Hai Phong is the largest port city in the north, located east of Hanoi. Its appeal is a townscape from the French colonial era and a lively food culture, and it's known as the birthplace of the specialty banh da cua (crab noodle soup). It's also a gateway to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island. This page pulls together everything from the city's overall picture, how to get around, standard spots, model courses, food, souvenirs, and the latest topics, and guides you to individual articles on cafés, news, and souvenirs.
| Location | Northern port city |
|---|---|
| Population | About 4.66 million (after merging with Hai Duong Province in 2025) |
| Best season | March–April and October–November (for swimming, May–August) |
| Suggested days | 1–2 days for the city, 2–3 days if you include Cat Ba Island |
| Language | Vietnamese (English also understood in tourist areas) |
| Currency | Vietnamese dong (VND) |
| Time difference from Japan | -2 hours |
What kind of city is Hai Phong
Hai Phong is the largest port city in northern Vietnam, located about 105 km east of Hanoi. It combines a city center dotted with French colonial-era architecture with coastal areas like Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay. Since it hasn't been marketed as a tourist destination the way Hanoi or Ha Long Bay has, compared to themit sees fewer Japanese tourists and prices stay reasonable。
[Important] The City's Boundaries Changed in 2025 After Absorbing Hai Duong Province
Under National Assembly Resolution 202/2025/QH15,Hai Phong City absorbed the entirety of Hai Duong ProvinceThe province was dissolved and the city remained. Vietnam's provinces and cities were reorganized nationwide from 63 down to 34, and Hai Phong is one of the six centrally governed cities.
| Current Area | 3,194.72 km² (about double, after the merger) |
|---|---|
| Current Population | 4,664,124 |
| Economic Scale | 3rd largest nationwide after the merger (behind Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi) |
| Lower Administrative Units | 114 (67 communes (xã) + 45 wards (phường) +2 special zones)） |
What directly affects travelers isthe change in address notation.On July 1, 2025, "districts" (quận) were abolishedand names like Ngo Quyen District, Le Chan District, and Hong Bang District disappeared. However, most online listings for restaurants and hotels still use the old names.When looking for a place, search by street name and address number rather than by district.In this article too, the old district names are included in parentheses for reference.
Cat Ba Island, too, is no longer "Cat Hai District"but is now "Cat Hai Special Zone (Đặc khu Cát Hải)"The other special zone is the remote offshore island of Bach Long Vi.
The City Now Has Two World Heritage Sites Within Its Boundaries
The merger came with an unexpected bonus. A site that used to belong to the former Hai Duong Province,Con Son–Kiep Bacis now part of Hai Phong City. And this cluster of siteswas inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site on July 12, 2025.
| World Heritage | Type | Inscription | Relation to Hai Phong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ha Long Bay–Cat Ba Archipelago | Natural Heritage | Expanded from Ha Long Bay in September 2023 | Includes Cat Ba Island |
| Yen Tu–Vinh Nghiem–Con Son, Kiep Bac | Cultural heritage | Newly inscribed in July 2025 | Part of the component sites lie within the city (about 50 km west of the center) |
The latter is a cluster of sites tied to the 13th–14th century Tran Dynasty and Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, spanning Quang Ninh Province, Bac Ninh Province, and Hai Phong City. It's Vietnam's 9th World Heritage Site, and it's barely covered in Japanese-language guides so far.
Getting to Hai Phong and getting around
There Are No Direct Flights From Japan
to Cat Bi Airport (HPH)there are no direct flights from Japan. No flights run from Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, or Fukuoka.Your options are to connect through Hanoi (HAN) or Ho Chi Minh City (SGN),or to travel overland or by train from Hanoi.
Cat Bi Airport's international routes are limited to Seoul (Incheon) and Kunming, Lijiang, and Guangzhou in China, with the Seoul route running just 31 flights a month. Domestically, the Ho Chi Minh City route is well served at 449 flights a month, and there are also flights to Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and more.
