A floating village near Cat Ba Island

Haiphong Holiday Weather today


Date/time of update: March 19, 2024, 5:34 am, Timezone: GMT+7
Broken Clouds

Temperature: 17.98°C
Temperature feels like: 18.29°C
Minimum Temperature: 17.98°C
Maximum Temperature: 17.98°C
Atmospheric pressure: 1020hPa
Humidity:94%
Visibility: 6000m
Wind speed: 3.6m/sec
Wind Direction: 30 degrees
Cloudiness: 75%
Sunrise: 2024-03-18 10:58:38
Sunset: 2024-03-19 11:04:13

Hai Phong is the third biggest city in Vietnam, after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The city is 110km south-east of Hanoi. Hai Phong is bordered to the north by Quang Ninh Province, to the east by Hai Duong Province, to the south by Thai Binh Province and to the East by the East Sea of Vietnam.

Geography

Hai Phong is located to the northeast of Vietnam with Quang Ninh Province and Halong Bay to the north, the East Vietnam Sea to the east, Thai Binh to the south and Hai Duong to the west. 

Apart from the inland, Hai Phong also has two island districts: Cat Hai and Bach Long Vy. Cat Hai District has 360 islands of which the biggest are the Cat Ba Island and Cat Hai Island.

Terrain

The terrain of Hai Phong includes flat river basins alternated by limestone or sandstone mountains. The general direction of the terrain is higher to the northwest and lower to the southeast and the general direction of the mountains is from west to east. The most remarkable series of broken mountains stretch for about 30km from An Lao to the Do Son Beach. 

Sudden limestone mountains stick out of green paddy fields make it great landscapes in Hai Phong that either leisurely biking tours or walking tours could offer amazing experiences to the visitors. Sadly, quite a few limestone mountains have been exploited and destroyed to get material for the cement factories in the region.

Rivers

Hai Phong has several rivers running from the northwest to the southeast discharging the water into the East Vietnam Sea. The coastline in the province is flat with several river mouths which make the water quite murky yet great environment and habitat for several floral and fauna species mangroves,…

Weather and Climate, Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Hai Phong is when it is dry and with pleasant temperatures which can be found in the period from December through April. If you plan for adventure tours to Hai Phong or family holidays to the Cat Ba Island, then this should be a good time.

It is also very beautiful to visit Hai Phong in autumn (late August through October) provided it is not during the impact of a typhoon. The summer from May through July can be very hot and humid (over 36oC).

Adventure Travel, Things To Do in Hai Phong

1/ Bicycle Tours

AdventureGreen operates back-road biking tours through the peaceful countryside of Hai Phong. On these tours, we'll follow off-the-beaten paths discovering village life and take in the idyllic countryside. Low keys these destinations it may be, but you'll surely get beautiful photos of these amazing areas. Our bike tours can also be extended to cover Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh Provinces…

2/ Adventure Beach Holidays

AdventureGreen also arranges relaxing holidays to Do Son Beach and Cat Ba Island. There are options for more active or adventure activities on your vacations in these destinations.

3/ Trekking Tours, Hiking Trips, Walking Tours

There are options for hard trekking tours or moderate hiking trips on the Cat Ba Island. The former takes a full day through dense forest of Cat Ba National Park and the latter takes a couple of hours through the forest of Cat Ba to the Ma Yen Peak which offers panoramic views of Cat Ba Island and the Lan Ha Bay. AdventureGreen also hosts a number of walking tours in the idyllic countryside of Hai Phong Province with areca palm trees, limestone mountains, paddy fields...

A turquoise water lake at Thuy Nguyen, a great photogenic site
A turquoise water lake at Thuy Nguyen, a great photogenic site

Hai Phong Travel Guide, What To See, Tourist Attractions in Hai Phong

Hai Phong tourist attractions include the National Park of Cat Ba (which shares some heavenly landscape with Halong Bay of Quang Ninh Province); Do Son Beach; Du Hang Buddhist Pagoda and Hang Kenh Community House... Besides, Hai Phong possesses amazing countryside with idyllic villages and swaying areca palm trees which provides wonderful cycling experiences.

