Ho Chi Minh City Things to Do with Kids!
Parents who travel with children are superheroes. Many people in the world find traveling fun but stressful; with children, that stress can be tenfold. So our hats off to the globe-trotting parents across the world who are smashing the idea “You can’t travel with children” to smithereens.
We created this Ho Chi Minh City Things to Do with Kids article for parents like you to help out as much as we can! Here is also our shortened list of 12 hours in Ho Chi Minh City things to do in case you need more inspiration for your trip than just kid-focused activities.
We know that sightseeing, walking, and other adult-oriented activities can exhaust children and put them into the cranky zone.
The good news is Ho Chi Minh City has recently become a more kid-friendly destination. Our team put together the best child-oriented activities for parents looking to cater to the little ones. Read on to find our recommendations on places where children and parents can find fun and entertainment during your holiday. And always remember to stay safe when visiting somewhere new, even though Ho Chi Minh City is an extremely safe place check out my safety tips article to keep yourself informed on best safety practices in the city.
Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater
- Address: 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St., Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Website: http://thanglongwaterpuppet.org/
- Ticket price: 5 USD – 10 USD/ticket depending on your seat
- Age group: Suitable for children of all ages
How about putting your family holiday under the theme of original Vietnam for your kids to have some brand new experiences? You can find one of the best original Vietnamese experiences in Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater.
The origin of the water puppetry art was rooted over 1000 years ago in Vietnam. After a millennium, this kind of traditional stage art is now preserved mainly for its cultural values and tourism purposes. Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater is one of the few puppet theaters across Vietnam that brings you the most authentic water puppet shows.
Traditional music, excellent stage props and costumes, and the atmosphere there are what will make your first time with a water puppet unforgettable. Although all the shows are in Vietnamese, language is not a barrier for you and your kids. This is more of a visual experience than just the ears. Surely you will be able to catch up with the show’s main theme, which is mainly about folk stories.
Currently, there are 2 daily shows available at Golden Dragon Theater, one at 5 p.m. and the other at 6:30 p.m. In order to get the perfect view, I suggest you book your tickets in advance, especially when traveling with your family. You can easily book your tickets with the hotel’s receptionist. You can also buy the tickets before the show starts around 30 minutes at the ticket booth next to the theater.
Arcade Games at Games World – Vincom B Shopping Mall
Address:
- B2 Vincom Center – 72 Le Thanh Ton Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Diamond Plaza – 34 Le Duan Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Aeon Mall Tan Phu Celadon, 30 Bo Bao Tan Thang street, Son Ky Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City
Oldie but goldie, that’s arcade games! Located in most malls around Ho Chi Minh City, Games World is where kids can take a break and let loose in the various malls around the city. The arcade has several activities, such as basketball hoops, air hockey, bumper cars, video games, and bowling alleys. Vietnam is a little bit behind in newer, well-known arcade games so that we would go in with an open mind, but we believe the games are suitable for most kids 9 and under.
Ass arcade centers are usually located in big shopping malls; there are also food courts, restaurants, ice cream shops, and bubble tea shops if you fancy lunch or dinner.
After having fun and filling up the stomach, how about watching a movie together with your family? The CGV Cinema – one of the largest cinema chains in Vietnam – is located in most major malls. You can easily find a suitable movie for every family member in English there as it always has the latest on-screen movies. Catching a movie can be a nice break from the heat of Saigon for kids, and a movie’s price is very affordable compared to most other countries.
Artinus 3D Art Museum (Closed )
Let your kids enter a new world and be a part of some stunning 3D scenes at Artinus 3D Art Museum.
Artinus is the first and largest 3D art museum in Vietnam. The museum features over 100 3D paintings which professional Korean artists create. Artinus Museum is divided into 9 sections with 9 different themes that are suitable for a wide range of ages. The exhibition’s main themes are Vietnamese inspirations like the ao dai, fishing boats, and famous destinations such as Hoi An, Ha Long Bay, or Hoan Kiem Lake. World’s landmarks are also featured with a combination of dragons, dinosaurs, fairies, etc., giving kids the chance to travel back in time and around the world.
The most exciting part of visiting such a 3D museum is the great photos you can take. As all the paintings are created especially for visitors to step in, prepare for lots of fun pictures! Getting trapped in the running away from dinosaurs in Jurassic World or falling out of a boat into the water are some creative poses that your kids will love at the Museum.
- Address: 02-04, Street No.9, Tan Hung Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
- Tel: 028 6298 3767
- Entrance fee: 9 USD/ticket on weekdays and 11 USD/ticket on weekends & holidays; free entrance fee for children under 90 centimeters
- Opening hours: From 9 a.m – 6 p.m on weekdays; From 9 a.m – 8 p.m on weekends and holidays
- Age group: Suitable for children of all ages
Book Street
- Address: Dang Van Binh Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC
- Opening hours: 8 a.m – 10 p.m daily
- Entrance fee: 4-5 USD/person
- Age group: Suitable for children of all ages
This street is a little peaceful space in the busiest city in Vietnam – Dang Van Binh Book Street! More than just a quick stop, the Book Street is a worthwhile use of your time during the holiday in Vietnam.
