48 hours in Hai Phong

A trip to Hai Phong is suitable for tourists from Hanoi and surrounding areas looking for a weekend getaway to change the scenery, enjoy local cuisine, and visit some famous landmarks.

Exploring and relaxing in the heart of Hai Phong can be a refreshing experience for a trip to the city of red flamboyant flowers. Visitors can enjoy hotel services, sample delicious local cuisine, and avoid the crowds. This suggested 48-hour itinerary in Hai Phong is based on the experiences of VnExpress reporter Ha Mai, a tourist from Hanoi, and Tan Thanh, a local resident.

Day 1

Morning

Depart from Hanoi to Hai Phong via the CT04 expressway, also known as National Highway 5B. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours under favorable traffic conditions. Upon arrival in Hai Phong, have breakfast with spicy fish noodle soup around 9 AM. This dish combines local and seafood ingredients such as mackerel, carp, tilapia, fish cakes, and crispy fried fish. Some recommended places include: Le Loi, Thang To, and Van Cao. Note that these places tend to be quite crowded if you arrive during peak hours before 9 AM.

The interior of Cafe No1986.

Enjoy coffee and take photos at one of Hai Phong's most famous and beautifully designed cafes - No. 1986. This building was once featured in Archdaily, a leading international architecture magazine. Besides Vietnamese coffee, several mango-based drinks are also highly praised by customers.

Noon

Check in at the Sheraton Hai Phong Hotel, located right in the city center. Room rates here range from 2.2 million VND per night. All rooms are fully equipped with amenities to meet all your needs for leisure and business. For panoramic city views, choose floors 29 to 43. Other accommodation options are located on streets such as Lach Tray, Bach Dang, Le Loi, Hung Vuong, or To Hieu.

Deluxe Room at Sheraton Hai Phong.

The swimming pool at Sheraton Hai Phong.

Harbor Restaurant.

Since breakfast was late, after resting at the hotel, the most suitable late lunch would be a food tour at Cat Bi Market, considered the largest "mecca" for street food in Hai Phong. The market is located near the airport and only opens from 3 PM, so tourists need to plan their arrival time accordingly.

"If you come to Hai Phong and don't visit Cat Bi Market and eat everything there, it's a real shame," said Mr. Thanh. The market is located on Ly Hong Nhat Street, Hai An District, about 10 km from the city center. The food court is spacious and airy, offering a variety of dishes such as banh beo (steamed rice cakes), gia be (seafood), grilled pork sausage, sweet soups, snails, beef skin with roasted rice powder, coconut sweet soup, and sui din (a type of sweet soup). For around 100,000 VND, you can have a satisfying meal here.

Afternoon

Located 12km from Cat Bi Market, in the heart of Kien An District, Thien Van Hill is a popular destination for visitors to explore. Visitors can drive, take a taxi or motorbike taxi, cycle, or even jog for a relaxing stroll. Considered a "miniature Da Lat," it boasts fresh air, tranquility, and abundant vegetation. It's also a beautiful spot for sunset photography.

The road leading up to the Astronomical Hill. Photo: Le Tan

From the top of Thien Van Hill, you can see a part of Hai Phong city. Photo: Le Tan

Here you can camp, enjoy the scenery, and have BBQ parties. The road leading up to Thien Van Hill. Photo: Le Tan.

Return to the hotel in the evening and enjoy a light dinner at the Harbor restaurant area, which features Asian-European cuisine, or Yi Ling Ling - a Cantonese-style restaurant, after a food tour with plenty of Hai Phong's signature dishes.

Day 2

Morning

Wake up and take a swim in the heated pool on the 5th floor of the Sheraton Hai Phong Hotel, which boasts large glass windows offering panoramic views of the Vinhomes Imperia complex. The same floor also features a gym and other fitness equipment for guests to work out in the morning. The surrounding area has wide, uncrowded paths, ideal for jogging or walking.

Have breakfast at the hotel or at one of the crab noodle soup stalls in the small alleys of downtown Hai Phong. Many tourists and some city residents recommend choosing lesser-known stalls to experience the most authentic flavor. Some streets with many crab noodle soup stalls include Le Loi, Pham Ngu Lao, and Lach Tray.

Hai Phong Railway Station. Photo: Tan Thanh

Take a stroll around the city center, with a focus on the old French colonial architecture. Hai Phong boasts many beautiful landmarks such as the train station, the Grand Theatre, museums, the city post office, and Tam Bac Lake. If you visit on a weekend (usually Saturday), you should try the free walking tour to learn about the history, culture, architecture, and people of Hai Phong. Note that advance booking is required.

"I was really surprised by the French architectural works in Hai Phong; they are beautiful and ancient," said Ms. Mai.

Noon

Have lunch at Phuong Mai Bun Cha restaurant on Cat Cut Street in Hai Phong. This is one of the "must-try" places, especially for tourists from other places, with its signature dish being square spring rolls filled with crab and shrimp (also called cha nem). They also offer squid patties and grilled patties.

"Just one spring roll with vermicelli and vegetables is enough to fill you up. A spring roll costs 100,000 VND, which is considered expensive, but it's worth the money; the filling is generous, delicious, and perfectly seasoned," said Ms. Mai. This place is usually quite crowded on weekends, so tourists going in large groups should make reservations in advance.

Afternoon

Visiting Hang Market – which only meets on Sundays – is a unique feature of the city. This is one of the few remaining traditional markets in Hai Phong. Located right in the center of Le Chan district, the market still retains the charm of a rural market. For the locals, the market is not just a place for trading but also a center for community cultural activities.

At Hang Market, visitors can find various types of plant seedlings, agricultural tools, livestock, poultry, and familiar items unique to the countryside such as traditional pipes, rattan baskets, and bamboo beds.

Ba Gia's baguette. Photo: Ha Mai

Before returning to Hanoi, tourists should buy baguette sandwiches as souvenirs. Some famous baguette sandwich vendors in Hai Phong include Ba Gia, Ong Cuong, Khanh Nap, and 195 Le Loi. Each sandwich costs between 5,000 and 7,000 VND. Note that you should order in advance if you are buying in large quantities.

Alternatives

Hai Phong also offers many other experiences such as Do Son, Du Hang Pagoda, and Tuyet Tinh Coc (Thuy Nguyen district).

Vnexpress

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