24 Best Things to Do In Hoi An with Kids

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By Saskia de Best • December 10th 2024

Hoi An is one of the most kid friendly destinations of Vietnam. There’s so much to do and explore for kids of all ages that you can stay for a week and you won’t get bored.

Some of the best things to do in Hoi An with kids are also fun for parents. Like boat tours, designing clothes that will be tailor made for you within 1 or 2 days, chilling at the beach and joining some of the many classes (like paper lanterns and calligraphy).

We’ve spent almost 2 weeks in Hoi An and are already planning to go back. Hoi An is a family favorite and that’s why I can’t wait to share the top 24 things to do in Hoi An for kids and parents.

Hoi An kids activities

While you won’t find many playgrounds here or hotels with pools, Hoi An will absolutely become a kid favorite. There are gorgeous beaches to play at, thrilling boat rides to join and dresses and suits to design. Let’s dive into the best things to do with kids in Hoi An.

1. Stroll around Hoi An Old Town

First on this list is roaming around the Old Town. Get a feel for this town that can sometimes feel like Disneyland. If you like it busy go between 11am and 4pm. If not, go early in the morning, leave the Old Town around lunchtime and come back after 4pm.

Stroll around and check out the French colonial architecture and the Thu Bon River. Buy a snack from a food cart, shop around and have a drink while you’re people watching.

Hoi An is known as one of the prettiest and most picturesque cities in Vietnam thanks to the 800 historical buildings you can find here. Unlike other cities in Vietnam, Hoi An managed to escape most of the bombing that happened during the Vietnam War. That’s why you get a chance to enjoy its history in all its glory.

Opening hours and ticket price

The Old Town is open 24/7. Each site has its own opening times, though.

To get into Hoi An Ancient Town you need a ticket. You can get a ticket online or you can buy it at one of the ticket offices. In 10 days you can access the Old Town and 5 of the 22 UNESCO World Heritage List sites within the Old Town of Hoi An for €4,40 per person. All kids under 15 are free.

I write more in depth about the Hoi An Old Town-pass in my article about planning a family trip to Hoi An. Don’t have time to check out that post? Here are two locations where you can buy a Hoi An Old Town ticket:

• At the Japanese Covered Bridge
• At the crossroad of Hoang Dieu and Tran Phu, near the Hainan Assembly Hall

2. Get tailor made clothing

Hoi An is famous worldwide for its tailoring industry and it’s not hard to find out why. You can find dozens of tailors in the Old Town. This is your chance to own a tailor made suit, dress or other piece of clothing.

Before you enter one of the shops check out their reviews online. Not all of them are worth your money.

Another tip is to know what you want, before you go in. Show a picture of the item you’d like custom made or draw something yourself.

Make sure they know exactly what you want, and if you’re not sure that they get what you mean, have them draw it out for you on the spot.

At most of the tailors you can also buy leather goods. You can also opt to get a leather bag, belt or wallet made especially for you. Or buy leather items off the shelf.

We were really happy with our suits that were tailor made for us by Truong An. We all got an outfit and our son looked very dapper in his cashmere suit.

3. Join a coconut boat tour

When doing research for your family trip to Hoi An you’ve probably seen more than one picture of circular colorful boats spinning like crazy in the Bay Mau Coconut Forest groves.

You’ll board the Thuyền thúng (basket boat in Vietnamese) on the Thu Bon river. This is the part where you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

After about 30 minutes you’ll exit the Coconut forest which is when things go crazy. The rowers stand up and Gangnam Style starts blasting through the speakers. The rowers will start spinning the basket boat and kids will love it!

It is somewhat of a weird experience. The basket boats are used by fishermen. At some point they decided to add tours through the coconut forest for extra income. Which is what we as travelers love, because giving back to locals is important to us.

But at some point the locals thought it would be fun to add the spinning element and this activity became so popular that the river is overrun with tourists.

This is of course the dark side of tourism. What started as eco-tourism became commercialized. We really didn’t know if it was a good idea to join, but decided to try it out and see for ourselves.

When doing research we found that some tours include riding buffaloes. Since exploitation of animals is a big NO to us we checked out all the reviews of tour operators and found some that excluded this activity.

Should you do this? As parents we loved the part where we gently rowed through the Cam Thanh coconut forest. Our teen loved the chaotic part. As soon as the music started blasting through the speakers, he knew what was coming. This basket boat ride was the highlight of Hoi An for him.

