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Best Things to Do in Hanoi with Kids (2026 Family Guide + 3-Day Itinerary)
Hanoi wasted no time letting us know we weren't in Calgary anymore!
We spent our first few days in Vietnam as part of our 100-day family sabbatical, arriving in Hanoi after travelling through Japan and Hong Kong.
From the second we left the airport, Hanoi felt different, even compared with the busy places we'd just travelled through. The streets were louder and more chaotic, motorbikes were everywhere, and crossing the road with kids was an experience in itself.
To be completely honest, we didn’t get the most out of Hanoi. We made some mistakes when choosing where to base ourselves, and that was compounded by the first illness of our trip. We were tired, under the weather, and never quite found our rhythm in the city.
But that doesn’t mean Hanoi wasn’t memorable. Even during a shorter and more difficult visit, we saw enough to understand what makes the city so fascinating: chaotic streets, atmospheric cafés, temples, lively markets, and of course, excellent food.
This guide covers the best things to do in Hanoi with kids, combining the places we visited with the ones we researched but didn't get to. You'll find a practical 3-day itinerary, where to stay (and where not to), how to group sights so you don't burn out in the heat, and tips for getting around with kids. Hopefully it saves you time and helps you avoid a few of the mistakes we made.
(The short version of our biggest lesson? Stay central. We explain why further down.)
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever share honest reviews of products and experiences we genuinely love.
Hanoi at a Glance
Best free things to do: Wandering the Old Quarter, walking around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, morning exercise by the lake, the Weekend Walking Street, St Joseph's Cathedral, and West Lake.
Best for kids: Water puppet show, the Weekend Walking Street, the Museum of Ethnology's outdoor village houses, and tiNiWorld for a rainy or rest day.
If you're short on time: Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple, Temple of Literature, and a water puppet show.
Closed right now: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed for annual maintenance until 2 November 2026 (reopens 3 November).
How long you need: 2–3 days for the city itself, plus extra time for day trips.
Table of Contents
Map of Best Things to Do in Hanoi
Whenever we plan a trip, we always start with Google Maps. It helps us visualise where everything is and put together an efficient itinerary, especially in a city like Hanoi, where there are so many attractions packed into a relatively small area.
We've added everything in this post to the map below to help you see where everything is and plan your own visit.
To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to "Your Places," and find it under "Maps."
Old Quarter & Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Most of Hanoi's classic sights are packed into this compact area, and almost everything here is walkable.
1. Start the Day With a Vietnamese Coffee
One of the best ways to start a day in Hanoi is with a Vietnamese coffee.
Coffee culture is a huge part of daily life in Vietnam, and you’ll find cafés everywhere, from tiny stools on the pavement to spots tucked away down narrow alleys, and high-end cafés that wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury hotel.
One of our favourites was Hanoi Coffee Culture, a small café tucked away along one of the Old Quarter’s side streets. The café had shabby-chic decor, plenty of Vietnamese flags, and served some excellent yoghurt and fruit bowls, as well as cooked breakfast options.
This was where I tried my first egg coffee, an iced version made with strong coffee and creamy, sweet egg foam. It sounds strange, but it was surprisingly good and tasted a bit like tiramisu.
If you want to try it where it all started, Café Giảng in the Old Quarter is widely credited with inventing egg coffee back in 1946, during a milk shortage.
While egg coffee is one of the most famous Vietnamese coffee drinks, it’s far from the only one worth trying.
Depending on where you go, you’ll also find salt coffee, coconut coffee, yoghurt coffee, strong iced coffee mixed with sweetened condensed milk, and, of course, black coffee.
2. Explore Hanoi's Old Quarter
Some of our favourite moments in Hanoi came from simply wandering the Old Quarter.
The narrow streets are full of atmosphere, with Vietnamese flags flying overhead, little coffee and juice shops with chairs spilling out onto the street, and a mix of clothing stores, souvenir shops and local businesses selling just about everything in between.
