Travelling to Hoi An with a Toddler

Why Hoi An works for toddlers

Hoi An rewards a slow pace, which happens to be exactly the pace of travelling with a toddler. The UNESCO-listed Ancient Town is small enough to explore in gentle loops, its streets are flat and traffic-calmed through the day, and there's colour and movement, lanterns, boats, tailors, markets, everywhere a small child looks. Evenings by the river are magical, and when town is enough, An Bang beach is a short ride away. It's less about ticking off sights and more about wandering, which suits little legs perfectly.

Getting there safely

Hoi An sits about 45 minutes south of Da Nang International Airport. Taxis and Grab cars make the transfer easy, but none carry a child car seat, and Vietnamese law doesn't require one, so your toddler would otherwise ride unrestrained on the fastest road of the trip. Renting a fitted car seat solves this; we can meet you at the airport so it's ready for the drive down. See airport delivery for how that works.

Stroller or carrier in the Ancient Town?

The honest answer is both. A compact travel stroller like the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 rolls easily on the flat, paved streets and gives your toddler somewhere to nap, and it folds small when a lane gets tight or the evening lantern crowds build. A soft carrier is the perfect companion for those busiest moments and for the narrowest shopfronts. Between them you're covered for any part of town.

When to visit

The beach and days out

An Bang and Cua Dai beaches are a short ride from the centre, with relaxed beach clubs and calmer water in the mornings. Gentle boat trips on the Thu Bon river, the countryside and rice paddies just outside town, and a lantern-making or simple craft session are all toddler-friendly. Keep outings short and shaded, and build the day around naps rather than a packed itinerary.

Feeding and essentials

Hoi An is full of relaxed cafés and restaurants used to families, many with space for a stroller and simple dishes toddlers will happily eat. Supermarkets and pharmacies carry nappies and international formula, though your specific brand isn't guaranteed, so bring a few days' supply. A rented high chair at your villa makes mealtimes far calmer, and tap water isn't for drinking, use bottled or boiled water.

Where to stay

Hoi An leans towards boutique villas, homestays and small resorts rather than big hotels, which is lovely, but it means baby gear is rarely provided. If you're in a villa or Airbnb, renting a cot and high chair delivered and set up inside makes all the difference; see villa delivery and our Hoi An baby equipment page.