Oh and ehm, just a tip: don’t take out your phone to take pics during the spinning. You might end up losing it during the spinning and with it all the pics that weren’t uploaded to the cloud yet. Oops…

Opening hours and ticket price

This depends on the basket boat tour you book. You can join a boat ride for about €4 per person. But if you want to go on a private (half)day tour or add activities like exploring Cam Thanh Village or a cooking class then you’ll pay anything between €20 to €60 euro.

Top Coconut Basket Boat Tours

4. Lantern boat ride at night

The lantern boat ride takes place at the Thu Bồn River. Right next to the Japanese Covered Bridge.

You can take a boat ride during the day, but the best time to do it is after dark. This is when the banks of the river are beautifully lit and when people make a wish by buying a candle lit paper lantern and putting it in the river.

You can also put the lantern into the river while in the boat. Just do it at the spot near the Hoi An Bridge, because otherwise they won’t be picked up by the municipality and you will litter the river.

The lantern boat ride only takes 20 minutes. We didn’t join, because the river was filled with boats every evening and the boats barely moved in the chaos.

We stuck to making a wish from the river bank and admired the view from there. But if your family wants that Instagrammable picture, then you should definitely join a lantern boat ride.

Opening hours and ticket price

You can hop on any time during the day, but the last tour leaves at 8pm.

Depending on the length of the tour you’ll pay between €10 – €20 per person. You can pre-book your tour or hop aboard at the dock and pay the rower.

Top Lantern boat ride tours

5. Hoi An Silk Village

Hoi An used to be the silk hub of the Quang Nam Province, employing 1000s of people. Products were sold across the famous Silk Road from Asia to Europe.

But about 100 years ago interest in artisanal silk products declined and that’s when the Silk Village in Hoi An was closed.

Because of its historic significance the Hoi An Silk Village wants to bring back silk production and with the help of the tourism industry the ancient village can be visited again and locals and travelers can enjoy learning about the silk process and buy locally made silk products.

You can find Hoi An Silk Village about 1km from the Old Town of Hoi An. You help the local community with your village, since they employ locals only. In return you and your kids learn about silk production and you can score great souvenirs here.

And while you’re here, roam around the gardens with beautiful ponds filled with lotus flowers.

There’s also a restaurant where you can eat lovely local dishes like spring rolls and banh mi, but also internationally orientated dishes. You can also join a cooking class here.

To help bring customers to the Silk Village they added a resort and spa called Mulberry Collection Silk Village. If you’re keen you can book family rooms here. We didn’t stay here ourselves but we did sneak a peak and the rooms are luxurious and roomy. The resort also gets great reviews. Guests of the resort get free entrance to the Silk Village and a tour to check out the silk weaving process.

Opening hours and ticket price

Opened daily from 8am to 5pm.

A 45 minute tour of the silk process costs €3,75 per person. A welcome drink (mulberry juice) and a bottle of water are included as well as a guide that speaks either English or French. This is the one we did and that was just long enough to keep the teen entertained.

You can also join a 4 hour tour, including a tour of the gardens. You get a chance to try your hand at silk weaving yourselves.

I can’t say anything about the quality of this tour, because we opted for the short tour. Per person you pay €22,25 without transport to and from the Old Town. If you want to include transportation it will cost you €33,25 per person.

Top Hoi An Silk Village tours

6. Take a calligraphy class

I have to be honest, I always think of China when I think about calligraphy. It wasn’t until I visited Hoi An that I learned about Vietnamese calligraphy.

Historically Vietnamese calligraphy was very much related to Chinese characters. But over time Vietnam developed its own style.

When we heard about a calligraphy class in the Museum of Folk Culture in Hoi An we thought it would be a fun thing to do with kids. Just to learn something about the art of calligraphy.

We were right. The class took 2 hours and at first I thought that might be too long. But writing with ink by dipping your pen in it was an experience in itself for our teen and by using rice paper he felt like he was creating something really special.

All in all we recommend taking this class with kids, if you have the time. If you’re only in Hoi An for 2 or 3 days I think this is something you can skip, unless your family is really into arts and crafts. But if you spend 4 days in Hoi An with kids or more, this is an awesome family activity.

Opening hours and ticket price

If you decide to join a calligraphy class you have lots of options. We opted for the class in the Museum of Folk Culture. You can enter the museum any time of day and ask if there’s a teacher available. Or you can pre book the calligraphy class well in advance for a chance to get the time slot you desire.

