What are the BEST things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids in 2024? In this article we will share some awesome, fun and exciting family friendly things to do in Ho Chi Minh.
Ho Chi Minh is a beautiful city in Vietnam packed with culture, history and lots of things to do. However, finding the best activities to entertain, engage and inspire kids can be quite challenging. In this guide we will share the BEST things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids.
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All of these activities are in the city or a short journey away. They are all possible within a day trip from Ho Chi Minh. For each of the things that we recommend we will try to include details to help you plan your own independent trip. We have tried to include prices, opening times and booking details. We have also included a section of top tips for traveling to Ho Chi Minh with kids.
Ho Chi Minh is an awesome place to splash out on a hotel! Your money really does go a long way here.
Don’t miss these AWESOME family hotels in Ho Chi Minh. Looking for a splash of luxury? Don’t miss these AMAZING 5 star hotels in Ho Chi Minh
Summary of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids
- Take a riverboat tour of the Mekong
- Visit the Cu Chi tunnels
- Play at Kidzoona
- Visit a waterpark
- Explore a local market
- Watch a water puppet show
- Check out Bui Vien walking street
- Visit a flower market (Ho Thi Ky)
- Bui Vien walking street
- Grab a treat at Chewy Jr
- Explore a Vietnamese temple
- Visit a museum
Map of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids
What is the best way to get around Ho Chi Minh with kids?
If you are staying in the center of Ho Chi Minh it is possible to walk between the main attractions. Furthermore, if you’re planning to visit some of the attractions outside of Ho Chi Minh city you can book tours which generally include hotel pickup and drop off. Therefore, you do not need to worry about transport if you are visiting attractions outside of the city.
The best way to get around Ho Chi Minh with kids is to use local taxis. The cheapest and most convenient way to get a taxi in Ho Chi Minh is to use one of the taxi apps. In Vietnam you can use the Grab taxi app and the Gojek taxi app. In order to use a taxi app in Vietnam you will need to download the taxi app from your app store and register for an account. Once you are set up with your account you can book taxis online. The advantage of booking a taxi this way is that you will know the price prior to the journey and you will always be offered a fair local price. The grab taxi app is slightly more expensive than Gojek. It is possible to use both apps simultaneously to compare the price of journeys.
Things to know before you visit Ho Chi Minh with kids
Vietnam is a very friendly and warm culture and Vietnamese people are very hospitable to families. We absolutely loved traveling around Vietnam with our kids. This is a relatively easy place for family travel.
It is easy to get money in Ho Chi Minh. There are plenty of cash machines that accept foreign bank cards. It is important to be prepared for the currency. The money can be quite confusing because the notes are very large. This can make it challenging to calculate exchange rate and also to work out how much change you should expect. for some products and services keep on a quote the price in US Dollars which just adds to the confusion.
There is a lot of great family-friendly food around Ho Chi Minh. Vietnamese street food is cheap, tasty and good for kids. A very common street food classic in Vietnam is a French style baguette called Bahn Mi. This is normally filled with egg, pickled vegetables and meat. Vietnamese food is not too spicy which makes it great for kids. Expect to pay around 20,000 – 60,000VND for street food in Ho Chi Minh.
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Do kids need to pay for activities in Vietnam?
Kids may need to pay for some activities in Vietnam. Firstly, it is important to know that many activities are free for kids and adults alike. Most activities in Vietnam are very cheap and therefore affordable for a whole family. In some cases kids may be given a discount ticket rate. This depends on the activity and age of your kids. Children above 12 years old are often charged adult admission fees. Children under 3 years old are often FREE of charge. BUT this is only a rough guide – so you will need to check before you pay.
How long should you spend in Ho Chi Minh?
We recommend spending at least 3 days in Ho Chi Minh to see all of the main attractions. Don’t miss our 3 day itinerary for Ho Chi Minh. However, if you have less time it is possible to enjoy Ho Chi Minh in 1 or 2 days. We have found that we tend to get more from traveling when we slow down with kids. If you rush too fast you may miss things and burn out. Therefore, we recommend traveling through Vietnam as slow as you can to make sure you’re present and immerse yourselves in the experience.
What are the BEST places to stay in Ho Chi Minh with kids?
Classy Indochine – The Riverside
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BEST budget hotel in Ho Chi Minh for families. Stylish hotel with spacious rooms in a great area. They have a quad room with two double beds available. Overall a great option at the lower price range. £20 – £30 per night
Leiden Homestay and Cafe
Best mid range hotel for families – large and beautiful apartment style suites. The open plan family suite is light, spacious and immaculate. This suite can sleep up to 5 people. There is also an on-site cafe / restaurant. Rooms range between £50 – £150 per night.
