Hanoi family holidays: Best places in Hanoi for kids and the elderly

Hanoi family holidays are an excellent time for a total relaxation with your loved ones. Regarded as “one of the best places in Asia for travelers” (U.S. News Travel), Hanoi is not only rich in culture and history but also has various tourist attractions, shopping centers and natural splendor. Let Sao La Tours plan out the best holiday in Hanoi for you and your family.

Interesting things to do for family with kids in Hanoi

Hanoi Food Tour

Food tours in Hanoi are extremely fun and exciting for kids as they’re curious and always want to try out new things. Street food is an important part of Hanoi cuisine and the best place where you can sample all kinds of street food is the Old Quarter.

Hanoi is full of small stalls and eateries everywhere on the streets. It takes just a few plastic stools and tables and then you can try out different kinds of delicacies in Hanoi. The most recommended street foods in Hanoi are Bun Cha, Banh Mi, Banh Cuon and Ca Phe Trung.

Cyclo tour around Hanoi Old Quarter

The Old Quarter in Hanoi is a maze of streets, and it will be so much fun for you and the kids to sit on the front of a cyclo and stroll through the busy roads. There are 36 streets in the Old Quarter complex. Each street has different names depending on the goods that the locals used to sell there, such as leather, silver, bamboo, sugar… On a cyclo tour you can see the whole area without having to walk too much.

Water Puppet show

The kids are always keen on finding out more about the local culture, and watching a water puppet show is a perfect idea to have an in-depth understanding about Hanoi’s customs. This art form was created around the 11th century and it’s still practiced until today. You can enjoy the show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre at 3pm, 4.10pm, 5.20pm, 6.30pm and 8pm.

Hanoi family holidays: Things to do for the elderly

Hoa Lo prison

Hoa Lo prison was where the French colonists kept the political prisoners in Vietnam during the war (1954 – 1975). The name of the prison is translated as Hell’s hole or fiery furnace, but also means “stove”, because during pre-colonial time the streets of Hoa Lo were full of vendors selling coal-fire stoves and wood stoves.

The Temple of Literature

This is an ancient temple built in 1070, which houses the Imperial Academy – the first-ever university of Vietnam. Although being closed in 1779, the Imperial Academy nowadays still witnesses hundred visitors everyday, especially Vietnamese students who wish for good study results or people who join cultural events.

Cooking workshops

If you want to learn more about Vietnamese cuisine, there are a lot of cooking workshops for you to choose from. The workshop can be hosted by a local chef or just simply a Vietnamese cooking enthusiast. Some workshops are a chance for cultural exchange, others are all about cooking and presentation. You can also find workshops that offer a visit to farms or markets to experience the local’s daily life.

Lakes in Hanoi

If you’re looking for a peaceful escape, then visiting the lakes in Hanoi is highly advised. This city is famous for various beautiful lakes within the city center, which provide peaceful getaway places the hustle and bustle. Here you can have a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, the iconic duo West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, Bay Mau Lake, Thien Quang Lake or Lake Thu Le.

Things to consider when going on Hanoi family holidays

Introduce some cultural differences to the kids

Culture shock is not what you want the kids to suffer from. The Vietnamese are very friendly and they adore kids. That’s why some locals might want to talk, touch or take photographs with them. Just keep a close eye on your kids and tell them not to be scared. If you feel that your kids are not comfortable, all it takes is just a short but firm “no”. You may also want to learn some useful Vietnamese words and phrases with your family. Such as Xin Chao (Hello), Cam On (Thank you) or Xin Loi (Sorry).

Practice crossing the road

Hanoi has busy and crowded streets, that’s why it’s important for your family to do some practicing on crossing the road. Just make sure that you stay calm and look carefully both sides. Explain to your little ones not to make any unpredictable moves or try to run when crossing the streets.

Help your kids to adapt to a new bedtimes

Change in the sleeping pattern might be exhausting for the kids. That’s why it’s important that you help them adapt to new bedtimes before visiting and after you leave the country.

You’ll surely have wonderful Hanoi family holidays if you decide to follow our tips. Exploring a country can be fun and all, but if it’s your first time in Hanoi you may struggle with the cultural differences or finding the right places to visit. Don’t worry as Sao La Tours is here to guide you through your whole trip! Fill in the form on our website if you want us to help you arrange your trip.