The museum is open daily from 7am to 9.30pm, but I don’t know the exact window of the classes. If you want to be sure, contact the museum or pre book the class.

Entrance to the museum is free with an Hoi An Old Town Ticket. If you book a calligraphy class you can also enter the museum for free. For the class you pay €19 per person. That sounds expensive, but you get to keep your art, get a green tea and as a gift you get calligraphy art made by the teacher.

Top Calligraphy class tours

Like I mentioned earlier, you can also join other classes. This is not the only place where you can learn calligraphy. This is the one we did and enjoyed.

Here are the top calligraphy classes in Hoi An, including the one in the Museum of Folk Culture.

7. Join a cooking class

You really get to learn about the culture of a country by visiting local markets and taking a cooking class. More often than not these two things are combined when you book a cooking class.

The Vietnamese kitchen is raved about all over the world and rightly so. And Hoi An is a town for foodies. A cooking class is one of the best things to do in Hoi An for families.

If you don’t have time to take a cooking class in Hoi An and you’re traveling to other places in Vietnam with kids you get lots of other options. You can take great cooking classes in Ho Chi Minh City and also in Hanoi.

Most of the dishes are very kid friendly. A great activity to do as a family is a cooking class that’s suitable for kids. You can opt for a 2 hour class or a half day or full day course. You can pre book tickets, but if you don’t like to book ahead, you will be able to get tickets on the spot.

There are so many cooking classes on offer, which means you can always start a class the next day or the day after that.

You start by getting a shopping list, so you can buy the ingredients for the dishes from the Hoi An Central Market. After that your class will start.

Dishes like wontons, chicken with rice (Com Ga), Bahn Xeo which is a savory pancake and of course Hoi An’s most famous dish: Cao Lau noodles.

One of the most popular classes is by the Gioan Restaurant & Family Cookery School. But it’s a very popular one, so book ahead.

Top Hoi An cooking class tours

8. Beach day

Hit pause on exploring the Ancient town of Hoi An and head to the beach.

An Bang Beach

An Bang Beach is Hoi An’s most favorite beach to hang at. For both tourists and locals.

While frolicking on the beach and playing in the sea, vendors sell food and souvenirs. You can rent deck chairs for the price of a bottle of water, they’re pretty cheap.

Delicious food can also be bought at one of the many bars and restaurants located alongside each other on the beach. Local dishes and fresh seafood. And drinks like fresh coconuts, fresh fruit juices, mocktails and cocktails.

At the end of the day the locals will join you after a long day of work or study.

Cua Dai Beach

Cua Dai beach is another popular beach. In 2013 it was named the most beautiful beach in Asia. But since 2014 erosion led to the loss of the beach. About 10 to 20 meters of land each year.

To save the beach, Quang Nam Province has implemented a new project to build an underwater dyke offshore aside from filling up eroded sections along the beach with pumped sand.

Since the summer of 2021 people have slowly found their way back here. They will continue the project to restore the beach. So do check it out when you’re in Hoi An!

9. Japanese Covered Bridge

Constructed at the end of the 16th century and completed at the beginning of the 17th century, the Japanese Covered bridge, or Chùa Cầu Pagoda, is a historical building you must see in Hoi An.

After almost 2 years of restoration the bridge reopened in August of 2024, so if there’s ever a moment to see it in all its glory, it is now!

It was built by the Vietnamese, with the help of Japanese constructors. The construction is very tough and meant to hold when earthquakes strike.

This 18 meters long landmark of Hoi An is also known as the Cau Pagoda (Chùa Cầu) can be found at the western part of the Old Town, right where the Thu Bon River meets the Cau An Hoi Bridge.

The Cau Pagoda is covered, hence the name. The entrances are guarded by beautifully carved out dogs and monkeys.

Thousands of tourists flock to Hoi An to see this historical and beautiful bridge. And it is indeed a beautiful sight to see. And one of the best free things to do in Hoi An with kids.

Opening hours and ticket price

Everyone can see the bridge for free from the outside and you can cross the bridge daily from 9am to 11am and from 3pm to 10pm daily for free.

FUN FACT:  A drawing of the Japanese Covered Bridge is printed on the back of the 20.000 Vietnamese Dong bill.

10. Hoi An Roastery

It’s hard to find bad coffee in Vietnam, but if you want to try the best coffee in Hoi An you have to visit Hoi An Roastery.

The Hoi An Roastery is an espresso and coffee house located in a beautiful 2-level yellow building in the Old Town.

