Ho Chi Minh City with kids: top 12 things to do in and around the city

Your essential guide for visiting Ho Chi Minh City with kids, including what to do, how to get around, and where to stay.

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam and the place many adventures around the country begin and end. Home to the busiest and best served airport in Vietnam, HCMC is filled year-round with tourists, many of whom choose to spend a few days in the city to acclimatise to both the weather and the pace of life in one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic countries. As you stroll around the city, you’ll notice the large number of families travelling here, with Vietnam continuing to establish itself as a popular destination for adventurous family travel.

Whilst Saigon is packed full of family-friendly activities, it also has its share of challenging sights, some of which aren’t obviously kid-friendly. We’ve included them in this guide though as our blog is all about encouraging families to explore the world and exposing their kids to different cultures and experiences. Rest assured that these suggestions are delivered through the eyes of a fellow parent, so you can easily gauge suitability and what will work best for your own tribe.

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Your map for exploring Ho Chi Minh City with kids

To help you locate these HCMC family activities, here’s a map:

How to get around Saigon with kids

Vietnam, like so many other countries in the region, has been fully swept along with the Grab revolution and it’s made getting around HCMC a breeze. The days of haggling, negotiating and arguing your way across town with traditional taxis are thankfully a thing of the past.

Standard Grab cars have space for four passengers, ideal for many travelling families. Larger vehicles can be ordered if required.

With Grab, you just need to to install the app (ideally before you arrive), get online and order your ride. All journeys within the city are available on Grab, from a 400m hop across town, to a two-hour journey to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Fares are typically less than VND80,000 and you can choose to pay with international credit cards via the app. They’re especially useful from the airport where you can use the dedicated e-hailing pick-up point and ignore the opportunistic taxi operators lying in wait for unwitting arrivals.

Of less use for families, but something to remember if one parent needs to nip out on their own, are motorbike-taxis which can take a pillion passenger around town for around VND30,000. Just remember to hold on tight.

If you can’t get a Grab for some reason, normal taxis do still ply the streets of HCMC but you’ll need to work some magic to get a reasonable fare, and little English will be spoken.

1. Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels

READ: Visiting Cu Chi Tunnels without a tour

It may seem odd that the first activity we suggest for HCMC with kids is actually two hours from the city, but this really is a must-do for anyone visiting. The Cu Chi Tunnels were an elaborate underground network established by the Vietcong to help them hide, fight and survive during the war. Only a fraction of the tunnel network still exists, with two sections now maintained and operated as one of the country’s top tourist attractions.

If you’re planning to visit as a family, we’d suggest ditching the expensive and regimented tour and instead heading off on your own via a Grab car from the city. The tunnels at Ben Duoc are slightly further away from HCMC than those at Ben Dinh and are less crowded as a result.

Our kids loved crawling and shuffling through the tunnels, emerging at the exit with a look of satisfaction and relief. It’s fun for parents too, with most of the tunnels adult size, albeit with something of a squeeze. There isn’t a huge amount on information on-site and, if you’ve arrived independently, you won’t have a guide, so try to do any research before you arrive.

Check out our guide here for all of the information you’ll need to visit the tunnels independently.

2. Learn about Vietnam’s history at the War Remnants Museum

You may be wondering whether you should visit the War Remnants Museum with kids, it’s certainly not a traditional, fun-filled family activity. You’ll need to consider how your kids will react to the often graphic and upsetting material, including preserved foetuses, torture devices, guillotines and shocking photographs of the harsh realities of war.

As a general guide, as long as your kids are aged eight and over, they’ll be mostly fine, as long as you parents are always one step ahead to make sure nothing too upsetting is around the corner.

On the whole, the museum is focused on photographs detailing both Indochina Wars, plus a wide selection of military weapons, machines and paraphernalia. The outdoor section, with its collection of tanks, fighter jets and rocket launchers is fascinating, and there’s a kid’s play area / education zone on the top floor when they need some time out.

It’s a bleak place, but a highly recommended and important place to visit.

3. Wander around the French colonial buildings

In the days of French rule, many grand buildings and public spaces were built in Saigon, transforming the architecture of the city. For a time, the city was considered one of the most beautiful in Southeast Asia.

Despite the events of the 1970’s, and some natural wear and tear, there are still plenty of great examples of French colonial architecture around the city, in particular the Saigon Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral opposite (although this was covered with scaffolding when we visited with no sign of the renovations being unveiled anytime soon).

Even if you don’t make a beeline for any particular building, the French influence is apparent all around the city, especially around District 1 in the centre. Make sure you and the kids are always looking up and you’re sure to see something beautiful.

There’s a lovely row of cafes if you need a refuel on the opposite side of the cathedral. We particularly enjoyed the funky décor and excellent food at Propaganda Vietnamese Bistro.

4. Try all the food at Bến Nghé Street Food

When travelling around Southeast Asia, one of the highlights is sampling all the street food on offer. Whilst Vietnam might not be our absolute favourite food destination in the region (we feel it lacks the spice and flavour of nearby countries), grazing on freshly prepared snacks is always an enjoyable experience for the kids, giving them the opportunity to pick and choose lots of small dishes and work out what they like.

