TOP Best Things to do in Hanoi with KIDS – Recommended for Family

TOP Best Things to do & Kids friendly activities in Hanoi

Is Hanoi a kid-friendly city? This is one of the most frequently-asked inquiries many families have when preparing a vacation to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

It’s wonderful to take your kids to explore Hanoi with you! Hanoi is a beautiful city with a tonne of fascinating street foods, rich culture and many museums, temples to discover. However, traveling here might be still a little challenging, so before visiting Hanoi, you should do a little research on this city.

With many years of expertise organizing family vacations, Hanoi Explore Travel understands your wonders when traveling to the capital and gives you a comprehensive list of activities to do with kids in this vibrant city.

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The list includes not only must-see tourist destinations but also engaging activities that will encourage your children to play and learn together. Things to do in Hanoi will be covered in 2 main parts:

• Fun and energetic activities to do with kids
• Family-friendly attractions

Let’s start our exploration of family-friendly activities in Hanoi with a few kid-friendly attractions!

Fun and engaging activities to do with kids in Hanoi

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Take a cyclo

Besides walking around the center of Hanoi, taking a cyclo is also another great alternative. For small children, the routes around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi French Quarter or Hanoi Old Quarter are quite long. Cyclo is easily accessible, so you can take a cyclo to ensure your child doesn’t get too tired on the trip.

Note: You should negotiate with the cyclo drivers in advance or book a Hanoi Cyclo Tour to get the best price.

Watching the water puppet show

• Opening time: 03:00, 04:10, 05:20, 06:30, 08:00 every afternoon and evening
• Address: 57B, Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Price: From 100.000 VND/ticket to 200.000VND/ticket

Watching a water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is a unique and enjoyable experience for kids and adults alike. With puppets gliding smoothly over water, puppet shows narrate traditional Vietnamese folk tales and folklore.

Note: It’s advisable to purchase your tickets in advance because they frequently sell out.

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Making pottery in Bat Trang pottery village

There are numerous craft villages all around Hanoi, each specializing in a different craft. You can find traditional furniture, ceramics, bronze, silk, and even snakes in these villages.

Located 13 kilometers southeast of Hanoi, Bat Trang pottery village is a great choice for any ceramics enthusiast.

Coming to Bat Trang village, you can find potters busy working with clay, loading kilns, cutting, and glazing pots. Your kids will be able to learn and create things of their own. You can also bring the product home in addition to that.

>>> You might want to Get Free Your Itinerary in Hanoi

Watch IONAH Show Hanoi

• Opening time: 08:00 pm every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
• Address: 87 Lang Ha Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi
• Price: 500.000 – 800.000 VND/ticket

By fusing electronic music with traditional Vietnamese music, IONAH Show creates a whole new musical space. Each actor in iONAH has a unique costume with sophisticated details made just for them.

Circus performances are blended together with other distinctive art forms, contemporary 3D technology, and extraordinary stage effects. You and your kids will undoubtedly be really pleased with iONAH’s performance.

Note:

• Discounts are applied for children and those purchasing two or four tickets.
• A 10% discount is available for online ticket purchases.

Have fun at West Lake water park

• Opening time: Usually from 08:00 am – 09:00 pm
• Address: Ho Tay Water Park No.614, Lane 612, Lac Long Quan, Nhat Tan, Tay Ho District, Hanoi

When visiting Vietnam during the sweltering summer, your kids might not want to miss the water park.

West Lake Water Park offers everything from swimming pools and lazy rivers to different games like roller coasters and ferris wheels, which definitely makes your kids excited ! When the entire family spends quality time in the refreshing water, isn’t it amazing?

Note: You can either bring swimwear or rent it at the water park for you and your kids.

Kid-friendly attractions in Hanoi

Discover vibrant shops in Hanoi’s Old Quarter

The 36 commercial streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi are well-known for being home to many shops selling original Vietnamese goods.

Walking along the street together will undoubtedly give your family plenty of opportunities to talk and share many things. The Old Quarter in Hanoi is filled with colorful stores and boutiques that are sure to grab your child’s attention.

