Hanoikids club was established from the idea of gathering young students who often wander around Sword Lake to talk to foreigners with the hope to improve their foreign language skills, to work in groups to introduce foreign visitors to Hanoi’s places of interest. Founded in 2006 with 20 members, Hanoikids faced numerous challenges in the beginning as it was not easy to win the foreign tourists’ trust in what the club members are doing. Hanoikids president Le Thi Hong Nhat recalled the club’s old days: "In the beginning, we had a lot of difficulties because it was not easy for someone to trust us immediately when we offered to take them on free tours of Hanoi. We had to deliver a lot of leaflets in Hanoi downtown and our members had to walk around the Sword Lake or traveled to the airport to introduce our club’s activities to visitors."

The club has become better known thanks to the internet and social networks. The club’s managers also put much effort in promoting the club’s images and activities by organizing many training workshops to improve the members’ skills. Hanoikids often call themselves “travel mate” instead of “tour guide” who provide visitors to Hanoi with free instructions about the capital city. Le Thi Hong Nhat again: "Our club’s motto is “No tip, no charge”. This means our members never accept any money from visitors after taking them on tours around Hanoi. We also wish to become “Ambassadors of Hanoi” who introduce the most beautiful images of Hanoi to foreign visitors. The club is an ideal venue for young people who want to practice their English skills, make friends with foreigners, and learn more about other cultures in the world."

Hanoikids members often accompany their travel mates to every corner of Hanoi, helping them to learn more about the local daily activities, said Nhat: "Popular places of interests are the Temple of Literature, President Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, the Museum of Ethnology, the Old Quarter, and the Women’s Museum. Hanoi’s markets including Dong Xuan and Hang Be and famous souvenir streets like Hang Bong and Hang Gai, are also on the list of Hanoi’s highlights. We also try to arrange more complicated tours, to Bat Trang and Van Phuc silk village for example, on visitors’ demands."

A visitor from Singapore, Kenny, said: "I found it interesting making friends with young Vietnamese students at my age during my tour of Hanoi. We can share many things, not only study experience, social skills, but also wonderful knowledge of Hanoi. I’d like to tell all visitors to Hanoi to spend their time with Hanoikids and they won’t regret that."

Hanoikids recruits new members twice a year to select the best candidates with rich knowledge about Hanoi and excellent language skills to meet increasing demands from visitors to the capital city.