The Atlas Obscura Guide To Hanoi

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

Updated October 25, 2025

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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.

Water puppet show

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.

B-52 Wreckage in Huu Tiep Lake

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.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum-Ha Noi

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.

See All 18 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.

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.

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.

See all 7 Places to Eat in Hanoi

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Hanoi, Vietnam

Street Food 4

Noodles 4

Military History 2

Vietnam War 2

Art 2

Restaurants 2

Monuments 2

War History 2

Military 2

Soup 2

Lenin 1

Statues 1

Natural History Museums 1

Taxidermy 1

Murals 1

Roads 1

Bunkers 1

Secret Museums 1

Optical Illusions 1

Hidden 1

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