When searching for unique things to do in Hanoi, most travelers visit Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. However, Ba Dinh District offers some truly fascinating experiences that go beyond typical tourist sites. While Ba Dinh Square and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum draw crowds, this area has hidden gems that reveal authentic Vietnamese culture and history. Therefore, here are three amazing activities that showcase the best of Hanoi Ba Dinh.
1. Visit the B-52 Wreckage at Huu Tiep Lake
One of the most unique things to do in Hanoi is visiting Huu Tiep Lake, also called B-52 Lake. This small lake in Ngoc Ha Ward holds a piece of the Resistance War Against America history: the wreckage of an American B-52 bomber. Seeing this massive aircraft in a quiet residential neighborhood creates a powerful experience that connects you to Vietnamese history.
The Historical Story
On December 27, 1972, North Vietnamese forces shot down the last B-52 bomber over Hanoi during Operation Linebacker II. This campaign is known in Vietnam as “Dien Bien Phu in the Air.” The aircraft crashed into Ngoc Ha village, an area known for flower gardens. This was the only B-52 to crash directly in Hanoi’s city center.
The wreckage includes broken parts of the plane’s body and wings. They lie partially underwater and tilted in the lake. You can still see the U.S. Air Force symbol on the metal: a white circle with a black star. This reminder of the The Resistance War Against America makes the site deeply moving for visitors interested in Vietnamese history.
What Makes This Site Special
Huu Tiep Lake represents a significant moment in the Resistance War Against America. It shows the determination of Hanoi’s defenders during one of the conflict’s most intense periods. The government made it a national historical site on April 22, 1992, recognizing its importance to the country’s historical and cultural heritage.
What’s striking is the contrast. The wreckage sits in a peaceful neighborhood in Ba Dinh District, near houses and Ngoc Ha Elementary School. Children play nearby and elderly people chat on benches. Life goes on normally around this war remnant. This difference between past war and present peace makes the visit thought-provoking.
In 2021, workers cleaned the lake and repaired the aircraft parts. This preservation work ensures future generations can learn about this chapter of Vietnamese history.
Practical Information
- Address: Alley 55, Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Ngoc Ha Ward, Ba Dinh District
- Opening Hours: All day
- Admission: Free
- Location: Next to Ngoc Ha Elementary School in Hanoi Ba Dinh
Visiting Tips
The site is easy to reach and doesn’t take long to visit. You can combine it with other attractions in Ba Dinh District like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, or the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These historical and cultural landmarks are all within the same area.
The location is quiet and safe. Visitors should be respectful given the site’s connection to the Resistance War Against America. You can take photos – the wreckage makes for powerful images. Early morning or late afternoon offers the best light. Local people are friendly and used to visitors coming to see this piece of history.
2. Experience Japanese Culture at Soru Maid Cafe
For truly unique things to do in Hanoi, visit Soru Maid Cafe in Ba Dinh. This café mixes Vietnamese hospitality with Japanese pop culture. It’s inspired by Japanese maid cafés where guests become “masters” or “princesses” served by staff in costume. The experience is unlike anything else in the city and offers a fun break from visiting historical sites.
What is Soru Maid Cafe?
Soru Maid Cafe opened in December 2023. It quickly became popular on social media. Videos of the unique service went viral and sparked lots of discussion online. The founder loved manga, anime, and Japanese culture. After visiting other Vietnamese cafés that claimed to be maid cafés but didn’t feel authentic, the founder decided to create something more genuine.
The Experience
From when you enter, Soru Maid Cafe feels different from typical Hanoi cafés. Staff greet you with “Okaerinasaimase” (welcome home) instead of normal Vietnamese greetings. They call you “young master” or “princess” throughout your visit. This playful approach creates a fun, immersive atmosphere.
The service goes beyond just bringing food and drinks. The maids decorate dishes at your table. They chat with you, play board games, or even sing with you. This creates an entertaining experience that’s very different from typical cafés in Hoan Kiem District or other parts of the city.
The café has adjusted things to fit Vietnamese culture better than original Japanese maid cafés. The goal is creating a warm, fun atmosphere that feels different from stressful daily life. It’s a lighthearted experience that contrasts nicely with the more serious historical and cultural sites in Ba Dinh District.
Who Visits?
At first, the café aimed for young people aged 16 to 30 who love Japanese culture. But all kinds of people visit now. High school and university students come. So do tourists, families with kids, and workers looking to relax after work.
The busiest times are 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM and 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. The variety of customers shows this unique concept appeals to many people, not just anime fans. It’s become one of the more unusual things to do in Hanoi Ba Dinh for those seeking something different.
Worth Trying
Whether you love Japanese culture or just want something unusual, Soru Maid Cafe offers a memorable experience. It’s a fun addition to your Hanoi itinerary, especially after spending time at more traditional sites like the Temple of Literature or Ba Dinh Square. The café represents how modern Hanoi embraces global pop culture while maintaining its own identity.
