Getting around Hai Phong: taxi, bus, VinBus or scooter?

Hai Phong’s old center is walkable, with cafés, street food stalls and familiar landmarks clustered around the Opera House and Tam Bac Lake. You can enjoy much of this area on foot and save taxis or buses for places farther away, such as Do Son Beach, Vu Yen Island and Thuy Nguyen.

Is Hai Phong a walkable city?

Yes, particularly if you’re staying in the old city center.

The streets around Hai Phong Opera House, Tam Bac Lake, Tran Phu Street and Dien Bien Phu Street are among the most pleasant places to explore on foot.

Much of this historic central area now falls within Hong Bang Ward following the city’s administrative changes in 2025.

In the morning, you might walk from your hotel to a small restaurant for a bowl of banh da cua, Hai Phong’s famous crab noodle soup. After breakfast, there’s time for Vietnamese coffee before wandering past old buildings, traditional shops and streets that still feel distinctly local.

Save Tam Bac Lake for the late afternoon. As the temperature drops, people gather along the lakeside, the streetlights begin to glow and the city settles into a slower rhythm.

Walking also lets you notice details you might otherwise miss from a car: a faded balcony above a shop, a tiny café tucked between larger buildings or a family-run food stall with just a handful of plastic stools.

That said, not every attraction in Hai Phong is within walking distance.

Some popular restaurants, shopping centers and newer neighborhoods are several kilometers apart. Even in the center, parked motorbikes, shop displays and other obstacles sometimes block the sidewalk.

Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK

• Walk for journeys of around 1-2 km when the weather is comfortable and the route is safe.
• Use a taxi or ride-hailing app for longer trips, especially during hot or rainy weather.
• Choose a car if you’re traveling with children, older family members or heavy luggage.

When crossing the road, look for pedestrian crossings and check both directions carefully. Motorbikes may approach from unexpected angles, even when traffic appears to be moving slowly.

Save your hotel’s location on Google Maps before heading out. Some guesthouses sit inside narrow lanes, and showing a driver the exact location is often easier than explaining the address aloud.

Taxis in Hai Phong: should you use Green SM or Grab?

For visitors who don’t want to drive, taxis and ride-hailing apps are probably the easiest way to get around Hai Phong.

The city has traditional taxi companies as well as Green SM and Grab. Both app-based services are useful for international travelers because you can enter your destination, check the trip details and follow your route on a map.

Which is better: Green SM or Grab?

Keep both apps on your phone and compare them when you need a ride. One may have a driver nearby while the other has a shorter waiting time or a more suitable vehicle.

During heavy rain, rush hour or large events, availability can change quickly.

If your phone has no mobile data or you’re unable to register with a local or international number, ask your hotel’s reception staff to arrange a taxi.

It’s safer than accepting an unsolicited ride from someone whose vehicle and fare you haven’t verified.

Are public buses in Hai Phong easy to use?

For a few blocks in the old city center, walking or a ride-hail beats the bus.

Three routes are useful for visitors who want to go beyond the main streets without paying for a private car:

• Bus 03 connects central Hai Phong with Do Son Beach.
• VinBus HP1 connects the city center with Vincom Royal Island on Vu Yen Island.
• VinBus HP2 connects Thuy Nguyen with Vincom Royal Island.

Check the return journey before setting off.

Getting somewhere by bus can be straightforward, but if you stay out too late, you may find that the last service has already departed.

Bus 03: getting from central Hai Phong to Do Son Beach

Do Son is approximately 20 km from central Hai Phong.

By car, the journey along Pham Van Dong Road can take around 20-30 minutes in favorable traffic, although it may take longer depending on where you start and how busy the roads are.

Not in a hurry? Bus 03 is a budget-friendly alternative.

The route connects VSIP Industrial Park, the city’s Political and Administrative Center north of the Cam River, central Hai Phong and Do Son’s Zone 2 beach area.

Photo: THÁI VITV

How much does Bus 03 cost?

• Full-route ticket: 30,000 VND per person, one way.
• Section ticket: 25,000 VND per person, one way, for the designated section of the route.

What time does Bus 03 operate?

Hai Phong’s official August 2025 route announcement states that buses should operate approximately every 15 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes during off-peak periods. It also lists 7:00 PM as the closing time at the Do Son terminal.

The operator’s website, however, currently shows a 40-minute interval between services and a return operating window ending at 7:10 PM.