This place is highly recommended for families to hang out as every member can find a book they are looking for during their trip. Comics, children’s books, and toys are available for your kids. For adults, you will probably find your favorite books there, as almost all big Vietnamese publishing houses have their stalls on this street. English, French, and Chinese books are very popular on the street, so you can usually find something in your language that you can enjoy during your trip. Some stores specialize in old books, where you can look for older novels at a great price!
With some nice coffee shops located right on this street and surrounding shopping malls, you can easily plan a multi-stop route. Some nearby suggestions for you are McDonald’s Café, Phuong Nam Book Cafe, Vincom Center, and Diamond Plaza.
Cu Chi Tunnels
- Address: Provincial Road no.15, Phu Hiep, Cu Chi, HCMC
- Opening hours: 7 a.m – 5 p.m daily
- Entrance fee: 4-5 USD/person
- Age group: Suitable for children over 11 years old
While most adults are going to be intrigued by the history and life of the Viet Cong during their trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels, some children might enjoy getting a bit out into the jungle to take a short trip through the tunnels. If you are concerned about crawling around in the tunnels, the actual part you crawl through is very short and shouldn’t worry you. They are also the perfect size for kids to take a short underground trip.
Most likely more interesting for little boys than girls, the War Remnants also displays the weapons used during the war, including rifles, bomb fragments, and tank remains where you can climb and take a photo.
Some adults can enjoy holding a real AK-47, adjusting the scope, and firing at the onsite gun range. If you want to take your trip up a notch with an absolutely awesome speedboat ride to the tunnels, check out our Cu Chi Tunnels tour. The 2-hour bus/car ride to the tunnels might be a boring nightmare for children and adults, but on a speedboat, no one is bored!
Tipsy Art Workshop
- Address: As the workshop location changes regularly, you will be informed about the address after registering
- Website: https://tipsyart.vn/
- Ticket price: 18 USD/participant/painting
- Age group: Suitable for children from 3 years old
How about awakening the artistic soul inside your kids and yourself with a painting workshop at Tipsy Art? If you have absolutely no skills in painting, that’s perfect! Your family will find 3 joyful hours and lots of fun while enjoying a new experience in a different country.
Tipsy Art is well-known for taking the lead in popularizing art workshops in Saigon. Their Workshop locations are one of the unique things that differentiate Tipsy Art from others. Their workshops usually take place at coffee shops and co-working spaces with relaxing music and joyful vibes that are comfortable for children.
Here at the Tipsy Art painting workshop, your kids can create their best piece of art on their own. Even though this may be their very first time taking on a painting brush, Tipsy Art’s dedicated facilitators are always there to help. A workshop ticket includes a 3-hour painting session, a free drink, and your own work! Imagine how excited your little cuties will be about taking their product home as a souvenir from their trip to Vietnam.
Landmark 81
- Address: Landmark 81, 772 Dien Bien Phu, Ward 22, Binh Thanh District, HCMC
- Age group: Suitable for children of all ages
Being named the tallest skyscraper in Vietnam, Landmark 81 is on the list of must-visit destinations in Ho Chi Minh. Landmark 81 houses a diverse selection of activities for both kids and adults, from entertainment to high-end shopping experiences.
Located in Vinhomes residential, Landmark 81 is surrounded by a large stunning park with a small playground for your kids to play around. Besides that, the most significant stop for your kids when visiting Landmark 81 is Vincom Ice Rink. This is the first and the only naturally frozen ice rink in Vietnam. With a wide range of activities and fantastic performances, Vincom Ice Rink is the perfect fit for your family to cool down a scorching day in Saigon.
Getting inside the building, there are many shops and places for your family to have fun. On top of Landmark 81 is the Landmark Skyview, where your kids can explore the sky from a fabulous angle – the city’s highest point! You can also find a fancy coffee shop called MIWAKU that serves excellent Japanese food and drinks.
Vàng Pottery Workshop (Discontinued)
- Address: Workshop is organized at The River Cottage, 18 Lane 6, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCMC
- Contact: Booking your workshop via email at [email protected]
- Ticket fee: 24 USD/participant
- Age group: Suitable for children from 7 years old
Craft activities are fun, and children love them! Few things can get children engaged as willingly as hands-on crafts! Let them play with their creativity and shape their own product with a hands-on pottery workshop at Vàng Pottery.
Vàng Pottery’s workshops are held at River Side Cottage, which gives everyone a perfect and relaxing view of the river. You will be guided through the clay, glaze, and firing process by dedicated ceramics professionals. Even if you’re a little clumsy with this kind of art, the workshop will fill your day with fun, smiles, and the enjoyable smell of clay.