3. Master Vietnamese Cuisine with Chef Duyen’s Cooking Classes
For authentic unique things to do in Hanoi, try Chef Duyen’s cooking classes. Unlike restaurant classes, Chef Duyen welcomes you into her real home near the historic Long Bien Bridge. This creates a personal and educational experience that helps you understand Vietnamese culture through food.
What Makes This Special
The key feature is the home setting. You’re not in a tourist kitchen. You’re in a real Vietnamese home. You see how local families actually cook and live. This turns the class into true cultural learning, going deeper than what you’d experience at typical cooking schools.
Chef Duyen is warm and friendly with great English skills. She explains not just cooking techniques but also the culture behind Vietnamese ingredients and dishes. Food is central to Vietnamese family life, similar to how historical sites like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are central to understanding President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese history.
She can handle dietary needs if you tell her when booking. Families with children enjoy these classes too. It’s an excellent way to learn about Vietnamese culture beyond visiting museums and monuments.
Three Different Options
Option 1: Cooking and Market Tour
- Price: $45 USD per person
- Time: 3-4 hours (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
- Includes: Class, market tour, ingredients, recipes, drinks, hotel pickup
Chef Duyen picks you up from your hotel. She takes you to the local market and shows you her neighborhood. You meet local people and see how Vietnamese families shop for food. You’ll watch cooking happening outside homes and learn about Vietnamese vegetables, herbs, and ingredients used in traditional dishes.
Then Chef Duyen brings you to her home for hands-on cooking. You make authentic dishes, then eat what you created with beer in a local home. This intimate experience rivals the cultural insight you’d gain from visiting the National Assembly building or other governmental sites.
Menu Options:
- Countryside dishes like Caramel Pork and Banana Flower Salad
- Hanoi favorites like West Lake Prawn Cakes, Bun Cha, and Pho Cuon
- Vietnamese vegan dishes like Tofu in Tomato Sauce and Vegetarian Pho
Option 2: Wholesale Market Tour & Street Food Tour
- Price: $65 USD per person
- Time: About 4 hours (4:00 AM pickup, return around 8:00 AM)
- Includes: Hotel pickup, taxis, street food tastings, coffee, water
This early morning trip works great for chefs, food lovers, and photographers. The wholesale market runs at night and early morning. You see a completely different side of Hanoi’s food world that most tourists never experience.
Fruit and vegetables arrive from all over Vietnam and China starting at 1:00 AM. Meat and seafood come around 4:00 AM. The market is busy and crowded. Many workers come from poor rural areas. This tour is intense but shows you the hard work behind Hanoi’s famous street food scene.
You also visit a local market, the spice market at Cho Dong Xuan, and several street food spots. You taste dishes and learn their stories from market to plate. It’s a deep dive into food culture that complements what you learn about Vietnamese history at places like the Citadel of Thang Long.
Option 3: Evening Cooking Demo with Street Food Tour
- Price: $65 USD per person
- Time: About 4 hours (5:00 PM to 9:30 PM)
- Includes: Hotel pickup, cooking demo, 9 food tastings, market visit
This evening option works if you can’t do morning or daytime classes. Chef Duyen brings you to her home for a cooking demonstration. She makes Green Papaya Salad with Dried Beef and BBQ Pork with Lemongrass. You also taste Vietnamese rice wine with soaked fruits.
Then she takes you through local backstreets for 9 different street food tastings. She explains how each dish connects to Vietnamese culture and history. This mix of home cooking and street food gives you great insight into Hanoi’s culinary heritage.
Why Choose Chef Duyen’s Classes
These cooking classes rank among the most unique things to do in Hanoi because they’re genuine cultural exchanges. Not just a show, you’re entering someone’s home and learning their family recipes. You understand how food connects Vietnamese people to their culture, similar to how monuments connect people to historical events like September 2, 1945, when Vietnam declared independence.
Families love these classes because kids enjoy making new foods. Solo travelers appreciate the personal connection. Groups of friends find it both fun and educational. The experience provides context that enhances visits to other Ba Dinh District attractions.
Discovering Ba Dinh’s Treasures
These three activities are truly unique things to do in Hanoi because they show parts of the city most tourists miss. While Ba Dinh District is famous for Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Presidential Palace where Uncle Ho lived and worked, these alternative experiences offer deeper cultural understanding.
Visiting the B-52 at Huu Tiep Lake gives you powerful insight into the Resistance War Against America. It shows how Vietnamese history shaped the nation. Trying Soru Maid Cafe shows how modern Hanoi embraces global culture. Learning with Chef Duyen opens doors to understanding Vietnamese culture through its delicious street food and home cooking traditions.
These experiences complement traditional sites like the Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple, and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together, they create a complete picture of Hanoi Ba Dinh that goes beyond standard tourist routes.
Whether you love history, cultural experiments, or authentic cooking, Ba Dinh District has something special. Next time you plan your Hanoi trip, go beyond Ba Dinh Square and Hoan Kiem District. Try these unique things to do in Hanoi. They might become your favorite memories of Vietnam’s capital city.