The two figures don’t match, so treat 15 minutes as the best case.

Check the latest information with the operator before traveling, particularly if you’re planning your return around the last service.

The last departure time applies at the terminal, not at every stop along the route.

Should you take the bus to Do Son in the evening?

For a daytime visit, Bus 03 makes sense.

You can travel to Do Son in the morning, spend a few hours by the sea and return to central Hai Phong in the late afternoon.

But if you’re planning a long seafood dinner, an evening walk along the coast or a visit that runs after sunset, it’s better to arrange a taxi or ride-hailing service for the journey back.

Don’t build your entire evening around catching the last bus.

Free VinBus services: getting to Vu Yen Island

VinBus is an electric bus service connecting Vincom Royal Island on Vu Yen Island with other parts of the city.

Two routes, HP1 and HP2, operate under a revised network introduced on November 15, 2025.

Both routes are free to ride, which suits visitors who want to explore the newer developments around Vu Yen without paying for a taxi.

The free part is the bus ride. Some attractions, entertainment venues and activities on the island charge their own fees.

You can check the latest route maps and stops on the official VinBus website:

vinbus.vn

Route map:

maps.vinbus.vn

Planning more than a few hours on the island? Our Vu Yen Island Travel Guide covers more things to see and do.

Renting a motorbike in Hai Phong: is it worth it?

Renting a motorbike gives you plenty of freedom.

You can stop at a small coffee shop whenever you like, change your lunch plans at the last minute or visit several neighborhoods without waiting for a driver.

The catch for anyone who has never ridden in Vietnam: Hai Phong has busy intersections, mixed traffic and roads shared by motorbikes, cars, buses and heavy trucks. Some routes around industrial areas and the port can feel particularly demanding if you’re unfamiliar with local traffic.

Photo: Hoàng Linh

On a two- or three-day stay near the old city center, walking and taxis cover most of what you’ll want to do.

A rental motorbike makes more sense if you’re already comfortable riding in Vietnam, understand the road signs and hold a license that is legally valid for the vehicle.

How much does it cost to rent a motorbike in Hai Phong?

At one local rental company, standard manual and automatic motorbikes are listed at approximately 100,000-150,000 VND per 24 hours, depending on the model and whether you rent on a weekday, weekend or public holiday.

Some larger or more premium models cost more.

These are example prices from an individual rental provider, not official citywide rates.

Before booking, ask whether a rental day means a full 24 hours or whether the motorbike must be returned before the shop closes.

Also check the charges for late returns, delivery, fuel and any additional equipment.

A few minutes of clarification can save an awkward discussion when you bring the bike back.

What driving license do you need for a motorbike in Vietnam?

Vietnam changed its motorcycle license categories on January 1, 2025.

The distinction matters because many rental shops offer motorbikes with engines around 110 cc, 125 cc or 150 cc.

Under the new licensing categories, a 150 cc motorbike requires Category A rather than a newly issued A1 license.

For foreign visitors, the exact vehicle category authorized by a recognized foreign license or international driving permit must also be checked. Vietnamese category names shouldn’t simply be assumed to match the categories used in your home country.

Always ask the rental shop for the engine capacity or electric motor power before choosing a vehicle.

Can foreigners ride rental motorbikes with an international driving permit?

Sometimes, but not every document advertised as an "international driving license" is recognized in Vietnam.

Vietnam recognizes qualifying International Driving Permits (IDPs) issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, subject to the applicable legal conditions.

A visitor using a qualifying IDP must carry the corresponding national driving license as well. Both documents must be valid, and the driver must be authorized to operate the relevant vehicle category.

For travelers from the United States, Australia, European countries, China or Thailand, the important questions are which authority issued the permit, which convention applies and which motorcycle categories the documents cover.

Don’t assume a permit is accepted simply because it’s valid in another country.

What about visitors from South Korea?

Vietnam and South Korea have a separate bilateral agreement on the mutual recognition of International Driving Permits, effective from July 23, 2023.

Under the agreement, eligible South Korean IDP holders can drive the corresponding vehicle categories in Vietnam for up to one year from their date of entry, provided their documents remain valid and the required national driving license is carried alongside the IDP.

Motorcycle authorization still depends on the recognized vehicle category.

Unsure whether your license meets Vietnam’s requirements? Check with the relevant licensing authority before renting.

