The Sunday Six: Hanoi With Kids

1: Play at Ho Tay Waterpark

We defy any child visiting Hanoi — and plenty of adults, for that matter — not to enjoy the slides, zipwires, wave pool and high dive boards of the waterpark on Ho Tay lake, all backed by the amazing skyline of Hanoi.

2: Ride a Merry-Go-Round

Lenin Park is a Hanoi must-visit for anyone who wants to see the city at leisure. While adults marvel at mass aerobics classes, kids can ride merry-go-rounds, buy balloons, ride the lake in giant transparent balls, and enjoy a rare sense of space in this crowded city.

3: Explore the Museum of Ethnography

With traditional tribal houses you can climb inside, not to mention traditional balancing games and seesaw games, plus free water puppet shows on weekends, plus ice cream, we loved this open air museum. There are hotels near the Museum of Ethnology, but it’s a fair schlep out of town.

4: Eat Hot Pot

Making your own soup is fun. And the narrow alley of Cam Chi majors on hot pot. A bubbling pot of steaming broth comes to your table. Then you add your choice of meats, seafood, veggies and noodles to the mix, and fish them out when they’re done. The pot is bottomless and the broth gets richer by the second.

5: Go to the Circus

Not one for the animal rights activist, the circus in the big permanent tent in Lenin Park still delivers excellent fun, firmly in the Russian tradition of circus. Sunday morning performances are targeted at children

6: Visit the Temple of Literature

As a pocket introduction to Vietnamese culture and heritage, the medieval Temple of Literature is fantastic. And kids can feed the fish and turtles in their tranquil ponds as well. Stay at a hotel near the Temple of Literature and you’ll get to watch the park spring to life in the morning, with everything from callisthenics to badminton.

Thanks to Hotel Club for sponsoring this post.