It’s the sort of place where it’s best not to have a specific plan. Just pick a street and start walking. Half the fun is stumbling across interesting architecture, cafés, and shops you weren't expecting.
The Old Quarter also has a pretty interesting history. Its 36 streets were traditionally associated with the trades and goods once sold there, and while that system isn’t quite as strict today, you can still find reminders of it in street names such as Hàng Bạc (Silver Street).
When we visited, it was hot, humid and the girls were struggling a bit. Fortunately, there are juice shops on pretty much every corner.
We paid around $7 CAD for four fresh fruit smoothies, making them an easy and affordable way to cool down.
3. Dong Xuan Market
One thing we always try to do in any city is check out a local market. We find it gives you a real feel for the energy and character of a place.
We visited Dong Xuan Market, which is close to the Old Quarter and easy to combine with a wander through the area.
It's Hanoi's largest indoor market, spread across multiple levels and selling just about anything you can think of.
It's not exactly what we'd call organised; more a wonderfully chaotic mix of vendors selling clothing, household goods, food, souvenirs, and wholesale products.
It might not be everyone's cup of tea (especially those with young kids), as it can get crowded and hot inside, but if you're looking for a bargain or a few inexpensive souvenirs, such as a traditional Vietnamese conical hat, it's worth a visit.
4. Hoàn Kiếm Lake & Ngọc Sơn Temple
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is one of the most iconic places to visit in Hanoi and sits just south of the Old Quarter. After weaving through the scooters, traffic, and constant noise of the surrounding streets, it does feel noticeably calmer here.
There are walking paths that circle the lake, most of them shaded by large trees. Given how hot and humid Hanoi can be, we found it a great place to escape the heat for a while and slow the pace down a bit. The paths are wide and flat, so they would be easy with a stroller too.
The lake is also home to Ngọc Sơn Temple, which lies on a small island connected to the shore by the iconic red Húc Bridge.
The temple itself is fairly small, but it’s interesting and worth a visit. Inside, the altars are covered with offerings of fruit, flowers, and incense left by locals coming to worship, highlighting the important role these traditions continue to play in everyday life in Hanoi.
Kids will probably be most interested in the huge preserved turtle on display inside (it was pulled from the lake in 1968).
Beyond the main temple buildings, there's a small open area overlooking Hoàn Kiếm Lake where you can enjoy the views and take a few photos.
Before You Go
Cost: The temple is 50,000 VND (about $3 CAD) for adults, and children are free (cash only).
Hours: Temple 7 am–6 pm on weekdays and until 9 pm on weekends.
Tip: Near the bridge, you may have a vendor try to hang a fruit basket on your shoulder for a photo, then ask for money. Just politely decline, or agree a price first if you'd like the photo.
5. Turtle Tower
In addition to Ngọc Sơn Temple, the lake is also home to Turtle Tower (Tháp Rùa), which is built on a small island near its centre.
You can't actually visit the tower (there is no bridge), but it is visible from most of the lakeshore.
The tower is tied to the legend that gave the lake its name. The story goes that in the 15th century, an emperor was given a magical sword, which he used to drive the Chinese out of Vietnam. Afterwards, while boating on the lake, a giant golden turtle rose from the water, took the sword back, and disappeared into the depths. Hoàn Kiếm means "Lake of the Returned Sword".
It's a great story to tell kids as you walk around the lake. Sadly, the last of the lake's real giant turtles died in 2016.
6. Join the Morning Exercise at Hoàn Kiếm Lake
If you're up early (and with jet lag, you might well be), head down to Hoàn Kiếm Lake around 6 am. This is when the lake belongs to locals, with groups doing tai chi, aerobics, fan dancing and yoga along the shore.
Visitors are usually welcome to join in, and even if you just watch, it's a pretty unique sight to see. It's also free, and at one of the coolest times of day.
7. Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Water puppetry is a centuries-old Vietnamese tradition, originally performed on flooded rice paddies to entertain villagers, and a show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre has become something of a must-do when visiting Hanoi.