It’s a popular spot so go early or late in the afternoon. Not only are the coffees amazing, they also sell paninis and sandwiches.

They also sell spring rolls, pho and other Vietnamese dishes, but compared to other places, and especially street food stalls, the prices are high.

Opening hours

Every day from 7am to 9pm.

11. Cyclo tour of Hoi An

In old Vietnamese cities like Hue, Hanoi and Hoi An you’ll spot lots of cyclo’s. They were introduced to Vietnam in the 20th century by the French during the colonial period.

A cyclo is a 3-wheeled bicycle taxi, also known as a rickshaw. There’s room for one passenger in the front and the driver sits behind the passenger, pedaling the vehicle.

While the cyclo used to be simply a mode of transportation, nowadays it has shifted to a more leisurely purpose. You can find them near tourist attractions where the driver offers a short ride to the next site.

You can hitch a ride for a very low price, but please take into account that a person is pedaling you around so be reasonable with your tip. Depending on the length of the ride and/or the weight of the passenger you can tip accordingly.

In Hoi An you can hail a cyclo to get you to your destination, but you can also join a tour. The first is a good idea if you know the Vietnamese name of the site you want to visit and if you run into an English speaking driver.

A tour is a great idea if you want to visit a few sights and want the driver to wait for you outside. When booking a tour with all the sights and the price clearly mentioned at the time of booking, you can rest assured that your family will hit all the spots on the cyclo tour itinerary.

Generally a short cyclo tour around the Old Town of Hoi An will cost less than €10 per person and cyclo.

Top Cyclo tours

12. Get Banh Mi from a street cart

The most iconic sandwich in Vietnam is easily the Banh Mi. Bahn translates into bread. During the French invasion the French couldn’t cope without their favorite type of bread. They imported flour by shipload.

The same goes for pate and cheese, both first produced in Vietnam around the same time, because of the French.

A classic Banh Mi is filled with cheese and pate, as a reminder of the french colonial times. Sometimes the pate is replaced with grilled meats or cold cuts.

But don’t mistake the Banh Mi for a European sandwich. This baguette is very much a Vietnamese dish, that is not only filled with pate and mayonnaise, but also cilantro, vegetables and Asian seasoning (e.g. soy sauce and/or fish sauce).

There are also vegetarian and vegan options available in the bigger cities in Vietnam and towns that attract a lot of tourists, like Hoi An.

We enjoyed banh mi all over Vietnam, as often as we could, because it’s so good! We had the best ones in Hanoi and Hoi An. There was not a food stall that offered mediocre ones.

So when in Hoi An take a break from the sightseeing and get everyone a Banh Mi on the street from one of the many food stalls in and around the Old Town.

Fans of Anthony Bourdain might want to check out Bánh Mì Phượng. This banh mi stand was visited by Bourdain and became famous after he aired a segment about this place.

13. Cham Islands

About 22km across the water from Hoi An you’ll find the beautiful Cham Islands.

You can and should enjoy a beach day by hanging out at An Bang and Cua Di. But if your family has the time, a trip to Cham Islands is definitely worth it.

Most people only have a few days in Hoi An, and if they have time to relax, then they’ll opt for a few hours or a day at the beach. That’s why the Cham Islands are still blessed with serenity (aka: less tourists).

Cham Island has some gorgeous beaches, like Bay Xep, Bai Ong and Bai Chong. And if you want to chill at one of the lesser known beaches you can rent a wooden boat or a motorcycle to get you to a beach you’ll likely have to yourself.

But the biggest draw is life under the sea! Almost 1.000 sea creatures can be found around the islands. And the corals are beautiful. So if you’re into snorkeling or diving and you’re staying in Hoi An for a few days. You should definitely visit the Cham Islands.

Do you still have time left, before you have to get back to Hoi An? Wander around Han Lao’s fishing villages and enjoy the scenes of locals fishing, making medicinal tea from leaves found on the island and simply relax.

Opening hours and ticket price

In 2020 an entrance fee to the Cham Islands was introduced. Everyone over 1.40 meters pays €3. The entrance fee is valid for your entire stay on Cham Islands. So if you choose to stay overnight or longer it’s still just one ticket per person for the entire time your on the islands

During the wet season visiting the islands is not a good idea. It’s slippery and there’s not much to see and do. In fact, most ferries don’t even run during this time.

At other times you can get to Cham Islands by hopping on the public speedboats (be prepared for a bumpy ride 😉 ), take the local ferry or join a tour to Cham Islands.

