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Hải PhòngNorthern Vietnam20.86° N · 106.68° E
Northern Vietnam's big port city, where most travellers only pass through on the way to Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay. Here is why it can be worth a short stop, and what to eat if you do.
Hai Phong is northern Vietnam's main seaport and one of its largest cities, a working place of shipyards, container terminals and busy boulevards about two hours east of Hanoi. Its nickname, the City of Red Flamboyants, comes from the trees that blaze scarlet along its streets in early summer, and its centre still has a handful of grand French colonial buildings, led by the Opera House.
Honestly, most travellers only see Hai Phong through a car window on the way to Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay, and that is fine. But if you have a spare few hours, it is worth stopping to eat. Locals are fiercely proud of their food, especially banh da cua, a crab noodle soup with brown rice noodles, and a short walk round the old centre shows a calmer, less touristy side of the north.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
Hai Phong's signature dish: chewy brown rice noodles in a sweet field crab broth with greens and fried shallots. Try it at a busy local stall.
A French colonial theatre from the early 20th century in the city centre, the best-known building in Hai Phong and a good starting point for a walk.
Stroll the streets around the Opera House and along the river to see old villas, shophouses and, in May and June, the red flamboyant trees in bloom.
Hai Phong's nem cua be are square, crisp and filled with crab meat, quite different from the rolls you find in Hanoi.
A peaceful, centuries-old pagoda with carved wooden halls and a quiet courtyard, a short ride from the centre.
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Customise My TripMost travellers drive from Hanoi on the expressway, often continuing to Cat Ba or Lan Ha Bay the same day. Cat Bi Airport has domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and other cities, handy if you are heading south after the bays.
Places that pair well with Hai Phong, with approximate travel times.
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable months. Summer is hot and humid with occasional storms from the sea, though May and June are when the flamboyant trees flower. Winter is cool and often grey.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppFor a few hours, yes, mainly for the food and the colonial centre around the Opera House. It is not a destination for a long stay. Most travellers stop on the way to Cat Ba or Lan Ha Bay.
Banh da cua, a crab noodle soup with brown rice noodles, is the city's signature dish. Look out also for square crab spring rolls and thin stick bread with pate, a popular local snack.
By road, about 2 hours on the expressway. Trains also run between the two cities but are slower. A private car is the easiest choice if you are continuing to Cat Ba or Lan Ha Bay.
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