We didn't make it to a show ourselves, and honestly, the reviews we read were mixed. Some families loved it, while others found it a bit boring, especially for younger children.
That said, shows only last around 50 minutes, which is manageable for most kids, and an English audio guide is available, which makes the stories much easier to follow.
Whether it's a hit probably comes down to your kids' attention span.
Shows run several times every afternoon and evening, from around 3 pm to 8 pm, with extra performances on Sundays. Tickets cost between 100,000 and 200,000 VND (about $5–$11 CAD), depending on where you sit.
They're popular, especially in the evenings and at weekends, and it's not unusual for them to sell out a few days in advance. If you've got your heart set on a particular day or time, it's worth booking ahead rather than hoping for tickets on the day.
8. Weekend Walking Street & Night Market
Every weekend, the streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake close to traffic, from 7 pm on Friday until midnight on Sunday. Taking a stroll and exploring the markets is one of the most family-friendly things to do in Hanoi.
Without the scooters, the whole area feels completely different. Families spread out along the lakeside, and you'll find street food stalls, live music, and traditional games such as bamboo dancing and oversized Vietnamese chess.
The walking street also links up with the night market running north through the Old Quarter along Hàng Đào towards Dong Xuan Market.
9. St Joseph's Cathedral
Just a few minutes' walk west of Hoàn Kiếm Lake, St Joseph's Cathedral is one of Hanoi's most recognisable colonial-era buildings, with twin bell towers that look like they've been lifted straight out of Europe.
The main doors are usually only open during mass times, but you can often get in through a side entrance at other times.
Coming around the corner from the chaos of the Old Quarter and suddenly finding a Gothic cathedral just shows how many different sides Hanoi has.
10. Train Street
Since the rise of Instagram, Train Street has arguably become Hanoi's most famous tourist attraction.
It's exactly what it sounds like: a narrow residential street where trains pass just inches from homes and cafés. Several times a day, tables and chairs are hurriedly cleared away as a train creeps slowly through the middle of the street.
It's undoubtedly a unique sight, and it features on almost every first-time visitor's must-see list.
However, we decided to skip it.
Everything we read suggested it had become extremely touristy. Access is controlled by guards at either end, and people seem to end up sitting in an overpriced café waiting for train times that may or may not be accurate.
On top of that, there have been a number of safety incidents over the years, usually involving a tourist getting a little too close in search of the perfect photo.
Is Train Street open in 2026? At the time of writing, yes, but only via the cafés along the track, which escort visitors past the barriers. The rules change often, and sections can close with little warning.
If you do go with kids, the Lê Duẩn section near Hanoi Railway Station is generally quieter and more relaxed than the busier Old Quarter end.
Tip: If Train Street is on your must-see list, consider visiting as part of a food tour. You'll be taken straight to the right spot at the right time and can avoid the touts trying to steer visitors into their café.
The French Quarter
Just south of Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the French Quarter is a short walk from the Old Quarter but feels like a completely different city.
11. Wander the French Quarter's Colonial Streets
The streets in the French Quarter are much wider, with tree-lined boulevards, elegant colonial buildings, and a noticeably more upmarket feel.
It's no surprise that many of Hanoi's best hotels, embassies, and designer stores are located here.
While you're here, look out for the Hanoi Opera House. It's a stunning building, modelled on the Palais Garnier in Paris, and its grand columns, balconies and cream-and-yellow walls make it one of the most striking buildings in the city.
Despite its polish, the area still has plenty of character. One of our favourite discoveries was a run-down cafe with trees growing from the roof and roots hanging through the ceiling.
It's the sort of place you'd never find if you weren't wandering around with no particular destination in mind.
12. Bún Chả Hương Liên ("Obama Bún Chả")
This one might not be for everyone, perhaps depending on your political views, but it was a memorable meal for us in Hanoi.
Bún Chả Hương Liên, in Hanoi’s French Quarter, is better known as “Obama Bún Chả” after Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate here together in 2016.
