Hai Phong City Historical and Food Tour

Hai Phong shows you a different side of northern Vietnam, and this tour gets there by train rather than treating the city as a quick roadside stop. You’ll eat your way through crab soup, tiny breadsticks, fermented pork rolls, and banh da cua, with time for Du Hang Pagoda and the old railway station.

I like the mix of food and local history, and I like having a private guide, Geni, with organizer Bryan behind the arrangements. The main drawback is the length: at about 13 hours, this is a full, tiring day, and the train ride takes a good part of it.

Key points to know before booking

• Two train journeys shape the day: You travel from Long Bien to Hai Phong, then return from Hai Phong Railway Station to Hanoi.
• Four local foods are built into the route: Crab soup, banh my que, fermented pork rolls, and banh da cua give you a useful introduction to Hai Phong cooking.
• Du Hang Pagoda provides the cultural center: This is one of Hai Phong’s oldest pagodas, with admission included.
• You get a private experience: Only your own group participates, which makes the long day easier to manage.
• The tour combines major sights with ordinary city life: Markets, food stalls, lakeside walks, and colonial-era buildings share the schedule.
• The $69 price covers the core arrangements: Lunch, listed fees and taxes, and air-conditioned vehicle service are included, though you should confirm exactly which train and food costs are covered at booking.

Why Hai Phong makes a good day trip from Hanoi

Hanoi gets much of the attention in northern Vietnam, but Hai Phong has its own character. It is a coastal city with a strong food identity, old French-era buildings, working markets, and a less polished feel than the capital.

That contrast is the main reason I like this outing. You are not simply being driven between famous sights. You reach the city by rail, walk beside Tam Bac Lake, visit a long-established pagoda, and spend time in a market where food is part of daily business.

The route also gives you a practical introduction to Hai Phong cuisine. The dishes are not just decorative tasting samples. Crab soup, breadsticks, fermented pork rolls, and crab noodle soup each show a different side of local eating, from a sit-down lunch to quick street snacks.

The schedule is long, though. A round trip by train, a substantial city tour, lunch, several tastings, and market time add up to most of a day. I would choose this for a day when you want to focus on one place rather than squeeze in several smaller activities.

From Hanoi Opera House to Long Bien Station

The day begins at the Hanoi Opera House in the Old Quarter area, with pickup also offered from your hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The transfer takes you to Long Bien Station, where you board the train for Hai Phong.

The outbound train ride is listed at about two hours. That is not dead time. It gives Geni, the guide, room to explain Vietnamese people, culture, and the places ahead. A train also lets you watch the change from Hanoi streets to the wider setting around Hai Phong without sitting in road traffic.

You should treat the railway portion as part of the experience, not simply as a transfer. The train is slower than a private car, and the return trip is listed at about two and a half hours. If you prefer the fastest possible day trip, this may not be the right choice. If you enjoy seeing a place through its transport links, the rail journey adds character.

The tour is private, so only your group participates. That matters on a day with many food stops. You can ask for clarification about dishes, adjust the pace within reason, and avoid being tied to strangers at every stop.

A crab soup lunch at 195 Cau Dat

Once you reach Hai Phong, lunch is planned at 195 Cau Dat, where you try crab soup, a local specialty. The meal is an important early stop because it introduces the city through a dish rather than a monument.

The tour description uses crab soup here and later includes banh da cua, a traditional crab noodle soup. These are presented as separate food experiences, so expect the first meal to be a sit-down lunch and the later dish to be part of the market visit.

For many people, this will be the most substantial meal of the day. Lunch is included, as are all fees and taxes listed for the activity. The food stops after lunch are part of the wider tasting program, but the available details do not specify every portion, drink, or additional purchase. If you have dietary restrictions, ask before booking rather than assuming each dish can be changed.

I like the way this meal is placed near the start. You can ask Geni about the ingredients and eating customs while you still have most of the day ahead. It also gives you a proper base before the walking stops.

Du Hang Pagoda and Hai Phong’s religious past

Du Hang Pagoda is one of Hai Phong’s oldest pagodas, and the visit lasts about an hour. The point here is not only to glance at the architecture. Geni is expected to explain the pagoda’s cultural importance and history, giving you context for what you see.

