Top 15 Best Things To Do in Hoi An for Families
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Planning a trip to Hoi An with kids? You’re going to love it.
This charming town in central Vietnam somehow manages to feel relaxed and lively at the same time, which makes it such a great fit for family travel. Think lantern-lit streets, bike rides past rice paddies, white sand beaches, hands-on activities, and food that even picky eaters will like.
We spent 5 weeks here as a family and found Hoi An to be one of our favorite stops on our whole 6 month Southeast Asia adventure. You can wander without a strict plan, mix culture with play, and have lots of delicious food and Vietnamese coffee options to satisfy everyone’s preferences.
From floating lanterns on the river and coconut basket boats to beach afternoons and local markets and food, here are the best things to do in Hoi An for families.
Fun Kid-Friendly Things To Do In Hoi An, Vietnam
1. Wander Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An Ancient Town is iconic, and combines a strange mix of old style buildings with street after street of cafes, restaurants and shops selling souvenirs.
During the day you’ll see yellow merchant houses, wooden shopfronts, temples, day markets and tiny courtyards. In the evening, the whole area transforms as lanterns light up the streets and river.
If you are coming to see a quiet, authentic village…. this is not it. But there is still something magical about it anyway. We visited many times over our month+ long stay.
Kids will love:
- Spotting colorful lanterns everywhere & taking a lantern making workshop
- Crossing the little bridges
- Watching street performers
- Grabbing Che (sweet dessert soup with jellies) & other sweet desserts from street vendors
- Buying souvenirs & getting photos taken (you can even rent traditional outfits for your own photo shoot)
Hoi An is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam for families.
Tickets: You’ll need an Ancient Town ticket (about 120,000 VND) if you plan to enter any of the 22 historical houses, museums or walk across the infamous Japanese covered bridge.
You can buy them at any of the 10+ booths that dot the edges of the old town area. Wandering the streets is free, however the money does go towards preserving this UNESCO World Heritage site.
LOCAL TIPS: The Ancient town gets very busy with tourists. Visit early morning just as shops are opening for fewer crowds. Visit at or after sunset to avoid the midday heat.
The areas around the rivers also tend to flood during certain seasons (October to December). They also had minor flooding after heavy rain around the bridges to the small island where the night market is when we were there in Jan/Feb as well.
2. Try a Lantern Making Workshop
Hoi An is famous for its lanterns, and making one is a fantastic hands-on activity for families, and one of my daughter’s favorite things she did our whole 6 month trip.
If you only have a short time here, don’t miss out on this activity,
Everyone chooses their lantern shape and fabric, then assemble and decorate it with help from local artisans. We chose the start from scratch option which was fine for the adults, and my tween who is super crafty. But her friend got a little frustrated with the process.
If you aren’t a crafty family, have younger kids or are short on time, I recommend the option where the lantern base is premade, and you just glue on the fabric.
It’s creative, low-pressure, and you end up with a fun souvenir that actually fits in your suitcase, as they fold down. One of our top not-to-miss things to do in Hoi An.
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Best for: School-aged kids and up
LOCAL TIP: Many reputable workshops are around the Ancient Town. We had a fabulous time at Lantern Making with Lynn and would highly recommend her classes.
3. Enjoy A Lantern Boat Tour After Dark
This is one of those experiences that feels genuinely magical for kids (and adults too).
After sunset, families can buy paper lanterns, hop into a small wooden boat, and release the lanterns onto the river while making a wish.
You don’t actually have to pay for a boat ride to buy and release the lanterns into the river. There are many, vendors offering them along the river with long poles you can use to push your lantern out into the water.
My daughter and her friend liked following their lanterns down the river to see how far they got.
It’s touristy, yes, but still lovely, especially if this is your kids’ first time seeing something like it.
Cost: Lanterns are around 10,000–20,000 VND. Boat rides usually 150,000–200,000 VND per boat (negotiate before boarding). You don’t really need to book ahead, but if you’re a planner you can book a Lantern Boat Tour here.
⭐️ For more fun places to visit in Vietnam with kids check out our top things to do in Phu Quoc and a 3 day Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
4. Take A River Cruise On The Thu Bon River
Most people think of lantern boats at night, but a daytime boat ride lets you get a new perspective on the town, and some fun photos of the area.
