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Typical Souvenirs from Haiphong (2026)
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First Time in Haiphong: Complete Guide 2026
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Haiphong Nightlife Guide (2026)
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Best Day Trips from Haiphong (2026)
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Haiphong Airport to City Center (2026)
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Haiphong Hidden Gems (2026)
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Haiphong on a Budget: Tips 2026
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Where to Stay in Haiphong (2026)
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3 Days in Haiphong: Itinerary 2026
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Things to Do in Haiphong (2026)
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bar_chart Trends in Haiphong
Where to Stay in Haiphong (2026)
The city center around Dien Bien Phu Street is the most convenient base for first-time visitors. You'll find mid-range hotels like the Tien Huy Hoang Hotel (from $25/night) andβ¦ ποΈ City Center Hub
The city center around Dien Bien Phu Street is the most convenient base for first-time visitors. You'll find mid-range hotels like the Tien Huy Hoang Hotel (from $25/night) and easy access to the Opera House and Tam Bac Lake. This area suits travelers who want to be close to restaurants, shops, and major attractions.
π Do Son Beach Area
Do Son Beach is a 20-minute drive from the city center and offers a range of beachfront resorts, such as the Flamingo Dai Lai Resort (from $80/night). It's ideal for families and couples seeking a quiet seaside escape. The area has a relaxed vibe with seafood restaurants and a casino nearby.
π Nightlife District
The area around Lach Tray Street and the Cat Bi Airport road is known for its bars and karaoke lounges. Budget hostels like the Haiphong Backpackers Hostel (from $10/night) cater to young travelers. This district is best for nightlife seekers who want to party until late.
πΌ Business & Digital Nomads
The Thuong Ly area, near the Haiphong International Center, has serviced apartments and co-working spaces like UpTown Coworking. Monthly rentals start around $300 for a studio. This neighborhood is quiet, with good internet and proximity to the train station, making it perfect for remote workers.
π¨ Family-Friendly Zone
The area around the Hai Phong Museum and Children's Park offers spacious hotels like the Pearl River Hotel (from $50/night) with family rooms. Parks and playgrounds are within walking distance. It's a safe, leafy neighborhood with easy access to the city zoo and aquarium.
π° Budget Stays
For backpackers, the area near the Haiphong Railway Station has numerous guesthouses and hostels starting at $8/night. The Haiphong Central Hostel offers dorm beds for $6. Street food stalls and local markets are nearby, keeping costs low.
π‘ Hidden Local Gems
The An Duong District, a bit further out, has homestays like the Green Garden Homestay (from $20/night) where you can experience local life. It's quieter and less touristy, with rice paddies and traditional houses. A scooter is recommended for getting around this area.
π Getting Around Tips
Most hotels are within walking distance of bus stops on the main routes. Taxis from the city center to Do Son Beach cost around $10. For flexibility, rent a scooter from your hotel for about $5/day. The Haiphong Cat Bi Airport is a 15-minute drive from the city center.
solid list, i'd just add that the nightlife district around Lach Tray is kinda hit or miss, if you want proper local beer spots head to the streets off Tran Phu near the canal instead, there's a bunch of tiny bia hoi places where a glass is like 5,000 VND and the crowd is way more chill. the guide's right about Thuong Ly being good for digital nomads, i worked out of UpTown for a month and the internet was solid, but the real win is the pho place two blocks south on Nguyen Duc Canh, the broth is richer than anything in the center and it's half the price. for budget stays near the railway station, avoid the hostels right on the main road, the train noise is relentless, go one street back to Le Hong Phong and you'll find quieter guesthouses for the same $8.
the bit about an duong district is spot on for a real local vibe but honestly most tourists skip it because they think it's too far. it's only 15 minutes on a scooter from the center and the green garden homestay is run by a family that'll cook you dinner if you ask, real home cooking not restaurant stuff. for the city center hub i'd say skip the hotel breakfast and walk to the alley behind the opera house around 7am, there's a lady selling bun cha on a little charcoal grill for 20k, way better than what you'll get at any hotel buffet and you can watch her fan the coals while you eat
This is a solid breakdown. I've lived in Haiphong for a few years and would add that if you're in the city center, don't skip the morning banh mi stands on Quang Trung Street near the market. The one with the old lady and the yellow cart has the best pate I've found anywhere in town, and it's about 15,000 VND. Also, for the Family-Friendly Zone, the Pearl River Hotel is nice, but the small lake behind it has a walking path that most tourists miss, it's perfect for a quiet evening stroll with kids.
Typical Souvenirs from Haiphong (2026)
Haiphong's coastal location makes dried squid, shrimp, and fish a beloved souvenir. Locals often buy these at the Cho Sat market (Sat Market) on Tran Phu Street, whereβ¦ π¦ Dried Seafood Specialties
Haiphong's coastal location makes dried squid, shrimp, and fish a beloved souvenir. Locals often buy these at the Cho Sat market (Sat Market) on Tran Phu Street, where vendors sell vacuum-packed packs starting at 100,000 VND. The tradition of drying seafood dates back centuries, as it was a way to preserve the catch for long sea voyages and inland trade.
