An open set in an $n$-manifold is clearly a submanifold of the same dimension as its containing manifold (see open manifolds).
Now, given an $n$-manifold $M$, is it true that a set, to be the underlying set of a submanifold of $M$ with dimension $n$, must be open?
Best Answer
Yes.
In general, $N \subset M$ is a submanifold if you can find for every $x \in N$ an open neighbourhood $U \subset M$ of $x$, an open neighbourhood $V \subset \mathbb R^{\dim M}$ of $0$ and a diffeomorphism $\Phi : U \to V$ such that $\Phi(x) = 0$ and $\Phi(N) = (\mathbb R^{\dim N} \oplus 0) \cap V$. (It is legit to talk about diffeomorphisms because $M$ is a manifold).
Now, if $\dim N = \dim M$, the condition implies $\Phi(N) = V$. In other words, the open neighbourhood $U$ (the domain of the chart) must lie in $N$. So, $N$ contains an open neighbourhood of each of its points, and it is therefore open.