Hai Phong

Haiphong is a major industrial city, the second largest city in the north of Vietnam, and the third largest city in the whole country. Hai Phong is also the center of technology, economy, science and marine trade in the northern coast of Vietnam.

Haiphong is a coastal city located at the outfall of the Cam River, in Vietnam's north-eastern, 120 km east of Hanoi. It borders Quang Ninh Province to the north, Hải Dương Province to the west, Thai Binh Province to the south, and the Gulf of Tonkin to the east. Bach Long Vi island, Cat Ba Island and the Long Châu islands, located in the Gulf, are also administered as part of the city.

Hai Phong is also famous for many festivals, of which Do Son Buffalo-fighting festival) in Do Son District is unique.

Hai Phong

What to see and what to do in Hai Phong

Cat Co Beach

Cat Ba is the biggest island out of the 366 islands in Lan Ha Bay. It is a tourist spot, attractive for its natural beauty and wonders endowed by nature.

Cat Co beach including Cat Co 1,2,3, is the tourist attraction with romantic and poetic landscapes. Visiting the large beach of Cat Co, visitors will have the chance to enjoy the fresh air of the ocean and swim in the transparent water. The white-sand Cat Co beaches are about 1 km southeast from Cat Ba town, it can be reached o­n foot or by motorbike.  

Cat Co Beaches is separated by a small hill that can be climbed over in about 20 minutes. The beach offers simple accommodation, camping, and camping fire. The mountain that adjacents to Cat Co Beach have a tunnel and fascinating caves, such as Hang Luon, Khe Sau, Trung Trang, Gia Luan, and Kim Cuong will surely amaze you

Tam Cung

Tam Cung Grotto is located in May Den, a luxuriant island isolated from other islands in the center of Halong Bay, the Tam Cung grotto is divided into three chambers. 

Entering its first chamber, tourists could hear the sound of stone musical instrument. Further inside, tourists find a “fairy” whose white beard flies in the wind climbing up the mountain. High in the wall of the chamber,  stand three statues representing prosperity, happiness, and longevity. 

Keep going through a narrow passage, it comes to a natural museum of animals such as lions, seals, the god of the sea. In the middle of the second chamber, there is a stream flowing making the two surrounding cliffs rustle. In the last chamber, tourists can find an imposing bas-relief in which are carved elaborate strange images,  layer on the layer in a harmonious layout.

Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba Island was recognized by UNESCO as World Biosphere Reserve in 2004. Cat Ba attracts visitors by its pristine natural beauty and legends of its history and culture.

Situated on Cat Ba Island, Cat Ba National Park now comprises of 15,200ha in total including 9,800ha of mountain terrain and 5,400ha of the marine surface. The plant system consists of 620 species, the fauna system comprises of 20 mammals, 69 species of bird, 20 species of reptile and amphibian, especially Trachypithecus poliocephalus that's is listed in Red Book. Cat Ba marine contains 300 species of fishes, 500 species of mollusks and crustaceans.

Hang Kenh Communal House

Hang Kenh Communal house is not only high evaluated by valuable history but also it's unique architectural. 

Hang Kenh Communal is located in Du Hang Kenh Ward, Le Chan District, Hai Phong City. Hang Kenh Communal House is also referred as Nhan Tho Communal House in Sino-Vietnamese. It was built in 1717 which means over 300 years ago.

Hang Kenh Communal House is situated in a large preserved of 6,000 square meters with the traditional architecture, including the main front hall, the corridor and two ancient temples, the literature temple and the semicircle lake.

Do Son Buffalo fighting 

One of the most unique festivals in all Vietnam, the Đo Son Buffalo Fighting Festival show off the bravery, chivalry and risk-taking will of the residents Hai Phong. The festival has been held since the 18th century, as a celebrating ceremony for the struggle against nature. Locals see buffalo fighting as an enjoyable time for the guardian gods that protect their homes. Buffalos are specifically chosen and prepared at least a year before the fight. In addition to the buffalo battles, a variety of traditional worships and ceremonies take place in Hai Phong the same day.

Hai Phong

Hai Phong Specialties

Banh da cua

Banh da cua is the most famous specialty  and being one of the dishes marking the brand of Hai Phong cuisine. The noodle has a unique brown color and a bit tough.

Banh da cua has 2 types: added broth or wothout it. This dish is served with many kinds of topping such as crab meat or mantis shrimp…

Lau cua (crab hotpot)

The crab hotpot, especially Lau cua dong, is absolutly mouth-watering  in Hai Phong. The most special thing is the making process which makes the hotpot in here is its unique flavor.

The broth has a strong flavor with a lot of crab. In addition to many types of meat, you can enjoy the hotpot with fresh seafood which is available in Hai Phong.

Seafood

It would be a big regret if you come to Hai Phong without enjoying any seafood. 

Haiphong cuisine follows the processing style of using seafood as the material platform. That is because the seafood sources of Hai Phong are relative abundant. Hai Phong is also famous for unique local specialities, such as Cat Hai fish sauce, red rice noodle, chili sauce… 

If you are a group of 5-6 people, you only pay about more than 500,000VND for a meal with many kinds of seafood such as lobsters, oyster,  and snails.