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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Vietnam

54 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Vietnam

Updated September 19, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Vietnam

Xuân Trạch, Vietnam

Hang Son Doong

World's largest cave was only discovered in 1991, and now offers tours to the public.

tx. Hương Thủy, Vietnam

Hồ Thuỷ Tiên

Vietnam's feral abandoned water park offers access to a post-apocalyptic funscape, now with fewer crocodiles.

Hòa Phú, Vietnam

Golden Bridge

This spectacular bridge supported by two gigantic hands looks like something out of a fantasy universe.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi's Train Street

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

Da Nang, Vietnam

Am Phu Cave

This Vietnamese hell cave lets visitors take a walk through a devilish underworld full of demons.

Da Nang, Vietnam

Fire-Breathing Dragon Bridge

This bridge is embedded with a giant steel dragon that breathes fire from its mouth.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Suoi Tien Cultural Theme Park

Have fun at the world's first Buddhist waterslide park.

tx. Hương Thủy, Vietnam

The Tomb of Nguyen Emperor Khai Dinh

An extravagant monument to an extravagantly unpopular Emperor.

See All 54 Things To Do in Vietnam

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Vietnam

Dalat, Vietnam

100 Roofs Cafe

This Vietnamese bar doubles as a multistory labyrinth.

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

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.

Hội An, Vietnam

Reaching Out Teahouse

Located off a bustling strip, a silent teahouse employs workers with hearing- or speech-related disabilities.

See all 6 Places to Eat in Vietnam

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Guided Tours of Vietnam

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.

Explore Vietnam

Sacred Spaces 6

Subterranean Sites 4

Natural Wonders 4

Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

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Stories About Vietnam

How Vietnam’s Ancient Whale Temples Are Helping Science

For centuries, hundreds of shrines have preserved crucial information about the marine mammals' diversity and distribution.

by Anne Pinto-Rodrigues

September 19, 2022

An Ancient Croc Stepped in Poop and Created a Portal to the Past

Scientists braved rain, mud, and a close encounter at a crocodile farm to learn what fossilized feces reveal about life 33 million years ago.

by Kate Golembiewski

February 28, 2022

How Bamboo Sticks Help Vietnamese Villagers Shoulder Mighty Loads

It's a matter of simple physics.

by Isaac Schultz

January 31, 2020

The Sun Set Off 4,000 Sea Mines During the Vietnam War

Only now do scientists fully understand just how strong a 1972 solar storm was.

by Sarah Laskow

November 14, 2018

Found: A Rare Tiny Deer in Vietnam

It's called a muntjac, and the last time it appeared was nearly two decades ago.

by Christina Ayele Djossa

The Beautiful Cakes Injected Full of Flowers

Watch as jelly masters create 3-D designs with needles and syringes.

November 17, 2017

Found: Tiny ‘Elfish Eyebrow Toad’

It is very small.

by Sarah Laskow

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