Public speedboats leave for the islands at 8.30am and 1.30pm. They return at 7am and 1pm. The trip takes about 20 minutes. If you want to book your family a trip on a smaller speedboat it’ll cost about €14 for a one-way trip.

A private speedboat costs about €213, not just for a return, but it will take you snorkeling around the island as well. Anything goes within a timeframe of 5 hours,

The ferry leaves from Cau Dai Harbor in Hoi An daily at 8am and costs €4 per person. It will take 1h20min, but that’s worth it for people plagued with sea sickness or when you’re traveling with young children.

If you book a Cham Islands snorkeling or diving tour, transportation from Hoi An is included.

14. Reaching Out Teahouse

Hoi An can be a crowded place, especially in the high season. If you’re looking for a tranquil place to chill for a bit and enjoy a lovely cup of tea. I’ve got just the place for you!

The tastefully decorated Reaching Out Teahouse is run by a collective of speech and hearing impaired. Visiting this teahouse is a unique experience centered around enjoying a cup of tea in silence.

Enjoy the traditional Vietnamese tea service or get a coffee or freshly squeezed juice. The cookies and cakes are a lovely treat with your drink.

There’s even a quiet children’s play room here.

If your kids are too young to understand this is a place where silence is golden, you want to skip this place. But, otherwise a visit to this teahouse is a lovely experience and a way to give back to the local community.

You can also get lovely souvenirs here. Tea and coffee cups, but also jewelry.

Opening hours

The Reaching Out Teahouse can be visited daily from 8am to 6.30pm and can be found in the heart of the Old Town.

15. Bamboo Workshop

Hoi An is known for traditional handicraft. Another example of this are the bamboo workshops you can join in Hoi An and around.

This might not be a great option on a hot day, because you’ll be working up a sweat. We booked a bamboo workshop on a rainy day, which was perfect.

We went to Taboo, about 6km from the Old Town, and the workshop started by a lesson about making bamboo products. Then we got to pick a product to make ourselves. We opted to make lamps.

The workshop took 4 hours, so it’s a great activity with teens. Our teen loved it. It’s his favorite souvenir from this trip, because he still uses the lamp daily. It’s on the nightstand next to his bed.

Opening hours and ticket price

Taboo is open from 9am to 5pm daily, except on Sundays. On Sundays they’re closed.

Top Bamboo workshops

16. Hoi An Museum of History and Culture

On the second floor of the ancient Quan Am pagoda you’ll find the Hoi An History museum. This building was built in the 17th century as a place of worship for the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin.

You can find this building in the center of Hoi An right next to the Guan Yu temple.

It’s sad to see that a building, once so significant to Hoi An’s culture and history, wasn’t preserved well. That’s why it’s not a building that attracts a lot of travelers. It’s often quiet here and you’ll be able to get away from the crowds outside to admire the exhibit in peace.

You only need an hour here. It’s not a museum you simply must visit in our opinion. If you ask our teen it was more than underwhelming. But we liked it, because we learned more about the history of Hoi An as a bustling harbor where Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Dutch merchants came to trade goods.

If you have more than 3 days in Hoi An it’s a great addition to the itinerary. Do avoid visiting during the hottest parts of the day, since there’s no air conditioning.

Don’t skip going up to the top floor of the museum, because you get an amazing 360 degree view of the Old Town!

Opening hours and ticket price

Open daily from 7.30am to 5pm.

Tickets are available at all Hoi An Tourist Information kiosks in the Old Town for €4,50. Kids under 15 can go in for free.

If you bought Old Town tickets you can enter for free.

17. Lantern Market

Lots of people refer to the Hoi An Night Market as the Hoi An Lantern Market. That’s because the market in Nguyen Hoang Street is filled with lantern shops, beautifully lit as soon as the darkness sets in.

You can get beautiful locally made products like paper lanterns and umbrellas at the lantern shops.

If you’re done admiring the paper lanterns check out all the other gorgeous, handmade souvenirs, like carved wooden animals, spoons and music boxes.

This market truly is the place to be for locally made souvenirs for the whole family.

18. Hoi An Central Market

Definitely one of the top 10 things to do in Hoi An with kids is visiting the Hoi An Central Market.

If you’re taking a cooking class in Hoi An, you will most likely visit this outdoor market as part of the class. If not, make sure you find time in your itinerary to check out this market.

The Hoi An Central Market is located at the banks of the Thu Bon River and runs from the Cau An Hoi Bridge to the end of Nguyen Hong Street.

