Huu Tiep Lake: Hanoi's B-52 Lake in Ngoc Ha
Huu Tiep Lake is a small residential pond in the Ngoc Ha area of Hanoi, and half submerged in it lies the broken wreckage of a US B-52 bomber shot down in December 1972. The remains were left where they fell and are now a national memorial, sitting quietly among narrow lanes where neighbours hang laundry and drink tea at the water's edge.
RandiJohn · CC BY-SA 3.0In Hidden Gems in Hanoi · Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh · Last updated 2 June 2026
- The wreckage of a B-52 bomber, downed in December 1972, still lying half submerged in the water
- Designated a national historical vestige in 1992 and renovated in 2021
- Free to visit, with open access and no ticket booth
- Set among the narrow residential lanes of Ngoc Ha, a short walk from Ba Dinh Square
- One of Hanoi's most quietly affecting sights, and one of its least visited
What you see at Huu Tiep Lake
Huu Tiep Lake, known in Vietnamese as Ho Huu Tiep, is a small artificial freshwater lake in Ngoc Ha, in the Ba Dinh district of Hanoi. It was once part of a river, most of which was filled in during 1994 to create residential land, leaving this pond and a neighbouring one behind. What remains is modest in size, a body of water you could walk around in a couple of minutes.
Rising out of it are the twisted remains of a B-52 Stratofortress, brought down on 12 December 1972 during Operation Linebacker II by the 285th regiment of the 363rd division of the Vietnam Air Defence and Air Force. Landing gear and sections of fuselage sit half in the water, rusted and unmistakable. Nothing was staged and nothing was moved. The wreckage stayed where it came down, and the neighbourhood simply grew on around it.
The history, and how to visit Huu Tiep Lake respectfully
The lake and the wreckage were designated a national historical vestige on 22 April 1992. By the late 2010s both had deteriorated, and in April 2021 the People's Council of Hanoi City carried out a renovation of the site. That work was completed in time for the 50th anniversary of Operation Linebacker II in 2022, when the site was opened for visitors.
This is a war grave in feeling if not in law, and it is also somebody's front garden. People live in the houses that ring the water, and their daily routine carries on a few metres from the wreck. Keep your voice down, do not climb on anything, and ask before photographing residents or their homes. Vietnamese visitors treat the place as a memorial rather than a curiosity, and it is worth matching that tone.
Finding it in the Ngoc Ha lanes
Getting there is the hard part, and the reason so few travellers make it. The lake sits deep in a warren of narrow alleys off Hoang Hoa Tham, close to the lane numbered 55, and the approach is a series of turns between houses barely wide enough for two scooters to pass. Mapping apps will get you to the area, but the last stretch is on foot and you may need to ask a neighbour to point you the final few metres.
It works best folded into a Ba Dinh morning. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long are all within walking distance, so you can pick up Huu Tiep Lake on the way through rather than making a dedicated trip. Give it fifteen minutes, stand still for a while, and let the ordinariness of the setting do the work.
Know before you go
- Come in daylight, the final approach is through narrow unlit residential alleys.
- Remember that people live around the water, keep noise down and ask before photographing homes or residents.
- Combine it with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, the One Pillar Pagoda and the Imperial Citadel, all a short walk away.
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Huu Tiep Lake (B-52 Lake): frequently asked questions
What is Huu Tiep Lake in Hanoi?
Huu Tiep Lake is a small lake in the Ngoc Ha area of Ba Dinh, Hanoi. It is widely known as B-52 Lake because the wreckage of a US B-52 bomber shot down in December 1972 still lies half submerged in the water.
Why is Huu Tiep Lake called B-52 Lake?
A B-52 Stratofortress was downed here on 12 December 1972 during Operation Linebacker II. The wreckage was never removed and remains in the water, so the lake took on the alternative name B-52 Lake.
Do you need tickets to visit Huu Tiep Lake?
No. The site is free and openly accessible. There is no ticket booth and no entrance gate, you simply walk in through the surrounding lanes.
What are the Huu Tiep Lake opening hours?
There are no set hours, the lake sits in a residential neighbourhood and is open at all times. Daylight is best, as the approach runs through narrow alleys.
How do you find Huu Tiep Lake?
It sits in the Ngoc Ha lanes off Hoang Hoa Tham, near lane 55, in Ba Dinh. The last stretch is on foot through narrow alleys, so allow time and be ready to ask for directions.
Is Huu Tiep Lake worth visiting?
Yes, if you have an interest in the war and want something away from the main sights. It is brief, free and close to Ba Dinh Square, and the sight of the wreck in an ordinary neighbourhood pond stays with most visitors.
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Sources and further reading: Wikipedia: Hữu Tiệp Lake.