7 Family-Friendly Things to Do in Hanoi That Kids Will Love

There's no travel experience quite like Hanoi with kids. Moments like puppets splashing across a water stage, warm banh mi from a street stall, and weekend crowds gathering around the Old Quarter. It’s also a city where families need to move slowly, especially with strollers, toddlers, and tired little legs.

If you're looking for things to do in Hanoi with kids, don't try to fit everything in your itinerary. Choose a few well-located Hanoi attractions, build in breaks, and know when to take a taxi instead of pushing through another busy crossing.

This guide covers what to do in Hanoi as a family, from easy cultural stops and food breaks to practical tips for planning a Hanoi itinerary that works with children.

A little planning goes a long way, especially if you're travelling in Hanoi with young children.

• Best for: Families who enjoy culture, food, markets, and short sightseeing days
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• Main areas: Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, Ba Dinh, and Dong Da
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• Price expectation: Lakeside walks are free; temples, shows, and tours cost extra
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• Stroller tip: A baby carrier is often easier in the Old Quarter; strollers work better at hotels, lakeside paths, and larger attractions
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• Best pace: One or two activities per half-day, with hotel breaks in between

Hanoi is exciting, colourful, and full of food, shops, and small temples, but it's also busy with traffic. In the Old Quarter, you'll find motorbikes parked on pavements, street vendors set up on corners, and yourself stepping on and off the road more than expected.

It might be overwhelming for parents with toddlers or first-time visitors, but that doesn't mean you should avoid the area. For families with young children, short walks work better than packed itineraries. A baby carrier is usually more practical than a stroller in the Old Quarter, where pavements are narrow and uneven. For anything more than a few blocks, taxis and ride-hailing apps help, especially in the heat or after dark.

Most of the Hanoi attractions in this guide are close to Hoan Kiem Lake, so you won't need to cross the whole city. But before you head out, it's worth knowing some simple travel tips, which we cover below.

These seven Hanoi attractions are close enough to combine over a few days in the city.

You'll probably end up walking around Hoan Kiem Lake more than once during your trip. It's right beside the Old Quarter, and most of the main Hanoi attractions are close by.

On the water, look for Thap Rua (Turtle Tower), and from the northern shore, cross the red Huc Bridge to Ngoc Son Temple on Jade Island. It's a short visit that older children can appreciate without losing patience.

The lakeside paths are wide and quiet compared to the Old Quarter streets, so you can walk here comfortably with a stroller or younger kids.

Good to know

• Where: Central Hanoi, beside the Old Quarter.
• Entry: Free. Ngoc Son Temple charges a small entry fee.
• Best time: Before 8am or after 4pm for cooler weather.
• Family tip: Weekend evenings are the easiest time to visit with children, when nearby streets become car-free and turn into a pedestrian zone.

A traditional water puppet show is one of the easiest things to do in Hanoi with kids of all ages. The art form dates back to the 11th century, when villagers performed folk stories on flooded rice paddies during the rainy season. Today, wooden puppets move across the water to live music, with scenes of dragons, farmers, and village life.

The Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, just off the northeastern corner of Hoan Kiem Lake, runs daily shows. Children tend to stay interested because there's always something moving, splashing, or making noise. If you sit in the front row, you'll probably get a little wet – but that’s part of the fun!

Good to know

• Where: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem.
• Duration: Around 45 to 50 minutes.
• Tickets: Available at the theatre; book ahead during busy periods.
• Best for: All ages.

Walking through the Old Quarter with younger kids can be tiring, especially with motorbikes passing through narrow streets. A cyclo is a traditional Vietnamese three-wheeled bicycle taxi where you and your children sit at the front while the driver pedals behind. From the seat, kids can watch shopfronts, lanterns, balconies, and street stalls pass by.

Keep the ride short, agree on the price and route before you start, and avoid peak traffic if your family feels nervous around busy roads.

Good to know

• Duration: 30 to 60 minutes for a short loop.
• Price: Expect to pay around 150,000–300,000 VND (around USD 6–12); agree beforehand.
• Best for: Families with younger children who tire easily on foot.
• Tip: Treat the ride as an introduction to the Old Quarter, then switch to taxis or walking for the rest of the day.