The restaurant has a few photos and pieces of memorabilia from that famous meal, but otherwise it feels like a pretty ordinary restaurant.
The signature dish, bún chả, consists of grilled pork served with rice noodles, fresh herbs and a dipping sauce, and it was excellent. I’m not sure whether it’s the best bún chả in Hanoi, but it was certainly one of our favourite meals in the city.
I liked that the restaurant hasn’t tried to turn its connection to Obama into the whole experience - the food is still very much the reason to come.
For more of the dishes we loved (and which ones the girls actually ate), see our guide to Kid-Friendly Food in Vietnam.
13. Hỏa Lò Prison
Nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton" by American prisoners of war, Hỏa Lò Prison was originally built by the French colonial administration to hold Vietnamese political prisoners.
Today, only a section of the prison survives as a museum. Most of the exhibits focus on the French colonial period, including a guillotine and recreated cells, with a smaller section on the American pilots held here during the war.
Certain parts of this museum can be a bit heavy. We'd suggest it's better suited to older children and teens, and it's worth popping your head into the exhibits yourself before deciding whether to bring younger kids.
If you're interested in Vietnam's wartime history, this guided tour combines Hỏa Lò Prison with the B-52 Victory Museum, where you can see the wreckage of a B-52 bomber shot down over Hanoi.
Ba Đình: Mausoleum, Citadel & Temple of Literature
West of the Old Quarter, Ba Đình is Hanoi's political heart. These sights are close together, so they're easy to combine in one morning.
14. Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one of Hanoi's most visited attractions and is still considered an important site for many Vietnamese people.
The mausoleum is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the leader who played a key role in Vietnam's independence movement.
Whether you're interested in history or not, it's an interesting place to visit simply to understand more about modern Vietnam.
The wider complex also includes Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, the Presidential Palace grounds and the One Pillar Pagoda, all within walking distance of each other, so it's worth allowing time to see the whole area.
Before You Go
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is only open in the mornings, so plan to visit early in the day.
It's open Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday (closed Mondays and Fridays). Visiting starts at 7:30 am from April to October, and at 8 am from November to March.
Entry is free.
It also closes for annual maintenance, which runs from 4 September to 2 November in 2026.
If you're visiting during the closure (or on a Monday or Friday), you can still see the building from Ba Đình Square, and the Stilt House, One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minh Museum usually remain open.
Dress code: This is a solemn site, and the dress code is strictly enforced. Shoulders and knees need to be covered (no shorts, short skirts or sleeveless tops), and hats and sunglasses come off before you go inside.
No photos inside: Photography and filming aren't allowed inside the mausoleum.
15. Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long
Just across the road from the mausoleum area, the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the centre of political power in Vietnam for around eight centuries.
Much of what you'll see today is gateways, courtyards and archaeological remains rather than a complete palace, so it helps to go in with a bit of context. Older kids who enjoy history will probably get the most out of it.
Don't miss the archaeological site across the road from the main entrance, where excavations have uncovered remains spanning roughly 1,300 years of royal dynasties.
16. Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature is one of Hanoi's most important historical sites and offers a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam's long tradition of learning.
The temple was founded in 1070 and later became home to Vietnam's first national university.
Hanoi isn't short on temples, but this one stands out. The grounds are laid out as a series of five walled courtyards, each leading into the next through grand gateways, with ponds, pavilions and old trees throughout.
It's also worth pointing out the red Khuê Văn Pavilion to the kids. It's a symbol of Hanoi, and they may recognise it from the back of the 100,000 VND note!
Before You Go
Cost: The temple is 70,000 VND (about $4 CAD) for adults
Hours: Temple 8 am–5 pm daily
Further Afield
17. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
If you only visit one museum in Hanoi, this is probably the one to choose.
The indoor galleries cover Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups, with clothing, tools and everyday objects, and they're clearly labelled in English. Outside, full-size traditional homes have been built in the gardens by the communities themselves.