Norfolk Mansion Luxury Serviced Apartments
One of the BEST 5 star hotels for families. Spacious apartments and outstanding facilities and amenities for families. The Norfolk mansion is also in an excellent location. They offer a 3 bedroom family suite that can sleep up to 5 people (2 double beds and 1 single bed). Rooms range in price between £130 – £350 per night.
The Reverie Saigon Residential Suites
This hotel is the epitome of luxury. The Reverie is one of the BEST 5 star hotels in Vietnam. This impressive hotel has amazing facilities, decadent decor, outstanding food and very impressive suites. The main disadvantage is the lack of family suites. Most rooms and suites can accommodate up to 3 people. You can request cots or pay for an additional bed in your room. Rooms range in price between £200 – £400 per night.
1 Take a riverboat tour of the Mekong
One of the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids is take a river boat tour of a Mekong delta. Tours tend to be all inclusive day trips with hotel pickup, food, drinks, fruit and several attractions included.This activity is great for families with younger or older kids. Different age children will get different things from the experience.
Older children may be able to connect with the scenery, village life and activities more. However, we think younger children will be impressed with the experience too. Mekong river boat tours normally sail along mangrove canals, giving you a chance to see traditional stilt villages and markets. They also make a stop at an island. They may include other activities such as singing and dance performances and even a visit to a coconut candy factory.
We recommend booking your Mekong delta tour 1 or 2 days in advance. You can have a book at a local tour office in Ho Chi Minh. Alternatively, book your Mekong tour online in advance. Most Mekong day trips cost around $15 – $20 and take a whole day. We recommend that you book your Mekong Tour on Klook for competitive prices and awesome tours.
2 Visit the Cu Chi tunnels
If you’re looking for historical and cultural things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids, why not take a visit to the Cu Chi tunnels. This is an impressive network of underground tunnels used by the Vietnamese soldiers in the war. We don’t recommend this trip for families with younger children who may be disturbed by some of the gory details. The guides will often recount stories of local heroes, battles and the grim details of booby traps involving sharp and venomous insects.
A visit to the Cu Chi tunnels Is a great way to learn more about the US Vietnam conflict, meet locals and integrate some worldschooling into your travels. Tours normally start early in the morning and finish mid afternoon. They may include food and drinks and they should include a hotel pickup and drop-off. Always check exactly what is included before you book. You can book a tour in Ho Chi Minh or you can book your tour online in advance. Expect to pay around $20 for a day tour to the Cu Chi tunnels. We recommend that you book your Cu Chi tunnels tour on Klook for convenience and great prices.
3 Play at Kidzoona
If you’re looking for fun and active things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids then check out Kidzoona. This is an awesome indoor kids play space. Kidzoona welcomes kids of any age.
Don’t miss our full Kidzoona guide
Kidzoona offers a creative range of kids play spaces. There is an active play area where children can climb, jump, slide and bounce around. They also have imaginative play areas where children can put on fancy dress costumes and play career games. Kidzoona has creative play areas where children can do craft, games and problem-solving activities. Kidzoona is also very well staffed. They offer activities, games and dance throughout the day.
Unfortunately this is not a day care service. So an adult will need to stay to supervise their kids. However, the excellent setup of the play space allows you to relax and let your children play independently. They also have a comfortable seating space for adult supervisors. Children between the age of 2 and 12 years old are likely to get most from the experience. Kidzoona is located at the Aeon Tan Phu mall and is open from 10am – 10pm daily. Entrance for the whole day costs 80,000VND monday – friday and 110,000VND on weekends (no time limits).
TOP TIP: Bring socks (required to play), a spare T-shirt and plenty of drinking water. Also Kidzoona can get very busy on weekends. Try to get there early and visit on weekdays if possible.
4 Visit a waterpark
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One of our favourite things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids is visit the Waterpark. There are a couple of water parks in Ho Chi Minh. The best waterpark is the awesome Dam Sen water park. This impressive water park has a wave pool, inflatables, a lazy river, plenty of slides and a kids Splash Park. The Dam Sen Water Park is suitable for children of any age. However, non-swimmers and younger children will require careful supervision at the Waterpark.
There is also a cafe serving affordable food and drinks. The facilities at Dam Sen are very good, there are changing rooms and lockers available. There is also a theme park located here with some super fun roller coasters and rides. The Dam Sen water park is open daily from 9am – 6pm. Entrance tickets cost 200,000VND for anyone over 1m tall, 160,000VND for anyone between 0.8m – 1m tall. Kids under 0.8m tall can enter for FREE.
TOP TIP: Bring plenty of water and sun protection. We recommend sunscreen (SPF50+) and rash guards.