You can buy fresh vegetables, fruits and meat here. And you can get freshly cooked local dishes like Cau Lau with white rose dumplings, spring rolls, pho and banh mi.

19. Tan Ky Old House

What family member can resist taking a peek inside of a house that’s centuries old? Take a step back in time and visit the Old House of Tan Ky in the middle of the Ancient Town of Hoi An, near the Japanese Covered Bridge.

Tan Ky old house in Hoi An was built in 1741 and it was the trading place of the local merchants as well as the foreign traders in the 18th and 19th centuries. Back then Hoi An was an important trading post in Vietnam.

Tan Ky ancient house is still managed by the family who has lived here for ages, the Le family. This family lives on the top floor. Only the first floor is open to travelers.

In 1990, the old house was recognized as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. A UNESCO site within a UNESCO site, how cool.

Note that if you’re visiting this ancient house with small children, that you keep a close eye on them. No one is allowed to touch any of the ancient artefacts.

Opening hours and ticket price

The Old House of Tan Ky is open daily from 8am to 5.30pm.

You can use your Hoi An Old Town ticket to enter. Or you can buy a ticket for €1,30 per person aged 10 years and up.

For this price you get 20 minutes inside the merchant house. This sounds short, but it’s a small site you can easily check out within the set timeframe.

20. Join a FREE walking tour

When in the Old Town you simply can’t escape all the tour guides holding umbrellas up in the air with a group of tourist in tow.

The first time we were in Hoi An, before kids, we only had 2 days in Hoi An. We wanted to see as much as we could in the little time we had and decided we wanted to join a walking tour. When doing research we found about 20 FREE walking tours we could join.

If you have 4 days in Hoi An or more, you can easily explore the town by yourself at your own pace. But if you have a short amount of time and you want to see all the highlights, joining a free walking tour is a great thing to do in Hoi An with kids.

Top free walking tours in Hoi An

Because there are so many tour companies offering free walking tours, I’d love to help you make the best choice. Here are the best free walking tours in Hoi An for families, aka the ones with the highest ratings, on GetYourGuide.

• Hoi An Ancient Town Momo Travel – 2h30min 
• Hoi An Ancient Town with a local guide – 3h

While the tours are free, please don’t forget to give your guide a tip. They work hard to tell you all about Hoi An and its culture and history and they live off tips.

If you book the free walking tour via GuruWalk, Get Your Guide, Klook or Viator you have to pay a small booking fee (below €2) that doesn’t go to the tour guides, but to the booking site.

Our go to website to book FREE walking tours wherever we go is GuruWlk. Here are the best FREE tours in Hoi An by foot with local guides, offered by our favorite walking tour booking site GuruWalk.

21. Fujian Assembly Hall

One of the most colorful temple complexes we’ve explored in Vietnam was the gorgeous Fujian (Fukien) Assembly Hall, aka Phuc Kien Assembly Hall. Also known as the Fujian Assembly Hall, this is one of five assembly halls in Hoi An. It was erected at the end of the 17th century as a place of worship for the Chinese Fukien people.

The colorful courtyard with the gorgeous dragons in a fountain is a kid favorite. And all the pink and red colors make it stand out from other temples. Other fountains have carved out Koi Carp, lions and other animals.

If you have time for only one assembly hall, let it be the Fujian Assembly Hall. You’ll need about an hour to see it all.

Opening hours and ticket price

Every day from 8am to 6pm.

You can enter with your Hoi An Old Town Ticket or buy a separate ticket for 4,50 per person over 14.

22. Make your own lantern

Did you check out the Lantern market with the wish of making your own lantern? That’s totally possible in Hoi An.

There are lots of lantern making workshops in Hoi An. They last between 2 to 3,5 hours. So check out the length of the workshop first and make an educated guess as to how long your kids will like making paper lanterns.

If your kids are very young or you don’t have lots of time you can also opt for a lantern making class that covers a pre-made frame. This way you only have to learn how to add paper to it and decorate it.

Top paper lantern making tours

23. Than Ha Pottery Village

By now you’ve figured out that Hoi An is THE place to be to learn about arts and crafts. The last example we’ll touch upon in this article is the art of pottery.

If you want to get away from the lively Old Town of Hoi An, travel 3km east of the city to the Thanh Ha Ceramic Village.

Before we visited Hoi An, we visited Hue and its Imperial City. The Nguyen Dynasty hired craftsmen from the Than Ha Pottery Village to create decorative features in some of the buildings in the Imperial City of Hue.

