Where is Hai Phong, and is it worth adding 1-2 days to your Northern Vietnam itinerary?

Hai Phong is a centrally governed city in Northern Vietnam, located east of Hanoi along the Gulf of Tonkin. The old city center is about 110-120 km from central Hanoi by road. Farther east lies Cat Ba Island, while Ha Long in Quang Ninh Province is to the northeast. On July 1, 2025, Hai Phong merged with the former Hai Duong Province, making the city much larger than the port area most travelers previously knew.

Is Hai Phong in Northern Vietnam, and is it a province or a city?

Hai Phong is in Northern Vietnam, within the Red River Delta region. It is one of Vietnam’s six centrally governed cities, alongside Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, and Hue.

This means Hai Phong is not a province, nor is it administratively part of Hanoi or Quang Ninh. It has its own provincial-level government, although many international visitors first encounter the name when booking a flight to Cat Bi Airport, a trip to Cat Ba Island, or a train from Hanoi.

On a map of Northern Vietnam, you can understand Hai Phong’s location by looking in four directions:

• West: The city connects to Hanoi via the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway and National Highway 5. The former Hai Duong area lies along this corridor, between the two urban centers.
• Northeast: Quang Ninh Province is home to Ha Long, Bai Chay, and the famous Ha Long Bay.
• South and southeast: The landscape opens toward coastal plains, the Do Son Peninsula, river mouths, and offshore islands.
• East, farther offshore: The Cat Ba Archipelago, Lan Ha Bay, and Bach Long Vi Special Administrative Zone lie in the Gulf of Tonkin.

For travelers, Hai Phong occupies a convenient position. It is close enough to Hanoi for a train or road journey of a few hours, near Ha Long for an onward trip, and serves as a major gateway to Cat Ba Island.

However, arriving in Hai Phong does not mean you’ve arrived on Cat Ba Island. The old city center is on the mainland, while Cat Ba’s main tourist area is on an offshore island.

Although both places belong to Hai Phong, you need to allow separate travel time between them.

Which province merged with Hai Phong in 2025?

On July 1, 2025, Hai Phong and the former Hai Duong Province officially merged into a single administrative unit, retaining the name Hai Phong City.

This is worth remembering when reading travel articles or using maps published before July 2025.

Before the merger, Hai Phong was mainly associated with its port city, Do Son’s beaches, and the Cat Ba Archipelago. Hai Duong was a separate province to the west, known for its urban center, Chi Linh, Con Son-Kiep Bac, and numerous historical and cultural sites.

After the merger, all these areas became part of Hai Phong.

Under the 2025 reorganization, the expanded city has 114 commune-level administrative units:

• 45 wards.
• 67 communes.
• 2 special administrative zones: Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi.

Vietnam’s two-tier local government system also removed the district level. Names such as Hong Bang District, Do Son District, Cat Hai District, and the former Hai Duong City still appear in everyday conversation and older travel materials, but they are no longer current district-level administrative divisions.

Here are some names you may encounter when checking older addresses:

As a visitor, you don’t need to memorize all 114 wards, communes, and special administrative zones.

What matters is recognizing that Hai Phong now includes two major urban areas to the east and west, along with coastal destinations, islands, and rural districts between them.

A hotel with a Hai Phong address may not be anywhere near the Hai Phong Opera House. It could be in the former Hai Duong area, roughly 60 km from the old port city center.

Hai Phong map after the merger: 6 areas travelers should know

Hai Phong is easier to understand when divided into six geographical areas based on travel direction.

Each has its own character, and not all of them make sense to combine in a single day.

Old Hai Phong city center: street food, architecture, and walkable streets

This is the area most Vietnamese travelers picture when they hear the name Hai Phong.

Use the Hai Phong Opera House as your reference point. Streets such as Hoang Van Thu, Cau Dat, Tran Phu, Dien Bien Phu, and the neighborhood around Hai Phong Railway Station are all relatively close to the city center.

