Here we share our pick of the best things to do in Hoi An with kids for your family trip to Vietnam, from riding a basket boat to lantern making and food tours.
Hoi An is for us one of the best places to visit in Vietnam with kids.
The beaches in Hoi An are incredible and some of the best in Vietnam for kids, with long stretches of beautiful white sand for them to run and play on, and there are so many beachfront child-friendly resorts in Hoi An to choose from.
But there are so many other things to do in Hoi An with kids than hitting the beach and your resort pool.
The town itself is easy to navigate, even with a stroller if you are visiting Hoi An with a baby or toddler in tow (although you will sometimes be pushing it along the road alongside the motorbikes).
The locals are welcoming to children and there are lots of fun things to see and do to indulge your kids’ adventurous sides too. All of these add up to the reason why this is one of our favourite places in Asia for a family holiday.
Worth noting is that the distance from Da Nang to Hoi An is not far at all – around 20-30 minutes in a taxi, and so if you are looking for things to do in Danang, then this article will be helpful to you too.
You might also like these articles:
- Vietnam 2-week Itinerary
- Things to do in Hanoi with Kids
- Things to do in Ho Chi Minh City with Kids
- Must-visit Places in Vietnam
- Family-friendly Hotels in Hoi An
This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking using one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Table of Contents
Explore the Hoi An Old Town
One of our favourite Hoi An things to do is just exploring the Hoi An ancient town. The ease of exploring on foot is why we think Hoi An is one of the best cities for Vietnam family travel.
You could happily spend a few hours wandering around the winding streets, popping into souvenir and art shops and stopping off for a Vietnamese Coffee or cold beer in the charming little courtyard restaurants that line the streets.
Hoi An is renowned for its artists, so be sure to track down some of the little art shops where you can watch the artists at work and buy some unique art work for your walls at home.
Be sure to admire the unique architecture – Chinese shophouses alongside French colonial architecture and don’t miss seeing the Japanese covered bridge, Hoi An’s most famous landmark.
Join a Basket Boat Ride Tour
Basket boat rides in Hoi An have become increasingly popular over recent years thanks to their exposure on social media. They have become top of people’s Hoi An bucket list.
Taking a tour that includes a basket boat ride is a great way to see some of the beautiful countryside surrounding Hoi An, as well as educate your kids in the local way of life beyond the beaches and swimming pools.
There are several tours available that include Basket Boat rides, including those that include crab fishing, visiting a local village, cycling through the paddy fields, taking a market tour or joining a cooking or lantern-making class. I’ve highlighted a few below.
Join a Food Tour
Hoi An is renowned as one of the best places in Vietnam for fabulous food, from small snack stalls at the side of the road to family-run restaurants that have dished up secret recipe meals for generations.
One of the top things to do in Vietnam is to take a food tour with a local guide. It is a great way to get to know all the best joints in town for lunch and dinner and try some local dishes you might otherwise miss out on.
There are many different types of Hoi An Food tours – exploring by motorbike or on foot or by boat. Many will also show you how to make Banh Bao Banh Vac (white rose Hoi An dumplings).
Take a Lantern Making Class
Hoi An Vietnam is also known as the City of Lanterns and you only need to take a wander around the Hoi An old quarter to see why.
Recognised as symbol of luck, happiness and wealth, beautiful traditional lanterns in all shapes, colours and sizes can be seen bobbing in the breeze from all shops, houses and restaurants.
If you are travelling to Vietnam with kids who love a bit of arts and crafts, then a lantern making class is a great option. Use bamboo and silk to create any shape of lantern you want, and decorate it as you wish.
Join a Cooking Class
If, like me, you can’t get enough of Vietnamese food, then joining a cooking class is a great option. Not only will you have a lot of fun and eat some amazing food – you can take those recipes with you to enjoy at home.
Many cooking classes also include a visit to the local market to learn about the ingredients before you get started. Others can be combined with other activities, such as lantern making or a basket boat ride.
Get some Clothes made at one of the Tailor Shops
Hoi An is also famous for its tailor shops, which are everywhere, and shopping in Hoi An and having clothes made is one of the most popular things to do here.
Come armed with a favourite outfit to have copied, or browse through magazines or Pinterest on the shops’ iPads to choose your style.
Ask your hotel for a recommendation, as the quality of the shops varies hugely. It’s not just for adults either – my kids loved picking out some material and being measured up for a new outfit.
We were recommended to go to A Dong Silk. It has the reputation of being one of the best tailors in Hoi An, but has a price tag to go with it.
Take a Boat Ride on Thu Bon River
Taking a boat ride on the Thu Bon River is another popular Hoi An activity with visitors and several companies offer boat trips ranging from one hour to half-day trips.
Another popular option is to take the to river at night, when the river comes aglow with floating lanterns
You can book a boat tour ahead of time, or try your luck by taking a wander along the river on Bach Dang Street near An Hoi Bridge and negotiate with the many boat owners there.
Take a Cyclo Tour
If you are in Vietnam with children who are too small to walk too far (or even if they’re not), one of the most fun activities in Hoi An is to hire a cyclo for a half-hour or hour turn around the town to take in the sights.
You can book this ahead of time, or you will usually find a willing cyclo driver sitting in the shade on the corner near the Japanese Bridge.
Make sure you negotiate before you head off!
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Thank you! We are following your post and our kids were happy with boat ride and food tour that you have recommended. Keep going on!
That’s great Nadia – thanks for letting me know! I’m so pleased you had a good time – we love Hoi An 🙂
Marianne Rogerson recently posted…Visiting the Big Buddha in Hong Kong
We loved our stay in Hoi An – it’s such a beautiful little town with so much to see and do! We got a bit scared in the tailor shops – too much choice!
We’d recommend visiting Lifestart Foundation in Hoi An – they do craft workshops where you can learn how to make silk lanterns and paint in Vietnamese style. They also offer free Vietnamese lessons! Depending on how old the kids are, it’s a great activity.
Lifestart Foundation sounds great – thanks for the tip Karianne! I will try and check it out next time we go.
Marianne Rogerson recently posted…Best Restaurants in Hoi An Vietnam
Great summary and ideas! Thanks for sharing! The food tour sounds great…will definitely check that out when we go back to Hoi An…hopefully for longer next time!
Painting traditional masks is also a great activity for the kids. Right on the river and the people there are really helpful and patient.
Thanks for the tip Holly!
Great post! We just went to Hoi An with our teenage kids and had a great time. It was our favorite part of Vietnam.
Thanks Whitney! It’s one of our favourite places too 🙂 Glad you had a great time!
Hi Marianne,
Been to Hoi An several time now, so we are so glad it was a highlight for you also. Nice snaps.
Cheers Nathan…
Great post! It can be so challenging with kids, I did this in 2014 with my two little ones in hoi an, and we had such a great time, but i just always worried about them, especially not being exposed to bacteria over there before.