Are you looking for the best things to do in Ho Chi Minh City with kids?
Home to a plentiful range of experiences that make a trip to Vietnam truly unforgettable; Ho Chi Minh City is an undeniable highlight of the country. The city houses a collection of traditional and modern activities beneath its towering skyline for the entire family to uncover and enjoy. Whether it’s the bustling food stalls or the ancient temples, there’s something on offer for every member of the family to indulge in.
Ho Chi Minh City is located in the southern portion of Vietnam and houses a population of over 8.6 million. The city stretches over 2061 square kilometres and is popular due to a number of reasons, ranging between it’s role in the Vietnam War to its generous platter of traditional experiences.
Heading on a family getaway to Ho Chi Minh City with kids? Here are a few activities and attractions scattered throughout the city that are worth your time.
Airport Transfers
Getting a private transfer to your hotel can make your first day in Ho Chi Minh City a lot less stressful. So we’ve found the best transfer that you can book right here.
Ben Thanh Markets
When you tell the kids that you’re planning a visit to the Ben Thanh Markets, feel free to clarify that they are not the Ben 10 Markets, yet they are still super fun (and delicious).
Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ben Thanh Markets are the perfect place for those eager to do some shopping while visiting the city. Travellers can browse hand-made goods, art, souvenirs, and so much more.
Be sure to try some iconic Vietnamese dishes, including fresh seafood, rice pancakes, steamed cakes, and noodles. Otherwise, if you’re shopping for bargains, test out your bartering skills on some of the local vendors.
In the late evenings, the surrounding restaurants flood the markets with aromas of delicious foods, ultimately adding to the unique atmosphere. The Ben Thanh Markets are located in District 1, at the Le Loi, Ham Ngh, Tan Hung, and Le Lai intersection.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (6 am to 12 am)
Address: Chợ, Lê Lợi, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietna
Bitexco Tower
The Bitexco Financial Tower is a prominent icon of the Ho Chi Minh skyline, only completed in 2010. It remaind the tallest tower in the city, standing tall at 262m, until 2011 when the Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower took the title.
Tourists are drawn to the Bitexco Tower due to the impressive city views it offers from the Sky Deck. Those looking to escape the energy of the city and relax can take a quick trip up to the viewing platform on the 49th floor to admire the stretching views of the city below, the Saigon River, and the surrounding suburbs. English speaking guides are available, along with information boards offering an insight into the various attractions of Ho Chi Minh City.
Get your Klook voucher for the Bitexco Financial Tower here
Price: VND 200,000
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (8 am to 11 pm)
Address: Bitexco Financial Tower, 2 Hải Triều, Bến Nghé, Hồ Chí Minh, 700000, Vietnam
Website: Click here
Mekong Delta Boat Trip
An immense network of rivers, islands, and swamps; the Mekong Delta is a destination near Ho Chi Minh City unlike any other. This water maze houses a collection of treasures within, including floating markets, pagodas, rice paddies, and small villages. The main town of the Mekong Delta is Can Tho.
A calm trip over the brown waters by boat is the key mode of transportation throughout the Mekong Delta labyrinth, with tours departing from Ho Chi Minh City. To peacefully float among these rivers, surrounded by dense greenery while uncovering new experiences is an adventure of Vietnam that can’t be overlooked.
Water Puppet Show
Vietnam’s Water Puppet Show is a cultural icon that travellers from all walks of life enjoy experiencing for themselves. With a combination of old fashioned music, instruments, Vietnamese storytelling, and colourful puppets above a stage of water, the shows proves to be an entertaining highlight that’s effortless to enjoy.
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the many destinations throughout the country offering a platter of shows for families to enjoy, with 2 of the most popular venues being the Villa Song Saigon and the Golden Dragon Water Puppetry Theatre. Although not every performance offers English translations, they are still simple to follow along and understand, with gestures and tones often conveying the message of the story.
Get your Klook voucher for the water puppets here
Address: 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Cu Chi Tunnels
Located approximately 1 hour from the city, the Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of interconnecting burrows underneath Ho Chi Minh’s Cu Chi District. Used in the 1940s, these tunnels extend over 120km and include kitchens, living spaces, hospitals, armouries, trapdoors and more. Exploring these tunnels is an exciting venture, offering travellers the opportunity to wander and crawl through these narrow passageways, with emergency exits every 10 metres. A short film is played to tourists before entering the caves to offer a deeper understanding of how the network actually works.
It’s important to note that the Cu Chi tunnels are also home to a firing range, which kids aren’t allowed to enter as age restrictions apply. It may be wise to avoid this area altogether as it can get loud.
Get your Klook voucher for the Cu Chi Tunnels here
Price: VND 110000
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (7 am to 5 pm)
Address: TL15, Phú Hiệp, Hồ Chí Minh, 733814, Vietnam
Cao Dai Temple
Completed in 1955, the Cao Dai Temple is a colourful, remarkable structure located near Ho Cho Minh City. One of the key highlights of the temple is watching the Caodiasts pray, with photography also permitted. The worshipers dress in long, white robes, with men seated on the right and women on the left. The temple works towards achieving world peace, incorporating elements from a number of religions across the globe.
