But the street that may delight your children most is not a trading street. Instead, it is a residential street known as Ngo 224 Le Duan, with one unusual feature—a railway track running through the street which is very much in operation.

“The homes of these Vietnamese are extremely near the train track. As soon as they step foot out of their main doors, they will be greeted by a pavement and then the train track,” says a traveller and parent blogger who visited the “train street” this year with her young children. “This pavement is not only for walking, you will find residents hanging their laundry, washing dishes, and it is even a pavement for motorbikes!”

A train usually runs through this street at 3:30pm and 7:30pm daily. (To be sure, check train timings with the tourist information centre at 28 Hang Dau street. The tourist centre is also the starting point for free walking tours of the Old Quarter.) 

Although the “train street” is a choice spot for priceless Hanoi photos, safety should always be your first consideration.

“I recommend getting there early but make sure that you are in a safe spot for when the train passes, advises another recent visitor. “The train isn’t likely to stop if you are caught in the middle of the track when it passes. Getting a cool photo isn’t worth the chance of death.”

Your kids will also love the Old Quarter’s unofficial “toy street,” or Luong Van Trang street. This street is essentially a child’s dream come true, as it is jam-packed with stores (and stalls) stocking traditional and modern toys. Many of the toys are imitation goods, which offer the prospect of a great bargain, or good browsing entertainment at the very least.

Another traditional Vietnamese toy to look out for is the charming to he, or figurines made from glutinous rice powder. 

During major festivals such as the mid-autumn festival, artisans may hold workshops in the Old Quarter, to teach participants to make traditional Vietnamese toys such as to he, star lanterns, paper kites, and more. Such workshops would be enriching experiences for the whole family, so join in if you can.

For lunch or dinner in the area, the must-visit establishment is Bun Cha Huong Lien, where the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain met with former US president Barack Obama for a much-publicised meal of bun cha (Vietnamese grilled pork noodles). The busy eatery may not fit the standard definition of “child-friendly,” but the cultural experience will certainly be worthwhile.

“This two-storey restaurant may overwhelm at first with its frantic atmosphere, its overall messy state, and the unceremonious way the servers point you to an empty table and take your order,” warns Paste Magazine. “But once you settle into that large bowl of grilled pork belly and ground pork patties mixed with light rice noodles, fresh herbs, and pickled papaya in mouthwatering broth, with crab egg rolls and Hanoi beer on the side, you’ll stop caring about anything else.”

Another fun-filled way to explore the Old Quarter is through a kid-friendly food tour. Withlocals has a highly rated family tour that you can personalise to your needs. The tour includes the chance to try kid-friendly foods such as Bánh mì (a Vietnamese sandwich), along with Vietnamese desserts (such as donuts) and ice cream.