Kids can climb up into them and explore, including a towering communal house reached by a steep log ladder.
The museum also puts on its own water puppet shows, so check the times when you arrive.
Note: the museum is closed on Mondays.
18. West Lake (Hồ Tây) & Trấn Quốc Pagoda
West Lake is Hanoi's largest lake and has a bit of a more relaxed feel than the centre, with lakeside cafés, walking and cycling paths, and swan-shaped pedal boats that kids tend to love.
On a small peninsula on the eastern shore sits Trấn Quốc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Hanoi at around 1,500 years old. Its tall red stupa, rising above the lake, is one of the most photographed spots in the city.
19. tiNiWorld at Aeon Mall
Admittedly, this won't make most "best things to do in Hanoi" lists. But when you're travelling with kids and someone isn't feeling 100%, a mall with an indoor play centre can be a real lifesaver.
We ended up at Aeon Mall Hà Đông on an unplanned rest day, and the girls spent hours at tiNiWorld. There was plenty to keep them busy, from a mini soccer pitch and race karts to a climbing wall.
It's not a cultural highlight, but on a rainy, scorching or low-energy day, it can be exactly what everyone needs. There's also a second branch at Aeon Mall Long Biên.
You can read more about our day there in our Day 19 diary.
Experiences
20. Go on a Food Tour
Vietnamese food is some of the best on the planet, and the meals we ate during our time in Vietnam were among the best of our entire trip.
We enjoyed so many great dishes that we ended up writing a separate guide covering the best Vietnamese foods to try in Hanoi, including kid favourites like phở, bánh mì, bún chả, and more.
That said, one thing I'm still disappointed we missed was joining a food tour. We had one booked before getting sick and having to cancel. Almost everyone we've spoken to who has done one says it's one of the best things to do in Hanoi.
Food tours are also a great option with kids, as a local guide takes you to trusted stalls, which removes a lot of the guesswork about what's safe to eat and what children are likely to enjoy.
If you're interested, check out the food tour we had planned to book. We never got the chance to do it ourselves, but it gets excellent reviews.
3-Day Hanoi Itinerary
Most of Hanoi's highlights fall into three clusters: the Old Quarter and Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Ba Đình area around the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Temple of Literature, and the quieter neighbourhoods further out around West Lake.
Grouping them this way keeps travel time down, and with kids, planning a break during the hottest part of the day makes a big difference.
Only have two days? Stick with Days 1 and 2.
Day 1: Old Quarter and Hoàn Kiếm Lake
Early morning (optional): Catch the morning exercise at Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
Morning: Start with a Vietnamese coffee, then wander the Old Quarter while the temperatures are still relatively cool.
Late morning: Continue on to Dong Xuan Market.
Lunch: Pick up a bánh mì from Banh Mi 25.
Midday: Head back to your hotel to rest and escape the heat.
Afternoon: Walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, visit Ngọc Sơn Temple, spot Turtle Tower and visit St Joseph's Cathedral.
Evening: Catch a water puppet show, and/or, if you're visiting between Friday and Sunday, explore the Weekend Walking Street and night market.
Day 2: Ba Đình and the French Quarter
Early morning: Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (not on a Monday or Friday) and the grounds around it. If it's closed, start at the Imperial Citadel instead.
Mid-morning: Walk across to the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.
Late morning: Take a short Grab ride to the Temple of Literature.
Midday: Lunch and/or a rest at your hotel.
Late afternoon: Wander the French Quarter (and visit Hỏa Lò Prison if you have older kids).
Evening: Dinner at Bún Chả Hương Liên ("Obama Bún Chả").
Day 3: Museum of Ethnology and West Lake
Morning: Take a Grab to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and give the kids plenty of time in the outdoor village houses.
Afternoon: Head to West Lake, visit Trấn Quốc Pagoda, and take out a swan pedal boat.
Evening: Join a street food tour back in the Old Quarter.