Boats leave from the Ancient Town area throughout the day (and night) and take you along the Thu Bon River past fishing boats, riverside homes, and palm-lined banks, as well as the small island with the Hoi An Memories show and under the Cam Nam Bridge.
The rides are short (about 45 minutes), shaded, and relaxed. We took a small wooden boat tour on a hot day when we all needed a break from walking. They also have larger boat tours for a more “cruise like” experience.
Cost: Around 200,000 VND per small boat (negotiate ahead of time). Things to know: Boats usually depart from the Bach Dang riverfront in the Ancient Town.
5. Visit the Hoi An Night Market
The Hoi An Night Market is a lively stop after enjoying the lantern lit streets of the Ancient Town.
You’ll find lantern stalls, simple souvenirs, and lots of easy-to-love street food. Our go-to treats were the mango or banana crepes, coconut ice cream, and meat skewers.
Location: Nguyen Hoang Street (across the river from Ancient Town)
LOCAL TIP: Treat the night market as a dessert or dinner snack and wander stop. For dessert Miss S liked the crepes, rolled ice cream and Bánh Dừa Nướng (a Vietnamese coconut pancake sandwich). Derek always got the Lạp Xưởng (stone grilled sausages) with a spicy chili powder to dip it in, and we all loved all the grilled things.
6. Ride a Basket Boat in the Coconut Forest
If you’ve seen videos of people spinning around in round boats, this is where that happens.
Just outside of Hoi An, the Cam Thanh coconut forest is a fun and slightly chaotic experience that kids tend to love. You’ll hop into a small round basket boat and glide through narrow waterways lined with palm trees.
Some guides keep it calm and scenic, while others turn it into a full performance with spinning, singing, and a bit of splashing.
This was one of the things we wished we had done at least once for the experience, but didn’t actually end up doing. Next time!
Cost: Around 90,000 VND per person – minimum 2 ppl a boat (plus optional tip)
LOCAL TIP: Some Grab / taxi drivers will try to redirect you to a different company than the one you specifically asked to be dropped off at so they get a commision. So be sure to confirm you are at the right place. Also early morning rides tend to be cooler and less busy. I heard good things about this company: Hoi An Basket Boats.
7. Bike or Walk Through Rice Fields
One of the nicest things about Hoi An is how quickly you can leave the busy areas behind.
Rent bikes or take a local bike tour and pedal through rice paddies, small villages, and quiet back roads. It’s flat, scenic, and peaceful. There’s also some quaint coffee shops / restaurants to stop at along the way.
Most hotels offer free use of their bikes. Kids bikes and child seats are harder to come by though we found.
I actually found myself walking along the rice fields fairly often, as we were staying close by for three weeks, and it was just as enjoyable.
Local Tip: Visit the NGHÉ Rice Paddy Cafe for a cold drink, seated right over the rice paddies. Or try the three story Miss Ha Cafe for the views and a coconut coffee.
8. Visit Tra Que Vegetable Village
Tra Que is a small farming village known for organic herbs and vegetables, and it’s a lovely low-key stop with kids.
Families can:
- See how herbs are grown
- Try simple gardening activities
- Enjoy a casual meal
- Take a cooking class
- Visit the family chapel, shrine and stone well
It’s calm, green, and a nice contrast to Ancient Town.
Cost: It costs 35,000VND ( ~$1.80 CAD / $1.35 USD) per person to wander around, although we accidentally ended up walking all the way through it before realizing there was a fee. Which we did end up paying on our way out to help support their efforts.
Getting there: Bike ride or short Grab from town
9. Head to the Beach (An Bang or Cua Dai)
Hoi An has easy access to family-friendly beaches just a short 15 min drive or 6 km bike ride from the Ancient Town area.
It has a relaxed, family-friendly vibe with soft sand and plenty of beachfront restaurants. Many places offer free loungers if you order food or drinks.
We found this to be one of the easiest days with kids, just swim, eat, repeat.
The waves can get a bit rough depending on the season, but on calmer days it’s great for older kids.
We ended up staying two weeks at An Bang Beach at the Life Beach Villa just minutes from the beach (we loved it!) before we spent 3 weeks in the Cam Chau area.
An Bang Beach
- Relaxed vibe
- Soft sand
- Restaurants and loungers
- Great for families
Cua Dai Beach
- Wider shoreline
- Less busy in some areas
- Good for long walks
Many beach clubs let you use loungers if you order food or drinks, making it an easy half-day outing.
