Hai Phong Tour for the Best Experiences in Vietnam

What makes Hai Phong stand out beside Hanoi or Sapa is its rare combination of authentic local life, coastal energy, and island adventures all in one destination. While Hanoi is known for history and Sapa for mountain landscapes, a Hai Phong tour brings travelers fresh seafood streets, vibrant port-city culture, Cat Ba Island escapes, and easy access to the stunning limestone scenery of Lan Ha Bay.

This guide covers everything you need to know for an ideal Hai Phong tour: the best tours on offer, how to get there, and the practical tips that make the difference between a good trip and a great one.

1. Where Is Hai Phong?

Hai Phong sits on the northeastern coast of Vietnam, roughly 120 km east of Hanoi along the Red River Delta. It borders Quang Ninh Province (home to Ha Long Bay) to the north and east, and connects directly to the Gulf of Tonkin. The city itself is built around a network of rivers and canals that feed into the sea, giving it a distinctly maritime character.

Its location makes it an ideal base for exploring the broader northern coast. Cat Ba Island is the largest island in Ha Long Bay and also the gateway to Lan Ha Bay - lies just 30 km offshore. Ha Long Bay is a 90-minute drive and Hanoi is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours away by expressway. Hai Phong is also served by Cat Bi International Airport (HPH), just 6 km from the city center, making it accessible from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and even some international destinations such as South Korea, China, and Thailand.

2. Best Hai Phong Tour Options

One of the biggest advantages of choosing a Hai Phong tour is the variety of experiences available within a short distance. Travelers can explore colonial streets, join local food walks, relax on Cat Ba Island, or cruise through Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay from one convenient coastal city.

2.1. Hai Phong City Tour

A Hai Phong city tour offers a mix of colonial architecture, local markets, and cultural landmarks. Popular stops include the Hai Phong Opera House, Du Hang Pagoda, Tam Bac Lake, Sat Market, and the Queen of the Rosary Cathedral. Many tours also visit local cafés and seafood streets for a deeper look into daily life. 

A half-day guided city tour typically costs between $15–$30 USD per person. Many travelers combine the city tour with a food tour for a full-day experience.

2.2. Hai Phong Food Tour

Hai Phong is famous for its seafood-focused food culture, shaped by the city’s coastal location and fresh local ingredients. Self-guided food walks around the Ngo Quyen and Le Chan districts cover most of the classics in a single morning. The signature dish is bánh đa cua, a rich crab noodle soup made with chewy brown rice noodles and fresh seafood flavors. 

Other must-try specialties include:

• Bánh mì cay (spicy baguette) is a Hai Phong street food icon. Unlike southern bánh mì, this one is smaller, thinner, and filled with pork liver pâté and a proprietary chili sauce.

• Nem cua bể (square crab spring rolls) is Hai Phong's version of the spring roll is uniquely square-shaped, packed with fresh crab, minced pork, glass noodles, and mushrooms, then fried to a golden crisp.

• Bún cá cay (spicy fish noodle soup) is a bowlful of fresh lightly fried carp in a spicy, aromatic broth with taro stems and fresh herbs.

• Nộm sứa đỏ (red jellyfish salad) is cooling and refreshing summer specialty, combining naturally crispy red jellyfish with roasted peanuts, coconut milk, and fresh perilla leaves.

• Dừa dầm (coconut dessert) of creamy coconut milk, tapioca pearls, and coconut jelly over ice, which is the perfect way to end a street food walk.

2.3. Hai Phong to Cat Ba Tour

Cat Ba Island is one of the highlights of any Hai Phong tour, known for its beaches, limestone mountains, and the natural beauty of Cat Ba National Park. Visitors can enjoy trekking through jungle trails in Cat Ba National Park, along with hiking, kayaking, boat cruises, rock climbing, and relaxing coastal scenery. The island is easily accessible from Hai Phong by ferry, speedboat, or cable car.

Getting to Cat Ba from Hai Phong is easy with several transport options. The fastest is the speedboat from Binh Pier, taking about 60 minutes and costing around $8–$11 USD per person, with multiple daily departures (8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM). This service usually runs from April to August.

For a more scenic route, the Cat Ba Cable Car connects Cat Hai Island to Phu Long Station in about 15 minutes, offering panoramic views over the bay and limestone karsts. Tickets cost around $4 USD one way. Budget travelers can take the Dong Bai Ferry, which costs only about $0.5 USD, though the journey is slower and can be crowded on weekends and holidays.

As Lan Ha Bay lies just off the eastern and southern coast of Cat Ba Island, many Cat Ba tours also combine Lan Ha Bay cruises in the same trip. Travelers can explore hidden lagoons, floating fishing villages, quiet beaches, and stunning limestone karsts through a day tour or longer 2D1N or 3D2N Lan Ha bay and Cat Ba island experiences. Most tours include transportation, sightseeing activities, and meals, usually costing around $40–$130 USD.

Important Update: Cat Ba Town is under major Sun Group redevelopment, changing the waterfront area. For a quieter stay, choose Cai Vieng Peninsula or the Flamingo Cat Ba Resort area instead of the town center.

