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Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), formerly known as Saigon, is a bustling metropolis brimming with culture, history, and excitement. While it's often celebrated for its vibrant street life, dynamic markets, and rich historical landmarks, it's also a fantastic destination for families looking to explore, learn, and create lasting memories together.
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Whether you're traveling with young children or teenagers, HCMC offers a range of experiences that are both fun and enriching. From interactive museums and scenic parks to delicious street food and fascinating cultural sites, there’s something for every age group to enjoy.​
Worldschooling in Saigon
Saigon is an incredible city. It has a wonderful balance of a city that is developing with the times but still has its authentic, cultural roots at the heart. As a worldschooling family, we felt safe and settled in Saigon. So much so, that we were seriously considering long term stay whilst we were there.
Saigon is made up of 24 districts in total. District 1 is where you will find most of the tourist hotspots like the War Museum, Ben Than Market and Notre Dame Cathedral. District 2 (also known as Thao Dien) is the home of expats. Here you will find expats from all over the world, and many internationals schools. We stayed in Thao Dien during our time in Saigon and it was much quieter than the hustle and bustle of District 1.
Thao Dien has an abundance of cafes, art galleries and apartments with pools. It is easy to see why this is a top spot for expats and worldschooling families. It takes around 20 minutes by Grab taxi to get into the heart of District 1. That said, there is still plenty to explore within Thao Dien itself.​​​​
Photo: Up at the rooftop pool of our apartment in Saigon
Things to do in Saigon with kids
Many families use Saigon as a base to explore other areas such as the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta. However, Saigon offers so much to families. If you are planning on stopping by Saigon then I recommend setting aside at least 3 days to explore what this vibrant city has to offer. Equally, you can easily spend a couple of weeks (or even more if desired!) in the quieter areas of Saigon such as Thao Dien.
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I have put together a list of some of the top things to do in Saigon with kids:
I would highly recommend a visit to Cu Chi tunnels to ANYONE who is planning on visiting Vietnam. It was hands down one of the most educational and fascinating days out that we have had as a worldschooling family so far in Vietnam. Located 2 hours North of Saigon in the Cu Chi District, the tunnels provide an opportunity to learn about the Vietnam war in a way that is suitable for children. Children will enjoy crawling through the tunnels, exploring traps and learning about what life was like during these times.​​
Photo: Listening to the tour guide at Cu Chi Tunnels
Be sure to check out my Cu Chi Tunnels blog post for everything you need to know before visiting with kids.
Cu Chi Tunnels with Kids
2. Dam Sen Water Park
If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, then Dam Sen Water Park is the perfect place. Located in District 11, Dam Sen Water Park has a kids splash zone, wave machine, lazy river and endless slides to keep the kids entertained.
Photo: One area of the kids splash zone at Dam Sen Water Park
Check out my Dam Sen Water Park with Kids blog post to find out everything you need to know before you go.
Saigon Guides
3. War Remnants Museum
As a worldschooling family, we believe that it is important to learn about the history of a place that we are visiting. Vietnam is steeped in history and there is so much to learn about their history which is still raw and relevant. Saigon offers different experiences for children to learn about the war including the Cu Chi Tunnels as well as the War Remnants Museum.
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As parents, we make our own decisions based on our children's needs and what we think they can handle. After experiencing the Cu Chi Tunnels we decided not to take them to War Remnants Museum. That said, I know lots of families who have taken their children to the museum and had an interesting, interactive educational experience.
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The Museum is located in District 1 and is easily accessible. We actually ended up walking past the museum one evening and the boys got to see the helicopter and fighter jet on display outside.
Photo: Helicopter at the War Remnants Museum
4. Look for street art
My son loves art, and in particular he loves street art and graffiti. Saigon is home to some vibrant and interesting street art. District 1 is where you will find some of the most spectacular murals and graffiti on display. What makes this even better is that it doesn't cost a penny to wander the streets!
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If Art Galleries are more your vibe, there are plenty around the city to explore.
Photo: Street art in Saigon
5. Ice Skating
Now this seems to be an unusual one for the list, but when its 34 degrees outside, a trip to an iceskating rink has never sounded more appealing! You can find an ice rink at Vincom Centre Landmark 81, which isn't hard to spot being the tallest structural building in Vietnam.
