Hai Phong is a large port located near a major international maritime line. For hundreds of years, the Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish and Portuguese have been coming here for trade. Nowadays, it is still a centre for trade as well as industrial city, an important transportation hub, and a famous tourist destination. Let’s explore Hai Phong with Vietdreamtravel on this post.
Table of Contents
When is the best time to explore Hai Phong?
Hai Phong is suitable for tourism in all four seasons of the year. It has average temperature of 23 – 24C. When visiting Hai Phong in the spring, visitors can attend festivals and visit important historical remains.
In the summer, Cat Ba Island, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Ha Long Bay are popular destination. Visitors can go to the beach or enjoy the famous coconut ice cream at restaurants in the city. In addition, summer is also the time when red poinciana flowers bloom on the central streets and the road to Do Son.
In autumn, the famous Do Son buffalo-fighting festival is a major attraction.
How to get here?
From Hanoi, you can get to Hai Phong by many means. By road, the most convenient way to travel is via the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway. The travel time is about 1.5 hours.
The train has hard and soft seats, with or without air conditioning, priced from 100,000 to 130,000 VND. Train travelers can park their motorbikes to take the initiative in their means of transportation in Hai Phong.
By bus, you can choose Hai Phong Travel, Hoang Phuong which priced at 230,000-250,000 VND include pick-up and drop-off service within the city.
From Ho Chi Minh City, you can take flights from Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air which give your many options to get here.
Tourist attractions in Hai Phong
Hai Phong is a famous city in the North, with the symbol of the red poinciana flower, so it is also known as the “Red Poinciana City”. The city still retains many historical relics, scenic spots. In addition, the tourist experience in Hai Phong is diverse, from explore mountain ranges, pristine islands to beaches.
Hai Phong Station
Hai Phong Station is the main train station in Hai Phong City. This is also the last passenger station on the Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line. In addition, Hai Phong Station also has a railway line running to Hai Phong port to transport goods from the port to other areas. Hai Phong Station was built by the French and put into use in 1902.
This is one of the four main stations on the 99 km long railway line connecting Hai Phong with Hanoi. Hai Phong Station bears the strong architectural imprint of the French. This is also considered one of the most beautiful train stations left by the French in Vietnam. In addition to the main building which is almost completely preserved, Hai Phong Station also retains the iron pillars supporting the porch inside the station and the blue stone foundation from the time of construction.
Hai Phong City Theater
The City Theater was built in 1904 on the site of an old market in the ancient village of An Bien and completed in 1912. This project was modeled after the Paris Theater, with construction materials brought from France, and the construction was carried out by Vietnamese workers and laborers under the direction of a French architect.
The theater’s architecture also impresses visitors with its elaborate decoration combined with curves. The stage area is not divided into levels but is open from the podium to the ceiling and roof. The space above the stage is equipped with an electrical and air conditioning system. The theater’s Roman-style door system leads to the backstage and the dressing rooms, rest rooms and technical rooms.
During the French colonial period, the Opera House was the political and cultural center of the French and wealthy locals. Only French troupes or famous domestic troupes were allowed to perform here, and only the wealthy could afford tickets. Today, this is a tourist symbol of the city, located in the center, where cultural activities regularly take place and is a meeting place for groups of young people in the evening.
Tuyet Tinh Lake
The lake in Hai Phong is compared by young people to “Tuyet Tinh Lake” because of its strange blue water color and is surrounded by limestone mountains.This lake is a 20-hectare artificial lake, located in Trai Son village, An Son commune, Thuy Nguyen district. The lake was formed by the limestone mining process in Hai Phong city. When you come to Tuyet Tinh, you will feel the peace and tranquility that this place brings. In particular, you can also witness a watercolor painting with two colors of blue and white. The intensity of the blue color changes many times a day, depending on the clouds.
Currently, Tuyet Tinh Coc Hai Phong is increasingly attracting many young people to visit and take virtual photos. Note that when coming to this famous Hai Phong tourist destination, you should also be very careful when moving.
Do Son
Do Son is divided into 3 areas, of which area 2 is for swimming, area 1 is for eating and walking. Along the coastal road, visitors can visit Hang Pagoda, which is said to be the first place where Buddhism was introduced to Vietnam; Ngoc Hoang Temple; Van Ngang Temple. Thap Tuong Long Pagoda is located on the highest mountain in Do Son, from here you can see the whole beautiful sea. Ba De Temple on the way to Do Son is also very famous, worshiping Trinh Lord’s wife.
Do Son has entertainment and sightseeing areas such as Dragon Hill, Hon Dau and casino. Looking from the map, Dragon Hill tourist area is designed in the shape of a royal poinciana flower – the symbol of the city. The project includes a Son Tinh – Thuy Tinh themed entertainment complex of nearly 25 hectares; golf course complex with a full view of the sea; a Lagoon lake system filtered by modern water filtration technology; fine white sand transported from Nha Trang.
Bach Dang Giang relic site
The Bach Dang Giang relic site is 20 hectares wide, located in the Trang Kenh mountain range, recognized in 1962. The entrance to the relic is a pebble garden and a stone pillar about 5m high, all 4 sides are engraved with words, the middle side is engraved with a poem, the remaining 3 sides praise the achievements of the three predecessors in the naval battles.
