Hello, we are Thuong, Chris and Henry (3 years old boy) – a Canadian and Vietnamese family living in Hoi An for the past 3.5 years.
We live a simple life running the Yogi Mom Homestay, traveling in Southeast Asia, and teaching yoga (mom) and chess (dad) locally and online.
With a very active toddler born and raised here, we are constantly on the lookout for new places to go and burn off energy. Most of the lists we see online seem to recommend the same spots over and over. While many of those places are great, we have found they are often not very convenient for small children. Finding shade and avoiding road traffic can be challenging!
Naturally, we find ourselves returning to the same spots over and over, and our son always asks for his favorites. So we put together our own little top-10 list of places to go in Hoi An with a toddler.
This list is current as of August 2024 and we’ll continue to keep it updated.
To burn off energy at an indoor jungle gym
We always go to Demen World on Cua Dai. There are several other jungle gyms to choose from, and your preference will be affected by location, but in our opinion Demen World is the cleanest and best managed, with a wide range of new toys. We’ve been going here 1-2x per week for evening play time from around 7-9pm. There is a concession stand selling drinks and snacks and the child pays 50k for unlimited play. They open daily from 4:30 pm until 9:00 pm (maybe slightly wider hours on the weekend.)
To experience Tra Que gardens
Tra Que is a wonderful area to visit with toddlers in the morning or afternoon when the sun isn’t out in full force. Our favorite spot to visit is Café Slow. The coffee and pastries are excellent and there is a mixture of indoor and outdoor seating. There is a large area in the back with shaded bamboo, fish ponds, and rock gardens perfect for a busy toddler to explore. And of course – Café Slow is situated directly inside Tra Que, so you can easily walk out to explore and come back as you wish.
To find some calm and go forest bathing
Mia Mai Art Gallery at An Nhien Farm on Cam Kim island recently opened and has become our absolute favorite spot for shaded outdoor play. The center is set in a large bamboo forest along the river, with ample space to run, play, explore, climb trees and collect sticks and wildflowers. If that weren’t enough, the Estonian-Vietnamese family that lives here has a well-stocked art store on site where you can purchase reasonably priced canvases of different sizes and they will set you up to paint peacefully under the shade or alongside the river. Pack a picnic, as there is no food or drink available other than water. Note: Cam Kim is frequently inaccessible due to flooding during the storm and rain seasons, so check weather carefully.
To hit the beach as a family (morning recommendation)
There are many wonderful spots to visit the beach in Hoi An but for a family with young children, there is none better than Sound of Silence on Tan Thanh beach. This is our go to place for a weekend beach morning and brunch. The breakfast menu is kid friendly, the coffee is excellent, and there is a terrace garden with lots of play space if you need a break from the sand and waves. On weekends you can always find several families with young children here.
To hit the beach as a family (afternoon recommendation)
In the afternoon we follow the locals to the beach behind Silk Sense Resort, just north of Cua Dai main beach. From about 4:30 pm onwards there are dozens of families posted up here for sand, swimming and sunset. Enjoy a bowl of clam soup, some rice crackers and a cold Huda or coconut. There is an inexpensive restaurant on the beach as well that sells staples like 9 rice and noodles. This is a true local spot and you won’t find many tourists here.
To get some computer time while your children play outside
Eco-coffee and Restaurant has recently re-opened at a new location in Cam Thanh which is not yet well known, but offers an outdoor play area for kids with shaded tables for eating and working. We love this place in the morning when it is not too hot, as the menu is kid-friendly and the vibe is very relaxed, with not much traffic around. I would avoid it during peak sun as the garden area is only partially shaded.
To go for a splash in the pool (if you just want to swim)
If you’ve been here for any length of time, and you’re not staying in a resort with a pool, you’ve probably already noticed how surprisingly difficult it can be to find a nice, clean pool with protection from the sun. In 3.5 years, we’ve never found a perfect solution, but in a pinch we usually choose Aurora Riverside Hotel. For 70k per person you get access to a clean, quiet and usually empty pool, with towel service and a well-designed toddler area that is connected to the main pool but separated by small barrier. The water is about 50cm deep. The main pool is good for splashing around and cooling off (although not really suitable for lap swimming). The pool itself is not well shaded so bring sunscreen, but there is covered seating and tables all around the pool just a few feet away from the water.
To go for a splash in the pool (if you want to lounge as a family)
The riverside venue at Coco Casa is so relaxing and scenic that we chose to host our wedding reception there. This property has a beautiful view of the river, a large grassy area that is fenced in and off the street, a shaded quad for comfortable seating and dining, and a beautiful pool in the middle of the property. There are many locally carved wooden sculptures on display from Driftwood Village, set up by a local artist originally from An Bang.
To enjoy an authentic Vietnamese dinner in a large and safe outdoor setting
So in all honesty we’ve only eaten at Salt Restaurant as a family twice, the main reason being that Thuong cooks the same food but better at home most nights of the week. However, this venue is exceptionally kid and adult friendly, situated in a large garden terrace over-looking Tan Thanh beach. Your kids can freely get up from the table and run around or lounge in bean bag chairs while you enjoy a quiet, family style dinner on the beach. I definitely recommend this to people looking for a child-friendly Vietnamese dinner option.
To go for a walk as a family in the evening and stop at a playground
The two lakes in Tan An feature two well-equipped outdoor playground on opposite sides of the lakes, which you can walk or jog around in about 20 minutes. After dusk, there are many families set up here to enjoy street food, evening coffee or coconut, and get some play time as a family. Next to the larger park there is an outdoor track set up where you can rent ride-in electric carts that children can drive themselves or parents can control with a remote controller.
To relax in the rice fields
There are countless coffee shops all around the rice fields but in our experience, most do not have suitable space and shade to let toddlers wander off without worry. Chillax Eatery and Hangout offers a stunning view of the rice fields in Cam Chau, with ample space to play and roam and a simple menu that’s suitable for kids. The place is huge and vividly decorated, with a beautiful collection of hand carved wooden birds assembled across the property. The name is appropriate, everyone can breathe easy and chillax here.
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Stay With Us in Our Hoi An Homestay
Our 3 story, 5 bedroom home is nestled away quietly in the rice fields of Cam Chau, 10 minutes from the beach and 15 minutes to historic Old Town.
We are looking to host traveling families throughout the year on the third floor of our home.
The space has two full sized bedrooms, each with queen-size bed, en suite bathroom/shower, and a private balcony with rice field view. There is also a well-lit working desk and laundry facilities.
Our house also has a yoga studio (which doubles as a playroom) which you are welcome to share with us.
Our priority is to connect with like minded families and share experiences, make connections, and learn from each other. As long term residents of Hoi An, we will be happy to open up our community to ensure you have a great stay here.
Please contact us for affordable rental rates on either a weekly or monthly basis.
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