Tay Tai Hoi An Learning Community

Tay Tai Hoi An Learning Community A mixed-age learning community for families in Hoi An. Hands-on learning, weekly rhythm, field trips & real community for homeschooling/worldschooling life.

Hoi An Family Guide - https://bit.ly/42yBM5L

One of the unexpected benefits of running mixed-age activities is watching relationships form that probably wouldn't hap...
11/06/2026

One of the unexpected benefits of running mixed-age activities is watching relationships form that probably wouldn't happen in many traditional environments.

A few days ago, a 6-year-old and a teenager ended up making candles together.

Today, kids aged 2-18 spent the morning together at a duck farm.

Nobody assigned them a group.

Nobody told them they should go.

They simply found themselves sharing the same space, working on the same activity and chatting while creating, exploring and learning.

It got us thinking about how unusual this has become.

Modern childhood is often organised around age.

Children are grouped, taught, assessed and socialised with others born within a relatively small window of time.

Yet when we look at life outside of childhood, that's rarely how the world works.

Families are mixed age.

Communities are mixed age.

Workplaces are mixed age.

Neighbourhoods are mixed age.

Some of the most valuable relationships we have throughout our lives are with people who are older or younger than us.

This isn't an argument against age-based learning or friendships. Those relationships have value too.

It's simply a reminder that children can gain so much from spending time with people of different ages, interests, abilities and experiences.

We've often seen younger children develop confidence by learning from older peers, while older children naturally step into leadership, mentoring and nurturing roles.

And perhaps most importantly, children get the opportunity to be seen for who they are rather than where they fall on an age chart.

What are your thoughts on mixed-age friendships and learning?

Did you have friends significantly older or younger than you when you were growing up?

This week we've been reflecting a lot on community.Not how to grow one.Not how to market one.But what actually makes one...
09/06/2026

This week we've been reflecting a lot on community.

Not how to grow one.

Not how to market one.

But what actually makes one valuable.

So we've been asking ourselves a difficult question:

If Tay Tai disappeared tomorrow, what would families actually lose?

At first glance the answer seems obvious.

Activities.

Workshops.

Field trips.

Events.

But the more we think about it, the more we realise those things are only part of the picture.

Activities create opportunities.

What happens within those opportunities is often where the real value lies.

Friendships form.

Children become more confident.

Parents find support.

Relationships deepen.

Families begin to feel known and accepted.

Perhaps the activities themselves aren't the point.

Perhaps they're simply the environment where community has the chance to grow.

We're still exploring these questions ourselves and we'd genuinely love to hear your thoughts.

What would your family miss most if a community you loved disappeared?

One thing we've learned over the years is that moving to Hoi An is actually the easy part.Most families can figure out f...
07/06/2026

One thing we've learned over the years is that moving to Hoi An is actually the easy part.

Most families can figure out flights, accommodation and visas.

The harder part is building a life.

Finding community.

Understanding how things really work.

Discovering where families spend their time.

Finding activities, opportunities and resources that align with your family's values and lifestyle.

Knowing which questions to ask before you arrive and where to look when you need answers.

After answering the same questions again and again, we decided to put everything we wished we'd had when we first arrived into one place.

The Hoi An Family Field Guide is designed specifically for families considering Hoi An or already living here.

It's practical, honest and focused on helping families build a sustainable life rather than simply survive the transition.

If you'd like more information, comment GUIDE below and we'll happily send you the details.

06/06/2026

Over the years we've watched children thrive in all sorts of environments.

Structured environments.
Unstructured environments.
Large groups.
Small groups.
Formal learning.
Hands-on learning.

And whilst activities absolutely have their place, we've found ourselves reflecting on something slightly different recently.

Many children today have access to more opportunities than ever before.

More classes.
More clubs.
More workshops.
More experiences.

Yet many families still tell us they struggle to find genuine connection and lasting community.

Children attend a class for a few weeks and move on.

Families arrive, connect briefly and then disappear.

Friendships begin but don't always have the chance to deepen.

And it makes us wonder whether one of the biggest things children are missing isn't another activity at all.

Perhaps it's continuity.

The chance to see the same faces regularly.

To build trust slowly.

To develop friendships over months rather than hours.

To feel like they belong somewhere.

These are some of the conversations we've been having recently as we reflect on community, learning and what children really need to flourish.

What do you think?

What do children need more of right now?

We'd genuinely love to hear your thoughts!

Over the past few weeks, we've found ourselves reflecting on a question that feels increasingly important:What actually ...
04/06/2026

Over the past few weeks, we've found ourselves reflecting on a question that feels increasingly important:

What actually creates community?