So if you’ve visited or you’re planning on visiting Hue with kids, I highly recommend a visit to the pottery village to see the techniques used back in the day. Because they still use the same ones today.

Opening hours and ticket price

You have to pay €1,12 to enter the pottery village and another €1,50 to enter the terracotta park next door.

Top Thanh Ha Pottery Village tours

24. Hainan Assembly Hall

The second and last assembly hall on this list is Hainan. The Assembly Hall of the Hainan Chinese Congregation in full.

It’s one of the youngest of all the assembly halls in Hoi An. Construction started in 1883. You can find it along Tran Phu Road, not too far from the Chaozhou and Fujian Assembly Hall.

It’s not too crowded yet, because it hasn’t been open to the public for long. So not everyone knows about it yet. Still, it’s a beautiful building that deserves a visit. So go, before everyone finds out that this assembly hall is not less than the Fujian and Chaozhou assembly hall.

We think the main hall is the highlight with all the pinkish hues, red details and 3 shrines inside.

Opening times and ticket price

You can visit the hall from 8am to 6pm daily.

As always you can use your Hoi An Old Town ticket to enter or buy a separate ticket for 4,50 per person over 14.

Best Tours in Hoi An with kids

10 Things to do in Hoi An with kids

Going to Hoi An, but you don’t have time to do it all? Check out the top 10 things to do in Hoi An for your family!

• Stroll around Old Town
• Join a cooking class
• Japanese Covered Bridge
• Walking tour through Old Town
• Get Banh Mi at the Central Market
• Afternoon beach chill
• Fujian Assembly Hall (Puc Kien)
• Make a wish with a paper lantern in the river
• Coconut bamboo boat tour
• Get something tailor made

Things to do around Hoi An

Staying in Hoi An for more than 5 days? Check out some of the following things to do around Hoi An with kids.

My Son Sanctuary

About 50km from Hoi An you’ll find the ruins of My Son. The oldest bunch of these Hindu temple ruins date back as far as the 4th century. My Son is a UNESCO World Heritage List Site.

You’ll find lots of overgrown ruins, some very well preserved ones and unfortunately other parts of the My Son Sanctuary didn’t stand the test of time. Because of their age or because of bombings during the Vietnam War. You need 2 to 3 hours to explore the site.

My Son is often compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan in Myanmar and Sukhothai in Thailand. When it comes to beauty, you can certainly compare these sights, but the My Son Sanctuary is much smaller than the other world famous temple complexes in Southeast Asia.

If you expect the same experience, you might leave the place disappointed. Do know that you can explore these beautiful temple ruins in relative peace. So, if you have the time, don’t skip a visit to the My Son ruins.

Top tours from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary

Da Nang

The city of Da Nang is the fifth largest city in Vietnam. It’s known for its beaches, sea food, the Ba Na Hills and the Dragon Bridge. Da Nang is located right next to Hoi An. And most likely the place you got off the train or plane to get to Hoi An. Spending a day here is highly recommended. See if you can fit it into your Vietnam family trip itinerary.

Marble Mountains

You can find the Marble Mountains about 20km from Hoi An and about 10km from Da Nang. The name comes from the fact that all 5 mountains are made of limestone and marble.

You can either walk up to the top or take the elevator to check out pagodas and temples. The views you’ll get from the mountains are another reason to take the trip to the Marble Mountains. And while you’re there, don’t forget to explore one of the caves.

Top tours from Hoi An to Marble Mountains

Ba Na Hills

Sunworld Ba Na Hills is an amusement park on top of Trường Sơn Mountains. This place used to be a popular vacation spot for the French filled with villas and a resort resembling french architecture.

Kids will love the ride up in the cable car, included in the ticket price. They’ll also want to spend time at the Fantasy parks with video arcades, cinemas with 3d, 4d and even 5d movies and some rides to enjoy.

And if you’re from Western Europe, like us, you’ll feel strangely at home.

Golden Bridge

But the biggest draw of Ba Na Hills is the famous Golden Bridge. This iconic 150 meters long bridge is “held up” by 2 giant hands. In fact, it’s such a draw that people buy a ticket just to walk on the bridge for a selfie and awesome views.

If you want to see it all, make sure you go to the Golden Bridge first, to avoid the crowds.

Top tours from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills

Hoi An itinerary for families

Now that I’ve hooked you up with a list of best things to do in Hoi An Vietnam I’ll break things down for you in some (multi day) itineraries. Pick the one that suits your family’s timeframe best and enjoy!