Hong Bang, Ngo Quyen, Gia Vien, Le Chan, and An Bien are among the current ward names you may encounter when looking up addresses in the central area.

One advantage of staying here is that you won’t need transport for every stop.

From Hai Phong Railway Station, you can walk to several central streets, visit the Opera House, stop for a bowl of banh da cua (Hai Phong-style crab noodle soup), or explore streets lined with French colonial-era buildings.

Hai Phong Railway Station stands at the end of Luong Khanh Thien Street. Its location is particularly convenient for visitors arriving by train from Hanoi.

Photo: Bambusser

If you only have one day to explore the port city, this is the most practical starting point.

The center also works well for an overnight stay before heading to Do Son or Cat Ba the next morning. Just remember that staying downtown doesn’t put you a few minutes away from Cat Ba Island.

Thuy Nguyen and Vu Yen: the new urban area north of the Cam River

Look across the Cam River from the old city center, and you’ll find Thuy Nguyen.

Hoang Van Thu Bridge connects the older urban area with the Bac Song Cam development zone, where Hai Phong’s new Political-Administrative Center is located.

This is one of the most noticeable changes in the city’s urban landscape.

Thuy Nguyen features broad roads, expanding residential developments, and new administrative buildings. The atmosphere is quite different from the smaller streets around Cau Dat, the Opera House, and the traditional markets downtown.

Vu Yen Island is also part of this development direction, with new urban projects and leisure facilities.

Photo: VinWonders

However, Thuy Nguyen and Vu Yen are not a single tourist stop. Your exact destination determines which bridge to cross, which roads to take, and how long the journey will be.

From the Opera House area to the Bac Song Cam urban zone, a car journey may take around 15-30 minutes, depending on the destination and traffic. Reaching other parts of Thuy Nguyen or Vu Yen can take longer.

This area is worth considering if you’re interested in seeing the newer side of Hai Phong.

But if you prefer old streets, local restaurants, and exploring neighborhoods on foot, start with the historic center south of the Cam River.

Do Son: the coastal area southeast of the city center

Do Son is part of Hai Phong, located on a peninsula extending toward the sea, about 20 km by road from the Opera House.

From central Hai Phong, head southeast through the Duong Kinh area to reach Do Son. The drive usually takes around 35-50 minutes, depending on traffic and your exact beach destination.

Following the 2025 administrative reorganization, the Do Son area is mainly within Do Son and Nam Do Son wards.

Older names such as Do Son Zone 1, Zone 2, and Zone 3 are still commonly used to identify different beachfront areas.

Do Son has swimming beaches, coastal roads, resorts, and Hon Dau Island. It is relatively easy to combine with a day exploring the old city, especially if you have a car or private transport.

Photo: An Nguyễn Hải

However, Do Son is not on the route to Cat Ba Island.

One destination lies southeast of the mainland city, while the other is an island farther east. Trying to visit both in a single day means spending considerable time retracing roads and changing transport.

If you have two days in Hai Phong and want to spend time by the sea, decide whether Do Son or Cat Ba is your priority.

Do Son is better suited to a shorter coastal excursion. Cat Ba makes more sense if you’re interested in boat trips, island scenery, and staying overnight.

Cat Ba and Cat Hai: islands and bays east of Hai Phong

On the map, Cat Ba lies east of central Hai Phong, near the southern part of Ha Long Bay.

Cat Ba Island belongs to Cat Hai Special Administrative Zone, Hai Phong.

This area includes Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba National Park, the Cat Co beaches, and Viet Hai Village.

From the old city center, it is approximately 27 km by road to Dong Bai Ferry Terminal.

The route crosses the Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Bridge to Cat Hai Island before continuing to the ferry terminal.

The Dong Bai-Cai Vieng ferry carries passengers and vehicles across to Cat Ba Island. From Cai Vieng Terminal, another 20-23 km of road separates you from the island’s main tourist center, formerly known as Cat Ba Town.

Photo: Christophe95

The two road sections alone add up to nearly 50 km, without including waiting time or the ferry crossing itself.

