Attractions

Most Fun and Educational Things to do & see in Vietnam with Kids

Published on December 01, 2018

Table of contetnts

If you're traveling to Vietnam with kids, especially for a long duration, you can expect a lot yet there are many work to do and prepare for your trip to be as exciting, safe and inspiring as it should be. The country offers a wide range of things to do and places to see you can enjoy together with your family members without worrying too much about generation gap or differences in physical strength.

>>> Related Post: Vietnam Honeymoon Vacation Travel Guide

Tips for travelling in Vietnam with kids

For families with kids, parents can easily find playgrounds with activities suitable for your kid’s age. If you’re bringing infants and babies, know that breastfeeding in public places are acceptable, and there’re plenty of supplies for babies in major cities.

Vietnam has a rich culture and age-old traditions, a trip to Vietnam can be educational and help broaden your kid’s mind. A trip to Vietnam with kids should just have the most memorable, educational and exciting experiences only.

vietnam cambodia laos family travel

Vietnamese people just love children and really like to show affection to them. So your children will love it here when they get everyone’s attention.
Big cities offer plenty playgrounds for kids like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. You can also find available baby suppliers.
There are many hotels that are friendly to children with services like childcare and more. Breastfeeding in public is fine in Vietnam.
Kids will also love food in Vietnam – not quite spicy and international food is available as well so you have a lot of choice for food.

*Things to watch out:

The traffic can be a concern in major cities with a huge amount of motorbikes on the roads.

At the beaches, watch out for rip tides. Go to the beaches that have warning flags and lifeguards.

The weather in Vietnam in certain places can be hostile during stormy season, so research the best time to visit your destinations to avoid unexpected situations and potential dangers to the kids.

HANOI

The capital of Vietnam is an educational place for your kids and a great base for mothers especially if you're going with smaller kids. Thriving with tradition and development, the capital of Vietnam can offer you a memorable family holiday with a lot of activities. Make Hanoi the highlight in your trip.

vietnam with kids

Activities in Hanoi for kids:

Watch a Water Puppet Show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. The show will absolutely grab your kids attention with the colorful, pretty-looking lacquered puppets made out of hard wood. You should book in advance either online or offline since there's always large demand for the tickets.

Walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake on weekends: very safe for kids to play around with hundreds of other kids traditional games and watching street performances. You can also buy them Vietnamese toys and eat delicious food at Hanoi Old Quarter.

Visiting Bat Trang Pottery Village – making pottery will be an educational and fun activity for all children. At Bat Trang, the kids will not only be enchanted with the colorful products of pottery and ceramics, but they can also learn the process of making those. Get to a handicraft workshop to let the kids try making a pottery item on their own, under the instruction of a craftsman. Painting white small statues is also available.

Educational trip to Vietnam Ethnology Museum where plenty of shady playgrounds and traditional entertainments can be found outside. In the inside, it's a whole world of Vietnam's culture of 54 ethnic groups.

Food tour in Hanoi Old Quarter to introduce your kids to Vietnamese delicacies. However, choose big and reliable restaurants and eateries only if you're going with smaller kids or infants.

Have fun at West Lake’s Water Park - Hanoi most's famous park for children and teenagers especially when you visit Vietnam during summer. However, the park's not recommended in hottest days because it will be overcrowded.

Watch a spectacular performance by adorable animals and talented artists at Hanoi Central Circus.

A half-day Hanoi City Tour will tell your kids all the stories of the capital of Vietnam - a more than 1000 years old city. During the tour, you can get the advice from tour guide or tour operator for kid-friendly activities and restaurants and they will happily show you.

Join a half-day cooking class in Hanoi together. Nothing is better than learning how to cook new dishes while traveling. Your kids will absolutely love this and they won't be able to wait till the class end they can eat the dishes you all just made together.