It's a word that gets used a lot. We all say we want community for ourselves and our children. We seek out groups, activities, clubs and events in the hope of finding it.

But community is about more than simply being in the same place at the same time.

Real community takes time.

It takes seeing the same faces week after week.

It takes shared experiences, shared memories and the gradual building of trust.

It takes children having the opportunity to grow alongside one another rather than constantly starting over.

And perhaps most importantly, it requires us to show up consistently - even when life is busy, messy or inconvenient.

As a homeschooling and alternative education community, these are questions we're thinking about a lot at the moment.

Because whilst flexibility is one of the things many families value most, we're also noticing that the strongest friendships, deepest connections and richest learning experiences tend to come from continuity.

There isn't a right or wrong answer here.

We're genuinely curious.

What do you think creates real community?

What has helped your family feel connected, supported and like you truly belong somewhere?

We'd love to hear your thoughts.

One thing we’ve realised over time is that too much choice can actually become surprisingly overwhelming for families.Es...
27/05/2026

One thing we’ve realised over time is that too much choice can actually become surprisingly overwhelming for families.

Especially in places like Hoi An, where there are constantly new activities, events, meetups and communities happening.

At first, it feels exciting.

But after a while, many families start feeling fragmented instead.

Always moving.
Always deciding.
Always trying to fit everything in.

And often, children end up socially restarting over and over again too.

Different groups.
Different people.
Different rhythms every week.

We’ve realised that children usually settle best when life becomes a little more predictable.

Not rigid.

Just familiar.

The same faces.
The same rhythms.
The same little sense of belonging building slowly over time.

And honestly, that’s a huge part of why Tay Tai has gradually become more continuity-focused ❤️





One thing people talk about enough in places like Hoi An is how overwhelming too much choice can actually become for fam...
27/05/2026

One thing people talk about enough in places like Hoi An is how overwhelming too much choice can actually become for families after a while.

At first, having endless activities, events, meetups and different communities feels exciting.

Especially when you have been travelling with your kids and haven’t had that!

And honestly, it is exciting.

But over time, we’ve noticed many families (ourselves included) starting to feel strangely fragmented by it all too.

Always deciding.
Always moving between things.
Always trying to make the “best” choices.

And often, children end up socially restarting over and over again as well.

Different groups.
Different friendships.
Different rhythms every week.

One thing we’ve gradually realised through Tay Tai is that children usually settle best when life becomes a little more predictable.

Not rigid.
Not heavily scheduled.

Just familiar.

The same faces.
The same rhythms.
The same places to arrive back into each week.

We have found that consistency changes the emotional feel of childhood far more than we often realise, for both our child and yours.

That’s a huge part of why Tay Tai has gradually become more continuity-focused over time ❤️

One thing I think people massively underestimate before moving abroad or slow travelling with children is how much daily...
26/05/2026

One thing I think people massively underestimate before moving abroad or slow travelling with children is how much daily life matters.

Before arriving somewhere, most families naturally focus on the exciting parts first.

The beaches.
The food.
The freedom.
The adventure.

And those things do matter.

But once the novelty wears off a little, the things that usually shape your experience most become much quieter and more practical than that.

How easily your children settle.

Whether you’ve found people you genuinely connect with.

Whether daily life starts feeling calm and sustainable… or constantly transitional.

Which neighbourhood actually fits your family rhythm.

Whether your children feel comfortable.

Whether you’ve managed to build some kind of routine again.

After years of living this life here in Hoi An - both personally and through Tay Tai - we realised these were the things families kept struggling with most.

Not where to visit.

But how to actually build a version of life abroad that feels good long-term.

That’s a huge part of why we created the Hoi An Family Guidebook.

Not as a tourist guide.

But as something practical, lived-in, and genuinely useful for families trying to create real life here with children.

If you’d like the link, comment GUIDE or send us a message ❤️





For a long time, families kept asking us the same questions about life in Hoi An.Not just:“Where should we stay?”But:Wha...
19/05/2026

For a long time, families kept asking us the same questions about life in Hoi An.

Not just:
“Where should we stay?”

But:

What’s daily life here actually like with kids?

Which areas work best for families?

Is homeschooling realistic here?

What happens when someone gets sick?

How hard is it to build community?

And what does life here feel like once the holiday phase wears off?

So after nearly a decade of living here as a family, we finally put everything we’ve learned into one place.

Living in Hoi An with Kids -
A grounded guide for travelling & worldschooling families.

It’s practical, honest, long-term focused and designed to help families settle more gently into life here.

The link to the guide is in the comments below 👇





Address

Hồi ăn
Hoi An

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 13:00
Wednesday 14:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 13:00
Saturday 09:00 - 13:00

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tay Tai Hoi An Learning Community posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share