Hoi An is for us one of the best places to visit in Vietnam with kids. The beaches in Hoi An are incredible – long stretches of beautiful white sand for you to run and play on, and there are so many child-friendly resorts in Hoi An to choose from.
But there is 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 buggy (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 activities to indulge your kids’ adventurous sides too.
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.
Here we share with you what we think are the best things to do in Hoi An:
Explore the Old Town
One of our favourite Hoi An things to do is just exploring the town. The ease of exploring on foot is why we think Hoi An is one of the best cities to visit in Vietnam. 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.
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 things to do in Hoi An is to hire a cyclo for a half-hour or hour turn around the town to take in the sights. You could book through a tour company, 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 set off!
Farming & Fishing Tour
A Farming & Fishing Tour is one of the best Hoi An tours we have done and for us is one of the best things to do in Vietnam. It 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.
Cycle through the paddy fields, learn to plant vegetables, ride a water buffalo, how to cast a fishing net from a traditional fishing boat and how to steer the round bamboo basket boats. Fun and educational – ideal.
Read more about our Farming & Fishing Tour experience here or book it now on Viator.com
Boat Ride on Thu Bon River
If you don’t have time to dedicate a full day to exploring the farming and fishing communities, you can still get out on the water in Hoi An with kids. Taking a boat ride on the Thu Bon River is one of the most popular Hoi An activities and several companies offer boat trips ranging from one hour to half-day trips. You can also just take a wander along the river on Bach Dang Street near An Hoi Bridge and negotiate with the many boat owners there to take you for a ride up the Thu Bon river. Of course your destination is in the hands of your helmsman but you should be able to take in some of the atmosphere of the rural riverside communities.
Food Tour
Hoi An is renowned for its 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 Hoi An is to take a food tour of Hoi An with a local guide. It is a great way to get to know all the best joints in town for lunch and dinner. If you’re deciding what to do in Hoi An with kids, I can definitely recommend this for your family trip to Vietnam.
We joined Hoi An Food Tour and learned how to make Banh Bao Banh Vac (white rose dumplings) at the most famous White Rose restaurant in town; visited Anthony Bourdain’s favourite Banh Mi takeaway; sat at the side of the road and ate Xi Ma (sweet black sesame soup) and visited the bustling Central Market for a piping bowl of Cao Lau (Hoi An Noodle Dish).
Read more about our Hoi An Food Tour here or book it now on Viator.com
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 in Hoi An. 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 for your Hoi An shopping, as the quality of the shops varies hugely. It’s not just for adults either – my 3-year old loved picking out some material and being measured up for a new skirt.
Compare prices for Hoi An hotels below:
Looking for the best family resorts in Hoi An? Check out our guide to the Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Hoi An and Danang.
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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.
Karianne recently posted…Big Brother Mouse – Making Reading Fun in Laos
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
The Old Town has a unique charm. It really brings the peaceful yet classic atmosphere no city in Vietnam can do.
http://quintessentialcollectionvietnam.com/places/a-melting-pot-of-history-hoi-an-ancient-town
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!