Family cycling along a village lane in the countryside near Hoi An

Hoi An with Kids

Updated · 6 min read

Family-friendly activities and practical tips

Hoi An is one of the easiest places in Vietnam to travel with children: a compact, car-free Old Town, short and cheap activities, beaches 5 km away and a lot of patient, child-loving locals. These are the experiences families enjoy most.

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The best things to do in Hoi An with children

  1. A basket boat ride. The spinning round boats of the coconut forest are the top hit with children of every age, and they last about an hour.
  2. Make a lantern. A calm, creative two hours, and a souvenir they made themselves.
  3. A family bike tour. Short, flat routes through the rice fields with buffalo, ducks and farmers to wave at; child seats and small bikes are available on family tours. See Hoi An bike tours.
  4. A cooking class. Children enjoy the market and rolling spring rolls; most cooking classes welcome kids.
  5. A lantern boat at dusk. Fifteen minutes on the river and a candle lantern to set afloat: short enough for the youngest.
  6. The beach. An Bang beach, 5 km from the Old Town, has soft sand, shade and restaurants; the sea is calmest from April to August.
  7. Ba Na Hills. A long cable car, the Golden Bridge and an indoor amusement area make it a big family day out. See Ba Na Hills tours.

Practical tips for families

Family favourites

Short, hands-on and well reviewed by families.

Round bamboo basket boats among water-coconut palms in the Cam Thanh coconut forest near Hoi An
Kids love it

Basket Boat Ride in the Coconut Forest

★★★★★ 4.9 · 7,126 reviews

  • 50 minutes
  • from $4
  • Cam Thanh village

The most-booked experience in Hoi An: a ride in a round bamboo basket boat through the water-coconut palms of Cam Thanh, with the famous spinning show by the boatmen and a go at crab fishing. Short, cheap and genuinely fun, and easy to combine with a morning in the Old Town.

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Family cycling along a village lane in the countryside near Hoi An
Built for families

Countryside Bicycle Tour for Families (9 km)

★★★★★ 4.9 · 821 reviews

  • 5–6.5 hours
  • from $29
  • Family friendly

A small-group bicycle tour designed for families, with a short 9 km route, buffalo, rice fields and a local lunch. Choose a morning or afternoon departure.

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Colourful silk lanterns made in a lantern-making class in Hoi An
Indoors

Vietnamese Foldable Lantern Making Class

★★★★★ 4.9 · 4,678 reviews

  • 1.5–2 hours
  • from $10
  • Take your lantern home

Build your own silk lantern in a small Old Town workshop, from bamboo frame to silk panels. The lantern folds flat for your suitcase. Easy, calm and a great keepsake from Hoi An.

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Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands at Ba Na Hills at sunrise
Big day out

Golden Bridge & Ba Na Hills Full-Day Tour

★★★★★ 4.8 · 4,844 reviews

  • 7–10 hours
  • from $47
  • Hotel pickup

The most popular way to see Ba Na Hills from Hoi An or Da Nang. Hotel pickup, the long cable car up the mountain, the Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands, the French Village and Linh Ung pagoda, with a guide handling the queues. A long but easy day.

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Questions travellers ask

Yes. It is compact, largely car-free in the Old Town, safe and full of short, hands-on activities that children enjoy.

An Bang beach, about 5 km from the Old Town, with shade, restaurants and the calmest sea from April to August.

Most short tours are: basket boats, lantern making, cooking classes and family bike tours. Long day trips such as Hue suit older children better.

Taxis rarely have them. Request one when booking a private transfer, or bring a lightweight travel seat.

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