The complex has many other areas such as Bach Dang Giang Temple, worshiping King Ngo Quyen, who founded the Bach Dang stake battle, defeated the Southern Han army in 938, ended 1117 years of Chinese domination, and opened the Dai Viet civilization.
Hai Phong Museum
Located right in the city center, Hai Phong Museum is located in a campus of about 1 hectare on Dien Bien Phu Street. The building is built in the classical Gothic architecture of Europe with the highlight being the pointed dome.
The museum consists of 2 floors divided into 16 rooms, displaying many archaeological relics of prehistoric people discovered at excavation sites such as Bai Ben, Cat Don, Trang Kenh, etc.
Bao Dai Palace
Bao Dai Palace, also known as Bao Dai Tower, is located on Vung Hill, Van Huong Ward, Do Son District. Bao Dai Palace is also famous as a resting place for many kings and their families when going to the North. Currently, this place still preserves relics associated with the last king of the feudal dynasty of Vietnam.
Bao Dai Palace has French architecture, facing the sea, surrounded by a flower garden with many shady trees, with a basement and two upper floors. The entire palace is located in a campus of more than 3,700 square meters, the private area of the palace is 1,000 square meters, at an altitude of nearly 40 meters above sea level.
Doctoral Laureate Nguyen Binh Khiem relic site
This site is located in Trung Am Hamlet, Ly Hoc commune, Vinh Bao District. It has nine separate structures: the Kinh Thien pen-shaped tower, the temple built after his death in 1585 with three front halls and tow back sanctuaries. In front of the temple are two ponds which represent the earth and the sky.
The horizontal lacquered board kept in the temple reads: “An Nam Ly Hoc” (Master of Philosophy in An Nam; the exhibition room with details on Nguyen Binh Khiem’s biography and career; a tomb of his father at the back of the temple; the stone statue of Nguyen Binh Khiem, 5.7m in height and 8.5 tons in weight, the semi-circular pond 1000m2 in area; Song Mai Pagoda; the Ancestor Worshipping House with the statue of Minh Nguyet, Nguyen Binh Khiem’s wife and Trung Tan pavilion, whose names gives a new interpretation of the concept “trung” (loyalty); everyone tries to reach “chi trung chi thien” (absolute loyalty and goodness).
Nowadays, the site having been upgraded is a major tourist attraction in the region. It is also where a big festival commemorating Nguyen Binh Khiem as a cultural celebrity are held.
Cat Ba Island & National Park
Cat Ba is an archipelago covering approximately 366 islands of different shapes and sizes. The main island is Cat Ba, located 30 nautical miles from Hai Phong, with an area approximately 200km².
The topography of the park mainly consists of limestone mountains with many grottoes and caves as well as beaches with white powdery sand. The limestone mountains have an average height of 150m, the highest of which is Cao Vong Peak, 322m above the sea level.
Cat Ba National Park has the largest area of tropical virgin forest in Vietnam. According to research, there are 620 species of plants, 438 lines of descent, and 123 families, among which there are 350 medicinal plants. More than 32 species of mammals, 69 species of birds as well as 20 species of reptiles and amphibians can be found in Cat Ba National Park. The White-headed Vooc, an endangered bird species is found on the cliffs separating the island from the sea. The yellow monkey, the chamois, and many beautiful brids also live on the island.
.Along with that is the sea area with near-shore coral reefs, cave systems, valleys… In 2004, Cat Ba archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve.
Long Chau Lighthouse
Long Chau archipelago is located 15 km southeast of Cat Ba town, Cat Hai district. It is famous for Long Chau lighthouse, built in 1894 at 109.5m above sea level. It is a means of lighting for ships to move easily at sea. With a unique arched design. In the middle is a room. It is a combination of flat lampshades with small bulbs, called lamp hearts. On clear days, ships 25nautical mile away from Long Chau island can still see the light from here.
This lighthouse is called “Archipen des Fai Tsi long” or Griffes du Dragon” (means dragon’s claws) by the French. Long Chau lighthouse is also one of the 3 oldest lighthouses in Vietnam along with Hon Dau and Ke Ga lighthouses.
Du Hang Pagoda
The pagoda, named by scholar Phu Lam Tu, is located in Ho Nam ward in Le Chan District, 2km south-west of the centre of Hai Phong.
The pagoda was built during the Early Le Dynasty (980 – 1009). Emperor Tran Nhan Tong, a devout Buddhist, used to preach at the pagoda. The pagoda has gone prepare and restoration on several occasions and is now listed as a historical site containing many relics, including Buddha statues, bronze urns, bells, gongs, and the prayer book of Trang A Ham, an ancient Buddhist script.
In addition, the inside of the Buddha hall is decorated with many puzzles, horizontal lacquered boards, and brilliant gold leaf… The space of this temple evokes a unique artistic style that impresses visitors at first sight. Outside, many airy green trees are planted, creating a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere in the sacred place.