A traditional street food experience can be a full-on experience for younger visitors, so a gentle introduction can be found at the Ben Nghe Street Food Market in District 1, just a few minutes walk from the cathedral. This is a more sanitised version than you’ll find outside, with plenty of Vietnamese classics mixed in with Mexican, Western, Thai, Indian, and even Greek.

Particularly in the afternoons and early evenings, the market is quiet and ideal for kids to wander off and spend a few thousand dong. Once you’ve done a few laps of the stalls and made a decision, return to the comfortable tables and wait your buzzer to burst into life, then collect your food from the same place you ordered.

They also serve alcohol and there’s a fun, relaxed atmosphere which is popular with other tourists. It’s busier on the communal benches out the front, a bit more relaxed at the back. Remember to bring cash.

5. Browse and shop at Ben Thanh Market

As one of the biggest, oldest and most popular markets in the whole of Vietnam, Ben Thanh Market is a busy but manageable introduction into the organised chaos of Southeast Asian markets. Open from 5am until 6pm as a day market, it then stays open for a few more hours at night.

There are hundreds of booths and thousands of visitors, all looking for a bargain and (in the case of the stallholders), not afraid to haggle incessantly. Bring your ‘A-game’ if you plan to get a heavy discount, otherwise just enjoy the ride and drift along. Perhaps give the kids a hundred thousand dong and see if they can do any better, in our experience the friendly stall-holders often give kids the best prices.

In addition to the usual array of souvenirs, clothes and electrical goods, there’s decent food on offer, plus beers. Bring cash if you can, but some places do accepts cards with the standard 3% fee.

6. Take a day tour to the Mekong Delta

If you’re not venturing south on our South Vietnam itinerary, you can still visit the Mekong Delta as a day tour from HCMC. It’s a long day with a 7:30am pick up, but doable.

Check out this tour from HCMC which will pick you up from your hotel and take you to rural My Tho, in the the Mekong Delta region. It’s an excellent way to get a quick feel of Mekong Delta life. You will visit Vinh Trang Pagoda before taking a boat cruise along the Mekong River past fruit orchards and rustic villages. You will also be able to take a sampan ride and also explore local villages on foot.

If you want to venture further into the Mekong Delta, you really have to allow for at least 2 days / 1 night, and we would recommend getting the bus to Can Tho (we recommend staying at Can Tho Ecolodge).

7. Dam Sen Water Park

If the kids (and parents!) need to cool off and have a break from sightseeing, then a visit to Dam Sen Water Park is a must.

As we visited HCMC at the start of our Vietnam itinerary and had flown from Penang, we didn’t feel the need for a waterpark at this early stage of the trip. But seeing that lots of families travel Vietnam north to south (the opposite way that we did it), then a waterpark may be just what you need.

Try to avoid visiting on a weekend, when the waterpark is busiest. Most families spend about four hours there and comment that it’s excellent value, although a little run down in places. There’s also a height limit of 140cm for some of the slides, so do bear this in mind if you have adventurous kids that are shy of this number. The height limits here (and in the rest of Vietnam) tend to be very strictly policed.

Do check the website for opening times as it’s not open all year round. You can also purchase tickets online.

8. Get up high to admire the Saigon cityscape

It’s likely that your accommodation will have a rooftop (indeed, we loved having rooftop cocktails at our hotel in Saigon, Alagon City Hotel & Spa). But there are a couple of options to elevate your view in the city, including Landmark 81 (which is the tallest building in Vietnam, and was the tallest building in Souteast Asia from 2018 to 2023), and the Sky Deck at Bitexco Financial Tower. 

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9. The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater

Water puppetry has been a key element of Vietnamese culture for centuries and is often a big hit with younger kids and adults alike. What began life as a simple art form staged in flooded rice paddies after the harvest has evolved into a popular tourist attraction across the country.

One of the best examples is the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre in District 1. The theatre houses an elaborate stage with a recreation of a flooded rice paddy, in front of traditional Vietnamese buildings. To the side are the live musicians and singers who help bring the show to life. Audio commentaries are available and it’s not a bad idea to buy them because the show is only in Vietnamese and it can be slightly difficult to follow what’s going on.

In the interests of full disclosure, after visiting the one in Hanoi, we received mixed reviews from our two boys, ranging from ‘it was quite good’ to an altogether less diplomatic description. The show probably suits younger kids (under 10) or those of a more artistic/musical persuasion but, in any case, the air-conditioned theatre and comfortable seats (booster cushions provided) makes for a welcome retreat from the heat.

10. Cruise along the Saigon River

A gentle cruise along the Saigon River is a relaxing ways to spend some time. As with all great cities built on a river, the best view of HCMC is from the water, and the cruises drift past multiple landmarks. In a place like HCMC, with the ever-present sound and chaos of the road traffic, it’s a real treat to view the city from a relaxing vantage point.