LOCAL TIP: The Deck House is a fun beach front restaurant to eat at, with live music on weekends. The beach in front is quite nice too. Families also liked to hang out at the Barefoot Beach Club on the Cam An side.
10. Visit Ba Le Market (A More Local Experience)
If you want to see a more everyday side of Hoi An beyond the lanterns and souvenir shops, Ba Le Market is a great little stop.
Located just outside the main tourist area, this is a local market where you’ll see vendors selling fresh produce, herbs, seafood, meat, and prepared foods.
It’s not polished or curated for tourists, which is exactly what makes it interesting.
Kids will find it a bit fascinating (and sometimes a little overwhelming), especially seeing ingredients and foods they don’t recognize. Or trying to dodge the motorbikes that ride right up to the stalls.
It can be a great chance to talk about different cultures and how people shop and cook in other parts of the world.
We stopped here many a time for a local breakfast of noodles, Vietnamese coffee and fruit smoothies, as well as local desserts, fresh ginger and fruit. It actually was one of our favorite local markets in all of Vietnam and one of our favorite things to do in Hoi An when we had a bit of down time.
11. Get Clothes Tailored (A Fun Family Experience)
Hoi An is known for its tailoring, and it can actually be a fun experience for families.
Whether it’s a simple dress, linen outfit, a suit or something more custom, the turnaround time is fast (often 24–48 hours).
We got to look at books filled with clothing options, then choose our designs and fabrics to use.
Derek ended up buying a suit, leather jacket and leather shoes. Miss S got a dress and fancy shoes made, and I got a pant suit and custom leather sandals made.
Prices vary widely so it’s worth reading reviews or asking around. We had a good experience at I Love Fashion for leather goods, and they sent us to their sister’s shop Pink Lotus Tailors for clothing which was great too.
LOCAL TIP: It was a fun experience, but do go in with a budget ahead of time as they do try and get you to buy more than you came in for, and haggle a little especially if you’re buying more than one item. I wasn’t going to get anything, but some how came away with a pant suit and sandals.
12. Try Local Food
Trying the local food is easily one of the best things to do in Hoi An Vietnam, and surprisingly, it’s very doable with kids.
Hoi An has a great mix of street food, casual restaurants, and cafés, so you can ease into it depending on your comfort level.
If your kids are a bit hesitant, start with simple, familiar options and work your way up.
Here are a few local dishes to try:
- Banh Mi (Vietnamese sandwich): Crispy baguette filled with meats, veggies, and sauces. Easy win for most kids. Our favorites were Banh Mi Phuong & the Bahn Mi Queen Madam Kahn’s.
- Cao Lầu: A Hoi An specialty noodle dish with pork, greens, and crispy toppings. Our #1 choice was at Cao lầu Không Gian Xanh in Ancient Town.
- White Rose Dumplings: Delicate shrimp dumplings unique to Hoi An.
- Fried Spring Rolls: Crunchy and very kid-friendly. They sell them everywhere.
- Bahn Xeo: Crispy fried savory pancakes filled with meat or shrimp, bean sprouts and herbs. Restaurant JAN was our favorite place we had them in all of Vietnam.
- Pho: Mild noodle soup that works well for picky eaters.
- Cháo (rice porridge) & Cơm tấm (broken rice and usually fried egg and pork) for breakfast. We loved the locals only morning market around 137 Nguyễn Duy Hiệu in the Cẩm Châu area of Hoi An near the permanently closed Cà phê 139.
- Chè: A traditional Vietnamese dessert, often served as a sweet soup, or pudding, with combinations of coconut milk, beans, jellies, soft tofu and tropical fruits.
For quick bites, we found ourselves grabbing things like fruit smoothies, fresh juices, and sweet treats like mango crepes or coconut ice cream while wandering around.
If your kids need a break from new foods, there are also plenty of restaurants offering pizza, pasta, and other familiar options.
LOCAL TIP: Also check out our post on the Top 21+ Vietnamese Street Foods you’ll want to try.
13. Visit a Café (or Several)
You can’t visit Vietnam without taking in their cafe culture. Plus Hoi An has no shortage of beautiful cafés, and they’re perfect for slowing down between activities.
From hidden rice paddy cafés to riverfront spots, there’s always somewhere to stop for a drink and a break.
