What is the best time to visit Hai Phong?

February, March, November, and December offer the most favorable conditions with temperatures between 18–25°C and minimal rainfall. Avoid June to September, when monsoon rains and high humidity peak. August is the wettest month with approximately 417mm of rainfall.

How far is Hai Phong from Hanoi?

Hai Phong is approximately 120 kilometers east of Hanoi. The journey by road typically takes 2–3 hours depending on traffic conditions. Cat Bi International Airport, 23 kilometers south of Hai Phong's center, offers flight connections.

What are the main attractions in Hai Phong?

The city features French colonial architecture, a renowned street food scene, and historic cultural sites including temples and monuments. Travelers can explore local markets, visit historic landmarks like Đài tưởng niệm liệt sĩ Thanh Hà, and use the city as a gateway to Halong Bay.

How do I get from Cat Bi Airport to central Hai Phong?

Cat Bi International Airport is 23 kilometers south of the city center. Ground transportation options include taxis, ride-sharing services, and airport shuttles. The journey to central Hai Phong typically takes 30–45 minutes.

What is Hai Phong's climate like?

Hai Phong has a subtropical climate with cool, dry winters (December–February, 17–18°C) and hot, wet summers (June–August, 28–30°C). June peaks at 29.7°C and August receives over 417mm of rainfall across 25 rainy days.

Is Hai Phong a good base for visiting Halong Bay?

Yes. Hai Phong is approximately one hour's journey from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay, making it a convenient gateway for visitors exploring northern Vietnam's coastal regions.

Hai Phong: Vietnam's Gateway Port City

Hai Phong is Vietnam's principal port city and one of Southeast Asia's busiest maritime centers, located approximately 120 kilometers east of Hanoi in the Red River Delta. With a population of approximately 4.66 million residents, it ranks among Vietnam's largest urban centers and serves as a crucial economic hub connecting inland regions to the Gulf of Tonkin. Despite being the smallest municipality by area in Vietnam at 3,194.72 square kilometers, Hai Phong's compact geography encompasses both densely populated urban districts and island territories, including Bạch Long Vĩ and Cát Hải islands. The city's economy centers on its bustling port operations and manufacturing activities. Hai Phong is increasingly recognized as an emerging destination for travelers exploring northern Vietnam's coastal regions, offering a combination of colonial-era architecture from its French colonial past, a renowned street food scene reflecting Vietnamese culinary traditions, and convenient gateway access to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay.

Updated 2026-05-03 · Source: GeoNames, Wikipedia

Population: 4.7M
Climate: subtropical
Best months: Feb–Mar, Nov–Dec

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Image: Wikimedia Commons contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikipedia

Local currency

VND

Timezone

Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh

Hai Phong: Vietnam's Gateway Port City: 20.870, 106.510Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

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Climate

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Monthly normals (10-year window). Bars show precipitation, lines show average and max temperature.

Best months to visit: Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

What's around (within 10km, 18 POIs)

9
Temples
3
Markets
3
Attractions
1
ATMs
1
Cafés
1
Restaurants

Top landmarks

Đài tưởng niệm liệt sĩ Thanh Hàmonument
Lối vào đại đứcattraction
Tượng Phậtattraction

Nearest airports

OpenFlights.org

Cat Bi International Airport
Haiphong
HPH23km

Quick facts

Hai Phong is located approximately 120 kilometers east of Hanoi in Vietnam's Red River Delta.
The city has a population of approximately 4.66 million residents, ranking among Vietnam's largest urban centers.
Hai Phong covers 3,194.72 square kilometers, making it Vietnam's smallest municipality by area.
The city's port operations rank among Southeast Asia's busiest maritime centers.
February and March average 18–21.5°C with precipitation under 50mm, offering optimal travel conditions.
August is the wettest month, with approximately 417mm of rainfall and 25 rainy days.
Cat Bi International Airport is located 23 kilometers south of Hai Phong's city center.
The city features French colonial architecture from its colonial heritage period.
Hai Phong encompasses island territories including Bạch Long Vĩ and Cát Hải in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Temples within the city's 10-kilometer radius number 9 documented sites.
The city is approximately one hour's journey from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay.
June temperatures peak at an average of 29.7°C with 214mm of rainfall.
Hai Phong's street food culture reflects Vietnamese culinary traditions.
The city serves as a crucial economic hub connecting inland regions to the Gulf of Tonkin.
November and December maintain average temperatures around 17–22°C with minimal precipitation.

Geography & Climate

Hai Phong occupies a compact 3,194.72 square kilometers in northern Vietnam's Red River Delta, making it the smallest municipality by area in the country. The city's territory extends into the Gulf of Tonkin, encompassing island regions including Bạch Long Vĩ and Cát Hải. The climate is subtropical with distinct seasonal variations. Summer months (June to August) are warm and wet, with August averaging 28.2°C and receiving approximately 417mm of rainfall over 25 rainy days. Winter months (December to February) are cooler and drier, with January averaging 17.1°C and only 48mm of precipitation. The transitional months of February, March, November, and December offer the most favorable conditions with lower rainfall and comfortable temperatures ranging from 18°C to 25°C.