5 Explore the Ben Thanh market
If you’re looking for cultural things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids then make sure you visit one of the local markets. We really enjoyed visiting the impressive Ben Thanh market. This is one of the most central and popular markets. it is worth being aware that this is a more touristy spot there for prices are a little bit higher.
If you wish to buy anything in this market we recommend bartering to get a reasonable price. The Ben Thanh market Sells a range of clothes, gifts, ornaments and food. There is also a fresh food section where you can try local dishes and drinks.
6 Watch a water puppet show
One of the most iconic things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids is watch a water puppet show. This is a traditional Vietnamese show performed with small puppets over a pool of water. Smoke, lighting and live music are used to enhance the performance. The water puppet show is performed entirely in Vietnamese. It is very hard to follow the storyline but the music, color and enthusiasm carries the show. If you are watching a water puppet show with kids we recommend sitting closer to the stage for greater impact and engagement.
The Golden Dragon Water puppet show has daily shows in the evening for around $10 – $12 You can book your water puppet show tickets with Klook.
7 Check out Bui Vien walking street
One of the things we love about Ho Chi Minh is the evening culture. The streets around central District 1 come to life in the evening. As you wander around you can see all sorts of street food, music and performances. This is a great chance to try some local food and drinks and take in the unique atmosphere. A lesser known part of Vietnamese food culture is the desserts. In the evening you can find many dessert places offering traditional Vietnamese desserts consisting of jelly, coconut cream, noodles, beans and shaved ice. We highly recommend stopping to try a local Vietnamese dessert especially if you are traveling with kids.
8 Visit a flower market (Ho Thi Ky)
If you are looking for unique things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids why not take a visit to the flower market? This is a great experience, especially in the morning. The flower market is bursting with life, color and aromatic fragrances. This vibrant market sells lilies, lotuses, roses and much more. Flowers are gathered from the Mekong delta, Dalat and other areas of Vietnam to sell in the market. Next to the flower market is an epic night market. This is one of THE BEST places in Ho Chi Minh to try some amazing local street food. There is a particularly good range of seafood available here.
9 Grab a treat at Chewy Jr
If you’re looking for treatful things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids then check out Chewy Jr. Bakeries may not be the first thing that you think of when you are thinking about Vietnam. However, Vietnam does have some incredible bakeries. Whether this is just part of the Asian love of sweet treats or an influence of the French colonial era – it doesn’t really matter. What matters is light chewy choux pastry filled with decadent flavored cream and topped with rich butter cream. A visit to Chewy Jr is a great treat for kids. Alternatively check out the Chewy Chewy bakery for similar products and a suspiciously similar name. Open daily from 7am – 9pm
10 Explore a Vietnamese temple
If you are looking for cultural and educational things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids then make sure you visit a traditional Vietnamese temple. Tourists and families are welcome to visit temples and explore. However, we do recommend dressing respectfully by covering knees and shoulders. Vietnamese temples are very beautiful. Typically you can find Buddhist, confusion and Taoist temples in Vietnam. In general it is free to visit temples in Vietnam. This is a great way to help your children connect with a different culture and learn about religion in Vietnam.
Here are a few TOP PICK temples to visit in Ho Chi Minh: Jade Emperor Pagoda, Xa Loi Buddhist temple, Mariamman Hindu temple, Ten Thousand Buddha temple and the Vinh Trang Pagoda (may be included on a Mekong Delta boat tour)
11 Visit a museum
If you’re looking for educational things to do in Ho Chi Minh with kids then make sure you visit one of the museums. There are several museums in Ho Chi Minh offering a great opportunity to learn about the history, culture and heritage of Vietnam. If you are interested in learning more about the American Vietnam conflict and make sure you visit the war remnants Museum. At this museum you can see uniforms, decommissioned weapons and old tanks. The history museum of Ho Chi Minh is a great way to learn more about the unique history of Vietnam. There is also a Fine Arts museum in Ho Chi Minh. Here are some quick details for museums in Ho Chi Minh:
- The War Relics Museum: Open daily 7.30am – 5.30pm. 40,000VND and FREE for under 6 year olds
- The History Museum of Ho Chi Minh: 8am – 11.30am and 1pm – 5pm, closed mondays. 30,000VND, 6 – 16 year olds half price, under 6 year olds FREE.
- The Ho Chi Minh fine arts museum: Open daily 8am – 5pm. Entrance fees 30,000VND
12 Explore the Tao Dan Park
If your kids are anything like our kids, they will need some green space, fresh air and time to run around like wild monkeys. The great news is that Ho Chi Minh has a large, beautiful lush park right in the centre of the city. Tao Dan park has plenty of paths, ponds, pagodas, flowers and green spaces for children to run around. This is a great place to take a walk, relax and spend some time enjoying the beautiful scenery. There is also a kids splash park and boating pond here.
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