As the number of participants is limited, you will need to book your workshop in advance with Vàng Pottery. Each workshop lasts around 2.5 hours. You can choose from various topics, such as carving & painting, slab building, or making Vietnamese mask puzzles.
Floral Workshop at Ted & Anna Flower Shop (discontinued)
- Address: 63 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCMC
- Booking Contact: 090 493 91 99 or via email at [email protected]
- Ticket price: 13 – 40 USD/participant
- Age group: Suitable for children from 8 years old
Another engaging and active workshop for your kids to join from our list is floral workshops from Ted & Anna. Gorgeous flower arrangements from these workshops will bloom your day!
Unlike other workshop organizers, Ted & Anna feature seasonal floral workshops. This means you will only get the best flowers available at each workshop. Another unique thing about Ted & Anna’s workshops is their topics. They are not solely meant to be all about flowers. They are combined with well-chosen themes such as flowers & cooking or flowers & beauty. They also have exclusive workshops for kids on special occasions like International Children’s Day.
Please notice that all of these workshops are seasonal; you have to contact them in advance for detailed information on their current workshop selections.
The Snap Cafe & Restaurant
- Address: 32 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
- Opening hours: 7 a.m – 10 p.m daily
- Age group: Suitable for children of all ages
Have you ever been nervous when taking your kids to a restaurant or a café? With The Snap Cafe & Restaurant, you and your kids will all have a playful and relaxing time. There is an outdoor playground exclusively for kids with a big sandpit.
The Snap is a Western-style restaurant. After the kiddos work up an appetite, it’s time to treat your family with a tasty meal. BBQ, beefsteak, risotto, and spaghetti are some of the best picks for you to try at The Snap. You can also look through my list of best coffee shops in Ho Chi Minh City to see if anything stands out as a great escape from the heat with the kiddos.
On Saturday evenings, The Snap usually has free live music performances. You can enjoy the music with your family or take the stage and test your vocal chops!
Bee Bee Premium Kids cafe
- Address: F4, 96-98 Cao Trieu Phat, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
- Contact: (028) 3873 4351
- Opening hours: 10 a.m – 8 p.m daily; Closed on Tuesdays
- Age group: Suitable for children of all ages
Here comes another kid-friendly café for your trip – Bee Bee Premium Kids Cafe. If you are looking for a coffee shop where you can enjoy a nice coffee and a good steak while capturing the best moments of your kids, this is the answer for you.
Located in District 7, Bee Bee Premium Kids is a coffee shop that provides an indoor playground for kids. The playground is truly a paradise for kids, fully equipped with toys. Bee Bee Premium Kids also provides other activities that cater to a range of ages and interests, such as books, baby pianos, bracelet-making, and statue painting sessions.
More than just a place for kids, Bee Bee Premim’s menu is taken seriously, with many choices for food. Coffee, ice cream, salads, pasta, sandwiches, and even beer are all available here. Western and Korean food is also served at Bee Bee Premium, giving you and your family more choices for your favorite taste.
Dam Sen Water Park
- Address: 3D Hoa Binh, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
- Opening hours: 9 a.m – 6 p.m from Wednesday to Monday
- Ticket price: 4 USD/child and 6 USD/adult
- Age group: Suitable for children from 5 years old
Dam Sen Water Park is our choice for your next destination. Dam Sen Water Park is one of Vietnam’s first and most favored theme parks.
One of the top reasons Dam Sen Park is a favorable destination for kids is its variety of amusing activities. There is a big wave pool for your kids to swim freely. If you are looking for more thrilling experiences, try its high-speed water slides or a Kamikaze ride. Every pool is observed by well-trained staff and guards.
Located right next to this park is Dam Sen Cultural Park, another place for you to spend time with your children. You can find over 30 different types of activities, and all are fun and kid-friendly. There is a small zoo, a botanical garden, and a butterfly farm for your kids to learn about flora and fauna. Here is a tip for you: a monorail train is traveling above the whole park. This is the best idea for you to get an initial overview of the park and see what excites your kids the most!
Motorbike Tour around the city
The best way to unearth the true Vietnam’s daily life with your kids is to observe it from the back of a motorbike! As the “Sidewalk culture” is actually a thing in Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, a motorbike tour makes it easier for you to get around the city with your children without worrying about the crowded sidewalks and busy traffic.
Back of the Bike Tours provides you with one of the best motorbike tour experiences in Vietnam. We have 7 different kid-friendly tours, including tasty food tours, culture and sightseeing tours, night-life tours, and tours to further parts of the city, such as Cu Chi. Each tour with different colors will bring you the most authentic vibes of Ho Chi Minh City that you cannot find anywhere else.
If you’re interested in having one-of-a-kind memories in Saigon with Back of the Bike Tours, book your tour now at:
These 12 destinations are our top picks for your trip with children in Ho Chi Minh. Fill it with endless fun and alluring moments, and don’t forget to share your incredible trip here with us!