The Cao Dai Temple is located about 85km north-west of Ho Chi Minh City. As it is located toward the border of Vietnam and Cambodia, it’s recommended to visit through a day-tour. Before entering the temple, shoes are to be removed and knees must be covered.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (6 am to 5 pm)
Address: TT. Hoà Thành, Hòa Thành District, Tây Ninh Province, Vietnam
Suoi Tien Theme Park
The Suoi Tien Theme Park offers a collection of activities and attractions to keep the kids entertained for hours on end. The attractions range between thrilling rides, majestic castles, characters, and vibrant shows for kids to enjoy. The entire park has elements of Buddhism incorporated into the design, with golden dragons, lush gardens, temples, and statues present throughout the parkland. The Suoi Tien Theme Park also has a zoo, featuring a variety of exotic animals, with crocodiles being of abundance.
Price: Adult – VND 115997. Child – VND 57998
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (8 am to 5 pm)
Address: 120 Xa lộ Hà Nội, Phường Tân Phú, Quận 9, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Website: Click here
TiniWorld
A unique blend of entertainment and education; TiniWorld offers an ideal environment for kids to learn and play. The facility delivers an exciting range of activities for children to enjoy, including rock climbing, statue painting, sand art, and more. There’s also a playground and sandbox available.
For the younger ones, there’s also a ‘Toddler Area’ on offer, with various toys to suit kids 5 years and under. For those needing to refuel from all the excitement, there’s also a food court available, including a mouth-watering candy buffet. TiniWorld can be found in Ho Chi Minh City as well as Hanoi and Binh Duong.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (10 am to 9 pm)
Address: Takashimaya Vietnam, Centre, Street, Ward, District1, 65 Lê Lợi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Website: Click here
Artinus 3D Art Museum
Offering guests the chance to become apart of astonishing and diverse pieces of artwork; The Artinus 3D Art Museum is a simple attraction that the entire family can enjoy. The gallery is home to over 100 3D paintings, created by a collection of talented Korean artists.
These artworks feature various optical illusions, allowing guests of the museum to seemingly stroll right into a completely new world, opening the possibility for some truly memorable photo ops. The Artinus 3D Art Museum is split into 9 distinct areas, including ancient Egypt, wild-life world, Oceans, Vietnam, and more. The entire museum can be seen within a timeframe of approximately 2 to 3 hours.
Price: VND 300,000
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday (9 am to 6 pm) Saturday and Sunday (9 am to 8 pm)
Address: Số 2 Đường số 9, Khu đô thị Him Lam, Quận 7, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Saigon Zoo And Botanic Gardens
One of the oldest zoos in the world, initially opening its doors in 1865; the Saigon Zoo And Botanic Gardens is the perfect place to admire the peaceful side of Ho Chi Minh City. The zoo is home to a vast range of captivating creatures to admire, including lions, elephants, turtles, monkeys, snakes, and so much more. The botanic gardens feature an overwhelming collection of plant life, including different species of bonsai trees, ferns, orchids, cactuses, and more.
The Saigon Zoo And Botanic Gardens are located near District 1, with the 2 gates being located on Nguyen Binh Khiema and the other on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. The entrance fee applies to the zoo and the botanic garden. The area is also home to the Saigon National Museum as well as a World War 1 monument.
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday (7 am to 5 pm)
Address: 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Website: Click here
Dam Sen Water Park
For families looking for an entertaining place to escape the heat and cool off, Ho Chi Minh’s Dam Sen Water Park is the perfect place to do so. The park is home to a variety of attractions to suit many different age levels, including a children’s pool, a wave pool, and a wandering river. Those looking for a bit more thrill can consider tackling a few of the waterslides on offer, such as the Kamikaze ‘super-speed’ slide, the multi-slide, the wild river, and the Boomerang.
The Dam Sen Water Park also features the Waterpark Restaurant and Grill City – ideal for families looking to refuel from all the excitement. For more information on the restaurants and the parkland, visit the Dam Sen Water Park website.
Price: VND 140,000
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday (9 am to 5:30 pm) Sunday (8:30 am to 5:30 pm)
Address: 3 Hòa Bình, Phường 3, Quận 11, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Website: Click here
District 1
District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City is an energetic location, offering a vast range of things to do. Some memorable attractions that continue to draw in tourists include the Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Bitexco Tower, and Independence Palace. Otherwise, travellers can take part in the simplicity of sitting back and soaking in the liveliness of this busy location.
Due to the overwhelming abundance of activities in District 1 and its convenient location, it’s likely you’ll come across it whether you plan to or not.
Address: District 1, Hi Chi Minh City
Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City With Kids
Ho Chi Minh City is an iconic hub of Vietnam, home to an immense range of entertaining attractions for the entire family to enjoy. Whether it’s in the form of bustling street markets, fascinating museums, towering lookouts, natural getaways, or vibrant theme parks, there’s always a new experience to be had in this energetic destination.
Travellers also take the time to explore the points of interests scattered outside the city, proving to deliver an exciting family day-trip. Next time you’re exploring the concrete jungle of Ho Chi Minh City, consider visiting a few of these memorising attractions.