The airport is also being expanded:construction on a second passenger terminal (T2) began in August 2025. It's designed to handle 5 million passengers a year, with total investment of about 2.6898 trillion dong. The current terminal's designed capacity is 2 million passengers a year, which it has already exceeded.
Three Ways to Get There From Hanoi
| Means | Duration | Fare guide | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| By car on the expressway (CT04) | About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours | Toll: 206,000 dong (for vehicles under 12 seats) | Good for a lot of luggage or splitting the cost among several people |
| Limousine Van | 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours | 220,000–250,000 dong per seat | The most convenient option.Door-to-door service, departing every 15 to 30 minutes |
| Train | 2 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours | 120,000–198,000 dong | Takes longer, but makes for an enjoyable experience |
The Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway (CT04) runs 105.5 km with 6 lanes (plus 2 emergency shoulder lanes). Tolls have been fully ETC-only since 2022, so if you're using a rental car or taxi, check that the vehicle is equipped for it. Limousine van operators on this route include Hai Au, Son Hai, and Hoang Phu.
By Train—The "Fire Phoenix" Tourist Train on a French-Era Line
The Hanoi–Hai Phong railway runs 102 km on an old conventional line laid during the French colonial period. It takes around 2.5 hours—slower than the expressway—but the cars were renewed in 2025, andyou can watch the countryside and towns of the north pass by the window,making it a strong option for anyone who wants to enjoy the journey itself.
| Train | Departs Hanoi | Arrives Hai Phong | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP1 | 06:00 | 08:25 | The fastest.Stops at Gia Lam, skips Long Bien |
| LP3 | 09:20 | 12:00 | Stops at both Long Bien and Gia Lam |
| LP5 | 15:15 | 18:00 | Stops at both |
| LP7 | 18:10 | 20:55 | Stops at Long Bien on weekends |
On the Hanoi side, you can board atHanoi Station, Long Bien Station, or Gia Lam Station—three options. If you're staying in the Old Quarter, Long Bien Station is the closest. Schedules change seasonally, so check the railway company's website before you ride.
This route is expected to be aThe cars were renewed on May 10, 2025, as a tourist train commemorating the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong's liberation,called "Hoa Phuong Do" (Red Flame Tree, or "Fire Phoenix"),with 20 newly built cars.In the timetable above, HP1, LP3, LP5, and LP7 are this train; it's not an additional service, but the same existing runs replaced with the tourist train.
| VIP Car | 34 seats. Indochine-style interior |
|---|---|
| First Class | 56 seats. Seats that rotate 180 degrees |
| Standard Class | 64 seats |
| Through Fare (Standard Class) | 120,000–198,000 dong |
| VIP Car | 300,000–385,000 dong |
| Discount | Weekday fares are dynamic, with discounts of up to 20–25%. There's also a group discount code that gets you 4 tickets for the price of 3. |
| Number of flights | 4 round trips a day, 5–6 on weekends |
| Facilities | Semi-automatic doors, LED monitors, free Wi-Fi |
On the same day,Hai Phong Station itself was designated a "tourist attraction". Built in 1902, it's a French colonial building in the same architectural style as the Grand Theatre and the museums. It's also a historic site: after returning from the Fontainebleau Conference in 1946, Ho Chi Minh departed from this very station.
From Cat Bi Airport to the City
From the airport to the city,it's about 8 km, 20–30 minutesaway—close by. A public bus runs 8,000–15,000 dong (5:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., every 20–30 minutes), while a taxi typically costs 100,000–150,000 dong. In practice, using Grab is the most reliable option.
Hai Phong's standard sightseeing spots
To Cat Ba Island—There's No Bridge Yet
Let's sort out the transportation first, since many Japanese-language articles get this wrong.
