Haiphong

Haiphong (Hải Phòng) is Vietnam's third largest city, a port near Hanoi.

Understand
Haiphong is mostly significant as the largest city at the delta of the Red River, which is northern Vietnam's main river and the first major river delta from the Chinese border, historically a source of military conflict and also the center of the largest major flat (i.e. agriculturally suitable) region in the country, and therefore a population center of political importance. Its use as a port region is ancient, including opium trading from upriver warlords in Yunnan (China) and general shipping from the French colonial period up to the present.

By bus
Transfer fee to the Vinh Niem Bus Station is 85,000 dong including highway toll fees.

By boat
A number of ferries serve Haiphong, including several daily fast hydrofoils to and from Cat Ba Island. The main terminal is, located at the northern end of Cù Chính Lan street. Beware of touts trying to scam you on this route by selling expansive tickets.

By car
A taxi or private car from Hanoi to Haiphong costs about US$80 one way.

Get around

 * At the port (city centre, Ben Binh St) ferries depart to Cat Ba Island (up to 100,000 dong)
 * To visit Đồ Sơn Beach, about 20 km southeast of Haiphong, go to Lạch Tray St and board any bus marked Đồ Sơn (17,000 dong).

Eat
Stalls about town offer the normal array of Vietnamese cuisine. Local specials include anything cua (crab) or seafood, for example:
 * "bánh đa cua"- noodle soup with crab and other traditional Vietnamese ingredients. Delicious. Try it once and you won't forget it!
 * "bánh bèo"- a white cake made from rice, filled with meat and eaten with a special sauce
 * "bún tôm"- a kind of noodle soup, with shrimp
 * "chè bưởi"- sweetened porridge, made of beans, glutinous rice and mostly grapefruit, often with added coconut sauce and dry-salted coconut slices
 * "bánh mì que" or "bánh mì cay" — ultra-thin mini-baguettes stuffed with pork pâté, then dipped in a chilli, tomato and garlic sauce.

There are also quite a lot of lau (sit around and BBQ your own stuff / hotplate) restaurants.

Foreign food includes:
 * A couple of alleged 'Texas BBQ' establishments
 * A terrible Indian establishment
 * A pricy-looking Thai restaurant
 * Pizza Hut

Drink

 * Lipton Iced Tea - a branded Lipton tea bag in a narrow drinking glass filled with drinking water with sugar and ice cubes added. Makes a refreshing alternative to coffee.
 * Hai Phong Beer (from 6000 dong/glass) - locally made beer.

Go next

 * Cat Ba Island
 * Do Son (Beach) — 20-23 km from Haiphong. Do Son is resort frequented by the Vietnamese, but by few Westerners. The beaches are not the greatest as silt affects the quality of the water. A visit to nearby Cat Ba is advisable if you want to swim, as the water quality is much better. Do Son sits along the ocean coast, and is filled with low-end hotels, restaurants, and karaoke bars. It has a reputation as a centre for prostitution. There is a casino (one of very few in Vietnam) at the Do Son Resort Hotel. It's worth visiting for a peaceful day or two away from the bustle of Haiphong.
 * Ha Long Bay
 * Hanoi — about 100 km from Haiphong, 2-3 hours.