Note:

• Since it requires a lot of walking, it’s best to prepare comfortable clothes and sneakers for your children.
• In order to protect yourself from the intense summer sun, remember to pack a hat and apply sunscreen.

Take part in children’s folk games in Hoan Kiem lake

In Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is a great destination for families with kids. The lake provides a calm and beautiful environment despite being in the middle of the metropolis. Children can play folk games in Hoan Kiem Lake on weekends, and it’s a nice spot for them to run around and play.

In addition to the lake, children can engage in a variety of activities in the surrounding areas. There are also some street performances and street vendors selling toys, snacks, and souvenirs.

Remember to grab a picture of Hanoi’s most well-known landmark, the Turtle Tower, which is located in the middle of the lake. Take your kids to Hoan Kiem Lake for a fun day enjoying the fresh air. It’s a fantastic way to spend quality time together and get away from the bustle of the city.

Note: It will be most enjoyable if you can go on Saturday or Sunday when traffic is prohibited to create pedestrian streets, so many activities take place at this time.

Learn more about Vietnam at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

• Opening time: 08:30 am – 05:30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday
• Address: Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi

Children can learn about the many cultures and ethnic groups that make up Vietnam through the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Traditional attire, practices, and artifacts from around the nation are on show in the museum. Additionally, there is a kid-friendly play area with traditional games and activities for kids to engage in.

Note:

• Entrance fee is free for children under 6 years old.
• English-speaking and French-speaking tour guides are available for the required additional fee.
• Daily water puppet performances take place at 10:00 a.m, 11:30 a.m, 2:30 p.m and 4:00 p.m with a maximum price of $4 per person.

Visit the Vietnam Military History Museum

Located in a convenient location, this national museum requires an entrance fee of 20,000 VND for children and 40,000 VND for adults, which is equivalent to just over $1–2 USD per person. Since most of the exploration time is spent indoors, it’s a great option for both hot and rainy days in Hanoi.

The museum is home to a sizable collection of artifacts and displays about the ancient tribes of Vietnam, the roughly 100-year French occupation, and the war that put an end to that time. As you might expect, there is also a tonne of information, equipment, and weapons from the Vietnam War.

Explore Vietnamese history and culture through different tourist attractions

Temple of Literature

• Opening time: 07:30 – 06:00 (summertime) | 08:00 am – 06:00 (wintertime)
• Address: 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Temple of Literature is the first university in Vietnam. Coming here, your kids will learn a great deal about Vietnamese history, educational culture, and Buddhist culture.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see a lot of new graduates coming here to take photos and celebrate their graduation.

Note:

• Both you and your child should dress in appropriate clothes, no shorts or hats.
• Entrance fee is free for children under 15 years old.

Hoa Lo prison

• Opening time: 08:00 – 17:00, every day.
• Address: 1 Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

You are undoubtedly familiar with Hoa Lo prison, often known as the Hanoi Hilton, as American inmates frequently refer to it.

You may take your kids on a tour of the jail where they can see life-sized mannequins that portray the dreadful lives that the inmates had to lead and learn about the Vietnam War. Tour guides are easily accessible at Hoa Lo prison. To help you grasp the full history of this location, panels and films are also exhibited in every part of the Hoa Lo Prison.

Note:

• Remember to dress appropriately and smartly for both you and your child, no shorts or hats.
• It might not be appropriate for small children or children with a heart problem.

Ecopark urban area

This planned township is situated roughly 15 kilometers from the heart of Hanoi. There are lots of kid-friendly attractions in the town, such as a petting zoo, indoor play area, and water park. There are several pools, waterslides, and a lazy river in the water park.

The indoor play area features a ball pit, trampolines, and climbing apparatuses. Goats, chickens, and rabbits are among the many animals in the petting zoo. Ecopark Township also has several restaurants and cafes, making it a great place to spend a day with the family. The town is easily reached by taxi or private car.

The Botanical Garden in Hanoi

• Opening time: 06:00 – 21:00, every day.
• Address: No.3 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Ngoc Ha Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Hanoi Botanical Garden is a miniature landscape of mountains, forests and lakes. There are many exotic plant species typical of the southern humid rain forests you can find here.