If you only have one day, stick with Day 1. And if you can, leave some slack in your plans. As we found out, it's easy for a day to disappear to tiredness, illness or the weather, and Day 3 is the easiest one to drop.
Best Time to Visit Hanoi
Hanoi has much more distinct seasons than southern Vietnam, and that makes a big difference to the weather you are likely to experience.
Spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November): These are generally the most comfortable times to visit, with milder temperatures and less rain.
Summer (May–September): Summer is hot, very humid and rainy, with frequent afternoon downpours. This is when a midday break becomes essential.
Winter (December–February): Winter in Hanoi is cool, grey and often drizzly. Pack layers, as it can feel surprisingly cold.
We visited in mid-October, supposedly one of the better months, and it was still hot and sticky, so plan for the heat whenever you go.
What We'd Do Differently
Our honest assessment is that things didn't go perfectly for us in Hanoi.
It was where the first illness of our trip caught up with us. Big travel days in Japan and Hong Kong, the heat, and plain exhaustion probably all played a part.
Rather than push through, we took an unplanned rest day. We spent it at Aeon Mall Hà Đông, browsing familiar shops while the girls burned off some energy at tiNiWorld, an indoor play centre. We finished the day with dinner at Pizza 4P's, which was exactly what we needed.
It was nothing like what we'd planned, but it was the right call. When you're travelling for months at a time, sometimes a day of familiar shops, air conditioning, and comfort food is just what the doctor ordered.
Staying Too Far Out
The biggest thing we'd change is where we stayed.
We chose our hotel because we could book it with points, which made it a great deal on paper. And yes, Grab taxis are cheap in Hanoi. What we hadn't factored in was just how long, and exhausting, those rides could be in the city's traffic.
Getting into central Hanoi took us almost an hour, so popping back to the hotel to escape the midday heat wasn't practical, and heading out again for dinner meant committing to another long ride.
If we did it again, we'd happily pay more to stay somewhere central.
Where to Stay in Hanoi
Learn from our mistake: where you stay in Hanoi makes a huge difference, especially with kids.
For a central location, we'd recommend staying near Hoàn Kiếm Lake, ideally in the Old Quarter, French Quarter, or one of the streets immediately surrounding the lake. Staying here puts most of Hanoi's main attractions within walking distance and makes getting around much easier.
Old Quarter
The Old Quarter puts you within walking distance of coffee shops, street food stalls, Dong Xuan Market, and Hoàn Kiếm Lake. It's busy, chaotic, and undeniably noisy, but for a short visit, the convenience is hard to beat.
It's also a particularly good base if you're planning to follow our three-day itinerary, as you can start and finish Day 1 without relying much on transportation.
Best Overall: La Siesta Classic Hang Thung. Right in the heart of the Old Quarter, a short walk from Hoàn Kiếm Lake, this hotel has something that's rare in the area: a proper swimming pool, said to be the largest in the Old Quarter. The Executive Deluxe Connecting rooms work well for a family of four, and the restaurant has a children's menu.
Best Value: Scent Premium Hotel. Just off the lake, it's a practical, well-priced base in a very central spot. The Family Suite has two queen beds in one large room, which suits families who'd rather all stay together.
Best Luxury: Peridot Grand Luxury Boutique Hotel. The rooftop infinity pool, with views across the city, is the big draw here. The Grand Interconnecting rooms work as a proper two-room suite, with a double in one room and two singles in the other. It sits on the quieter edge of the Old Quarter, close enough to walk everywhere but a little calmer at night.
Best for Families: Hotel de Lagom. This newer hotel on the edge of the Old Quarter, near Train Street, has interconnecting family suites with two separate bedrooms, so everyone gets a bit of space. As it only opened in 2025, it has fewer reviews than the others on this list.
French Quarter
The French Quarter has wider streets, leafy boulevards, and many of Hanoi's best hotels. Several properties also have swimming pools, which can be a lifesaver after a hot and humid day of sightseeing.