From the mainland, via the Tan Vu–Lach Huyen Bridge (5.44 km of sea-crossing bridge, or 15.63 km including approach roads—Vietnam's longest sea bridge),Cat Hai Islandcan be reached by car. However,beyond that point, there is no road bridge to Cat Ba Island. Between Cat Hai Island and Cat Ba Island, you rely on a ferry or the cable car. The planned "Tan Vu–Lach Huyen Bridge 2" also only reaches Cat Hai Island, not Cat Ba Island.
| Means | Section | Duration | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry(vehicles included) | Dong Bai ⇄ Cai Vieng | 30–35 minutes | Pedestrian 12,000 / motorbike 45,000 / car 190,000 dong |
| High-speed boat(passengers only) | Ben Binh Pier (city center) → Cat Ba Island | 45–60 minutes | About 250,000 dong |
| Cable car | Cat Hai → Phu Long | About 9 minutes | To be confirmed |
The ferry terminal changed on March 1, 2024.The former "Got Pier (Bến phà Gót)" has been discontinued, replaced by Dong Bai Pier. Be careful, as some information online still uses the old name.
In 2026, there are restrictions on car ferry crossings.On weekends from May 9 to September 30,car and truck ferry crossings toward the island are suspended from 9:00 to 13:00. If you plan to cross by car, go in the early morning or in the afternoon.
The cable car (Sun World Cat Ba) opened in June 2020, andholds a Guinness World Record for its 214.8m tower height. However, of the planned 5 stations and 21km route,only the Cat Hai–Phu Long section (3,955m) is currently in operation. From Phu Long Station, where you get off, it's about 20km to Cat Ba town, so you'll need onward transport. Riders who don't know this can get stranded.
Lan Ha Bay — Quieter Than Ha Long Bay
This bay spreads south of Cat Ba Island, and when Ha Long Bay's World Heritage area was expanded in 2023,"Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago"it was included under the same heritage listing. The scenery is a continuation of Ha Long Bay's limestone islands, butthere are fewer tour boats, so it's quieter.
| Bay entrance fee | Adults 120,000 dong / ages 7–16 60,000 dong |
|---|---|
| including Monkey Island | Adults 150,000 dong |
| Day cruise | 600,000–1,200,000 dong per person |
| Overnight cruise | 2,200,000–7,000,000 dong per person per night |
| Shared boat | Departs Ben Beo Pier at 07:00 / 09:00 / 13:30 / 15:30 |
Cat Ba National Park
This national park spreads across limestone mountains and primeval forest, and has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2004.The Cat Ba langur (Voọc Cát Bà), a primate found only on this island, is also protected here. It's one of the rarest primates in the world.
| Opening | 7:00〜17:00 |
|---|---|
| Admission | Adults 80,000 dong / children 1–1.4m tall 50,000 dong |
| Main routes | Kim Giao Forest to Ngu Lam Peak, Trung Trang Cave (a limestone cave over 300m long), and Ao Ech (a mountain wetland forest) |
It's easiest to hike early in the morning before the sun gets strong. There are rough patches underfoot, so bring trekking shoes and water.
Do Son (Đồ Sơn) — A Beach 20km from the City
About 20km from the city, 20–30 minutes away. You can get there on bus route 3. It's also about 120km from Hanoi and has long been used as a weekend resort.The Three Zones Each Have a Different Character。
| Zone | Characteristics | Swimming |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 (Khu 1) | Mostly rocky, quiet, with many restaurants | Not suitable |
| Zone 2 (Khu 2) | The most popular; fine sand and a shallow, gently sloping shore | ◎ Good for all ages |
| Zone 3 (Khu 3) | Small, with fewer people | ○ Good for families |
| Doi Rong (Đồi Rồng) | A new resort complex with an artificial white-sand beach over 1km long | ◎ The best beach quality |
Nearby sights are also clustered together.Hon Dau Island(A heart-shaped island, 10 minutes by boat from Do Son, with a 100-year-old lighthouse),Bao Dai's Villa(a French-style villa built in 1928),Thuong Long Tower(founded in 1058),K15 Pier(the starting point of the "Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea," which carried weapons south), among others.
French Architecture in the City
Walking around Hai Phong's city center mainly means visiting buildings from the era when it opened as a port town.
