Haiphong is Vietnamβs third-largest city and principal northern port - an industrial city with a French colonial quarter that has been more faithfully preserved than Hanoiβs, access to some of the best beaches within reach of the north (Do Son and Do Hung), and the most direct gateway to Cat Ba Island and Ha Long Bay. Most visitors treat Haiphong purely as a transit point for the overnight Hanoi-to-Cat Ba-Ha Long Bay circuit, which undersells the city. The French colonial architecture in the city centre - the Opera House (1912), the Post Office, the covered market - is the best-preserved in northern Vietnam outside Hanoi, and the cityβs street food (particularly banh mi cuon - pork roll with rice paper) and flower markets have a character distinct from the capital.
We have mapped 8 top-rated Haiphong tours and day trips by traveller type. Prices are approximate in USD as of 2026.
Top Haiphong Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haiphong French Quarter Architecture Walking Tour | 2.5 hrs | From $20 | Culture, history |
| Cat Ba Island Day Trip from Haiphong | Full day | From $35 | Nature, active |
| Ha Long Bay Day Cruise from Haiphong | Full day | From $50 | First-timers, scenic |
| Do Son Beach Day Trip | Half day | From $15 | Beach, families |
| Haiphong Street Food Walking Tour | 3 hrs | From $20 | Foodies |
| Haiphong Flower Market and Old Quarter Tour | 2 hrs | From $18 | Photography, culture |
| Van Don Island and Bai Tu Long Bay Day Trip | Full day | From $60 | Nature, scenic |
| Haiphong Cycling Tour: City and River Delta | 3 hrs | From $25 | Active |
For Culture and History
Haiphong French Quarter Architecture Walking Tour
Haiphong was established by the French colonial administration in the 1870s as the main commercial port of northern Vietnam. The French quarter - the area around Dien Bien Phu Street, Quang Trung Street, and the main theatre square - retains a grid of early 20th-century colonial buildings in notably better condition than most Vietnamese cities. The Haiphong Opera House (1912, modelled on the Paris OpΓ©ra Comique, seating 400) is still in active use; the Colonial Post Office (1902) functions as the main post office; and the covered central market (Cho Sat, 1920s) still operates as a daily food market.
This 2.5-hour French quarter walking tour covers the Opera House exterior and (if available) interior, the Post Office, the market, the former French Governorβs Residence (now a local government building), and Du Hang Pagoda (17th century, one of the oldest in northern Vietnam) - a contrast in style from the colonial core to the traditional Buddhist architecture.
Duration: 2.5 hours | Price: from approximately $20 | Includes: guide | Opera tip: Performances at the Haiphong Opera House are infrequent but worth checking - classical Vietnamese music and theatre are scheduled several times monthly
For Nature and Active Travellers
Cat Ba Island Day Trip from Haiphong
The Cat Ba Island day trip from Haiphong takes the fast ferry from Ben Binh Pier (45 minutes to Cat Ba harbour), with a guide who organises the island activities: Cat Ba National Park entry, a 4-hour hike to Ngu Lam Peak (views over Lan Ha Bay), and a kayak or boat trip into one of the bay areas before the return ferry. A more flexible and cost-effective alternative to overnight cruises for visitors based in Haiphong or Hanoi.
Duration: Full day | Price: from approximately $35 | Includes: ferry tickets, guide, national park entry | Return ferry: The last fast ferry from Cat Ba leaves approximately 16:00; confirm times at booking
For First-Timers
Ha Long Bay Day Cruise from Haiphong
The full-day Ha Long Bay cruise from Haiphong departs from Ben Binh pier and heads directly into Ha Long Bay - a 1.5-hour boat journey to the main bay zone, giving more time on the water than the equivalent day trip from Hanoi (3.5 hours by road). The tour covers the standard circuit: Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, a floating fishing village, and multiple swimming stops. Better value than the Hanoi day trip version because transit time is shorter.
Duration: Full day | Price: from approximately $50 | Includes: boat, guide, cave entry, lunch
For Beach Lovers
Do Son Beach Day Trip
Do Son is a peninsula 21 km southeast of Haiphong - a local beach resort popular with northern Vietnamese families, with a long sandy beach, a lighthouse walk, and a buffalo fighting festival in August (Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival - a traditional event on the 10th day of the 8th lunar month, not a staged spectacle). The beach is not at the level of Da Nang or Phu Quoc, but itβs clean, uncrowded by tourist standards, and easily reached.
This half-day Do Son day trip includes transport from Haiphong, the beach, the Do Son lighthouse walk (views over the Gulf of Tonkin), and the casino complex (the only one legally accessible to Vietnamese citizens) as a cultural observation point. Lunch at a beachside seafood restaurant.
Duration: Half day | Price: from approximately $15 | Includes: transport, guide
For Foodies
Haiphong Street Food Walking Tour
Haiphong has a distinct northern Vietnamese food culture separate from Hanoi - the port cityβs seafood is exceptionally fresh (direct from the boats in the port), and the banh mi cuon (pork belly rolled in rice paper with herbs) is a Haiphong specialty rarely found elsewhere. The covered central market is the main food hub in the morning.
This 3-hour street food walk visits four stops: the early morning covered market for pho (distinctly different from Hanoi-style - broader flat rice noodles), a banh mi cuon stall for the local specialty, a squid-grilling street stall near Ben Binh pier, and a chè (dessert) shop for cold sweet soups. The guide explains the French colonial influence on Vietnamese street food (banh mi, baguettes, coffee with condensed milk).
Duration: 3 hours | Price: from approximately $20 | Includes: guide, tastings at 4 stops | Best time: 07:00β10:00 for the freshest market activity
For Photography
Haiphong Flower Market and Old Quarter Tour
The Haiphong flower market at Cam market operates at its fullest in the early morning (04:00β08:00) when wholesale flower sellers from the outer districts supply the cityβs florists. The varieties - chrysanthemums, marigolds, lotuses, and ornamental orchids - are displayed in large bundles on motorbike racks and wooden carts. The adjacent old quarter streets have a character more genuinely residential than tourist-focused.
This 2-hour photography tour visits the flower market at 06:00, the adjacent fish market at 07:00, and the Old Quarter lanes. The guide explains the market timing, the best positions for photography, and the cultural context of flower giving in Vietnamese ritual life.
Duration: 2 hours | Price: from approximately $18 | Includes: guide | Start time: 05:30β06:00 for peak flower market activity
Practical Information
Getting to Haiphong: Haiphong Cat Bi Airport (HPH) has direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 2 hours) and connections via Hanoi. From Hanoi by road: approximately 1.5 hours on the expressway. From Ha Long City by road: approximately 1 hour. Ben Binh Pier for Cat Ba and Ha Long Bay ferries is 2 km from the city centre.
Ferry timing note: Fast boats to Cat Ba depart Ben Binh Pier at approximately 07:30, 09:30, and 13:00 (schedule varies seasonally; check current times at the pier). Arrive 30 minutes early.
City centre note: Haiphong is genuinely pleasant to walk and cycle in - the French quarter streets are tree-lined and the traffic is lighter than Hanoi. Renting a bicycle for a half-day to explore the colonial quarter independently costs approximately VND 50,000 ($2) from guesthouses.