With kids · Hanoi · Vietnam

Hanoi with kids

Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.

Updated 23 October 2026By the AMZBooking editorial team

Quick answer

Hanoi is rewarding with children who enjoy noise and novelty: water puppets, the weekend car-free streets, the traditional houses at the Museum of Ethnology and boats in Ninh Bình. Traffic, heat and uneven pavements are the main challenges. Top picks: Water puppet show, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Weekend walking street and night market. Families usually base themselves in Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

Family picks: 5
Best area for families: Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Rainy-day options: 2

Best things to do with kids

Experience · Hoàn Kiếm Lake

1.Water puppet show

Water puppetry began in the flooded rice fields of the Red River Delta: lacquered wooden puppets glide across a pool, controlled by puppeteers hidden behind a screen, while musicians play traditional instruments. The Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre on the lake's north-east shore stages several shows a day.

Book a show a day ahead in busy periods and sit a few rows back; the front rows can get splashed.

Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Low cost
Book ahead: Shows sell out in peak season; buy tickets at the box office or online a day in advance.

Kids
Rainy day
After dark
Iconic

Museum · Cầu Giấy

2.Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The best museum in Hanoi for understanding Vietnam's 54 recognised ethnic groups, with clothing, tools and ritual objects indoors and full-size traditional buildings in the garden, including an Ê Đê longhouse and a soaring Ba Na communal house you can climb into.

Allow at least half a day; it is about 8 km west of the Old Quarter, so take a Grab or taxi.

Time needed: 2–3 hours
Cost: Low cost

Kids
Rainy day
History
Architecture

Street · Hoàn Kiếm Lake

3.Weekend walking street and night market

From Friday to Sunday evening the streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and parts of the Old Quarter close to motor traffic. Families play traditional games, buskers perform, and a night market of clothes and snacks runs north along Hàng Đào towards Đồng Xuân Market.

Arrive around 7pm for the liveliest atmosphere and keep a close hold on phones in the crowds.

Time needed: 2 hours
Cost: Free

Free
After dark
Kids
Food
Shopping

Landmark · Hoàn Kiếm Lake

4.Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple

The 'Lake of the Returned Sword' takes its name from a legend in which a golden turtle reclaimed Emperor Lê Lợi's magic sword. The small Turtle Tower stands on an islet, and the red Thê Húc bridge leads to Ngọc Sơn Temple, which displays a preserved giant turtle from the lake. At dawn locals practise tai chi and dance along the shore.

Walk the 1.7 km circuit at about 6am to see morning exercises, then return on a weekend evening for the car-free streets.

Time needed: 1–2 hours
Cost: Low cost

Iconic
Outdoors
Photo spot
Kids
Couples

Architecture · Old Quarter

5.Long Biên Bridge

Built by French engineers between 1899 and 1902, this steel cantilever bridge of more than 2 kilometres over the Red River was bombed repeatedly during the American War and patched up. Today trains run down the middle while motorbikes and pedestrians use the side lanes, with views over banana plantations on the river islands.

Walk out to the middle at sunset and watch a train pass; stay on the pedestrian walkway and watch for motorbikes.

Time needed: 1 hour
Cost: Free

Free
History
Views
Photo spot
Off the beaten path

Rainy-day ideas

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology — Allow at least half a day; it is about 8 km west of the Old Quarter, so take a Grab or taxi.
Water puppet show — Book a show a day ahead in busy periods and sit a few rows back; the front rows can get splashed.

Where families should stay

$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and couples

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hotels on the streets around the lake put you between the Old Quarter to the north and the French Quarter to the south, with the water puppet theatre and Ngọc Sơn Temple on the shore. From Friday to Sunday evenings the surrounding streets close to traffic and fill with families, street performers and games.

Good: Central for everything; Pleasant early-morning walks around the lake; Weekend car-free streets
Watch out: Higher prices than the Old Quarter's back streets; Very crowded on weekend evenings
Nearby: Ngọc Sơn Temple, Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre, St Joseph's Cathedral

Family travel tips

Hold children's hands firmly when crossing roads, and walk at a steady pace.
Bring a baby carrier rather than a stroller; pavements are blocked by motorbikes and stalls.
Choose a hotel with a lift and family rooms near Hoàn Kiếm Lake to be close to the weekend car-free streets.
Use insect repellent, especially in the rainy season, to reduce the risk of dengue from mosquito bites.
Plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings and late afternoons from May to September.

Day trips for families

Ha Long Bay (About 2.5–3 hours each way by road) — Some 1,600 limestone islands and islets rise from the emerald water of this UNESCO-listed bay, with caves such as Sửng Sốt and kayaking among the karsts.
Ninh Bình (Tràng An and Tam Cốc) (About 2 hours each way by road) — Rowing boats glide along rivers through limestone caves and rice paddies at Tràng An and Tam Cốc.
Bát Tràng ceramic village (About 30–45 minutes) — A pottery village on the Red River that has made ceramics for centuries, with workshops, kilns, a large ceramics market and classes where you can throw a pot on the wheel.

When to go with children

The best months overall are March–April and October–December. Weather by month.

Questions travellers ask

+Is Hanoi good for kids?

+What can kids do in Hanoi?

Water puppet show, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Weekend walking street and night market, Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple and Long Biên Bridge.

+Where should families stay in Hanoi?

Hoàn Kiếm Lake: The tree-lined lake at the centre of the city, with a weekend pedestrian zone.