6. Wander around a traditional market
Despite the high rise and fast development of Saigon city, there are still a number of traditional markets in Saigon that you can wander around and soak in the atmosphere, including Ben Thanh Market, Binh Tay Market and Tan Dinh Market.
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Ben Thanh Market is one of the most popular markets and has been described as the symbol and soul of Saigon. Wandering around this bustling market, you will experience a buzz like no other. With a mix of locals buying fresh produce to tourist trinkets, there is something for everyone here. Ben Thanh Market is also a fantastic place for the family to try out some famous Saigon street food.
Photo: Finding treasures at the market
6. Sample street food
Saigon is known for its street food and you cannot possibly visit Saigon without trying some of the delicious street food that the city has to offer. If you are a little worried about trying street food with kids, there are 2 ways you can sample delicious street food in a safe environment:
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At the Street Food Market, you can sample traditional Vietnamese cuisine (and western foods) from different venders. Situated in a big court, you will discover many stalls offering different dishes including vegan dishes, pizza, dim sum, sea food, noodles and beer. It is a fantastic place for families who have different pallets. We wandered around the different stalls before each making up our mind on what we would like to eat. I opted for a delicious vegan wonton soup, Robin went for a pork rib and rice dish and surprise surprise the boys opted for pizza. After a long day at the Cu Chi Tunnels, we were not in the mood to argue!​
Photo: Enjoying an ice cream after feasting at the street food market!
Photo: Sampling Vegan won ton noodle soup
Another way you can try street food with kids is through a street food tour. You will find lots of different street food tour operators throughout the city. We didn't book one whilst in Saigon but we did do one in Hanoi and it was one of the best things we did as a family. I especially recommend booking a street food tour at the start of your trip in Vietnam as it is a fantastic way to introduce and learn about Vietnamese cuisine with kids.
Street Food Tour
7. Tao Dan Park
Tao Dan Park is a tranquil, green oasis in the heart of the city. It is a perfect little slice of nature where the kids can run around or you can take a picnic to share on a bench in the shade of the trees. If you head there early in the morning you will see locals taking part in morning exercises and dance classes. As well as an open green space, you can discover a temple and a children's play park within the grounds.
8. Mekong Delta
If you're looking to visit the Mekong Delta but your time is limited then you can book onto a day tour from Saigon. The tour allows families to immerse themselves in the local culture of the Mekong Delta. Kids will enjoy exploring the delta's vast network of waterways by boat, visit vibrant markets and sample fresh tropical fruits and local delicacies.
Photo: getyourguide.com
9. Soft Play
There are many indoor play centres around Saigon that the kids can head to to escape the heat. Most of these are cafes that have soft plays attached to them which is a bonus as you get to sip on a nice iced coffee in peace! Kids Camp Plus, TiNi Kids and Beehive Premium kids cafe have good rating on Google.
10. Bui Vien Walking Street
Bui Vien Walking Street is known as the backpackers street. The semi pedestrianised street is lined with bars, bright lights and loud music and even though it is not necessarily somewhere you would want to be taking the kids after 7pm, it is worth taking a visit a little earlier from 5pm. We went early and walked to the end of the street, stopping at Wakiki for a couple of cocktails (mocktails for the kids).
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Whilst sipping our drinks, we were entertained by a fire breathing dragon (not actually a dragon, it was just a bloke but it sounded better saying dragon!) on the street. The cocktails tasting a little too good, we actually ended up walking back down the street a little later than planned. Suddenly, the music was louder, lights were brighter and the atmosphere of the street had definitely changed!
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I recommend a visit, just head there early with kids.
Photo: Enjoying delicious mocktails at Bui Vien Walking Street
11. Hop on/Hop off bus
Saigon is a huge city, and definitely not a walkable city. There are lots of areas where walking around with little ones would become difficult. Pavements rarely exist, and when they do they are not in the best condition. The best way to get around the city is by Grab Taxi, but if you're looking for an easy way to see all of the sights with kids then you can book tickets for a hop on/hop off bus.
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The bus will take you around all of the main sights including the War Remnants museum, Notre Dam Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market and the Central Post Office to name a few. The best thing about this is you can literally hop on and off the bus as you please throughout the day.
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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.