According to the 2026 schedule, the Dong Bai-Cai Vieng route operates on a timetable spanning 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the final scheduled departure at 5:30 PM. That timetable applies from September 1 through December 31, 2026, and may change because of weather or operating conditions.

Other ways of reaching Cat Ba may include a cable car combined with onward island transport, or speedboats when the relevant routes are operating.

If your main goal is to stay on Cat Ba and explore Lan Ha Bay, you don’t necessarily need to visit downtown Hai Phong.

Depending on where you’re coming from, it may be more convenient to book transport directly to the ferry terminal or the island.

Former Hai Duong: the western part of greater Hai Phong

Travel roughly 60 km west from the old port city center, toward Hanoi, and you’ll reach the former Hai Duong urban area.

This has been part of Hai Phong since July 2025, but from a travel perspective, it’s still best treated as a separate region.

The attractions here are quite different from the port city and the coastal destinations farther east.

In the former Hai Duong urban area, you may encounter ward names such as Hai Duong, Thanh Dong, and Le Thanh Nghi.

Farther north and northwest lies the former Chi Linh area, home to the Con Son-Kiep Bac historical complex. The Kinh Mon area has additional historical sites and limestone landscapes.

Photo: Handyhuy

From Hai Phong Opera House, reaching the former Hai Duong urban center usually takes about 1-1.5 hours by car, depending on the route and destination.

That makes the area a reasonable stop between Hanoi and Hai Phong, particularly for visitors interested in historical sites and traditional Red River Delta culture.

On the other hand, if you’ve already booked accommodation on Cat Ba Island, don’t treat Con Son-Kiep Bac as a nearby sightseeing stop.

The destinations are on opposite sides of greater Hai Phong, and the journey also involves getting to or from the island.

Bach Long Vi: a remote offshore area, not a regular island excursion

Bach Long Vi also belongs to Hai Phong, but it lies far offshore in the Gulf of Tonkin.

On administrative maps, it appears as a special administrative zone alongside Cat Hai. From a travel perspective, however, the two are very different.

Cat Ba has developed visitor facilities, accommodation, sightseeing boats, and tourism activities.

Bach Long Vi is much more remote. Access depends on maritime transport and specific travel arrangements.

For that reason, don’t add Bach Long Vi to a two- or three-day Hai Phong itinerary as though it were another convenient stop after Do Son or Cat Ba.

How far is Hai Phong from Hanoi, Ha Long, and Ninh Binh?

To make distances easier to compare, the following figures use Hai Phong Opera House and the surrounding old city center as the starting point.

They do not use the newer administrative center in Thuy Nguyen.

Distances are approximate road distances, and travel times are planning estimates rather than guarantees from transport operators.

Expressways, local roads, hotel locations, and traffic conditions can all change the result.

Important: Expressway routes may be longer than routes using conventional roads. For Ninh Binh in particular, some road itineraries exceed 150 km. The times above do not include passenger pickups, rest stops, or ferry waiting time.

Hanoi to Hai Phong

This is one of the easiest connections to include in a Northern Vietnam itinerary.

By car, the journey along the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway is generally around 110-120 km to the old city center.

Allow approximately two hours or more, depending on where you’re picked up in Hanoi, where you’re dropped off, and traffic when leaving the capital.

The train is a convenient choice for travelers who want to arrive directly in the old city center.

According to the 2026 timetable, train LP3 departs Hanoi Railway Station at 9:25 AM and arrives at Hai Phong Railway Station at 12:00 PM.

The arrival station is close to the central streets, making it convenient to continue on foot or take a short taxi ride.

You could have lunch, check into your accommodation, and spend the afternoon exploring Hai Phong.

For a day trip from Hanoi, focus on the old port city.

If you’re continuing to Cat Ba Island, add the road journey to the ferry terminal and the island crossing. Arriving at Hai Phong Railway Station is not the same as being ready to board a sightseeing cruise on Lan Ha Bay.

Hai Phong to Ha Long

Hai Phong and Ha Long are closer than many travelers expect.