Sat Matket
Located on the adjacent banks of the Cam River and the Tam Bac River, the Sat market is the biggest market in Hai Phong city. In the past, it was know as An Bien Fair. When the city was established in 1888, the market was divided into large sections, constructed mainly of iron and steel with cement floors. That is why it was call Sat Market (Vietnamese: chợ Sắt; chợ means market, Sắt means Iron).
In May 1992, the market was transformed into a 6-story trade and service centre. The first, second and third floors feature more than 2000 stalls and the fourth, fifth and sixth floors are used for a hotel, restaurant, discotheque and representative offices.
Voi (Elephant) Mountain
Voi Mountain is 20km south west of the centre of Hai Phong, by the side of Lach Tray River, is the side of a widely diverse natural landscape. It is the highest peak to the north of Kien An.
At Voi Mountain, visitors can visit many beautiful caves such as Voi Cave, Chieng Cave, Be Cave, and Ca Chep. In the cave, there are many stalactites of various shapes, looking like kneeling dragons, tigers and the head of elephant.
On the top of the mountain, there is an even flat area which is called the “Fairy Chess Board”. There are also ruins of pagodas and citadels from the 16th century mac Oynasty on the mountain. Of particular note are the remains of the ancient Vietnam civilisation such as stone axes and chisels which date back over 3000 years.
Trang Kenh Landscape
Trang Kenh is a poetic, natural area of hills, limestone mountains, caves and rivers in Thuy Nguyen District, 20km north-east of Hai Phong.
U Bo is the name of one famous mountain peak. A myth tells that this mountain is from where Tran Hung Dao commanded the naval battle against the Chinese Nguyen-Mong aggressors in the 13th century. On U Bo Peak, visitors can view the entire panorama of the Bach Dang River. The silence of the river, the immensity of the sea and the existence of mythical stories, all make this a fascinating area.
Archaeologist have concluded through investigation that Trang Kenh was a jewellery workshop of the ancient people who lived here 4000 years ago. In more recent times, it was a revolutionary base of Hai Phong civil and military forces during the resistance struggle against the French.
Around Trang Kenh, there are some strange caves include Hang Vua (King’s Cave) in Minh Tan Commune. It is thus called due to a myth that Hung Vuong the Eighteenth established a separate palace here. The altar of Hung Vuong in the centre of the cave, is a lively-looking stone carved statue of him. There are many small tunnels criss-crossing the 18m high cave and fresh water streams running through it.
Nghe Temple
The temple is situated in the centre of Hai Phong, approximately 600 south west of the Municipal Theatre. Nghe temple is devoted to the cult of Le Chan, a female general of Trung Sister’s insurrection in the first century (40 -43). Le Chan founded An Bien Village which become Hai Phong.
Originally, the temple was only a small shrine but in 1919 a sanctuary was built. Nghe temple contains stone elephants and horses as well stelae.
Hang Kenh Communel House
Located on Hang Kenh Street, Hang Kenh Communal House was built in 1717 and expanded in 1905. It is famous for its valuable wooden sculptures of which there are 156 pieces with a dragon as the main theme. Altogether, there are 308 dragons of different shapes and sizes. The pagoda also houses a statue of Ngo Quyen and a palanquin.
Every year from the 16th to 18th of the 2nd lunar month, ritual ceremonies, festivals, traditional games and performances of cheo, tuong, and other folk songs are held at the communal house, attracting large crowds.
Hai Phong cuisine
Hai Phong is most famous for its street food. Tourists often choose a day food tour to enjoy Hai Phong’s delicious dishes. However, if you want to experience and enjoy Hai Phong’s specialties yourself, don’t forget the following dishes.
Crab rice noodles
Crab rice noodles are a typical and famous dish of the port city of Hai Phong. The dish has a rich, delicious broth prepared according to each restaurant’s own recipe. It can be the fatty taste of crab fat and chewy rice noodles.
Locals often enjoy crab rice noodles with a variety of dishes such as: crispy fried spring rolls, stewed ribs, crab soup, tofu, grilled betel leaves…
Ha Lung spring rolls
Ha Lung spring rolls (cha chia Ha Lung) are one of the delicious dishes of Hai Phong that makes many diners “miss” them. Because of its unique flavor and special shape. This dish is a perfect combination of fatty pork and crispy dried squid, creating a wonderful flavor.
With a small, pretty shape, just enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the Ha Lung spring rolls have a golden crust, both crispy and chewy, attracting diners.
Crab Spring Rolls
Although crab spring rolls is very famous in the northern provinces of Vietnam, nem in Hai Phong has something very special. The crab is wrapped in a square shape, the rice paper is crispy. Especially the filling has a strong flavor of the port city with crab meat, shrimp, mushrooms, lean meat, nape fat,…
When eaten with vermicelli, raw vegetables and dipping sauce, you will know why crab spring roll is considered a Hai Phong specialty.
Tau Rice cake
The rice cake is a dish that sounds quite strange to people from other provinces, including small pieces of rice cake, diced papaya, with shrimp and meat fried well to eat very delicious. Then they are poured with sour and spicy fish sauce.
Source: collected by An
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