Times City and Park Hill
Hanoi is a crowded city and it's hard to find safe places to walk without hazards like getting hit with a motorbike. Times City and newly built Park Hill have lots of attractions for kids of all ages. Just grab an Uber early in the morning and the playgrounds are mostly empty, especially through the week. Check out the sand play area- it's very clean!
The equipment is very clean and the playground surface is rubberized.
Times City and Park Hill consist of over a dozen apartment tower blocks built over a mall. So if it rains, just head downstairs. Watch a movie at CGV Cinema, check out the Vinpearl Aquarium, or grab some food. In this picture you can see a noodle shop and a draft beer bar with 5 or 6 beers on tap.
At 7:00pm there is a musical fountain show. It lasts for two songs, so I wouldn't make a special trip just for that but if you are already there then you should walk over to the main fountain.
As you can see the sidewalks are well maintained.
In addition to the mall, there's also shops and cafes in the base of each tower. You can see a Tous les Jour and another mini-mart on the right side of this photo.
The playground equipment isn't only for kids! I've never seen outdoor punching bags. Very nice quality.
But yeah, it's mostly nice for kids!
If you are a resident you have access to the pool, both outdoor and indoor. Times City has some AirBnb listings, so pool access would include a card for the pool.
There's a minimart in almost every tower so you are never far from drinks and snacks.
Bring a basketball, tennis racket, or play some badminton!
Kids have enough space to ride tricycles, bikes, and rollerblades.
The playground right outside my apartment block.
Times City is a little bit South of the city center and it might cost as much as 100k VND to get there, but shouldn't be more than that. Uber is usually cheaper.
My little family and I lived here for 2 years. Our two bedroom 75 square meter apartment was only $550 per month. You can shop for groceries downstairs at VinMart and have them delivered, go to numerous pharmacies, and always have plenty of taxis available when you gotta go somewhere. We are moving this week to a bigger apartment in Hoan Kiem district, which will be within walking distance to my son's nursery school.
