Hà Nội (Hanoi) is the capital of Vietnam and its cultural heart, a city of lakes, tree-lined French colonial boulevards, and a thousand-year-old Old Quarter where every street once specialised in a single trade. Visitors come for street food such as phở and bún chả, egg coffee, water puppet theatre, temples and museums, and easy access to Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình, and the northern mountains.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre
A traditional Vietnamese art form where wooden puppets dance on water accompanied by live folk music. Performances run several times daily at 57B Đinh Tiên Hoàng beside Hoàn Kiếm Lake; phone +84 24 3824 9494, website thanglongwaterpuppet.org. Book front rows for the best view and to avoid splashes.
Duration: 50 minutes
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Outdoor garden with life-size traditional houses from Vietnam's ethnic groups (Nguyễn Văn Huyên Road, Cầu Giấy; +84 24 3756 2193). Children can climb into stilt houses and see the water puppet workshop.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Thủ Lệ Zoo (Hanoi Zoo)
Hanoi's zoo and park in Thủ Lệ Park, 1 Thủ Lệ, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình. It has tigers, elephants, and a lake with pedal boats; best in cooler months due to limited shade.
Duration: Half day
Vinpearl Aquarium Times City
Indoor aquarium in the basement of Vincom Mega Mall Times City, 458 Minh Khai, Hai Bà Trưng, with a shark tunnel, jellyfish zone, and feeding shows. A good wet-weather option.
Duration: 2-3 hours
VinWonders Wave Park (Vinhomes Ocean Park)
Water park and 'Ocean Park' lagoon complex in Gia Lâm, about 25 km east of the Old Quarter. Best in hot months (Apr-Oct); take Grab or the free Vinhomes shuttle. Confirm opening hours and prices on vinwonders.com before going.
Duration: Full day
Vietnam National Museum of Nature
Dinosaur skeletons, fossils, and wildlife displays at 18 Hoàng Quốc Việt, Cầu Giấy; confirm current opening hours before a visit.
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Hoàn Kiếm Lake weekend walking streets
From Friday 7PM to Sunday midnight, streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake are closed to traffic. Children can ride pedal cars, watch street performers, and try ice cream and bubble tea in a safe car-free area.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu)
Vietnam's first university, at 58 Quốc Tử Giám. Courtyards, stone turtle steles, and traditional games make history accessible for children.
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Bát Tràng Ceramic Village workshop
Village on the Red River, about 13 km southeast of Hanoi (Bus 47 from Long Biên Bus Station or Grab). Children throw and paint their own pottery in family workshops.
Duration: Half day
Hanoi Hỏa Lò Prison and Vietnam Military History Museum
Two history museums suitable for older children. Hỏa Lò is at 1 Hỏa Lò, Hoàn Kiếm. Military History Museum is at 28A Điện Biên Phủ, Ba Đình, with tanks and aircraft outdoors that children enjoy.
Duration: 1.5 hours each
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi
Upscale hotel at 8 Đỗ Đức Dục, Mễ Trì, with outdoor pool, kids' club, and family rooms; located in the newer western district, about 30 minutes from the Old Quarter.
Family features: Family rooms, pool, kids' menu, babysitting on request
Lotte Hotel Hanoi
Skyscraper hotel at 54 Liễu Giai, Ba Đình with an indoor pool, observation deck, and a large kids-friendly breakfast.
Family features: Family rooms, indoor pool, connecting rooms, kids' amenities
InterContinental Hanoi Westlake
Lake-view resort-style hotel at 5 Từ Hoa, Tây Hồ, with a pool and overwater rooms; quiet setting on West Lake.
Family features: Family suites, pool, lakeside garden, kids' club
Melia Hanoi
Centrally located hotel at 44B Lý Thường Kiệt with an indoor pool and spacious family rooms, 15 minutes' walk from Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
Family features: Family rooms, indoor pool, central location
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Vietnamese restaurants welcome children; phở, cơm rang (fried rice), and bánh mì are mild kid-friendly choices.
Most Old Quarter restaurants provide small plastic stools; high chairs are rare, so bring a portable seat for toddlers.
Ask for dishes without chili (không cay) and use bottled water for children.
Western-style options such as pizza and burgers are widely available near Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Tây Hồ.
Wash hands and use hand sanitizer before street-food meals; choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh.
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Build downtime into every day — over-scheduled kids melt down faster than tired adults.
Carry snacks, water, and a small first-aid kit at all times.
Many attractions offer discounted family tickets — ask at the ticket window.