Hai Phong, Once You're Hooked, You're Stuck.

Hai Phong is a city that deserves its nickname of the Flamboyant City. It's the third largest city in Vietnam and a vital seaport that connects the country with the rest of the world. You can see all kinds of vessels and cruise ships docking and sailing in the harbor, creating a lively and dynamic atmosphere.

But Hai Phong is not only a hub for commerce and defense, it's also a wonderful place for tourism and leisure. The city boasts many attractions that showcase its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and modern development. You can enjoy the sandy beaches, the green parks, the historical monuments, and the vibrant nightlife. To get to Hai Phong from Ha Noi, the capital city that is roughly 120 kilometers away, you can take a comfortable and convenient Hai Au bus that costs only VND85.000 per ticket. The journey takes about 3 hours, and you'll arrive in the center of Hai Phong, where you can easily find a hotel that suits your budget and preferences.

And if you have trouble finding a hotel, you don't have to worry, because there are plenty of cheap guesthouses and motels that offer decent accommodation.

Once you've settled in a nice place to stay, get ready to explore the city and discover its charms.

Hai Phong ranks amongst the largest cities in Vietnam and boasts a busy port with a recorded history dating back to 43 AD. In this year, the city was founded by a female military general, Le Chan, a semi-mythical figure who had been part of a Vietnamese revolution against a Chinese force.

Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters (Hai Bà Trưng) in the year 43 C.E.

In 1888, the president of the French Third Republic, Sadi Carnot, promulgated a decree to establish Haiphong.

From 1954 to 1975, Haiphong served as the most important maritime city of North Vietnam, and it became one of direct-controlled municipalities of a reunified Vietnam with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 1976.

Hai Phong has a “Humid subtropical, dry winter” climate (Köppen classification: Cwa). The highest temperature is 32.8°C (91.04°F) and the lowest is 15.2°C (59.36°F), with an average yearly temperature of 24.4°C (75.91°F). Annual rainfall averages nearly 1122.8 mm(44.2 inches).

The best time to visit Hai Phong is from April to October when the weather is cool, dry and very comfortable.

For those who live in big cities, well, traveling sometimes means getting away from the rat race, so the downtown of Hai Phong City seems like a weird place to check out. However, you'll be over the moon to hang around the heart of such a lively city since it offers you a mix of both cultural and natural values. As you stroll along the Tam Bac Lake (Hồ Tam Bạc) either on Nguyen Duc Canh street or Quang Trung Street on another bank, there pop up loads of amazing landmarks, for instance, Sat Market (Chợ Sắt) that used to be a busy trading center in the past before being left in the lurch after a fierce fire in 1985. Come on, you'll find out, as having a chinwag with the locals, heaps of traditional trades like sedge mats (chiếu cói) that are cleverly weaved by Lat Duong craft villagers in Tien Lang, or metal household appliances and ornaments cast in My Dong Casting Village. If you want to see for yourself how those things are made, take some time to travel to these craft villages and start digging into their everyday history-long traditional jobs.

The two streets along the Tam Bac Lake eventually meet up with another pair of streets called Tran Hung Dao str. and Tran Phu str. right at the heart of the city that showcases other impressive landmarks, among which the Hai Phong Opera Hall stands out with its French colonial style paint and architecture. Along the way, Quan Hoa - a bunch of flower stalls brightens up the center with colorful fragrant flowers. You just stroll from the Lake down the street to cut through the city park and end up chilling on a park bench and treat yourself to fresh air under lush green trees. In front of your eyes, there is a series of parks and flower gardens along the parallel streets leading to the main gate of Hai Phong Port. Even though Hai Phong becomes one of the biggest and crowded cities in Vietnam, part of the city keeps its old-fashioned architecture with plenty of old houses that blend in well with other modern structures. And such a architectural mix draws a lot of oohs and aahs from viewers.

As Hai Phong City is crisscrossed by various waterways which forms a number of lakes and rivers. When you visit the Flamboyant City, you have to check out An Bien - Dao Lake (hồ Đào) and Quan Ngua Lake that looks like a lonely island popping up in the middle of the lake, where the youth cultural center is located. That emerald green water of An Bien - Dao Lake is sparkling under the sun makes it awesome for hanging out with friends or finding yourself as you gaze at An Dan Buddhist Temple over the lake.

There are many interesting places to visit in Hai Phong city. Here are some of the must-see places:

1. Cat Ba Island - a popular beach destination with a national park and a historic villa.
2. Du Hang Pagoda - a Buddhist temple with a history of over 300 years.
3. Hai Phong City Opera House - a French-influenced building that hosts cultural shows.
4. Do Son Beach - a resort town with casinos and festivals.
5. Hang Kenh Communal House - a wooden structure with intricate carvings.
6. Hai Phong Museum - a place to learn about the city’s history and culture.
7. Tam Bac Lake - a scenic spot for fishing and relaxing.

If you're feeling pooped out from all the hoofing, why not hop in a cab and cruise around some of the main drags? It's a hoot to see the two dominant cab companies with their signature colors, pink and turquoise, that stick out like sore thumbs as the iconic rides there.

But if you're up for a wild ride and game for some surprises, flag down a bike taxi and zip around the city while haggling over the fare. As soon as you show your face in public, a swarm of bike taxi drivers will make a beeline for you and offer you a tour. With a lid on your head, you'll weave through the busy streets that cut through the heart of the city while ogling at the stunning sights.