Except for Cat Ba Island, Hai Phong is not visited frequently by the foreign travellers. Do Son Beach is only popular for Vietnamese tourists. Most other areas of Hai Phong don't have tourists frequently.

Fishing Village near Cat Ba Island
Fishing Village near Cat Ba Island

1/ Cat Ba Island and Cat Ba National Park

Cat Ba Island located to the south of Halong Bay is 1 hour by boat from Hai Phong City. Alternatively you can get to the island by road and via the longest sea bridge in Vietnam Tan Vu – Lach Huyen; the distance between Cat Ba Town and Hai Phong City via this road is 50km with a ferry crossing (Got Ferry).

Cat Ba Island has much to offer to the adventure travelers: Cat Ba National Park is a good place for hiking. You can take the short route for 1-2 hours to the Ma Yen Mountain top for panoramic views of the island and the surrounding, or you can take the long route for a day through dense forest to Viet Hai Fishing Village. With the long route, you would have to come back the same way or travel back to Cat Ba Town by boat.

Fishing Village near Cat Ba Island
Fishing Village near Cat Ba Island

2/ Lan Ha Bay (Bay of Summer Orchids)

Lan Ha Bay is a little sea bay to the southeast of Cat Ba Island. Halong Bay is as magnificent as Halong Bay with several wonderful islands jutting out of the emerald sea water. Lan Ha Bay is the best place for kayaking; the islands on the Lan Ha Bay are more densely located than those on Halong Bay. Alternatively you can have a day boat trip to visit the bay. Travelers with deeper wallet can have luxury boat cruise on Lan Ha Bay for 2-3 days. There are deserted beaches on Lan Ha Bay that you can go camping.

3/ Countryside of Thuy Nguyen

The area has several lovely villages with swaying areca palm trees amid limestone mountains. The countryside is great for country back road cycling experiences. You’ll be in a breathtaking natural landscape having close communion with villagers.

There is a lake at Thuy Nguyen with turquoise blue water which is surrounded by limestone mountains. You’ll surely have wonderful photography at this amazing natural studio.

The countryside at Thuy Nguyen, Hai Phong
The countryside at Thuy Nguyen, Hai Phong

 

Scenic mountain on our cycling route at Thuy Nguyen
Scenic mountain on our cycling route at Thuy Nguyen

 

A village road at Thuy Nguyen
A village road at Thuy Nguyen

 

 

The lake is a wonderful natural studio for great photography
The lake is a wonderful natural studio for great photography

4/ Do Son Beach

Do Son is crowded in the summer with Vietnamese tourist while it is empty in the winter. There are lovely pine hills and deserted beaches to yourselves. There are also luxury hotels, golf course and a casino at Do Son in case you have the interests.

5/ Hai Phong City

Hai Phong could be a nice city for some travelers. The French architecture, leafy streets, sidewalk cafes, buzzing nigh life, street markets...to name a few. You love trying street food, Hai Phong is also a good place to try different sizzling street cuisine.

Where To Stay, Hotels

There are luxury hotels, resorts and restaurants in the City of Hai Phong, in Do Son Beach and on Cat Ba Island. While in the countryside, there are opportunities staying with local families.

How To Get To Hai Phong

1/ By air

There are daily flights between Hai Phong Cat Bi Airport and other cities in Vietnam.

2/ By rail

There are daily commuter trains between Hanoi and Hai Phong. The train journeys take 2 hours each.

3/ By road

Route 5 and the new Route 5 linking Hanoi and Hai Phong are in good condition, the latter is excellent which shorten the journey between Hanoi and Hai Phong to 1 hour only. Alternatively, you can access Hai Phong from Quang Ninh (Halong Bay) and Thai Binh via Route 10 which is in great condition nowadays.


Hai Phong Average Monthly Rainfalls and Temperatures


Vietnam Adventure Travel