π¬ Ga Gia Cake
Ga Gia cake is a chewy, sweet confection made from malt and ginger, a specialty of Haiphong's old quarter. You can find it at the family-run shop on 52 Dien Bien Phu Street, with boxes priced from 50,000 to 150,000 VND. This treat has been made for over a century, originally as a warming snack for dock workers during the cold winter months.
πΊ Ceramic Fish Sauce Jars
Small ceramic jars, often shaped like fish or decorated with coastal motifs, are a charming souvenir that reflects Haiphong's fishing heritage. Pick them up at the craft stalls in Cho Hang Duong (Hang Duong Market) on Tran Phu Street, where prices range from 30,000 to 80,000 VND. These jars echo the traditional earthenware used to store nuoc mam, the fermented fish sauce that is a cornerstone of Vietnamese cuisine.
𧡠Handwoven Lan Ha Textiles
From the nearby Cat Ba archipelago, handwoven cotton textiles in indigo and natural dyes are a meaningful buy. Look for them at the Cat Ba Market or at small cooperatives in the island's villages, with scarves and table runners costing 100,000 to 250,000 VND. Weaving is a centuries-old craft of the local fisherfolk, and each pattern tells a story of the sea and island life.
πΌοΈ Do Son Sea Paintings
Local artists often paint the iconic Do Son beach and its pine-covered hills, capturing Haiphong's seaside charm. You can buy original works at the Haiphong Fine Arts Gallery on 15 Le Hong Phong Street, with prints from 200,000 VND and originals from 1,000,000 VND. These paintings are a modern take on the landscape that has inspired poets and painters since the French colonial era.
π― Wild Honey from Cat Ba
Cat Ba National Park produces a distinct wild honey, harvested from the island's native flowers. You can purchase it at the park's visitor center or at local shops in Cat Ba town, with jars priced from 150,000 to 300,000 VND. This honey is prized for its medicinal properties and is a sweet reminder of the island's pristine nature.
πΏ Buddhist Prayer Beads
At the Du Hang Pagoda, one of Haiphong's oldest Buddhist sites, you can find wooden prayer beads carved from local fruit pits. The pagoda's souvenir stall sells them for 50,000 to 100,000 VND, with proceeds supporting the temple. These beads are a tangible piece of the city's spiritual life, blessed by monks and used for meditation.
π Where to Shop
For a one-stop souvenir run, head to Cho Sat (Sat Market) or the night market on Quang Trung Street, open from 5 PM to 10 PM. Bargaining is expected, so start at 70% of the asking price. For higher-end crafts, visit the Haiphong Museum gift shop, which supports local artisans.
solid list, the dried squid at Cho Sat is legit but honestly most locals grab it at the alley stalls off Tran Phu near the cathedral, cheaper and you can pick your own pieces. if you're getting ga gia cake, skip the fancy boxes and ask for the loose ones wrapped in paper, the family at 52 Dien Bien Phu will give u a taste first.
one thing missing: the little brass ship models sold near the port, around Cau Rao bridge. they're tiny but detailed, like 80k for a small one, and they actually look good on a shelf. also the honey from Cat Ba is way overpriced at the visitor center, buy it from the old lady selling fruit near the ferry dock in Cat Ba town, same stuff for half the price.
for the paintings, the gallery on Le Hong Phong is fine but i'd check the weekend art market at the opera house plaza instead, younger artists selling smaller pieces for like 150k, more fun to browse. bargaining at Cho Sat is expected but don't lowball too hard on seafood, they'll just laugh and walk away.
honestly the dried seafood list is pretty spot on but i'd add one thing locals actually bring back for family, the salted dried anchovies they sell loose at the morning market near the Cau Dat wharf, not the tourist spots. it's like 50k a kilo and way more flavorful than the packaged stuff, goes perfect with plain rice. my grandma always stocks up when she visits.
for the ga gia cake, the loose ones are the move but if u want something that actually survives the flight home, grab the ones with a bit more ginger, they keep better and taste less cloying after a day or two. also the night market on Quang Trung is good but it gets packed with tourists, if u want a chill vibe go on a weekday around 6 PM, the vendors are more patient and u can actually browse without elbowing anyone.
the ceramic fish sauce jars are cute but honestly most tourists miss the real deal, the big stone mortars and pestles they sell at hang duong market on the ground floor. my aunt uses one daily for her shrimp paste and it lasts forever, like 150k for a solid one. also if ur into the dried squid, skip the vacuum packs and ask for the grilled ones at the night market, they'll char it right there and u can eat it on the spot with some chili salt, way better than bringing it home tbh.
the prayer beads at du hang pagoda are a nice pick but i'd add that the pagoda itself is worth a wander, the gardens are quiet and the monks are used to foreigners asking questions. for the honey, yeah the visitor center rip-off is real, but if u happen to be on cat ba during the lychee season in june, some families sell lychee flower honey that's even more fragrant, ask around at the homestays near the national park entrance.