Hanoi With Kids 🇻🇳

Our Family Experience in Vietnam’s Capital

Hanoi was one of those places we knew would be intense before we even arrived — but sometimes you don’t really feel a city until you’ve lived in it for a little while.

We ended up spending 10 nights in Hanoi over the Christmas period, and it turned into one of those experiences that taught us a lot… about the city, and about ourselves as a travelling family.

Hanoi is loud, busy, and constantly moving. Scooters flow like water, horns are used as a form of communication, and life spills out onto the streets at all hours.

At first, it’s exciting. There’s so much to watch, smell, and take in. For kids, it’s fascinating — every window feels like a lesson in how different life can be.

Over time though, the constant noise and movement does start to wear on you — especially when travelling with family.

Finding Our Feet in the Chaos

The first few days were a whirlwind. Crossing the road became a daily adventure (and an unexpected worldschooling lesson in confidence and awareness).

Street food stalls popped up everywhere, locals gathered on tiny plastic stools, and the city never seemed to pause.

Hanoi is incredibly educational. From French colonial buildings to reminders of Vietnam’s complex history, it’s a city that naturally sparks questions — perfect for worldschooling families who learn best through real life rather than textbooks.

A Reality We Didn’t Expect: Air Quality

One thing that really shaped our experience was the air pollution. During our stay, air quality levels were poor enough that we had to wear masks whenever we went out. Sitting outside for long periods wasn’t comfortable, and outdoor exercise became difficult.

For a family that loves being outdoors, this was challenging. It didn’t ruin our time, but it did influence how long we felt comfortable staying. It helped us understand that Hanoi is best enjoyed in smaller doses — particularly with kids.

Where You Stay Makes a Big Difference

We stayed near West Lake, away from the Old Quarter, and we were so glad we did.

West Lake felt calmer, more spacious, and easier to live in day to day. There were lovely cafés, great restaurants, and a noticeable expat and digital nomad community, which made it feel more relaxed and familiar. It gave us somewhere to retreat to after busy days in the city.

The Old Quarter was fun to explore — but having a quieter base made all the difference.

Experiencing Hanoi as a Family

We made sure to see some of Hanoi’s well-known spots. Hoan Kiem Lake was lovely for walks and people-watching, especially early in the morning when locals practise tai chi and dance.

The Temple of Literature is also a great worldschooling stop and offers a fascinating look into Vietnam’s educational history.

We also gave the famous Water Puppet Show a go. While we’re glad we experienced it, it wasn’t quite the highlight we hoped for. The show is entirely in Vietnamese, and Joe may have nodded off more than once 😅.

On top of that, tickets at the venue were sold out, so we had to book online at nearly triple the price — not ideal.

Still, it was one of those “we’re glad we tried it” moments.

Everyday Life & Little Wins

One thing Hanoi is great for is shopping. We picked up some really good-quality clothes (yes, knock-offs, but surprisingly good ones) for a fraction of Western prices — always handy when you’re living out of suitcases.

We didn’t feel the warmest welcome from locals during our stay, which was a little disappointing, but we didn’t want that to define Vietnam for us. Sometimes a city just isn’t your place — and that’s okay.

Why We Moved On (And Where We Found Our Balance)

Exploring Ninh Binh on scooters!

We originally planned to stay through New Year’s Eve, but after a while, we felt ready for somewhere quieter and greener. So we left early — and that decision led us to Ninh Binh.

And wow… what a contrast.

Ninh Binh offered space, nature, and scenery that honestly took our breath away. It’s easily some of the most beautiful landscape we’ve seen since starting this journey.

👉 You can read more about our time in Ninh Binh here!

Why Hanoi Still Matters in Our Journey

We stayed in Hanoi partly because we were waiting for our DTV visas to return to Thailand for residency. Full-time travel isn’t always perfectly planned — sometimes it’s about logistics, patience, and making the most of where you are.

Hanoi taught us that not every place has to be “the one” to be valuable.

Our Take on Hanoi with Kids

Smiths On Tour at Train Street- Hanoi!

Hanoi is fascinating, energetic, and full of life. It’s worth visiting, especially for the culture and history — just not for too long. For families travelling with kids, we’d suggest 2-3 nights, ideally based around West Lake, then moving on to explore more of what Vietnam has to offer.

Hanoi feels like the opening chapter — important, intense, and full of lessons — but not the whole story.

And luckily for us, Vietnam has so many more chapters to come 🇻🇳✨