It's a good choice if you want a little more space and comfort while still being within walking distance of Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
Best Overall: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Hanoi's most famous hotel has been welcoming guests since 1901. It's great for families, with interconnecting rooms, small welcome gifts for kids, and an outdoor pool in a leafy garden courtyard. Older kids will love the hotel's daily "Path of History" tour, which takes guests down into a wartime bomb shelter discovered beneath the pool bar.
Best Value: Conifer Boutique Hotel. Tucked away on a quiet street next to the Metropole, it's a few minutes' walk from the Opera House and around 10 minutes from Hoàn Kiếm Lake. There's a Family Suite with separate living and sleeping areas, and many rooms have balconies. Rooms are on the smaller, slightly dated side, but it's a good-value base in one of the city's most expensive neighbourhoods.
Best Luxury: Capella Hanoi. Moments from the Opera House, Capella's 47 rooms and suites are each styled around a famous opera star or performance. There's an indoor pool, but with its dramatic décor and cocktail bars, it's more of a special-occasion splurge than a family-focused hotel.
Best for Families: Somerset Grand Hanoi. Its apartment-style family suites give you far more space than a standard hotel room, with room to spread out and a kitchen for simple meals. The large pool is a highlight for kids. It's on the western edge of the French Quarter, near Hỏa Lò Prison.
Hoàn Kiếm Lake
If you'd prefer something between the bustle of the Old Quarter and the more polished feel of the French Quarter, look for a hotel on one of the streets immediately surrounding Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
You'll have easy access to the lake's walking paths, countless cafés and restaurants, and be within walking distance of many of Hanoi's top attractions.
Best Overall: L'Hôtel du Lac Hanoi. One of the highest-rated hotels around the lake, it has an outdoor pool and a buffet breakfast included in the rate. It's about 400 m from St Joseph's Cathedral, with the lake and Old Quarter both an easy walk away.
Best Value: Hanoi Brilliant Hotel & Spa. On Hàng Trống Street, a couple of minutes' walk from Hoàn Kiếm Lake and St Joseph's Cathedral, it has a 55 m² Family Suite with two queen beds and a balcony that sleeps four. There are also Junior Connecting Rooms with a queen and two twins.
Best Luxury: Apricot Hotel. Right on the edge of Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Apricot is filled with contemporary Vietnamese art, and its rooftop pool looks out over the lake and city. It's hard to beat for location.
Best for Families: The Oriental Jade Hotel. The Pearl Connecting Suite has a double bedroom and a twin bedroom, each with its own space. There's a rooftop pool with views over the Old Quarter, and the restaurant has plenty of kid-friendly options.
West Lake (Tây Hồ) and Further Out
These areas are generally quieter and offer more space for your money, but you'll be relying on Grab to get into the city centre. As we found out, those rides can take far longer than you'd expect once traffic is factored in.
Unless you're planning a longer stay in Hanoi, we'd recommend staying closer to Hoàn Kiếm Lake instead.
Getting Around Hanoi
Hanoi's traffic can look intimidating at first, and getting from the airport or outer suburbs into the city centre can take longer than you'd expect.
Once you're in the areas around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, however, getting around is pretty easy. Most of the sights in this guide are concentrated around the Old Quarter, French Quarter, and the lake itself, making it easy to explore on foot.
For anything a little further away, Grab is affordable, reliable and safe.
Walking Around Hanoi
Once you're in the centre, Hanoi is very walkable. The Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Dong Xuan Market, and the French Quarter are all close together, and many of the sights in this guide can easily be linked on foot.
Just don't expect a relaxing stroll. Pavements are often occupied by parked scooters, street kitchens, and shop displays, so you'll regularly find yourself walking along the edge of the road.
Despite travelling with kids, we found walking to be the best way to experience the city and discover places we never would have stumbled across otherwise - you just need to be careful.
Crossing the Road
This is the part most families worry about, and it does take some getting used to.
Traffic rarely stops, so waiting for a completely clear gap would mean waiting forever. The trick is to walk slowly and steadily across without stopping suddenly, running, or stepping backwards. That allows the scooters to predict where you're going and flow around you.