5 day Hoi An itinerary

With 5 days in Hoi An with kids you can see it and do it all and even venture out to My Son Sanctuary and the Marble Mountains.

Day 1

• Stroll through the Old Town and check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, order tailor made clothing and visit both Hainan and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
• Join a cooking class and make sure it includes shopping produce at central market
• Get a cuppa at Hoi An Roastery

Day 2

• Join a coconut boat tour
• Visit Hoi An Silk Village
• Award yourselves with some quiet time at Reaching Out Teahouse
• Release a lantern and make a wish while on a boat on the river

Day 3

• Check out Tan Ky Old House and the Lantern Market
• Take a cyclo to the Than Ha Pottery village or bike there yourselves
• Chill on the beach and eat a banh mi while enjoying the sunset

Day 4

• Go to the Cau Chua Pagoda
• Join a calligraphy class or a bamboo workshop
• Take a Grab to Marble Mountains

Day 5

• Enjoy Sunworld Ba Na Hills or spend a day at Cham Islands

4 day Hoi An itinerary

This is almost the exact itinerary as the 5 day one above, but a day at Sunworld Ba Na Hills is removed from the schedule. If you’re going to visit Danang after or before Hoi An, you can add it to your Danang itinerary.

Day 1

• Stroll through the Old Town and check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, order tailor made clothing and visit both Hainan and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
• Join a cooking class and make sure it includes shopping produce at central market
• Get a cuppa at Hoi An Roastery

Day 2

• Join a coconut boat tour
• Visit Hoi An Silk Village
• Award yourselves with some quiet time at Reaching Out Teahouse
• Release a lantern and make a wish while on a boat on the river

Day 3

• Check out Tan Ky Old House and the Lantern Market
• Take a cyclo to the Than Ha Pottery village or bike there yourselves
• Chill on the beach and eat a banh mi while enjoying the sunset

Day 4

• Go to the Cau Chua Pagoda
• Join a calligraphy class or a bamboo workshop
• Take a Grab to Marble Mountains

3 day Hoi An itinerary

In this 3 day itinerary of Hoi An you have to make more cuts. Less workshops and more sightseeing in Hoi An itself.

Day 1

• Stroll through the Old Town and check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, order tailor made clothing and visit both Hainan and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
• Join a cooking class and make sure it includes shopping produce at central market
• Get a cuppa at Hoi An Roastery

Day 2

• Join a coconut boat tour
• Award yourselves with some quiet time at Reaching Out Teahouse
• Release a lantern and make a wish while on a boat on the river

Day 3

• Check out Tan Ky Old House and the Lantern Market
• Go to the Cau Chua Pagoda
• Chill on the beach and eat a banh mi while enjoying the sunset

2 day Hoi An itinerary

If you only have 2 days in Hoi An with kids I would skip all the classes, except for one.

Day 1

• Stroll through the Old Town and check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, order tailor made clothing and visit both Hainan and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
• Get some unknown fruits and a bahn mi at the central market
• Get a cuppa at Hoi An Roastery

Day 2

• Join a coconut boat tour
• Join one of the workshops or classes, best fit to your family
• Release a lantern and make a wish while on a boat on the river

1 Day Hoi An Itinerary

You can get a little taste of Hoi An if you only have one day here. Here are the must do’s if you only have 1 day in Hoi An with kids:

• Stroll through the Old Town and check out the Japanese Covered Bridge, order tailor made clothing and visit both Hainan and Phuc Kien Assembly Hall
• Get some unknown fruits and a bahn mi at the central market
• Release a lantern and make a wish while on a boat on the river

Planning your family trip to Hoi An

Planning a family trip to Hoi An means doing some research. You now know the best things to do here, but there are some things to know before you travel to Hoi An. My Hoi An with kids city guide will help you with that.

How to get around Hoi An

Every day after 10am cars and motorbikes are forbidden to enter the Ancient Town, as the Old Town is also known. You can get a taxi or Grab to the edges of the Old Town.

But the best way of getting around in Hoi An is by bike. Lots of accommodations offer bikes for rent. And many of the AirBnB’s and rental homes as well. Hoi An can easily and safely be explored by bike.

The Old Town itself is quite compact. Everyone can be done on foot.

Conclusion

That’s a wrap on the 24 best things to do in Hoi An with kids. And I hope it helped that I also listed some great things to do around Hoi An.