>> All included in:
Northern Vietnam Family Tour - 7 Days

Kid-friendly Hotels in Hanoi:

Sofitel Metropole, 15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, 10000 Hanoi

JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi, No 8 Do Duc Duc Road,Me Tri, Tu Liem District | Playground | Ample suites | Five-star service

Anise Hotel Hanoi, 22 Quan Thanh Street Ba Dinh Hanoi | Baby and Child Care

Serenade Hotel Hanoi, 58 Hang Dao Street Hoan Kiem Hanoi |Doctor on Call

HOI AN

The small glimmering ancient town of Hoi An enchants its visitors with various cultural charms and its diverse food scene. Hoi An Old Town is absolutely the place to take your kids to for its safety since the motorbikes and cars are banned entering the area.

What kids would love to do in Hoi An:

Wear Vietnamese traditional dress 'Ao Dai' and ride a boat on Thu Bon River to release the flower lanterns. It would be a touching and memorable moment that everyone can enjoy and will look back. You can find people selling colorful small flower lanterns along the the river. You can by one for just 5,000VND - 10,000VND.

Hoi An lantern festival on 14th night of every lunar month will sure make your kids feel like they’re in a magical world.

If you can’t visit Hoi An on 14th lunar night, then make sure to take your kids for a walk to Hoi An Night Market where the hundreds of lanterns filled the street. No kid will be able to resist such sight unfolding in front of them.

Joining a cooking class in Hoi An would be so exciting and educational for your kids to learn something new. This is also the chance to enjoy authentic and healthy Hoi An delicacies.

Bicycling trip to Hoi An countryside will help your kids lose some of their energy and learn more about Vietnam’s countryside life.

Besides Hoi An Old Town, don’t forget to take them to Cua Dai beach for more active activities. The beach is known for its clean, sparkling blue water, soft sand and a safe beach for kids. Plenty exciting entertainments and services to spend time a half day here.

Tra Que Vegetable village is a great place to get them have fun with plants and nature. The village is often combined in bicycling tour and cooking class. Coming here, you can also try to be a farmer for a day which is just a nice and wonderful activity for children.

Take your kids to watch a performance at Hoi An Water Puppet Show, a traditional folklore art of Vietnamese people that will amaze your kids with its colors, lights and music.
- Add: Hoi An Theater, 548 Hai Ba Trung St. (Every Tue, Fri, Sat 6:30pm – 7:15pm)
- Cost: 40,000 Dong ( $2) for kids, 80,000 Dong ( $4) for adults

Get your kids to the outdoor playground at Hoai River Square (Near An Hoi Bridge) where they can play and meet local kids.

Kid-friendly Hotels in Hoi An:

The Nam Hai, Ha My Beach, Hoi An, Vietnam | Kite Making, Lantern Making

Golden Sand, Thanh Nien Road, Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An City | Water Park | Indoor Kids Club | Babysitter service, baby cots and children’s menu.

Anantara, 1 Pham Hong Thai Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam | Cooking Class | Painting Class.

DA NANG

Da Nang has to be the best destination for nuclear families with small kids. The city is safe, modern and entertaining. My Khe beach is the first site for your family to head to. The beach is long and clean, located right next to the city’s main road. Your kids will love Ba Na Hills with Golden Bridge, famous for its two giant stone hands, a wide range of indoor and outdoor games, and dream-like setting with western castles. Da Nang is only 30 minutes from Hoi An, it’s convenient for you to move between two places.

dragon bridge da nang

Our suggestions for places to take kids to in Da Nang:

Than Tai Hot Spring Mountain Park – a lot of water games which are fun and safe with kids. The hot spring is such a great place to enjoy the nature and relax the body.

Marble Mountains get to be one of the best places in Da Nang to enjoy nature and culture. This site is perfect for kids who love doing outside activities and fit enough to climb the steep terrace leading up the temples. The panoramic view of Da Nang is also something to visit Marble Mountains.

Cam Thanh Coconut Village has something so fun to watch, regardless kids or adults - the coracle spin. The rower will display a fun and exciting spinning dance using the coracle and the paddle. If you want to try, you can sit on the boat to enjoy the spinning. Just remember to hold on tight.

