Hai Phong Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Hai Phong, Vietnam)

One of the most attractive aspects of this mainly industrial and business-oriented city is its old quarter, with its remnants of the first colonial arrivals who built up the central area over their stay. A good number of colonial mansions still line the broad main streets of Hai Phong, although many are now hotels, museums or government offices, rather than actual tourist attractions.

In the quarter's narrower back streets, terraces of varying architectural styles stand side by side and make a gloriously confused cityscape. Hai Phong doesn't have a great many sights of its own, but the major nearby attractions of Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Island keep visitors happy. There is one good park, An Bien, which is pleasant for a picnic or a leisurely walk, and Do Son Beach is always popular with summer tourists and holiday makers.

Old Colonial Quarter

Address: Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
The older part of central Hai Phong is a gloriously muddled mix of wide streets, lined with grand colonial buildings and mature trees, and smaller byways with picturesque homes and shops. This is where most of the city's attractions can be found. As you stroll around the streets of the Old Colonial Quarter you can take advantage of the city's thriving cafe culture, stopping off at one of the coffee shops for refreshments, sitting at an outdoor table and indulging in a spot of Vietnamese people watching.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Ha Long Bay

Address: Ha Long Bay, Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
Located just off Cat Ba, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay is one of the loveliest places in the world, with its huge quantity of tiny, mostly uninhabited limestone schist islands topped with lush vegetation. Boat trips from the adjacent Hai Phong harbour are the best way to see this natural treasure, although more and more are choosing to hire a kayak for a leisurely paddle around the karsts. Ha Long Bay literally translates as the 'Descending Dragon Bay' and is home to a number of small communities, floating settlements and fishing villages, such as Ba Hang, Cong Tàu, Cura Van and Vong Vieng. Although there are in fact more than 3,000 islands within the bay, locals will argue that there are actually 1,969 in total, since 1969 was the year that Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh died.

Amongst the main attractions in Ha Long Bay are various caves, such as the Cave of Wooden Stakes (Hang Dau Go), which comprises three large chambers and some awesome stalactites and stalagmites. Other caves include the Surprise Cave (Hang Sung Sot) and the Drum Grotto (Hang Trong). Around 7 km / 4 miles to the west of Halong City, Tuan Chau Island (Dao Tuan Chau) makes for a popular excursion, since this is linked to the mainland by a long bridge and was once the summer residence of the great Ho Chi Minh himself.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, charge for boat trips

Ngeh Temple

Address: Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
This pretty temple is built on the site of An Bien Village, which grew to become the massive city of Hai Phong. A small shrine until 1919, the temple was expanded through the next 20 years or so and is now one of the premier attractions in the city. Legend has it that Le Chan, a famous female general who cultivated much of this land, threw herself into the King Thay River and turned into a stone. Villagers then fished the stone out of the water and began carrying it back to An Bien, dropping it on the very spot where this temple was subsequently erected. Inside, the sanctuary and the worshipping hall make up the main spaces.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Cai Beo Archaeological Site

Address: Cat Ba, Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
Based next to a sandy beachfront, the Cai Beo Archaeological Site was discovered in 1938 by French archaeologists, and has been the subject of three major excavation projects since. Many prehistoric and later artefacts have been found here, including pottery pieces, ancient tools and weapons. There is also evidence of how ancient communities used to fish using nets created from plant fibers.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free