- Hai Phong Opera House(28 Trần Hưng Đạo, former Hong Bang District) — Construction began in 1904 and finished in 1912. Built in a Baroque/Neoclassical style modeled on the Paris Opera, with materials shipped from France. Designated a national relic in 2015.Free admission from 7:30 to 17:00
- Hai Phong Cathedral(46 Hoàng Văn Thụ, former Hong Bang District) — Gothic style. 47m long by 17m wide, with a 28m bell tower. Underwent major restoration starting in 2000
- Hai Phong Station— Built in 1902. Designated a "tourist site" in 2025
The cathedral's construction year could not be confirmed, as sources disagree. It's safest to understand it simply as "early 20th century, during French colonial rule."
Flame Trees — Hai Phong in May
Hai Phong has a nickname: "Thành phố Hoa Phượng Đỏ" (City of the Red Flame Flower).Maywhen it arrives, phoenix trees burst into red bloom all at once, dyeing the streets crimson.
During this period,the Flame Flower Festival (Lễ hội Hoa Phượng Đỏ)is held. In 2026, it opened on the night of May 8, with the main events running May 7–13 and related events continuing through the end of May. It's an annual city event timed to coincide with Hai Phong Liberation Day (May 13).
Hai Phong model course
Hai Phong has two completely different sides: "food-hopping in the city" and "Cat Ba's nature." Trying to do both in one day is unrealistic, so split them across your itinerary.
Pattern A: 2 Days, 1 Night — City and Do Son
| Behavior | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Morning | Travel from Hanoi by train or limousine bus | By train, HP1 arrives at 08:25 |
| Day 1 Midday | Lunch: banh da cua | Ba Cu (48 Lạch Tray), among others |
| Day 1 Afternoon | Walk around the Opera House, the Cathedral, and Hai Phong Station | The Opera House has free admission |
| Day 1 Evening | Snack on banh mi que while walking around | 2,000–5,000 dong each; you could easily eat several |
| Day 2 Morning | Head to Do Son (20–30 minutes on bus route 3) | For swimming, go to Zone 2 |
| Day 2 Afternoon | Hon Dau Island or Bao Dai's Villa | 10 minutes by boat |
Pattern B: 3 Days, 2 Nights — Adding Cat Ba Island
| Behavior | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in the city; food-hopping and French architecture | One night in the city |
| Day 2 Morning | High-speed boat from Ben Binh Pier to Cat Ba Island | 45–60 minutes |
| Day 2 Afternoon | Lan Ha Bay day cruise | Departs Ben Beo Pier at 13:30, among other times |
| Day 3 Morning | Trekking in Cat Ba National Park | An early morning start makes for easier hiking |
| Day 3 Afternoon | Return to the mainland | Watch out for weather-related cancellations |
Avoid scheduling your return from Cat Ba Island on the day before your flight home.May to October is typhoon and storm season, and both ferries and high-speed boats can be cancelled. If you get stranded on the island, you'll miss your flight. It's safer to build in an extra day of buffer, or to base yourself in the city and do Cat Ba as a day trip.
Hai Phong food and specialties
Hai Phong isa city for food-hopping, so much so that day-trip "food tours" from Hanoi have become a standard offering, packaged by major travel agencies.
One thing first: the Michelin Guide Vietnam coversonly three cities — Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, and Hai Phong is not included. Any information claiming a "Michelin-listed restaurant" here is inaccurate.
Banh Da Cua (bánh đa cua) — Crab Noodle Soup with Red Noodles
It's the signature dish of this city.Reddish-brown flat rice noodles (bánh đa đỏ)are paired with a broth made by simmering field crabs. Toppings include crab paste, meatballs wrapped in betel leaf (chả lá lốt), fried fish cakes, crispy pork fat, and greens. The noodles themselves have a color and texture unlike those found elsewhere, which makes the dish memorable.
Bánh đa cua Bà Cụ(48 Lạch Tray, former Ngo Quyen District) has been operating for more than 50 years and is known for its rich broth loaded with crab paste, plus generous toppings like mantis shrimp (bề bề). You can also get banh mi que at the same shop.