Vietnamese coffee is strong (and very good), and coconut coffee quickly became a favorite for us. For kids, there are smoothies, fresh juices, and plenty of snacks to keep them happy.
Just note if you go to more traditional local favorite cafes they often don’t serve food, so just be aware of that before you go.
Some our favorites local cafes in Hoi An included:
- Magnolia Cafe (Moc Lan Cafe) for riverfront seating and friendly staff.
- May Coffee for their strong Cafe Sua Da, locals only vibe and watching early morning fisherman in the river. They also have great smoothies and other cold drinks.
- Sound of Silence Coffee Shop in Cam An area, for their cute little nooks and atmosphere, and many trendy coffee choices.
- NGHÉ Rice Paddy Cafe for a cold drink, seated right over the rice paddies.
- Miss Ha Cafe for the rice field views and a coconut coffee.
14. Take a Day Trip to My Son Sanctuary
If you’re looking for Hoi An itinerary ideas that include a bit of history, My Son Sanctuary is a popular half-day trip.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site features ancient Cham temple ruins set among jungle-covered hills. It’s atmospheric and educational, but involves walking on uneven paths with limited shade.
We did an early morning half day private tour and highly recommend getting there as soon as it opens. We were there for about an hour with hardly anyone around which was amazing, until all the larger groups came in.
There’s also daily Champa cultural performances that take place typically 3-4 times a day around 9:30 am, 10:00 am, 2:15 pm, and 3:30.
It’s an interesting stop, but it can be hot with limited shade, so plan accordingly.
For families with older kids or teens, My Son Sanctuary is a worthwhile half-day trip.
If you are also spending time in Da Nang, they have the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, which gives you some history of the Champa people and hosts many artifacts from the area.
Getting there: About 1 hour from Hoi An
Time needed: minimum 3–4 hours
LOCAL TIPS: Go early in the morning to avoid both heat and crowds. I would consider skipping this one with young kids as the heat and walking can be a lot.
15. Visit Marble Mountains
A day trip to the Marble Mountains was one of the highlights for attractions in the area for our family.
We planned for a couple of hours, and ended up staying the whole day on the main tourist mountain area as there was so much to see and explore.
Located about 25 minutes from Hoi An (closer to Da Nang), this cluster of limestone hills is filled with caves, temples, and viewpoints. It feels a bit like a mix between a nature walk and a cultural site, which keeps it interesting for both kids and adults.
You can take an elevator part of the way up (highly recommend in the heat), then explore caves with shrines inside, walk through tunnels, and climb up to viewpoints overlooking the coast.
Some of the caves are surprisingly large, and a little dramatic in that “wow, we didn’t expect this” kind of way. Huyen Kong Cave has these rays of light shining down at certain times of day (not a waterfall like the picture on the map looks like, as we found out).
We were there around noon when the sunlight was shining through the cave’s opening.
The highest peak trail is worth the steep uneven steps and path up for the amazing views of the other karst mountains, and surrounding area.
Miss S and I also made it to the last garden temple area (Tu Tam Pagoda) and it was beautiful and fairly quiet, as not a lot of people seem to make it that far.
That said, there are a lot of uneven stairs and pathways going up and down, so it’s better suited for families with older school age kids (unless you don’t mind carrying them around), or for people without mobility issues.
Cost:
Entrance fee around 40,000 VND per person. Elevator 15,000 VND one way (you have to pay to take it down again (so worth it on hot days).
Am Phu Cave 20,000 VND per person.
Getting there:
Grab is the easiest option, or combine it with a Da Nang & Marble Mountain tour or day trip.
LOCAL TIP: Go early in the morning (they open at 7am) to avoid the heat and tour buses. Plan to spend at least 2 – 3 hours there minimum. They close at 5pm.
Final Thoughts: Best Things To Do In Hoi An, Vietnam with Kids
Hoi An is one of those places that just works for families.
You’ve got a mix of culture, food, outdoor activities, and downtime, all within a small, easy-to-navigate area. Whether you’re wandering through Hoi An Ancient Town, biking through rice fields, or spending an afternoon at the beach, it’s a fun place to be.
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Hoi An Vietnam with kids, this is the kind of destination where you can balance sightseeing with actual relaxation.
And if you’re planning out your own trip, these Hoi An itinerary ideas should give you a great starting point for a fun, flexible, and memorable family stay.
