Hanoi is Vietnam's vibrant capital city, a treasure trove of history, culture and sensory delights. Hanoi offers rich worldschooling experiences for children of all ages and is the perfect place to dive deep into Vietnamese culture.
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Beginning our worlschooling journey in 2023, we have visited over 11 countries including a collective 7 weeks exploring the diverse country of Albania. Normally living off-grid and travelling around in our van (hence the name 4intheVan!), we have currently swapped full time van life for 5 months backpacking around South East Asia. This is our biggest worldschooling adventure to date and we are loving sharing our adventures through our Instagram and Facebook pages.
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Vietnam has been on our worldschooling bucket list since forever, so when we decided to go backpacking around South East Asia we knew that we wanted to start our adventure in Vietnam.
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Within this blog post, I share our experiences of Hanoi, Vietnam and offer recommendations of things to do with kids in Hanoi to make your worldschooling experience the best it can be!
Photo: Enjoying Banh Cuon during our Street Food tour
Where to Stay
​If you are looking for an authentic experience then Hanoi's Old Quarter is the place to be. Imagine wandering through a vibrant labyrinth of ancient streets, surrounded by centuries-old architecture, tantalising street food and warm hospitality. We opted to stay in an apartment in the heart of the Old Quarter, minutes away from the infamous Train Street and endless street food delights. We were living amongst the locals and it offered an experience that no hotel would be able to provide.
Educational Experiences
Hanoi offers diverse educational experiences catering to various interests and ages, perfect for worldschooling families.
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Children can immerse themselves in the street food culture by taking part in a street food tour. This was one of our first activities that we did when we arrived in Hanoi and one of the best experiences during our time here. It was the perfect introduction to Hanoi and something that I highly recommend every family to do.
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For more information, read more about our street food tour here.​​​​​
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Photo: Trying out an egg coffee during our Street Food tour
Included in our street food tour was a visit to Train Street. Imagine standing on a narrow street surrounded by colourful shops and cafes as a mighty train rumbles past just inches away! It is a unique and thrilling experience that any kid would love! Our boys claim it to be the highlight of their trip so far.
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Keep your eyes peeled for a full guide on Hanoi's Train Street with kids.
Photo: The hustle and bustle of Train Street
Water Puppet Show
For a unique, creative experience, children can enjoy watching the Vietnamese traditions come to life at Thang Long's water puppet theatre show. Daily life, history and stories of folklore are brought to life by puppets.
Recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, water puppetry has become a significant cultural symbol of Vietnam. Despite the show being in Vietnamese, your children will become immersed in the visual aesthetics of this show.
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There is no need to pre-book tickets, you can show up 30 minutes before the show time to purchase your tickets. Tickets cost approximately £3 each. Visit the official site here.
Photo credit: thanglongwaterpuppet.com
Hoan Kiem Lake
There are lots of things for children to do around Hoan Kiem Lake. The lake itself offers an interesting learning opportunity as it holds a historical legendary story of a colossal turtle and a magical sword. Our boys enjoyed learning all about the story as we strolled around the lake which led them to looking out for any more colossal turtles in the water! Sadly, no turtles were discovered but they did spot lots of fish! ​
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On the northern point of the lake lies the Ngoc Son Temple. Entry to the temple is free for children under 15 and only (approximately) £1 for an adult ticket. Children will enjoy crossing over the vibrant red bridge, The Huc Bridge to reach the temple which is situated on an island in the lake.
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Children can also spot Turtle Tower whilst exploring the lake. Turtle tower is a small tower built upon a floating mound in the middle of the lake. It's architecture is beautiful and provides an exciting probe to spark children's imaginations about the legend of the colossal turtle.
Photo: The Huc Bridge, Hoan Kiem Lake
​A perfect way to cool down the kiddos after a walk around the lake is a stop to The Note Coffee for an iced chocolate or cool fresh fruit smoothie. The Note Coffee is a unique little coffee shop that is lined with notes from all around the world. My boys were entertained for ages reading all of the little notes and writing their own to add to the walls. I think it was the most reading and writing my 9 year old had done in such a long time!
Photo: writing notes at the Note Coffee
Hanoi's Night Market
Our boys loved wandering up and down the street, exploring what treasures each stall had to offer. The night market happens Friday - Sunday from 6pm until late. However, when we arrived at 6.30pm there were still lots of stalls setting up so I would recommend heading there from 7pm.
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What we really loved about this night market was that it wasn't overly touristy. There were lots of locals around and it really added to the authentic vibe of the city. We picked up some ice cold coconuts and had a look at the weird and wonderful street food that was on offer.
Photo: Discovering treasures at the Night Market, Hanoi
Museums
Hanoi’s museums are a must for anyone interested in Vietnamese history, art, and culture. Each museum in this vibrant capital city offers a unique perspective, from ancient history to modern art, making them perfect stops for travellers looking to dive deeper into the stories that have shaped Vietnam.
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Vietnam Museum of Ethnology- One of Hanoi’s most popular museums, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, explores the diversity of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. With immersive exhibits, traditional houses, and cultural artefacts, this museum gives visitors insight into the unique traditions, crafts, and lifestyles of Vietnam’s varied communities.
Vietnam National Museum of History- This museum is a journey through time, showcasing Vietnam’s history from ancient civilisation to modern independence. Visitors can marvel at ancient artefacts, including ceramics, sculptures, and relics from the Vietnam War, while learning about Vietnam’s role in the wider Asian history.
Ho Chi Minh Museum- Dedicated to Vietnam’s revolutionary leader, the Ho Chi Minh Museum is a tribute to the life and legacy of “Uncle Ho.” Through artefacts, photographs, and documents, visitors gain insight into his vision for Vietnam, as well as the country’s journey to independence and unification.
Contemporary Arts Centre- For art lovers, Hanoi’s Contemporary Arts Centre is a fantastic stop to see how local artists express Vietnam’s social, political, and cultural themes through modern art. The rotating exhibits feature a mix of painting, sculpture, and multimedia pieces that capture the pulse of contemporary Vietnamese society.
Photo: Enjoying a coffee on Train Street, Hanoi
Feeling welcomed
Vietnamese people LOVE children. We have been welcomed into the arms and homes of strangers during our visit to Vietnam and our children have had so much attention! Sometimes the attention is a little overwhelming, specially when our 4 year old gets picked up and carried off to meet the rest of the family! But their intentions are always with the biggest hearts. Our boys are gradually becoming used to the attention and understanding that it is all part of experiencing a new culture.
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​We have quickly fallen in love with Hanoi and all of the different worldschooling opportunities it has to offer for families!
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About 4inthVan
We are a family of 4 living and travelling full time in our self converted Luton van.Â
Our aim is to provide other families information, guides and top tips to help them on their next adventure, whether that's world travel, van life or home education.