Hanoi is a busy capital of Vietnam, and at the first glance there are not many things to do with kids. However there are quite a few engaging fun activities to do in this city with your little ones – check below!
1. Water Puppet show
Puppet shows are traditional folk performances in Vietnam that date back about 10 centuries! You sit in front of a pool, and puppets are manipulated by poles by people behind a screen at the back — this mimics a rice field filled with water. There are a dozen of short performances showcasing different traditional stories, from the truth and returned sword to dancing and chanting. There is a live orchestra there as well – so much fun for kids and adults alike!
Short scenes from village daily life take about 3-5 minutes each, and the performance lasts 50 minutes in total. The musicians sit on the sides of the stage and play traditional instruments as well. We attended the performance at the Thang Long Theatre and simply adored it! I’d recommend you to book your tickets online in advance.
2. Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
Hoan Kiem Lake is an unmissable attraction when you’re in Hanoi with kids! It’s the background for the central legend of Hanoi, which you’ll encounter everywhere, in puppet theatres and on souvenirs!
King Le Loi (1385-1433) revolted against the Ming dynasty. To succeed, he was given a magical sword by a giant golden turtle who lived in the lake. When he won, he returned the sword to the turtle, who brought it back to the lake. The name of the lake — Hoan Kiem — actually means The Lake of the Returned Sword, and the stone Turtle tower built in the late 19th century stands right in the lake itself.
Ngoc Son Temple, or The Temple of the Jade Mountain, is a temple built on a small island and connected to the shore by an elegant red bridge called the Huc Bridge. Two mummified turtles – the offsprings of the legendary one with the sword – are kept in the temple as well. You can even see the scene where the sizeable mechanical turtle and the King in a real boat are re-enacted!
You can visit the temple during the day, but I suggest you attend the mystical night that was launched at The Ngoc Son! It’s a short performance in the evening with scenes accompanied by dances and music and performed in different areas of the temple. The photography is limited there, but it’s worth your time indeed. You also got a small calligraphy inscription and a sweet gift! Highly recommended.
3. Hanoi train street
Hanoi Train Street is one of the most touristy places in the city, and kids just adore it. Don’t worry about the safety: as I understood, the train passes just a few times a day in the evening, but it might be delayed for about 30 minutes, and the schedule might depend on the season.
However, this place is really photogenic, even without a train! The train line was built by the French in 1902, and it was recently rerouted to avoid accidents because some tourists were too reckless. Now, you can watch the train from the cafes along the train line.
4. French district and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
The French Quarter has an entirely different vibe from the Old Quarter of Hanoi where I’d definitely not advice you to go with a pram: it’s more relaxed and luxurious, and you can see many yellow buildings remaining from the colonial period. The high-end shops are located here as well the Opera House dating back to 1911, Trang Tien Plaza and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is a historic, luxurious hotel that opened in 1901. It was known as the Grand Métropole Hotel in the past, and today it’s not only a five-star hotel and a site for president meetings but also an important historical landmark. We went there for an afternoon tea, and it was pretty nice -and show me a kid who doesn’t enjoy so many finger sandwiches and desserts!
Moreover, you can rent a touristic buggy and have a ride along the French Quarter, what a delight!
5. Historical heritage of Hanoi
Although not all the landmarks of Hanoi would make your kid excited, you can still explore some of the historical heritage of Hanoi together. I’d suggest a few spots for you. First of all, think about the Temple of Literature, erected in 1070 during the rule of Emperor Ly Thanh Tong and dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. And even more, in 1076, it became the first university of Hanoi, Quoc Tu Giam. It has ponds with fish, stone turtles, some dragons, a cafe and a shop!
Secondly, consider visiting the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, built during the rule of the Ly dynasty in the 11th century on the site where, in the 7th century, a Chinese fortress once stood. It was a place of power till late 18th century, and now not many authentic buildings remain.
However, it’s still a nice place to visit both for parents and kids, and it houses not only a few small museums, an archaeological site and the House D67, which served as the meeting room of the Politburo and Central Military Commission, but also a few playgrounds!
Finally, you can visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, located on the West Lake. Originally, the pagoda on this site dates to the 6th century (however, now a significant part of it is much more recent). Although the surroundings are very peaceful, numerous vendors sell fish, birds, and tourist souvenirs here.
You might also like my other blogs about Asia.
Hope you liked my blog!
Yours,
Anna xxx
