9 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Hanoi - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Hanoi

Hanoi's Train Street

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

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre

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

Ngô Thì Nhậm, Vietnam

Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama's Dinner Table

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

B-52 Wreckage

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

Bao tang Dong vat (Hanoi Zoological Museum)

A French-Colonial era collection of taxidermy and wet specimens, secreted away in the National University of Hanoi.

Hỏa Lò Prison

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

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

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

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.

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Unique Food & Drink in Hanoi

Vietnamese Egg Coffee

A decadent blend of coffee, whipped egg, and butter have made this wartime invention a modern-day favorite.

Trứng Vịt Lộn

In Vietnam, there are multiple ways to enjoy fertilized duck eggs.

Atlas Obscura Trips

Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon

On this nine-day journey, we’ll explore Vietnam through its unique cuisine, tasting our way across north, central, and south Vietnam by way of steaming pork belly meatballs in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the white rose dumplings of Hoi An.

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Stories About Hanoi

A relief at Ngọc Sơn Temple depicting the legendary turtle with a sword on its back.

The Life and Legacy of Vietnam's Sacred Giant Turtle

Hanoi's Hoàn Kiếm Lake was once home to both legendary and real chelonians.

January 10, 2019

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