Hoi An has been the jewel of Vietnam’s tourism crown for decades now. Fifteen years ago as a solo female backpacker, I was smitten by this beautiful old town’s history-laden streets, lantern-lit evenings and of course, the throngs of cheap tailors.

Arriving in Hoi An for a second time earlier this year, I had a huge shock.

Dozens of cute cafes and bars which on closer look were all owned by the same few brands, expensive boutiques had ousted traditional Vietnamese tailor families from the prominent streets and well, it all looked a bit Disney-fied.

Authentic travel experience Hoi An is not but if it’s Instagram-friendly snaps, Western-owned restaurants and imported coffee beverages you’re hankering then it’s still your kind of place.

My tagline for this family travel guide to Hoi An must surely be:

Hoi An might have lost its heart to tourism but it’s still an absolute winner for families

Hoi An Family Travel Highlights

Family Travel Highlight #1: The Old Town

Imagine narrow cobblestone streets hung with red lanterns, wooden shop fronts hiding treasure troves of beautiful garments and a cycle-friendly river pathway. This is what Hoi An gives to the world and what the world comes to Hoi An to see.

Top sights around Hoi An Old Town are Cau Chua Pagoda spanning the river, Fukian Assembly Hall and Phung Hung House.

Family Travel Highlight #2: My Son Ruins

This captivating and very photogenic collection of Hindu temples dating back to the 4th century are in various states of disrepair and renovation. Visiting My Son was a brilliant if a sweaty day out with our young kids. The ruins are perfect for mini explorers to rediscover!

If you think My Son won’t be of much interest to young children, check out our post on Ancient Ruins to find out why ruins are a fantastic day out for families.

Family Travel Highlight #3: The Beaches

 

You might not necessarily associate Hoi An with beaches but luckily for families and beach bums everywhere, it has two very nice beaches.

Cua Dai beach and An Bang beach are a pleasant 3km stroll along the shore from each other. Even the children enjoyed this short walk (in the early evening) splashing in and out of the waves and of course, throwing sand at each other.

Both beaches are dotted with beach bars and restaurants so all the amenities that you could need are there – loungers, access to toilets and of course, cocktails!

Family Travel Highlight #4: The Water Puppet Show

If like us, you missed the opportunity to see a traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet show in Hanoi, don’t stress Hoi An has your back.

These wonderful shows are great fun for children and adults alike.

Keep scrolling for our perfect 3-day itinerary in Hoi An with kids.

Has Hoi An changed for the better? Some positive news

Before I move on to tell you all about our great family travel experiences in Hoi An and around, let me jump to Hoi An’s defence. Whilst tourism has had a negative impact on some aspects of the town especially the Old Town, global interest and money have brought in some amazing positive initiatives and changes such as Streets (the restaurant that we recommend in our itinerary) and I Love Hoi An Tours.

I am a huge fan of the ‘I Love Vietnam’ tours. These socially-conscious motorbike tours are run by a fantastic, friendly all-female team. They promote female empowerment and socially aware travel.

Zizi and I were privileged to meet the CEO of this inspirational tourism company in Hue (to read more about my interview with this inspirational young woman Nguyen Thi Huong Lien click here). The I love Hoi An team run a wide range of tours from the usual sightseeing routes to unique and socially conscious itineraries. Check out their website for more information and to book a female-led motorbike tour with a social conscience!

Another benefit of Hoi An’s mass tourism appeal is that it has become incredibly family-friendly. Foreign entrepreneurs have flocked to Hoi An over the past decades (who can blame them it’d be an amazing place to live and work) and set up many restaurants.

Our Hoi An with toddlers 3-day itinerary below contains some of our favourite kid-friendly places to eat, drink and chill out.

 3 day Hoi An Itinerary

To give you a taste of how you could have an awesome time in Hoi An with toddlers and young kids (or without either!), here’s the Hoi An itinerary we curated together.

It includes kid-friendly restaurants and bars, plenty of culture and lots of beach time. For more great times to do with toddlers in Vietnam check out Hanoi with a Toddler: 15 Tips to make it less stressful and Hue with Toddlers: Two (Honestly) Amazing Days!.

Hoi An with toddlers: Day 1

Start your first day by heading straight to the Old Town to explore. Traffic is banned from the streets from 8-11am everyday so mornings are the perfect time to meander or cycle around here.

Lunch at Streets. This lovely little restaurant not only serves amazing local food but also has a conscious. All the cooks and servers here are part of a program to help disadvantaged Vietnamese youth learn culinary and service industry skills. Find out more at Streets International

After a busy morning in town have some downtime (a siesta hopefully) back at your hotel and then head for Cam Am Beach in the late afternoon. We really enjoyed our afternoons/evenings at Salt Pub. It’s Australian-run but is right on the beach, has a kids playground and serves yummy food. Of course, a nice ice-cold beer went down well too.

Hoi An with toddlers: Day 2

This morning, grab your beachwear, buckets and spades and head straight down to the main tourist beach An Bang Beach. Relax on the beach, splash in the sea and when you’re feeling peckish there are some great kid-friendly beach bars. Try La Plage (it has a children’s play area) or Soul Kitchen (a laid-down backpacker vibe).

In the afternoon, head back to the Old Town. Traffic is banned again from 3-9.30pm so it’s another excellent time to explore. Wander around the markets and enjoy some deliciously strong Vietnamese coffees.

Dinner at Dingo Deli. Again it’s expensive and run by a Westerner but it’s got a lovely little children’s playground AND an indoor playroom. What’s more, the food is actually very tasty. It’s a great place for families with young kids to relax, unwind and make friends.

Have an early night as you’ve got a big day trip tomorrow.

Hoi An with toddlers: Day 3

Arrange a driver to take you to My Son ruins early in the morning. It’s a fantastic place for little Indiana Joneses to explore and of course, there are some great photo opportunities. It’s about a 45 minutes drive and there is lots of walking (for little people) at the other end. Wear comfortable walking shoes and lots of mosquito repellent.

If you have the energy, head down the beach again for some more fun in the sea before grabbing a takeaway Banh Mi (yummy baguettes filled with deliciousness) to eat whilst you pack your bags for your journey tomorrow.

Where to go next?

Hoi An is located halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. If you’re travelling North to Hanoi consider a stop at the former capital city Hue. Check out our posts on visiting Vietnam with toddlers.

I love Hanoi But Hanoi with toddlers left me ripping my hair out!!

Hanoi with a Toddler: 15 Tips to make it less stressful

Review: Vietnamese Women’s Museum, Hanoi

Ninh Binh with Kids: The Perfect Family Travel Destination in Vietnam

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Yay! You made it to the end. Thanks for reading our family-friendly itinerary for 3 days in Hoi An with toddlers and kids. Have you been to Hoi An with kids? Please feel welcome to add any tips and trick that you have in the comments below.

Travelling around Southeast Asia with kids? We have been living, holidaying and travelling in SE Asia for almost two amazing years now. Find out our best Asia with kids travel tips, discover the best family-friendly destinations in SE Asia and learn how NOT to make the (many) mistakes we’ve made by checking out our collection of in-depth family travel posts on Myanmar | Thailand | Malaysia | Singapore | Vietnam | Cambodia and more.

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