The Atlas Obscura Guide To Hanoi

17 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Hanoi, Vietnam

Updated December 15, 2023

Unusual Attractions in Hanoi

Diesel train coming down the train tracks through a narrow street in Hanoi.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi's Train Street

Twice a day a speeding train passes only inches from the homes of this residential neighborhood.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

Home of the unusual art of water puppetry, one of Vietnam's oldest curiosities.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Cafe Pho Co

Walk through a clothing store, across a courtyard, and up several flights of stairs for delicious coffee with a side of beautiful views.

Place setting 55.5, where the two men ate their famous meal in April 2016.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama's Dinner Table

The spot where the two men ate together now stands enclosed in glass.

Hanoi, Vietnam

B-52 Wreckage

Monument to a brutal, ineffectual US bombing campaign and a sobering reminder of the human cost of the Vietnam War.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh's perfectly preserved body has been on display here since 1975.

Painted scribe vendor and real-life customer.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Trompe-l'œil Murals of Hanoi

Life-sized painted illusions let pedestrians blend in with the street art.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hỏa Lò Prison

The notorious "Hanoi Hilton" where Vietnamese colonial subjects and later American POWs, including John McCain, were imprisoned.

See All 17 Things To Do in Hanoi

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Hanoi

Hanoi, Vietnam

Cafe Pho Co

Walk through a clothing store, across a courtyard, and up several flights of stairs for delicious coffee with a side of beautiful views.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama's Dinner Table

The spot where the two men ate together now stands enclosed in glass.

Bún chả is a riot of textures and flavors in a bowl.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Bún Chả Hàng Quạt

Don’t miss the local staple of rice vermicelli with charcoal-grilled pork patties and pork belly.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Phở Hàng Trống

For true northern-style phở with broth as clear as consommé, hunt for this restaurant hidden within a residential home.

See all 7 Places to Eat in Hanoi

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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Hanoi

17 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Hanoi, Vietnam

Updated December 15, 2023

Unusual Attractions in Hanoi

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Hanoi

Plan Your Trip

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Flavors of Vietnam: Fish Sauce, Pho & Royal Tea

Eating your way from North to South in Vietnam.

Explore Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Hanoi Activity

Stories About Hanoi

Gastro Obscura's 10 Essential Places to Eat in Vietnam

How to Make Vietnamese Egg Coffee

The Life and Legacy of Vietnam's Sacred Giant Turtle

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