The typical cruise length is one hour, which is ideal for families with kids. They’ll enjoy the cool breeze and a chance to switch off from dodging mopeds.

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11. Tao Dan Park

For all its many attributes, you’d never really describe HCMC as a place you can enjoy a quiet stroll or let the kids off the leash and have a run around. With the busy roads and pavements filled with parked moped and food carts, even a walk of five minutes can feel a mission at times. Luckily, the centre of the city boasts a fantastic small park called Tao Dan Park.

Within the park you’ll find sculptures, well-marked footpaths, neat grass, temples, and an all-important children’s play-area. For parents, there are plenty of benches to take the weight off your feet, plus a few places selling snacks and drinks.

12. Enjoy the nightlife of Walking Street

We do love a good Southeast Asian walking/pub street. Perhaps it takes us back to our pre-kid backpacking days in Bangkok, but there’s something about pulling up a plastic chair, perusing a plastic menu and ordering a cold beer. We’ve clearly passed this on to the kids as it’s now turned into something of a tradition for us whenever we arrive in the region.

HCMC’s version is called Bui Vien Walking Street and is ideally located in the city centre. On the eastern side of the street, you’ll find most of the loud booming pubs, with friendly/insistent staff, cheap drinks and a (very) good-time vibe. As you walk further along the street things gradually get quieter and it’s here you’ll find it easier to hold a conversation and eventually order your Grab taxi home.

It’s a fun and noisy place to bring the kids, but try to visit between 6pm and 8pm. Before this, the street is fairly deserted and cars might still be driving along. Any later than 8pm or 9pm and the mood evolves away from family-friendly. If you catch it in the sweet-spot, when the tables spill onto the road, and the vibe is still fun rather than drunken, the kids will no doubt have a blast. Whilst predominately a drinking venue, most bars serve decent kid-friendly snacks such as spring rolls, French fries and chicken wings.

Top tips for visiting HCMC with kids

• Always have cash on you. Most places either don’t accepts cards or will charge you 3% on top of the bill.
• ATMs can be hit-and-miss when accepting international cards. ACB was the most reliable bank ATM for us and allowed VND3,000,000 to be withdrawn each time.
• Watch out for the coconut-seller scam which runs along these lines:
  • An apparently friendly coconut seller will approach, tell you he’s finished for the day as it’s too hot and will jokingly offer to let you carry his stall on your shoulder, then insist you pose for photos.
  • Once you’re firm friends, he’ll slice open a couple of coconuts and hand them to the kids, ostensibly at no cost; after all, you’re friends now and he’s finished work for the day.
  • As soon as they start drinking, the pretence drops and the demands for VND150,000 upwards begin.
  • It’s best to politely decline friendly advances or offers of free samples from any vendor on the streets of HCMC, especially outside major tourist attractions. If you’ve haven’t already bought something from them, it’s highly unusual for street vendors to just offer you free stuff.
• The secret is out and HCMC is busy, busy, busy with domestic and international tourists. Many of the tourists visit everywhere on a tour so, if you can get out early, or delay your activities until later in the day, you’ll beat (some of) the crowds.
• Normal taxis and buses are an option but as a travelling family, you’ll soon find Grab becomes your default option. By all means walk where possible, but even this is a hassle with the heat and lack of usable pavements.
• Keep hydrated, especially if you’re out and about between 10am and 3pm.
• Don’t bother with a stroller or pram for little ones, it’ll be nearly impossible to go more than two metres before you need to manoeuvre around a moped or food cart. Instead take a carrier and make life much easier. Plus, the little one will get a much better view.

Where we stayed in HCMC with kids

We stayed at Alagon City Hotel & Spa, a pretty hotel in a good location, within walking distance of most of the main sights in District 1. The hotel has evolved over the years by the acquisition of several adjacent buildings, so there’s an attractive randomness to the layout, with staircases leading off in all directions.

We had a small, but comfortable room with two double-beds and everything we needed including a safe, fridge, kettle, bath, satellite TV and air-conditioning.

As part of our package, we received free lunch (on day 1) and free cocktails on the roof each evening. It’s a lovely spot to watch the sunset and see the city transition into night-mode. There’s a rooftop pool too, but it’s fairly small and gets fairly busy in the early evening with tour groups.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and consists of an international buffet with a good selection of Vietnamese, Asian and international dishes. The restaurant (and hotel in particular) is very popular with tour groups, so you sometimes have to fight for space at breakfast and by the pool.

Final thoughts on visiting HCMC with kids

If you’re looking for an exciting, thought-provoking, fun and (slightly) chaotic travel destination, Ho Chi Minh City is a fantastic place to visit with kids. It provides a classic mix of all the things that make Vietnam so special, from tragic wartime stories, history lessons, great food, colonial architecture, water-parks, museums and an intoxicating urban landscape. HCMC might be a lot of things, but it’s never dull.

With a little bit of planning, kids (and their parents) will gain so much from a visit here. It’s perhaps not the most traditional family holiday destination, but certainly one which will live long in the memory.