This is an amazing chance for you to get your kids outside and in the great outdoors, away from the screens of electronic devices.

Visitors to Hanoi Botanical Garden are responsible for not damaging plants here.

Wear comfortable clothing, shoes, and spray bug repellent if your family is heading to the park.

Some suggestions for kid-friendly restaurants and food establishments in Hanoi

Trang Tien Ice Cream

Are you looking for an enjoyable thing to do with your family? If so, you should think about having some great ice cream at Trang Tien Hanoi. With a wide range of flavors and toppings offered, you can easily choose one to enjoy.

While there, you also can have memorable memories with your loved ones, immerse yourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the city, and strike up conversations with locals. Take advantage of this wonderful chance to indulge in sweets and fully engage your family in Hanoi culture!

Surf’n’ Fries

• Address: No. 27, Nha Chung street, Hang Trong ward, Hoan Kiem district.
• Opening hours: 9:30 – 22:00
• Reference price: 30,000 – 150,000 VND.

Though it’s been open for a short while, many families select Surf’n’ Fries since it is a restaurant with a children’s play area. The restaurant specializes in serving fast food such as french fries, fried chicken with a unique incredibly-tasty sauce. The children’s play area is also very cutely designed with the main pink color tone, including a slide game that is very safe for children.

Banh mi 25

• Address: No.25 Hang Ca street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

With thousands of excellent reviews, Banh Mi 25 is one of Hanoi’s most well-known banh mi restaurants. There is plenty of space here, making it the perfect place for kids. Banh Mi 25’s menu offers a wide variety of alternatives, including vegetarian, chicken, beef, and pork options. In addition, this shop offers a wide variety of freshly squeezed juices and mouth-watering handcrafted ice creams. Children may always choose from a variety of dishes at Banh Mi 25.

Phu Cuong rice paper rolls

• Address: No.340, Ba Trieu street, Hai Ba Trung district
• Hotline: 024.3333.5533 – 0373.340. 340

A well-known restaurant chain, Phu Cuong rice paper rolls is known for its affordable menu with a variety of Vietnamese cuisine flavors. The restaurant’s distinct flavor, especially, is reflected in the rice paper rolls with pork and herbs.

With a spacious space imbued with Hanoi streets full of ancient features, the motifs used to decorate the restaurants recreate the traditions and culture of ancient Hanoi, evoking a cozy and intimate feeling. Each facility has cozy private rooms and a play area for children.

Best tours for family in Hanoi

Hanoi French Old Quarter Tour

Ice cream found in the middle of the neighborhood may delight children greatly. Additionally, there are some lovely cafes in the French Quarter where you can learn about its history while kids can ask lots of questions. With its big streets, the French Quarter is a great choice for families with children.

Join a Cooking Classes

Traditional cuisine in Hanoi and throughout Vietnam is extremely diverse, making this place a culinary paradise for international tourists. If you are ever in Vietnam and would like to learn more about the culture and local way of life by making these traditional dishes yourself, we highly recommend taking one of our cooking classes in Hanoi.

This is a great way for families with young children to spend quality time together while learning more about Vietnamese culinary and experiencing lovely cultural activities. Vietnamese food is full of flavor and variety that will definitely satisfy parents and kids of all ages.

Hanoi Street Food Walking  Tour

For kids, a fun stroll with our knowledgeable local tour guide may make for a fantastic experience when they visit Hanoi.

If your family is fond of Vietnamese street cuisine, join a Hanoi Walking food Tour or consider scheduling a kid-friendly Hanoi Old Quarter Tour! We are confident that your entire family will have a lot of fun with these activities.

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In addition, you can refer to 1-day tours from Hanoi that are suitable for families or weekend getaways.

<<< Top 22 Incredible Day Trips from Hanoi – Best Ideal for A Weekend Day Trips from Hanoi >>>

The 1-day Halong tour and the 1-day Ninh Binh Tour from Hanoi are the best options if you and your family are looking for natural sites to visit with engaging activities for your kids.

After reading this post, what are your top family-friendly activities in Hanoi? For more recommendations, please ask local experts from Hanoi Explore Travel! We are here for you!