Chimelong has had a TORNADO 60 for nearly 20 years and it’s the most popular ride in the park, so they said, “Let’s add two more!”
Chimelong Water Park is the most attended waterpark in the world [based on the 2023 AECOM Theme Index]. How did you address capacity for such a popular waterpark?
RS: We are fortunate that Mr. Su [Chimelong Group chairman/founder] and the Chimelong team take capacity issues very seriously. It was a big discussion during the design phase, particularly with the HydroMAGNETIC MAMMOTH family coaster. Capacity was designed into the ride from the beginning. China has strict regulations about dispatch intervals and raft spacing, so a lot of planning went into maximizing the potential throughput. The coaster has 10 rafts in operation simultaneously and three rafts being boosted – also simultaneously – up various hills. It’s a complex attraction, but the technology behind the HydroMAGNETIC system has matured and is incredibly reliable.
Turning to OCT Yueqing Maya, can you talk about the project’s delay?
RS: The pandemic paused several projects, which were also impacted by China’s financial and real estate crises. OCT Happy Valley group is a premier operator of waterparks in China. They emerged from the setbacks quite strong and we were very lucky to stay close to them during that period. Essentially, the project was put on pause. We are excited to be back and helping open this new park.
How important is theming in the Chinese market?
RS: Theming is a central component of Chinese waterparks and helps differentiate them from one another. Both OCT and Chimelong honor Chinese culture and develop themes that are approachable and fun, while remaining unique.
They also are very intentional about the orientation of rides and how they fit into the overall landscape. For example, at Chimelong, the HydroMAGNETIC coaster was originally to be built low to the ground for easier access, but during the design process the decision was made to raise it 15-20 meters and position it above this beautiful forest. It is iconic, eye-catching and it absolutely fits into the space and the park. •