A rental shop handing over the keys says nothing about whether you’re licensed to ride legally.

Do you need a license for a small electric motorbike or a 50 cc scooter?

In Vietnam, a vehicle classified as a moped can be ridden without a driving license if it meets the applicable legal limits.

For this category, the vehicle must have:

• A maximum design speed of no more than 50 km/h.
• A petrol engine capacity of no more than 50 cc, if petrol-powered.
• An electric motor power rating of no more than 4 kW, if electric-powered.
• A rider who is at least 16 years old.

The design-speed limit and the relevant engine or motor specification must be considered together.

Labels like "small electric scooter" or "no-license electric bike" are sales talk. The vehicle’s specifications decide whether it is exempt from licensing.

Some electric motorcycles exceed these limits and require a suitable Category A1 or A license.

Before renting, ask to see the vehicle’s registration and technical specifications.

Even when a license isn’t required, you must still follow traffic laws, wear an appropriate helmet where required and carry the necessary vehicle documents.

A small electric scooter still shares the road with trucks and buses, which matters most for first-time riders in Vietnam.

What should you check before collecting a rental motorbike?

Spend a few minutes inspecting the vehicle while you’re still at the rental shop.

Weak brakes or badly worn tires mean asking for another motorbike, even after you’ve paid the deposit.

International travelers should also read their travel insurance policy carefully.

Some policies exclude motorcycle accidents or impose conditions involving engine capacity, valid licensing, helmet use and other requirements.

The fact that a rental company provides you with a motorbike doesn’t guarantee that your insurance will cover an accident.

Common traffic fines for motorbike riders in Hai Phong

Visitors are subject to Vietnam’s traffic laws just like local drivers.

Fines for common motorcycle violations:

Alcohol violations may also result in penalty points or license suspension.

For the lowest alcohol bracket, the corresponding penalty is a deduction of four license points. The middle bracket carries a ten-point deduction.

At the highest alcohol level, the rider may face a license suspension of 22-24 months.

Equivalent legal thresholds also apply to breath alcohol measurements.

Vietnam prohibits driving with alcohol in your system: if you’ve been drinking, don’t ride.

Following another motorbike through a turn without checking the signs is another quick way to pick up a fine.

Some central streets are one-way, while certain intersections restrict specific turns.

If you miss a junction, continue to a legal turning point rather than riding against traffic for a short distance.

How to ride safely in Hai Phong

Legally licensed riders who are already familiar with riding in Vietnam should still choose routes that match their experience.

Traffic can become busy during the morning and late-afternoon commuting periods. Some major roads also carry large trucks and container vehicles.

• Wear a properly fitted helmet, even for very short trips.
• Keep a safe distance from buses and trucks, especially around blind spots.
• Avoid overtaking large vehicles when your view is obstructed.
• Signal before turning and check your mirrors.
• Never hold your phone to follow navigation while riding.
• Reduce speed on wet roads, especially near painted road markings.
• Avoid unfamiliar roads at night if you’re not confident riding in local conditions.

When Google Maps and the road signs disagree, follow the signs.

Take a look at the route before leaving and stop somewhere safe if you need to check your phone.

Solo travelers usually find it easier to group nearby attractions together rather than zigzag across the city all day.

Which transport should you choose for different trips?

The table matches transport to where you’re going and what kind of day you have planned.

On a short visit, mixing a few ways of getting around works better than sticking to one.

Walk around the old town in the morning, book a car when the afternoon gets hot and save a separate day for Do Son or Vu Yen.

You skip most of the parking, traffic and navigation hassle that way.

Planning a longer journey?

This guide focuses on getting around once you’re already staying in Hai Phong.

A few final tips for getting around Hai Phong

Hai Phong’s old center is best taken slowly, on foot.

You can walk a few blocks, stop for a little banh mi cay - the city’s famous spicy bread snack - order a coffee and continue through the streets without a strict plan.

When the afternoon becomes too warm or your feet need a rest, booking a ride back to your hotel is easy enough.

Heading to Do Son? Check the return bus schedule before leaving. For Vu Yen, look up HP1 or HP2. Renting a motorbike means sorting out your license, vehicle documents and insurance first.

With a little planning, you’ll spend less time figuring out transport and more time enjoying a good meal, a lakeside evening or an unexpected little street you discover on the way home.