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Typical Souvenirs from Haiphong (2026)
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First Time in Haiphong: Complete Guide 2026
For reliable data, grab a SIM from Viettel, Vinaphone, or Mobifone at Cat Bi International Airport or downtown shops. A tourist SIM with 30GB of data costs around 200β¦ π± SIM Cards and Connectivity
For reliable data, grab a SIM from Viettel, Vinaphone, or Mobifone at Cat Bi International Airport or downtown shops. A tourist SIM with 30GB of data costs around 200,000 VND (about $8) and includes local calling. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafes and hotels, but having your own data makes navigation and translation much easier.
π΅ Currency and Payments
The Vietnamese dong (VND) is the only currency accepted, and cash is king in local markets and small eateries. Exchange money at banks or gold shops for the best rates; ATMs are plentiful, but they may charge a fee of 20,000 to 40,000 VND per withdrawal. Credit cards work at major hotels and restaurants, but always carry small bills for street vendors and cyclo rides.
π Getting Around
Taxis are the most convenient option; use Mai Linh (0233 3 89 89 89) or Vinasun (0233 3 68 68 68) for metered rides. For a more local experience, hop on a xe om (motorbike taxi) for short trips, but agree on the fare before you go. You can also rent a motorbike for about 150,000 VND per day, though traffic can be chaotic for first-timers.
ποΈ Top Sights in 3 Days
Start at the iconic Opera House on Quang Trung Street, then walk to the Du Hang Pagoda for a peaceful break. On day two, take a boat trip on the Tam Bac River to see the floating villages and the historic Hang Kenh Communal House. Day three is perfect for a day trip to Cat Ba Island, just a 45-minute hydrofoil ride from the city, where you can hike in the national park or relax on the beach.
π Must-Try Local Dishes
Don't leave without trying banh da cua, a rich crab noodle soup that is Haiphong's signature dish; head to Pho 24 on Dien Bien Phu Street for a reliable bowl. Also sample banh mi que, a crispy baguette stick filled with pate and pork, available at street stalls near the market. For dessert, try the local specialty, kem xoi (sticky rice ice cream), at Kem Dac San on Luong Khanh Thien Street.
π Cultural Etiquette
When visiting temples and pagodas, dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes before entering the main halls. Always use both hands when giving or receiving items, especially money or business cards, as a sign of respect. Avoid pointing your feet at people or religious statues, and never touch someone's head, as it is considered sacred.
π Evening Strolls
As the sun sets, take a leisurely walk around the Tam Bac Lake, where locals gather for evening exercise and street food. For a livelier scene, head to the night market on Tran Phu Street, open from 6 PM to 10 PM, where you can shop for souvenirs and try grilled seafood. End your evening with a drink at a rooftop bar like Sky Lounge at the Avani Hotel for a panoramic view of the city lights.
ποΈ Shopping and Souvenirs
Visit the Cho Sat (Iron Market) on Tran Phu Street for a true local shopping experience; it's open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM. Here you'll find fresh produce, seafood, and local snacks like banh da (dried rice noodles) to take home. For handicrafts and antiques, browse the shops around the Opera House, but be prepared to bargain for the best prices.
Nice write-up, the 3-day plan is pretty much exactly what I'd suggest for a first trip. One thing I'd add is to time your visit to Cat Ba for a weekday if you can swing it, the hydrofoil and the national park trails get noticeably busier on weekends with folks from Hanoi, and you'll have the viewpoints more to yourself.
For the evening stroll part, I'd swap the Sky Lounge for the rooftop at the Tien Trung Hotel on Dien Bien Phu. It's not as flashy but the drinks are half the price and you get a solid view over the Tam Bac River instead of just the city grid. Also, when you're at Cho Sat, try the freshly grilled nem cua be (crab spring rolls) from the little stalls on the Nguyen Duc Canh side, they make them to order and they're a whole different thing from the dried snacks you'd take home.
This guide covers the essentials really well, and I'd second the rec for Cat Ba, but if you have a spare half day, take the ferry over to Do Son Beach instead. It's only about 20 kilometers from the city center, and the seafood joints along the main strip are where I've had some of the freshest squid and clams in the whole region, way cheaper than anything near the night market. One thing the post doesn't mention is that most xe om drivers around Cat Bi airport will try to charge double the going rate, so either book a Mai Linh taxi from the official stand or walk a few meters past the terminal exit to flag one down on the main road. For souvenirs, skip the stalls near the Opera House and check the small shops on Quang Trung's side streets instead, they have better quality lacquerware and the owners are less pushy about haggling.
The guide is solid, and I'd add one thing: don't skip the bΓ‘nh Δa cua at a small spot called QuΓ‘n BΓ TΖ° on MΓͺ Linh Street, just off the main drag. It's less touristy than Pho 24 and the broth has a deeper crab flavor, plus you'll see locals queuing up at lunchtime, which is always a good sign. Also, if you're renting a motorbike, avoid the rush hours between 7-8 AM and 5-6 PM around CαΊ§u RΓ o; the traffic there is a different beast even by Vietnamese standards. For a quieter evening than the night market, grab a beer at the little stalls along LαΊ‘ch Tray Street near the stadium, it's where the locals actually hang out after work.
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.