Banh Mi Cay (bánh mì cay) — A Fiery Banh Mi the Size of Two Fingers
This small banh mi originated in Hai Phong.About two fingers thick and one palm-length long, roughly a third the size of a regular banh mi, andthe filling is just pâté— refreshingly simple.
The key ischi chuong (chí chương), a chili paste unique to Hai Phong. It ranges from bright red to reddish-orange, has a light thickness, and carries a faint sourness beneath the heat. You dip the banh mi in it as you eat.
| Shops | Address | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bánh mì cay Bà Già | 57A Lê Lợi (former Ngo Quyen District) | The current owner is the third generation; the shop has been running for about 20 years. Open 6:00–20:00.Sells over 1,000 pieces a day, 2–3 times that on weekends. A bundle of 10 costs 30,000 dong |
| Bánh mì cay Ông Già Khánh Nạp | 150E Hàng Kênh (former Le Chan District) | Founded in 1981. Open 6:00–19:00. 2,000–5,000 dong each |
Since each piece is small, ordering several is the norm.
Nem Cua Be (nem cua bể) — Square Fried Spring Rolls
These fried spring rolls use sea crab meat, andshaping them squareis the Hai Phong style. They look different from ordinary round spring rolls right from the start. They're often served alongside bun cha. At Co Dao Market (chợ Cố Đạo),Nga Nem Cua Bểthere's a famous stall, with plates starting at 70,000 dong.
Other
- Chả chìa Hạ Lũng— pork ribs wrapped in ground meat and fried, a local specialty found only in Ha Loan village
- ốc (shellfish dishes)— Oc Thuy Duong (30/263 Lạch Tray), among others
- Do Son Seafood— shrimp, crab, blue crab, mantis shrimp, squid, clams, oysters. Budget about 200,000 dong per person
Hai Phong cafés
We've put the cafés you'll want to drop by in Hai Phong into a table (from the shop name to the individual page).
| Shop name | Genre | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Trung Nguyên Legend | Coffee | Vietnam's biggest coffee brand. Serves weasel coffee and the G7 blend |
| Phuc Long Coffee & Tea | Tea | Local chain with a strong tea lineup. Golden lotus tea and phin sua da |
| Trung Nguyên E-Coffee | Coffee | A small Trung Nguyen outlet. Robusta blends and ca phe sua da |
| King Coffee | Coffee | Robusta-led blends. Beans to take home as well |
| Starbucks Vietnam | Coffee | Has a phin coconut latte sold only in Vietnam |
| Milano Coffee | Coffee | Cheap by the cup, no frills. Ca phe sua da and drip |
Souvenirs to buy in Hai Phong
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Fish sauce (from Cat Hai) | The top souvenir from Hai Phong.This fish sauce comes from Cat Hai Island and has an amber color. It's mild in saltiness.As a liquid, it can't go in carry-on; pack it in checked luggage |
| Banh Da Kho (dried noodles) | The dried version of the red flat noodles used in banh da cua. Lightweight, long-lasting, and easy to bring home |
| Dried seafood (dried shrimp, dried squid) | Available at markets in Do Son and Cat Ba. It has a strong smell, so seal it well |
| Chả chìa Hạ Lũng | Requires refrigeration; buy only what you'll eat that day |
| Banh mi que | Not suited as a souvenir.It's meant to be eaten on the spot |
If you want to bring something back to Japan,dried noodles and fish sauceare the realistic choices. Since fish sauce comes in a bottle, pack it carefully so it doesn't break and put it in checked luggage.Meat products cannot be brought into Japan without an inspection certificate from the exporting country's government(this is a livestock health regulation that applies even to personal souvenirs). Enjoy chả chìa while you're there instead.
Hai Phong's latest topics
Recent topics related to Hai Phong are each covered in detail in their own separate articles.