Cooking Class in Da Nang – cooking and kids are a good match for thing to do in Danang. There are plenty half-day cooking classes in the city, here are some of the most famous:

- Da Nang Home Cooking Class, 8 An Cư 6, An Hải Bắc, Sơn Trà, Danang, Vietnam
- Da Nang Cam Le Village Biking & Cooking Tour, 110 110 Tran Huy Lieu, Danang, Vietnam
- Pull Man Cooking Class, 101 Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Khue My, Ngu Hanh Son Danang, Vietnam

Asia Park - your kids will be enchanted by the huge Ferris Wheel, especially at night. There are also a wide range of games and activities, mostly for kids and teenagers. Don't miss this place out in your trip to Da Nang.
- Add: No. 01 Phan Dang Luu Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City

Ba Na Hills – the great sight of the two giant hands holding up the Golden Bridge will excite the kids for sure. If you choose Ba Na Hills, then you can skip Asia Park because Ba Na Hills has even more games and things to do.

Dragon Bridge – what could make a child more exciting than a dragon that can breath fire and water? Take your kids to the huge, golden bridge in the shape of a dragon spanning over Han River at 21:00 in weekends to see such unique performance.

My Khe beach which lies very close to the city, is considered as the safest and best beach for your kids to enjoy beachside activities. So why not spend a day near the beach to not only enjoy the waves but also the savory seafood.

>>> Want to have both Hoi An & Da Nang in your family tour? See here:
Coastal Central Line - 7 Days

Kid-friendly Hotels in Da Nang:

Inter Continental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Bai Bac, Son Tra Peninsula, Danang, Vietnam | Child Care | Kid-friendly Space

Crowne Plaza Danang, No.8,Son Tra Dien Ngoc Street, Danang | Babysitting services

Hadana Boutique Hotel, Pham Van Dong, An Hai Bac, Son Tra, Danang, Vietnam | Large Swimming Pool

DA LAT

If you’re concern about the tropical heat when traveling to Vietnam with kids, worry no longer: get to Da Lat city – the little French villa town in the middle of Central Highlands, known as 'City of Eternal Spring' for its cool atmosphere and temperature. Romantic atmosphere, nice scenery, delicious delicacies, gorgeous waterfalls, Da Lat is just like a little fairyland your kids have been looking for all this time.

da lat clay tunnel

What kids love to do in Da Lat:

Crazy House - its staggering and uniquely designed facade and interior will make your kids scream in excitement. Each room here is named after an animal or plant like tiger room, kangaroo room, etc. The view over Da Lat on the house's rooftop is also worth your while here. The admission is 40,000VND per person.

- Add: Hang Nga Villa, No.3 on Huynh Thuc Khang Street

Clay Tunnel - this place is what we are referring to when we say Da Lat is a children's fairyland. The 2-km long Clay Tunnel is actually a whole village carved into a huge clay cliff. Not just the Rong Houses you can see here, all the magical animals surrounds the village: dragon, elephant, giant tuttles, a creature that is half monkey - half human. The whole history of Da Lat is also told here by magnificent clay sculptures.

Riding Xuan Huong Lake’s swan boat: a little activity to enjoy one of the most romantic lake in Vietnam. The kids would love to be inside this pretty boat and ride the boat around the lake by themselves.

Dalanta Waterfall – 40 kilometers away from Da Lat city, wonderful site for a small family picnic. The waterfall will be a little adventure for you children to enjoy since the walk to the falls is easy. And while you are at the fall, remember to enjoy the mountain coaster - it's so much fun and also safe for the kids.

Strawberry Farms – Kids love strawberry, it's a fact. Then why not take them to Da Lat's Strawberry Farm where strawberries surround you with the delicious red color and evoking fragrance. In spring, kids can try their hand in picking the ripe fruits and can taste it without being charged.

100 Roofs Café – The Maze Bar: yes, with this cafe, it's official - Da Lat is home to weird-looking yet so cool buildings. From the outside to the inside, the cafe looks like it has been taken out of some fantasy novel. The setting inside, the decorations are also otherworldly. Check it out!