From Hai Phong Opera House to the Bai Chay area, the road distance is approximately 46-49 km, depending on the route.

Drivers can use the road connections between Hai Phong and Ha Long, including Bach Dang Bridge.

The full journey usually takes around 1-1.5 hours once local roads are included, although it can be shorter in favorable traffic conditions.

The important detail is identifying exactly where you’re going in Ha Long.

Bai Chay, Ha Long International Cruise Port, Tuan Chau Island, and Hon Gai are not the same destination.

If your cruise departs from Tuan Chau but your driver drops you in central Bai Chay, you’ll still have another journey to make.

Hai Phong and Ha Long fit comfortably into consecutive days of a trip.

However, if you’re already planning to explore Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay, consider whether adding another cruise in Ha Long will repeat too much of the same kind of experience.

Hai Phong to Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh lies southwest of Hai Phong.

Road journeys generally cross the Red River Delta using national highways or a combination of local roads and expressways, depending on the route.

From the old port city center, Ninh Binh Railway Station is approximately 125 km away via conventional roads. Tam Coc is slightly farther, around 130-139 km by similar routes.

Routes prioritizing expressways can be considerably longer.

Ninh Binh’s attractions are spread beyond the railway station and main urban center. Trang An, Tam Coc, Hang Mua, and Bai Dinh Pagoda are not at the same location.

If you’re staying in Tam Coc, enter your accommodation’s actual address when calculating the journey rather than simply searching for "Ninh Binh."

For an itinerary combining Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ha Long, and Ninh Binh, treat this as a transfer that may take a substantial part of the day.

Leaving Hai Phong after lunch doesn’t guarantee enough time to visit two or three attractions in Ninh Binh that afternoon.

Is Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong or Ha Long?

Cat Ba Island belongs to Hai Phong, not Quang Ninh Province. Since the 2025 administrative reorganization, it has been part of Cat Hai Special Administrative Zone.

The confusion comes from geography.

Cat Ba lies close to Ha Long Bay, while Lan Ha Bay connects naturally to the coastal limestone landscape of neighboring Quang Ninh.

On a map, these areas can look like one continuous collection of limestone islands.

Administratively, however, they are different places, and cruises may depart from different ports.

Ha Long Bay is in Quang Ninh, while Lan Ha Bay belongs to the Cat Ba area of Hai Phong.

Photo: Christophe95

Both are known for limestone formations rising from the sea, boat excursions, and striking coastal scenery.

When booking a cruise, check the departure port rather than relying only on the words "Ha Long Bay" or "Cat Ba" in the tour description.

Cruises departing from Bai Chay or Tuan Chau are generally associated with the Quang Ninh side.

Trips leaving Cat Ba, Ben Beo, or other operating piers in the Cat Hai area follow different routes.

Some cruises combine scenery around Ha Long and Lan Ha Bay, but this doesn’t mean you can board or leave the boat freely at any port in either area.

For example, if you’re staying at a hotel in Cat Ba but your cruise ticket says departure from Tuan Chau at 8:00 AM, reaching the departure point may require a substantial transfer.

Two places that look close across the water aren’t necessarily easy to connect by road.

If you have two nights on Cat Ba, a more comfortable plan is to spend one day on a Lan Ha Bay boat trip and use the remaining time for beaches, the town center, and activities around the island.

Where should Hai Phong fit into a Northern Vietnam itinerary?

Once you know where Hai Phong sits on the map, the next question is whether it deserves a separate stop or should simply be somewhere you pass through.

The answer depends on whether you want to explore the port city, visit the coast, or use Hai Phong as a gateway to Cat Ba Island.

Hanoi - Hai Phong - Cat Ba: best for combining city streets and island scenery

This is a relatively straightforward itinerary if you’re starting in Hanoi.

On the first day, take a train or car to central Hai Phong. Have lunch, explore the streets near the Opera House, and stay overnight.

The next morning, travel toward Dong Bai Ferry Terminal or use another available connection to Cat Ba Island.