Children sometimes need a familiar meal between bowls of pho and market snacks. Pizza 4P's is a useful stop when you need reliable seating, air-conditioning, and food that works for picky eaters.

The Bao Khanh branch is close to Hoan Kiem Lake, making it easy to pair with a morning walk or puppet show. The menu covers pizza, pasta, and salads, with enough variety for kids who want something simple and adults who don't.

Good to know

• Where: Bao Khanh Street, near the northwest corner of Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Best for: A meal stop between activities.
• Tip: Book ahead if visiting at dinner time or with a larger family.

Kids and adults alike will love exploring Hanoi's famous Train Street, but families should approach it with care. The narrow residential lane has active railway tracks running close between homes, hanging laundry, and small cafés. You can sit at a trackside table and order a Vietnamese coffee, but when a train is due, staff will ask you to pull your chairs back. It's loud, close, and over in seconds.

You can't walk in freely. Barriers block the main entrances, and a café owner or staff member will need to walk you past the checkpoint. Keep children close, choose a seat away from the tracks, and never stand on the railway line for photos.

Good to know

• Where: Old Quarter/Phung Hung (busier, more decorated) or Le Duan (quieter, less commercial).
• Access: Through a trackside café only; you can't enter independently.
• Best for: Older children who can sit still and follow safety instructions. Not suitable for toddlers.
• Tip: If it feels too busy when you arrive at Train Street, a calmer café near Hoan Kiem Lake is a better choice.

Visiting the Temple of Literature is one of the top things to do in Hanoi. Built in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius, this was the first-ever university in Vietnam.

Explore the grounds and you’ll come across five courtyards with traditional buildings, lotus ponds, and stone turtle steles. Children can move between the open spaces, and older kids might enjoy spotting the Khue Van Pavilion, which appears on the 100,000 VND banknote.

For lunch afterwards, KOTO Văn Miếu is across the road. The staff are trainees from disadvantaged backgrounds, and your meal helps fund their training.

Good to know

• Where: 58 Quoc Tu Giam, Dong Da district.
• Hours: 8am to 5pm daily.
• Best time: Early morning for cooler weather and fewer visitors.
• Family tip: Younger children tend to enjoy the ponds and open courtyards. Older kids may like the stone steles and exam history.

No trip to Hanoi is complete without visiting the Hanoi Weekend Night Market. This huge night market takes place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from around 6pm to 11pm.

Stalls sell Vietnamese street food, clothing, handicrafts, toys, and souvenirs. Street performers set up along the route, and the nearby Hoan Kiem Lake area closes to traffic, turning the whole neighbourhood into a pedestrian zone where kids can run around freely.

Go early in the evening with children, before the crowds build, and bring cash for small purchases.

Good to know

• When: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from around 6pm to 11pm.
• Where: Old Quarter streets near Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Best for: A short snack-and-stroll outing, not a full evening plan.
• Tip: The nearby Hoan Kiem Lake area often becomes a pedestrian zone on weekend evenings.

Use a baby carrier in busy areas: A stroller can be useful in airports, hotels, and wider lakeside areas, but it can be awkward in the Old Quarter. Pavements are often narrow, uneven, or blocked. For babies and toddlers, a carrier is often easier for short city outings.

Cross streets slowly and confidently: Crossing the road in Hanoi can feel intimidating at first. Hold children close, wait for a manageable gap, and walk at a steady pace without sudden stops. If you’re unsure, cross near locals or choose a taxi instead of forcing extra walks through busy intersections.

Keep your itinerary short: A family Hanoi itinerary should leave room for breaks. Aim for one main attraction in the morning, a proper lunch, hotel downtime, and one lighter activity later in the day. This makes travelling in Hanoi manageable, especially in warm weather or with younger children.

For a central base, Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha is in the Dong Da district, within five minutes' drive of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and the Temple of Literature. The hotel has rooms, studios, and apartments with kitchenettes, so you can prepare snacks and do laundry between outings.

For a quieter neighbourhood with more space, Novotel Suites Hanoi in Cau Giay has apartments with up to three bedrooms and indoor and outdoor playground areas for children.

Book your stay on Novotel.com or the ALL Accor app. Joining the ALL Accor loyalty programme is free and gives you member rates with savings of up to 10% at participating hotels, along with points you can use across future stays.