Add: 57 Phan Boi Chau, Da Lat

Small trek or riding a jeep car up the hill at Lang Biang Mountain - If you have boys, they would live a jeep ride to see the landscape around. You can pay 40,000VND per adult to have a free seat on a shared jeep.

Cu Lan Village - Cu Lan is famous for domestic travelers for its poetic and romantic landscape. It's also a destination to educate your children about the culture of ethnic people here. There're so many cool sections in the village, you should spend you time here to enjoy it.

Kid-friendly Hotels in Da Lat:

TTC Premium Ngoc Lan, 42 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street | Crib

Du Parc Hotel Da Lat - 7 Tran Phu, Da Lat | Crib | Childcare

Zen Valley Da Lat - 38 Khe Sanh, Da Lat | Childcare | Pet Friendly

MAI CHAU

Independent travelers might find Mai Chau quite touristy but families will love this place. Nested inside a lush valley, Mai Chau is home to many ethnic groups, dotted with Thai villages which offer peaceful atmosphere for your family holiday. Your kids will enjoy the green rice fields, gentle hills and ethnic homestay at Thai stilt houses. Day trips from Mai Chau include trekking to nearby caves which can be done according to each family member’s physical fitness or bicycling to the countryside.
vietnam with kids

Things your kids can enjoy in Mai Chau:

Homestay at a Thai traditional stilt house at Lac Village or Pom Coong Village - staying in a Thai stilt house in Mai Chau would be a fun and nice thing to experience with your children. The host family will treat you will utmost friendliness, offering their traditional home-made dishes with 100% organic ingredients. This is the memory you will come back home and brag about with your friends and relatives.

Enjoy traditional Thai dancing and singing performance - a Thai traditional performance is often shown to travelers who requested to see. The dance and singing are only seen in festive events of Thai people. Especially the dance is a kind of communal activity, it's easy and everyone can easily join with the locals.

mai chau xen muong festival

Buying small brocade products hand woven by Thai women - walk around Mai Chau, you can see many families selling their own hand-woven hemp brocade products with bright colors and distinctive patterns. You can support their craftsmanship by buying these products for your own usage or to gift people. You can also see the process of weaving and the techniques when you visit a Thai woman's house.

A bicycling trip to see the countryside and villages around - nothing better than a bicycling trip to enjoy the idyllic rice fields and nature around Mai Chau. This activity is also help your kids to be more active physically.

Day trip to nearby Pu Luong Nature Reserve - Pu Luong is not far from Mai Chau and has so much to offer in terms of either nature or culture. The wildlife in Pu Luong is still kept quite intact and the local culture here is still not affect much by tourism. In Pu Luong, you can also enjoy kayaking and rafting along the river - it's just a must-do.

>>> Included in Mai Chau Short Stay 2 Days

mai hich mai chau

Kid-friendly hotels/homestays in Mai Chau:

Mai Chau Hideaway, Xom Suoi Lon, Tan Mai | Pool | Non-smoking | Near Nature

Mai Chau Lodge, Mai Chau Town | Non-smoking | Free bike rental

Pu Luong Retreat, Ban Don | Pool | Rooms for Family

PHU QUOC ISLAND

Phu Quoc is the easiest choice for families when it comes to where to go in Vietnam. No matter how old your kids are, Phu Quoc Island with its top-notch sceneries, many grilled dishes, several playgrounds and pristine beaches has everything to make the perfect family outing trip. Duong Dong Town, the capital of Phu Quoc is a great base if you're going with kids, especially with babies and infants. You should have no problems with buying regular diapers in the grocery stores. In Safari Phu Quoc, Vinpearl Land and along Long Beach Village, there are walk ways which are suitable for strollers.

vietnam with kids

If you're wondering where to take kids, here are our suggestions of activities that all family members can enjoy doing together:

Swimming, snorkeling at the beaches, other beachside activities: With the best collection of beaches such as Sao Beach, Khem Beach, Long Beach, Ong Lang Beach and more, Phu Quoc really is a paradise for beach lovers. Best months to take kids to Phu Quoc beaches fall in between November to January when the weather supports all beachside activities. The ocean during this time is much calmer therefore it's safer for your kids.