I should also give you a heads-up that sometimes they might try to rip you off big time, especially if you're an outsider, and charge you an arm and a leg for a short trip. And it could get ugly if you try to play hardball or they give you a hard time for being a sucker. Worst case scenario, things could get out of hand and boom, someone might throw in the towel or get into hot water. Hey, I'm just pulling your leg, don't sweat it, it's no biggie, really.

You know what they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Well, if you ever visit this place, you might want to brush up on your slang and lingo, because these folks have a way with words that will make your head spin. They don't mince words or beat around the bush, they just tell it like it is, even if it sounds rude or crude.

But don't take it personally, they don't mean to rub you the wrong way or get on your nerves, they're just used to shooting the breeze and having a laugh. It's part of their charm and identity, and it sets them apart from the rest of the country.

You can spot them a mile away by the way they twist their tongue and swap their sounds, like saying 'line' instead of 'nine' or 'lame' instead of 'name'. It's a quirky quirk that makes them unique and hilarious.

Hai Phong is a food lover's paradise. You can find a variety of dishes that will make your mouth water and your stomach happy. Some of the most famous dishes include:

- Banh Da Cua: This is a hearty dish of rice noodles topped with crab meat, fried tofu, bean sprouts, herbs and a tangy broth. It's a great way to warm up on a cold day.
- Banh My Cay: This is not your ordinary sandwich. It's a spicy bread filled with grilled pork, cucumber, cilantro, pickled carrots and daikon, and a fiery sauce. It's a burst of flavor in every bite.
- Snails: If you're feeling adventurous, you can try some of the snail dishes that Hai Phong is known for. You can have them steamed, boiled, fried or grilled with different sauces and spices. They are crunchy, chewy and delicious.
- Banh Beo: These are small steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp, scallions, fried shallots and fish sauce. They are soft, savory and addictive.
- Banh Cuon: These are thin rice crepes filled with minced pork and mushrooms. They are served with fresh herbs, bean sprouts and a dipping sauce. They are light, delicate and satisfying.
- Sui Din: These are sweet dumplings made from glutinous rice flour and filled with mung bean paste or sesame seeds. They are cooked in a ginger syrup and sprinkled with coconut flakes. They are a perfect treat for dessert lovers.

- Bun Tom: This is a noodle soup with shrimp, pork, fish balls, tomatoes, pineapple and tamarind. It's a sweet and sour soup that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Banh Duc Tau: This is a cake made from rice flour and coconut milk. It's topped with caramelized sugar and sesame seeds. It's a simple but tasty snack that you can enjoy anytime.
- Gia be xao: This is a stir-fried dish of gia be, a type of water spinach that grows in brackish water. It's cooked with garlic, chili, sugar and fish sauce. It's a crunchy and refreshing vegetable dish that goes well with rice.

Other dishes that are popular in Hai Phong include sweet desserts, fermented pork roll, coconut coffee, and smashed coconut dessert. You can find these dishes in street stalls, markets, restaurants and cafes all over the city. And prices for those dishes are also incredibly reasonable, just around VND20,000 a bowl. In the nutshell, Hai Phong is a place where you can eat to your heart's content and never get bored of the food.

Some dining places for each delicacy as follows:

Banh da ngan: 23E Le Dai Hanh Str.; Le Hong Phong Str. (near to the 5-way intersection); Tran Hung Dao Str., or around Le Tran Statue.

Thang noodle (bún Thang): Cat Dai Str. (near Phu Van Hotel)

Banh da cua (bánh đa cua): Xuan Diep Rest. on 331 Tran Nguyen Han (close at 8 a.m) or Pham Ngu Lao Str.

Gia be (giá bể): around the Quan Ngua Stadium

Thank you for your attention.

Most of the photos posted in this article belong to the author, except the first one archived online with the source cited.

For further information, please contact me at nhphuc2310@gmail.com.

For other articles of the author, please check them out:

Tay Ninh Province at https://hubpages.com/travel/Tay-Ninh-Province-Why-not
Thu Duc Town at http://hubpages.com/travel/Thu-Duc-Saigon-A-joyful-suburb
Da Lat Half Way to Heaven at http://hubpages.com/travel/Do-we-need-a-long-trip-to-change-horses-in-midstream
Life Trap Escape at http://hubpages.com/travel/Life-Trap-Escape
Ke Ga Cape at http://hubpages.com/travel/Sunset-on-Ke-Ga-Lighthouse
Mui Ne Beach at http://hubpages.com/travel/Mui-Ne-Such-a-Paradise
Da Nang City at http://hubpages.com/travel/Thomas-Wanderlust
Hai Phong City at http://hubpages.com/travel/Hai-Phong-Once-Coming-Then-Staying
French Colonial Structures in Saigon at http://hubpages.com/travel/French-Colonial-style-Architecture-in-SG
Top 3 things to do in Saigon Vietnam at http://hubpages.com/travel/Top-ten-things-you-must-do-in-Saigon-Vietnam
Can Gio a nice choice at http://hubpages.com/travel/Can-Gio-A-nice-choice
Cat Ba Island at https://hubpages.com/travel/Cat-Ba-Island-Shining-in-the-Sun
Ta Dung at https://hubpages.com/travel/Ta-Dung-Vietnam-A-Pearl-of-The-Highlands