2.4. Lan Ha Bay Cruise Tour

Lan Ha Bay is often considered a quieter and less crowded alternative to Ha Long Bay, offering similar limestone karsts, emerald waters, and scenic island landscapes. Most cruises depart from Beo Pier on Cat Ba Island and include activities like kayaking through hidden lagoons, visiting floating fishing villages, swimming, cave exploration, and seafood meals on board.

Since most of Lan Ha Bay’s highlights can be explored within a day, a day tour cruise is the most popular option, typically costing around $15–$55 USD per person. The best time to visit is from April to October, and advance booking is recommended during summer weekends.

2.5. Hai Phong to Ha Long Bay Tour

Ha Long Bay is one of Southeast Asia’s most famous natural attractions, and Hai Phong is a convenient gateway located only 1–1.5 hours away by road. Day tours from Hai Phong usually include transportation, bay cruises, cave visits, kayaking, swimming, and lunch, while overnight cruises offer a more complete experience with options ranging from budget boats to luxury cruises.

Compared to Lan Ha Bay, Ha Long Bay is more famous for its UNESCO World Heritage status and larger cave systems, while Lan Ha Bay is typically quieter and less crowded. Many travelers choose to explore both during their journey to Hai Phong.

2.6. Customize Your Hai Phong Tour

Many local travel agencies can fully customize Hai Phong’s experience based on your travel style, schedule, and budget. Popular custom options include private city tours, Cat Ba island packages, Lan Ha Bay cruises, photography trips, and multi-day journeys connecting Hai Phong with Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, or Ninh Binh.

For flexible local experiences, Joytime’s Hai Phong tours provide customizable island cruises.

3. How to Get to Hai Phong

Thanks to modern highways, railways, ferries, and domestic flights, traveling to Hai Phong is fast and convenient from many parts of Vietnam.

3.1. From Hanoi

The Hanoi–Hai Phong Expressway makes the trip easy, with several transportation options available:

• Bus: Frequent buses like Hoang Long and Doan Ket operate frequent services from major Hanoi bus stations (Gia Lam, Giap Bat, My Dinh) to Hai Phong's central bus station, taking around 1.5 -- 2 hours. Tickets usually cost $6–$8 USD per person.

• Train: The Hanoi–Hai Phong train journey takes about 2–2.5 hours, with scenic countryside views and tickets starting from around $6 USD.

• Private car or taxi: Ideal for groups and families, private transfers take about 1.5 hours and cost roughly $60–$80 USD per car.

3.2. By Air

Cat Bi International Airport (HPH) is located just 6 km from Hai Phong city center. It serves domestic routes from Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc, as well as a limited number of international routes to South Korea, China, and Thailand. There are no direct flights between Hanoi and Hai Phong due to the short distance.

Airport taxis to the city center cost around $4–$6 USD, while private transfers to Cat Ba ferry terminals usually range from $12–$20 USD per car.

3.3. By Sea

For travelers already on Cat Ba Island or cruising Ha Long Bay, arriving in Hai Phong by sea is a natural option. Ferry and speedboat services connect Cat Ba's Got Pier and Cai Vieng terminal to Hai Phong. The speedboat from Cat Ba to Binh Pier in Hai Phong runs several times daily (8:00 AM–4:30 PM from Cat Ba) and takes about 60 minutes, with tickets typically costing $8–$11 USD per person.

4. Travel Tips for the Best Hai Phong Tour

A few simple travel tips can make your Hai Phong tour smoother, especially when visiting Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay during peak travel seasons.

• Book Cat Ba trips early in summer: From May to August, Cat Ba Island and Lan Ha Bay become very busy. Ferries, cruises, and hotels often sell out quickly, especially on weekends. Book tickets and tours a few days early if possible, and choose morning departures around 7:00–8:00 AM for calmer weather and more sightseeing time.

• Carry cash: ATMs are easy to find in Hai Phong city but can be unreliable on Cat Ba Island during busy periods. Many local restaurants, street food stalls, and ferry services only accept cash, so carrying Vietnamese Dong is recommended.

• Try local food daily: Hai Phong is known for affordable and authentic street food. Popular local dishes like bánh đa cua and bánh mì cay usually cost only $0.10–$2 USD, making food exploration one of the best parts of the trip.

• Use ride-hailing apps: Grab is widely available in Hai Phong and is one of the easiest ways to get around the city. GrabBike is especially convenient for short distances and avoiding taxi negotiations.

• Bring light clothing: Hai Phong has a hot and humid climate, especially from April to September. Lightweight clothing, sunscreen, and a light rain jacket are useful for island trips and boat tours.

• Add extra time for islands: Trips to Cat Ba Island depend on ferry and weather conditions, which can sometimes cause delays. Most ferries stop operating around 5:00 PM, so adding extra buffer time is recommended, especially before flights or long-distance travel.

5. FAQ

5.1. Is Hai Phong worth visiting?

Yes. Hai Phong combines local culture, colonial architecture, famous seafood cuisine, and easy access to Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay, and Ha Long Bay.

5.2. How many days do I need?

About 3 days is enough to explore the city, enjoy local food, and visit Cat Ba or Lan Ha Bay. For a more relaxed trip with overnight cruises and island stays, 5–7 days is ideal.

5.3. Can I visit Cat Ba from Hai Phong?

Yes. Cat Ba Island is easy to reach from Hai Phong by speedboat, ferry, or cable car. Speedboats take around 60 minutes and cost about $8–$11 USD per person.