Our strategy was to hold the girls' hands tightly, keep them on the side furthest from traffic, and use pedestrian crossings and traffic lights whenever possible.
It definitely took a while to build up the courage to step out that first time, but after a day or two it started to feel surprisingly normal.
Using Grab
For anything beyond walking distance, we used Grab, Southeast Asia's version of Uber.
It's inexpensive, shows the fare upfront, and removes the risk of being overcharged by an unmetered taxi.
Having travelled through Asia before ride-hailing apps existed, I can't overstate how much easier services like Grab make getting around.
You can book either a car or a motorbike, although if you have kids, you will almost certainly want to stick to cars.
Grab also works well for airport transfers, with the journey between Nội Bài Airport and the city centre typically taking 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic.
It's the easiest and most convenient way to travel longer distances around Hanoi.
Money and Paying
Cash is still king at many of Hanoi's attractions, street food stalls and small cafés. Several of the places in this guide only accept cash, so it's worth keeping some smaller notes on you. Larger hotels, restaurants and malls will almost always take cards.
One thing we learned the hard way: at ATMs in Vietnam, the cash comes out before your card does. Back home, the machine hands your card back first, so out of habit, I took the money and walked away, leaving my card behind at the mall!
You can read the full story in our Day 20 diary.
Tip: Always wait for your card before walking away from an ATM, and carry a backup card that you keep separately from your main one. We cover this and more money tips in our full RTW planning guide.
Day Trips From Hanoi
Hanoi is also a good base for exploring more of northern Vietnam. Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay can both be visited as day trips, but if you have the time, we'd recommend slowing down and spending a couple of nights rather than trying to squeeze everything into one long day.
Sapa is another option, but we'd definitely treat this as a short getaway rather than a day trip.
Ninh Bình
Ninh Binh is close enough to Hanoi to visit in a day, and it's one of the most popular excursions from the city. You'll find dramatic limestone mountains, rivers, rice fields, temples and some of northern Vietnam's most impressive scenery.
A day trip gives you enough time to see some of the major sights, including a boat trip through the limestone landscape, but we'd recommend staying for at least two nights if you can.
We spent three nights there, and it was one of the highlights of our time in Vietnam.
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay can also be visited as a day trip from Hanoi, and there are plenty of tours that make this possible.
However, we'd be tempted to give it more time. Rather than spending much of the day travelling to and from Hanoi and only getting a few hours on the water, one or two nights on a boat would give you a much better opportunity to experience the bay.
There are a lot of different cruise options, from shorter day cruises to multi-day itineraries, so it's worth comparing what's included before booking. We didn't visit Ha Long Bay during this trip, but we spent a lot of time researching the options and this was the best option that we found.
Sapa
Sapa isn't really a day trip from Hanoi. With the travel time involved, we'd recommend allowing at least a couple of days if you want to visit.
Sapa is known for its mountain scenery, terraced rice fields and trekking routes, with opportunities to explore the countryside and surrounding villages. It's a completely different experience from Hanoi and makes a good addition if you have a few extra days in northern Vietnam.
If we were planning a longer northern Vietnam itinerary, we'd look at at least two nights in Sapa, rather than trying to squeeze it into a single day.
Final Thoughts
Hanoi packs an enormous amount of contrast into a relatively small, walkable area. Ancient temples, colonial boulevards, chaotic markets, and some of the best food anywhere can all be found within a few minutes of each other.
It wasn't the easiest stop on our trip, but if you stay central, pace yourselves and leave room for the odd slow day, it's a city that rewards families who give it the chance.
For more on our time in Vietnam, take a look at our full 100-day diary, including our first full day exploring Hanoi's Old and French Quarters.
We're a Calgary-based family that travelled for 100 days, documenting each step so other families can get an honest, real-life look at long-term travel with kids.
You can browse the full 100-day daily diary contents list here.
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