Best beaches for your family holiday: Sao Beach, Khem Beach and Ong Lang Beach.

Try Seawalker to see the coral reefs under the water surface: like Nha Trang, Phu Quoc also has the special service of seawalking service which allows even kids to enjoy the walk under the sea and see colorful coral reefs and fishes. Parents don't have to worry about the safety even though there'll be a little pressure, because the helmets are designed to be comfortable for breathing while walking on the seabed. This is an exciting activity your whole family can enjoy together.

Animal watching at Safari Phu Quoc: all kids should come to Safari Phu Quoc - a perfect example of a zoo that doesn't lock up animals. Traveling on the zoo's buses the kids will see all kinds of animals freely wander around their habitats. Aside from animal watching, there're plenty other entertainments and activities you can enjoy. A number of restaurants serving all kinds of different food are available and they're all kid-friendly.

Playing games at Vinpearl Land Phu Quoc: Vinpearl is just perfect if you have older kids. There are hundreds of thrilling games both indoor and outdoor to spend a whole day enjoying one after another. The aquarium is considered one of the most modern facility of its kind in Vietnam. Your children would love to see mermaids, penguins and all kinds of kids right before their eyes.

Street food tour at Duong Dong Town’s night market: If you family loves to discover the food scene in Phu Quoc, why not come to Duong Dong night market to taste the best dishes of the island, especially the savory seafood. The market also has a nice and exciting ambiance you would love to enjoy in the evening. It will be a memorable family date on Phu Quoc Island for you.

Short morning trek to Phu Quoc National Park: It's always a great thing to have a walk with your children through the foliage of Phu Quoc National Park and enjoy the nature surrounding you. Ganh Dau trail is the easiest, free of charge and most suitable for a morning walk. We recommend you to take your kids on this trail.

Catching squids on boat at night: one of the most famous things to do in Phu Quoc is squid hunting at night. You can book a night short night tour from tour operator for this specific purpose. Floating on the boat in middle of the ocean while waiting patiently for the squid to take the bait would be a fun experience for the children. The squids you catch can be cooked right on the boat for you - what is better than that?

>>> Want to stay more in Phu Quoc? We have just what you want:
Phu Quoc Pearl Island 4 Days

Kid-friendly hotels/homestays in Phu Quoc Island

Richi Resort, 90 Tran Hung Dao, Khu Pho 7, Duong Dong, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam | Playground | Kid's Playroom- Salinda Resort, Cua Lap Hamlet, Duong To Commune, Cua Lap, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam | Water Playground | Water Fun Zone | Kids Club

Novotel, Group 5, Duong Bao Hamlet, Duong To Commune, Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province | Two Bedroom Pool Villas | Kids Pool

Why should you book a family tour for your trip in Vietnam?

We have shown you all the information needed covering the travel tips, where to go and what to do during your family holiday in Vietnam. However, it's never a good idea to travel with your whole family in Vietnam on your own, especially when you have both seniors and kids. In this section, we'll show you why you should book a family tour as a whole trip or a part of your trip to Vietnam:

A family tour in Vietnam answers to every of your question and worry: safety for kids, kid friendly accommodation, kid activities and educational experiences. You can just inform the tour operator about all your need and concern and you can always check for yourself to see if their choices are indeed what you really need.

It's a fact that the risks during your trip reduce if you book a family tour and your stay will be much more comfortable. You parents might have even some free time to enjoy yourselves.

All the services, from accommodation to meals to activities will be carefully made to be kid friendly. This makes sure your kids will have a great time as much as you do.

The activities will be selected to have all of these qualities: fun, exciting, active and educational and even emotional. As we believe, a trip should tells inspiring stories to the kids and bring into their mind memories that will exist for a long, long time.

Recommended tours for your family: Classic Vietnam Family Tour - 10 Days
Or see other Vietnam Family Tours price from US$596/pax