Allow much of that day for transport and settling into your accommodation. The remaining time can be spent walking around the town or visiting a nearby beach.

Save the following day for a proper boat trip around Lan Ha Bay.

This way, you won’t have to squeeze the old port city and a bay cruise into the same day.

One night in central Hai Phong and two nights on Cat Ba is a comfortable arrangement if your schedule allows.

If Cat Ba is your only priority, you can skip the overnight stay in the city and arrange direct transport from Hanoi to the island.

Hanoi - Hai Phong - Ha Long: best when Quang Ninh is already on your route

Hai Phong sits along a convenient connection toward Ha Long.

You can spend a day or a night exploring the old port city before continuing to Bai Chay.

The distance between the two urban areas is short enough that changing hotels doesn’t need to take up an entire day.

For example, you could explore central Hai Phong in the morning, have lunch, and leave for Ha Long in the early afternoon.

After arriving in Bai Chay, there should still be time to check in and rest before a cruise the following day.

But this plan assumes you’re leaving from central Hai Phong.

If you’re staying on Cat Ba Island, traveling to Ha Long involves a different set of transport arrangements, potentially including island transfers or ferry and boat connections.

You cannot use the 46-49 km distance between Hai Phong’s old city center and Bai Chay to estimate the Cat Ba-Ha Long journey.

There’s another consideration: cruises around Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay offer some similar experiences.

If you only have a few days in Northern Vietnam, choosing one may be more rewarding than trying to fit in both.

Hanoi - former Hai Duong - Hai Phong: best for historical and cultural stops

Traveling east from Hanoi, the former Hai Duong area lies before the old Hai Phong port city.

You can stop in the former Hai Duong urban center or set aside more time to explore Con Son-Kiep Bac.

These destinations are particularly appealing if you enjoy historical monuments, traditional culture, and heritage sites.

Con Son-Kiep Bac is not right beside Hai Duong Railway Station or within a short walking distance of the urban center. You’ll need to plan the separate journey.

This itinerary doesn’t necessarily need to continue to Do Son or Cat Ba.

The appeal of the former Hai Duong area is that it offers a different experience from the coastal destinations for which Hai Phong is better known.

Ninh Binh - Hai Phong - Ha Long: best for a wider Northern Vietnam route

If you want to combine Ninh Binh’s natural landscapes, Hai Phong’s old port city, and Quang Ninh’s islands, this order creates a reasonably logical route.

Travel northeast from Ninh Binh to Hai Phong, then continue toward Ha Long.

There’s no need to return to Hanoi between every stop.

However, the Ninh Binh-Hai Phong section is considerably longer than the Hai Phong-Ha Long transfer.

Allow a good portion of the day for changing accommodation, particularly if you’re using shared transport with multiple pickup and drop-off points.

A four- or five-day itinerary could include two days in Ninh Binh, one day in Hai Phong, and one or two days in Ha Long.

Adding Cat Ba would mean extending the trip or removing another destination.

Is Cat Bi Airport close to Cat Ba Island and Ha Long?

Cat Bi International Airport is located southeast of central Hai Phong, approximately 9-10 km by road from the Opera House area.

It serves Hai Phong and is also a gateway for travelers heading to Cat Ba, Do Son, and Ha Long.

From the airport to the old city center, allow approximately 20-35 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

However, Cat Bi Airport to Cat Ba is not simply one continuous taxi ride to your hotel.

You’ll need to head toward Cat Hai Island and then use a suitable connection to reach Cat Ba.

Likewise, continuing from Cat Bi Airport to Ha Long requires a separate road journey.

The airport isn’t in Bai Chay, and it isn’t a Ha Long cruise departure point.

If your flight lands in Hai Phong late in the afternoon, check the scheduled arrival time, baggage collection, and onward island transport before booking accommodation on Cat Ba for the same night.

Ferry services may finish before you reach the terminal.

A flight landing at 5:30 PM doesn’t mean you’ll be in a vehicle heading to Cat Ba at 5:30 PM.

