Getting Around, Hai Phong Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Hai Phong, Vietnam)

Getting to Hai Phong is best done by air from Ho Chi Minh City or by using bus transport from Hanoi. The nearby Cat Bi Airport is small and has very few facilities, although it may be possible to hire a car and driver there.

Taxi travel is convenient in Hai Phong, although not especially cheap, and local buses are difficult to navigate. A rail link from Hai Phong connects with the main line serving Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but rail transport is generally fairly slow. For travelling around the city itself, moto-taxis or rental cars are the best choices.

Cat Bi Airport (HPH) / Arriving by Air

Address: Le Hong Phong, Hai Phong, Vietnam, VN
Cat Bi is a small airport serving the city of Hai Phong, with regular flights to Ho Chi Minh City provided by Air Mekong, Jetstar and Vietnam Airlines. Although not always clearly scheduled, there may also be flights arriving here from Da Nang. The airport is located on the south-easterly suburbs of the city and is just over 15 km / 9 miles away.

Car Rental

Car rental is a practical way to travel around north-east Vietnam (usually with a driver), although for more remote destinations a four-wheel drive vehicle is necessary. Car hire can be arranged in Hai Phong city, mostly in the central area or through your hotel. Road connections with Hanoi are reasonably good via Highway 5, but the mountain roads need care, especially during the wet season. For more freedom and less cost, hiring a motorbike during your stay may be the answer.

Buses and Coaches

Three bus stations serve various companies in the city, providing long-distance bus transport to and from Hanoi (two hours), together with other Vietnamese regions, such as Bai Chay (one and a half hours) and Ninh Binh (three and a half hours). Hanoi buses depart from the Tam Bac Station, buses to South Vietnam leave from the Niem Nghia Station, and buses to Ha Long from the Lac Long Station. From Ha Long, there are road and boat connections to the border with China.

Trains

The city is not sited on the main rail line linking Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City, although a branch line runs from the city to join it at Tran Quy Cap. Regular trains travel to Hanoi from the main rail station in Hai Phong's central area, as well as Long Bien (two and a half hours). Train services in Vietnam have a reputation for being slow, decrepit and uncomfortable, with even local people preferring to travel by bus.

Taxis

Metered, air-conditioned taxis are available for the 20-minute journey from the airport to the city, but it is best to arrange the fare before you get in. Taxis can also be used for long-distance travel at a pre-arranged price. Motorbike taxis (xe om) are a good and cheap way to get around the city, and radio-taxis can be hired via your hotel.

Boats and Ferries

Ferries and hydrofoils are available from Hai Phong Port to Cat Ba Island, and run several times a day, providing an opportunity for a scenic excursion with great coastal views. Other destinations include Hon Gai on the island of Ha Long / Halong, where tourism is becoming big business.