Haiphong: Vietnam's Port City and Cat Ba Gateway

Haiphong is Vietnam’s third largest city and the country’s main northern port. Located 100km east of Hanoi, it is primarily a transport and industrial hub but has a compact French colonial old quarter, a strong local food identity, and serves as the main gateway to Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay.

What Haiphong is

Most visitors pass through Haiphong rather than staying. It is the transit point between Hanoi and Cat Ba Island - buses from Hanoi connect to Haiphong’s ferry terminal for the crossing to Cat Ba Town. The port city generates little of the tourist traffic that goes to Ha Long Bay proper, and the city itself is less developed for tourism than Hanoi or HCMC.

This is part of what makes it interesting. Haiphong is a functioning Vietnamese city without a significant tourist economy. The tree-lined French colonial streets, the Opera House, the local market, and the food scene are experienced alongside Vietnamese city life rather than in a tourist context.

Arriving at Cat Bi? Read our Hai Phong airport transfer guide.

The French Quarter

Haiphong’s city centre retains more intact French colonial architecture than many Vietnamese cities. The Opera House (1912), the old post office, and the blocks of tree-lined boulevard around Dien Bien Phu Street preserve the Indochine urban layout. The buildings are weathered and not all well-maintained, but the scale and density of surviving colonial architecture is genuine.

Food identity

Haiphong has a distinct local cuisine - banh mi dac biet (the Haiphong version of the Vietnamese sandwich, loaded with pate, ham, pickled vegetables, and egg) is considered one of the best in Vietnam. Local crab noodle soup (banh da cua) is the city’s signature dish.

Cat Ba connection

The Haiphong to Cat Ba ferry runs 4–6 times daily from Ben Binh pier. Journey time: 1.5 hours. Fare: ₫110,000–140,000 ($4.40–5.60). This is the main route between Hanoi and Cat Ba Island. Browse Haiphong tours and Cat Ba day trips for organised connections.

Many Hanoi–Cat Ba bus packages include the ferry - passengers travel by bus to Haiphong’s ferry terminal and board the boat without changing vehicles.

Combining the ferry with an island day is simpler on a package: book a Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay tour from Haiphong.

When to visit

Haiphong warrants a half-day stop rather than a dedicated trip. If travelling between Hanoi and Cat Ba, arriving from Hanoi in the morning, exploring the colonial quarter and eating banh da cua, then taking an afternoon ferry to Cat Ba is an efficient routing.

Haiphong gets hot and humid June–September. October–April is the more comfortable period for walking the city.

Things to see

Haiphong Opera House: Built in 1912 in French Renaissance style, the Opera House anchors the city centre. The building itself is the attraction - the restored facade is the most photographed building in the city. Performances are occasional rather than regular.

Do Son Beach: A peninsula beach resort 20km southeast of the city centre. Domestic Vietnamese beach tourism destination with seafood restaurants and basic resort hotels. Not internationally known but functional as a half-day beach visit. Motorbike or taxi from the city centre.

Du Hang Pagoda: An 18th-century Buddhist pagoda in the city centre with carved wooden interior elements. Open daily, free entry. A quiet contrast to the commercial port city atmosphere.

Getting to Haiphong from Hanoi

Express buses from Hanoi’s Gia Lam or My Dinh stations take approximately 2–2.5 hours and cost ₫100,000–150,000 ($4–6) as of 2026. Departures are frequent throughout the day. The train from Hanoi takes approximately 2.5 hours and costs ₫60,000–120,000 ($2.40–4.80) depending on class.

Landing at Cat Bi? See our Haiphong airport transfer guide, or pre-book a private airport or intercity transfer for the Hanoi to Haiphong run.

Where to stay in Haiphong

The choice in Haiphong is between the city centre (near the Opera House and colonial quarter) and the ferry terminal area - the right answer depends on whether you’re spending a genuine night here or just transiting to Cat Ba.

City centre - near Opera House (₫500,000–2,200,000 / $20–88): Mercure Haiphong is the best international-standard hotel - pool, restaurant, reliable wifi at ₫900,000–2,000,000 ($36–80). Harbour View Hotel has sea views from upper floors on the waterfront at ₫700,000–1,400,000 ($28–56). Monaco Hotel Haiphong is a well-regarded mid-range near the Opera House at ₫500,000–900,000 ($20–36). Vision Hotel is a solid mid-range option at ₫600,000–1,200,000 ($24–48) with good reviews from transit travellers.

Near Ben Binh ferry terminal (₫200,000–500,000 / $8–20): Thang Long Hotel is a 5-minute walk from the pier - basic but functional at ₫300,000–500,000 ($12–20). Several budget guesthouses operate within the streets immediately around the pier. Standards vary; check the room before paying.

Budget city-wide (₫200,000–400,000 / $8–16): Guesthouses on Minh Khai Street near the central market. No online booking - walk in. Good for travellers who want cheap, central, and don’t need the ferry proximity.

Search hotels in Haiphong on Booking.com →

For city-centre vs ferry-area advice in detail, see our Best Hotels in Haiphong guide.

Most visitors stay near the French Quarter, so compare Haiphong hotels on Booking.com for central rates.

Where to eat

Banh mi dac biet: The Haiphong version of the Vietnamese sandwich is among the best in the country - loaded with pate, ham, fried egg, pickled vegetables, and chilli. Stalls on Minh Khai Street and around the central market sell them from ₫15,000–30,000 ($0.60–1.20) as of 2026. Open from 06:00 until sold out (usually mid-morning).

Banh da cua (crab noodle soup): The city’s signature dish. Wide rice noodles in a rich tomato-crab broth with crab meat, morning glory, and fried tofu. Stalls around the central market area from ₫40,000–70,000 ($1.60–2.80) as of 2026. Look for places with queues - the soup quality varies significantly.

Do Son seafood: The beach peninsula 20km southeast of the city is the place for grilled mantis shrimp, steamed crab, and fresh squid at ₫200,000–500,000 ($8–20) per person as of 2026. A half-day trip by motorbike or taxi from the city centre.

Central market food hall: The covered market has a food section with multiple bun, pho, and rice dish stalls at ₫30,000–60,000 ($1.20–2.40) per bowl. Busiest at breakfast and lunch.

Costs

Haiphong is a working city, not a tourist economy. Prices reflect this. Budget meals cost ₫30,000–60,000 ($1.20–2.40). A banh mi dac biet costs approximately ₫15,000–25,000 ($0.60–1). Budget accommodation starts from approximately ₫200,000 ($8) per night as of 2026.

More in Haiphong

• Things to Do in Haiphong
• Haiphong Food Guide - Best Dishes and Where to Eat
• Best Restaurants in Haiphong
• Best Hotels in Haiphong
• Best Hostels in Haiphong
• Day Trips from Haiphong

Nearby destinations

• Ha Long Bay Travel Guide
• Cat Ba Island Travel Guide
• Hanoi Travel Guide

Plan your trip

• 1 Week in North Vietnam - Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa

Planning bookings for Haiphong? Our where to stay in Haiphong guide covers areas and budgets, and our best Haiphong tours roundup compares guided options.