- Night kayaking among bioluminescent plankton in Cat Ba's Lan Ha Bay, paddling across a glowing blue surface
- Away from the bustle of Ha Long Bay. "La Casta Star Cruise" launches in May, into the quiet of Lan Ha Bay
Best season, budget, and trip preparation
The best times are March–April and October–November
Since Hai Phong is in the north,it has four distinct seasons. Winters are properly cold, and summers are hot and rainy. If you approach it with the same expectations as a southern beach trip, you'll be caught off guard.
| Period | Climate | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| March–April | Around 20–28°C, with less rain | ◎ Best for city walks and Cat Ba |
| May | It gets hot. Beach season opens.Flame flowers and the festival | ○ This is the season if the flowers are your goal |
| June–August | June highs reach 33°C. August brings 378–473mm of monthly rainfall. Typhoon season | △ Swimming is possible, but there's cancellation risk |
| September | The heat lingers, but water temperatures start to drop | △ |
| October–November | It turns cool and dry | ◎ Most comfortable |
| December–February | January highs reach 21°C. Dry and cool. Not suitable for swimming | ○ Good if you're focused on city walks and food |
If swimming is your goal, May–August(at Do Son), but this is also the rainiest period, with typhoons.If your goal is city walking, the World Heritage sites, or Lan Ha Bay, choose March–April or October–November. This brings out Hai Phong's charms better.
Build boat cancellations into your schedule
From May to October, ferries and high-speed boats to Cat Ba can be halted due to weather.Don't schedule your return from the island for the day before your flight home— that's the standard rule when traveling the northern coast.
The Problem of Outdated Addresses Still Showing Up
To repeat,in July 2025, "districts (quận)" were abolished. Most addresses listed on Google Maps and food review sites still use the old naming. When searching, skip the district name and usestreet name plus house number(e.g., 48 Lạch Tray) instead.
Budget guide
| One-way limousine bus from Hanoi | 220,000–250,000 dong |
|---|---|
| Train from Hanoi | 120,000–198,000 dong (VIP carriage from 300,000) |
| High-speed boat to Cat Ba | About 250,000 dong |
| Lan Ha Bay day cruise | 600,000–1,200,000 dong |
| Banh mi que | 2,000–5,000 dong each |
| Do Son Seafood | About 200,000 dong per person |
| City hotels | From about $60 per night for 4-star |
Hai Phong Hotels and Areas to Stay
Hai Phong isCity center, Do Son, and Cat Ba Islandeach offer a clearly different kind of stay. Spending one night in each of the three places involves too much travel, so narrow your base down to one or two.
| Area | Nature | Price range | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| City center | Food-hopping and French architecture. Best access by rail and highway | 4-star from about $60 / 5-star from about $90 | Good for a short stay focused on food |
| Do Son | Swimming and a weekend resort. 20km from the city | Resorts 1.5–4 million dong / mid-range 500,000–1 million dong / guesthouses from 200,000 dong | Good for those who want to swim May–August |
| Cat Ba Island | Lan Ha Bay cruises and the national park. A half-day trip from the mainland | From 1.6 million dong | Good for nature; at least 1 night, ideally 2 |
Main Hotels in the City
- Pullman Hai Phong Grand Hotel(Accor) — About $78–87 per night
- Melia Vinpearl Hai Phong Rivera— About $55–65
- Hotel Nikko Hai Phong— About $50–59. A Japanese brand (we could not confirm whether Japanese-speaking staff are always on-site)
- Mercure Hai Phong(Accor) — About $62
Budget options start from as little as $11–25 a night. Since Hai Phong hasn't been marked up with tourist pricing, you can stay for less than in Hanoi at the same grade.
Lodging on Cat Ba Island
Flamingo Cat Ba Resortfaces Cat Co 1 and 2 beaches and is also close to the town center, with rates from around 1.6 million dong in the off-season.
Another upscale optionHotel Perle d’Orient Cat Ba – MGalleryis a soup dish starringhas been closed since September 3, 2025 for a full renovation. We could not confirm whether it has reopened. Even if it appears on booking sites, check directly before deciding.
Hai Phong on the map