Area: 3,194.72 km²
Population: Approximately 4.66 million
Warmest month (average): June at 29.7°C
Wettest month: August with 417mm rainfall
January temperature (avg): 17.1°C

Best Time to Visit

The optimal periods to visit Hai Phong are February, March, November, and December. These months combine comfortable temperatures with minimal rainfall, making them ideal for exploring the city's colonial architecture and waterfront areas. February and March feature average temperatures between 18°C and 21.5°C with precipitation under 50mm. November and December maintain similar conditions with averages around 17–22°C. Avoid the summer months from June to September, when heavy monsoon rains and high humidity dominate, with August alone receiving over 417mm of rain. Spring and autumn offer the best balance for outdoor exploration and street food tours.

Best visit months: February, March, November, December
Average temp (best season): 18–25°C
Monsoon season: June–September
Peak rainfall month: August (417mm)

Cultural & Maritime Heritage

Hai Phong's identity is deeply rooted in its maritime and colonial heritage. The city's port operations represent one of Southeast Asia's busiest commercial hubs, reflecting its importance as an economic gateway. French colonial architecture remains visible throughout the urban landscape, providing architectural landmarks for visitors. The city hosts a vibrant street food culture that reflects Vietnamese culinary traditions, with markets and informal dining establishments concentrated in central urban districts. Notable cultural sites include Đài tưởng niệm liệt sĩ Thanh Hà (historic monument), temples, and Buddhist attractions. The city serves as a convenient departure point for excursions to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay, approximately one hour's journey away.

Temples within 10km: 9 sites
Cultural attractions (OSM): 3 named landmarks
Markets within 10km: 3 locations
Nearest UNESCO site: Halong Bay (~1 hour)

Getting There

Cat Bi International Airport (HPH) is the primary air gateway to Hai Phong, located approximately 23 kilometers south of the city center. The airport handles domestic and international flights, with convenient ground transportation options to central Hai Phong. From Hanoi, approximately 120 kilometers west, travelers can reach Hai Phong via road transport in approximately 2–3 hours depending on traffic conditions. The city's port also facilitates regional maritime travel connections. Once in the city, central districts are navigable on foot or by local taxis and ride-sharing services, given the compact urban layout.

Cat Bi Airport distance: 23km from city center
Distance from Hanoi: Approximately 120km
Travel time from Hanoi: 2–3 hours by road

Urban Economy & Structure

Hai Phong's economy is anchored by its port operations, which rank among Southeast Asia's busiest commercial maritime centers. Manufacturing and industrial activities form significant secondary economic sectors. The city's status as Vietnam's smallest municipality by area—3,194.72 square kilometers—contrasts sharply with its population of 4.66 million, resulting in a densely populated urban core. The compact geography has fostered a vibrant informal street food sector and dense commercial districts. The city serves as a regional hub connecting inland production areas to maritime export routes via the Gulf of Tonkin.

Rank by population: Among Vietnam's largest cities
Primary economic sector: Port operations & maritime
Secondary sectors: Manufacturing and industry

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Hai Phong?: February, March, November, and December offer the most favorable conditions with temperatures between 18–25°C and minimal rainfall. Avoid June to September, when monsoon rains and high humidity peak. August is the wettest month with approximately 417mm of rainfall.
How far is Hai Phong from Hanoi?: Hai Phong is approximately 120 kilometers east of Hanoi. The journey by road typically takes 2–3 hours depending on traffic conditions. Cat Bi International Airport, 23 kilometers south of Hai Phong's center, offers flight connections.
What are the main attractions in Hai Phong?: The city features French colonial architecture, a renowned street food scene, and historic cultural sites including temples and monuments. Travelers can explore local markets, visit historic landmarks like Đài tưởng niệm liệt sĩ Thanh Hà, and use the city as a gateway to Halong Bay.
How do I get from Cat Bi Airport to central Hai Phong?: Cat Bi International Airport is 23 kilometers south of the city center. Ground transportation options include taxis, ride-sharing services, and airport shuttles. The journey to central Hai Phong typically takes 30–45 minutes.
What is Hai Phong's climate like?: Hai Phong has a subtropical climate with cool, dry winters (December–February, 17–18°C) and hot, wet summers (June–August, 28–30°C). June peaks at 29.7°C and August receives over 417mm of rainfall across 25 rainy days.
Is Hai Phong a good base for visiting Halong Bay?: Yes. Hai Phong is approximately one hour's journey from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay, making it a convenient gateway for visitors exploring northern Vietnam's coastal regions.

More about Hai Phong: Vietnam's Gateway Port City

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Sources & methodology

Geographic data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Narrative sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and structured by Claude. Map by © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See the methodology and sources registry for full attribution and update cadence.

This page last refreshed 2026-05-03 · generation v3.