Spending a night in central Hai Phong is often the simpler option if the available connections no longer fit your arrival time.

How much of Hai Phong can you see in 1, 2, or 3 days?

Hai Phong’s expanded administrative boundaries don’t mean you need several days just to travel across the entire city.

What matters is which areas you choose and how much time you’ll spend between them.

Only one day: The old port city is the most convenient choice, particularly when arriving by train or car from Hanoi. Focus on the Opera House, streets around the railway station, and local food areas. If Do Son is your priority, give the coast a substantial portion of the day rather than treating it as a quick detour.

Two days and one night: You could explore the center on the first day, then visit Do Son or the Thuy Nguyen-Vu Yen area on the second. If your priority is Cat Ba, it generally makes more sense to travel directly to the island and stay there, since the transfer can take a significant amount of time.

Three days and two nights: A possible plan is one day exploring the port city followed by two days dedicated to Cat Ba. This gives you more breathing room for a Lan Ha Bay boat trip, beaches, and island activities, particularly if the weather disrupts your original plans.

Four days or more: You can more comfortably combine the old port city, Do Son or Thuy Nguyen, and Cat Ba. The former Hai Duong area is still better treated as a separate stop if you’re interested in historical attractions farther inland.

You don’t need to visit every corner of the expanded city to feel that you’ve experienced Hai Phong.

On a Northern Vietnam itinerary that also includes Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long, spending enough time in the places you genuinely want to see is usually more worthwhile.

Three common mistakes when reading a Hai Phong map

A Hai Phong address may refer to anywhere within the expanded city

Since the merger, a search result labeled "Hai Phong" could refer to the old port city, the former Hai Duong region, or Cat Ba Island.

Before booking accommodation, identify the specific neighborhood or destination rather than relying solely on the final line of the address saying "Hai Phong City."

For example, two hotels may both list Hai Phong as their location, yet one is near Hai Phong Railway Station and the other is in Hai Duong Ward.

They could be approximately 60 km apart.

Straight-line distance is not the same as travel distance

Cat Ba and Ha Long look close on a map because they share a connected coastal landscape.

But actual transport depends on ports, ferries, boats, and the roads available for your journey.

Do Son is only about 20 km from central Hai Phong, but that doesn’t mean Do Son to Cat Ba takes the same amount of time.

When checking a route, enter two exact locations.

Searching for "Hai Phong Opera House to Dong Bai Ferry Terminal" gives you much more useful information than simply entering "Hai Phong to Cat Ba."

New administrative names don’t always match familiar tourist names

You’ll still see names such as Cat Ba, Do Son, Hai Duong, and Thuy Nguyen on road signs, hotel signs, and in everyday conversations.

But the administrative structure changed in July 2025.

This doesn’t mean an attraction has physically moved. In most cases, only the name or level of its administrative unit has changed.

For navigation, searching for a specific attraction, railway station, ferry terminal, or hotel is often more reliable than searching only for a newly established ward.

Is Hai Phong worth adding to your Northern Vietnam trip?

Hai Phong is conveniently positioned between Hanoi, Ha Long, and the coastal destinations of northeastern Vietnam.

However, it’s no longer just one compact port city, especially after the merger with Hai Duong.

For international visitors exploring Northern Vietnam for the first time, Hai Phong is particularly relevant when visiting Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay, or flying through Cat Bi Airport.

You can spend a night in the old city center or travel directly toward Cat Ba, depending on your priorities.

For Vietnamese travelers already familiar with Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Ha Long, a day exploring central Hai Phong or the beaches of Do Son offers something different without requiring a complete change of itinerary.

The former Hai Duong area is a better fit for visitors interested in historical sites, traditional culture, and exploring the Red River Delta beyond the usual tourist circuit.

Quick decision: With one day, choose the old port city or Do Son. For Cat Ba and Lan Ha Bay, allow at least two days dedicated to the island. If you’re interested in culture and history, consider the former Hai Duong area as a separate stop between Hanoi and Hai Phong.