This stop gives the day a needed pause from eating and city walking. Pagodas reward a slower pace, and an hour allows time to look around rather than rush in, take a photograph, and leave immediately.

Admission is included. Since the tour description does not provide a detailed dress code, I would use ordinary respectful clothing and follow instructions at the site. As with any religious place, keep your voice low and watch for areas where photography may not be appropriate.

I especially like this stop because it keeps the tour from becoming only a food crawl. Hai Phong’s dishes may be the main draw, but the pagoda gives you a clearer sense of the city’s cultural life.

Banh my que at Cot Den

The next food stop is short, about 20 minutes, for banh my que at Cot Den. These are Hai Phong’s famous small breadsticks, designed more as a snack than a full meal.

This is the kind of stop that works well in a food-focused tour. You get to try a local item in its natural role, as a quick bite during a day of moving through the city. The brief timing also keeps the schedule from getting bogged down.

Do not expect a long sit-down tasting here. You will have more time to ask questions at the longer meal and market stops. Still, this small snack may be one of the more memorable foods because it is specific to the city and easy to compare with other Vietnamese bread dishes.

Walking beside Tam Bac Lake

Tam Bac Lake provides one of the more relaxed sections of the day. You walk beside the water for about an hour and try Vietnamese fermented pork rolls with a flavor associated with Hai Phong.

The walk matters because it changes the rhythm. After the pagoda and snack, you have space to look at the city rather than focus on a plate. The lake also gives you a chance to see how Hai Phong’s public spaces fit into everyday life.

Fermented pork rolls may be unfamiliar if you have only tried the better-known Vietnamese dishes. I would ask Geni how they are made and how locals usually eat them. The tour description identifies the local flavor but does not specify every ingredient, so anyone with food allergies should ask before tasting.

This is also a useful point to pace yourself. With crab soup, breadsticks, fermented pork rolls, and a later noodle dish still ahead, you do not need to eat a large amount at every stop.

Opera House, Le Chan, and the old railway station

The sightseeing portion lasts about two hours and includes Hai Phong Opera House, the statue of female general Le Chan, Hai Phong Train Station, and other points of interest.

These sights help connect the food stops into a city tour. The Opera House and station reflect the city’s French colonial-era architecture, while the Le Chan statue points to an important historical figure associated with Hai Phong.

The tour does not promise a fixed list beyond these named landmarks, so the exact order and time at each place may vary. That is normal on a private city tour, especially when market conditions and train times matter.

Hai Phong Railway Station receives special attention later in the day, when you return to board the train. The station was built during the French colonial period, and you can admire its older architectural character before leaving. This is a nice closing image: the same railway system that brought you into the city also frames your departure.

Market food at Sat or Cat Bi

The longest stop is at either Sat Market or Cat Bi Market, with up to three hours for the market and a final taste of banh da cua. The exact market is not fixed, so you should be prepared for the operator to choose between the two.

This is where the tour gets closest to everyday food culture. You can see vendors at work, listen to the sounds of commerce, and ask about ingredients and cooking methods. The setting will be more active and less arranged than a restaurant tasting, which is exactly why the market stop is valuable.

Banh da cua is a traditional crab noodle soup and one of Hai Phong’s signature dishes. After having crab soup earlier in the day, you get a useful comparison between two crab-based specialties rather than treating one dish as the whole story of local cuisine.

Three hours is generous for a market visit. That can be a plus if you like browsing and asking questions, but it may feel long if markets are not your main interest. Since you are on a private tour, tell your guide if you prefer more time with food, more time looking around, or a steadier pace.

Market prices, souvenirs, and extra purchases are not listed as included. Bring some Vietnamese currency if you want to buy something beyond the planned tastings. The tour price covers the stated inclusions, not every possible market purchase.

The $69 price and what you receive

At $69 per person, the value depends on how much you want handled for you. You are paying for a long private day with round-trip rail travel, guiding, lunch, multiple food experiences, pagoda admission, city sightseeing, and the return to Hanoi.

Lunch, all fees and taxes, and an air-conditioned vehicle are listed as included. The tour overview also describes round-trip travel, meals, entrance fees, and guided visits as part of the package. Because the formal inclusion list is shorter than that description, I would confirm the exact train ticket and food coverage before payment.

The price looks strongest for a small group that wants one organized Hai Phong day rather than arranging separate train tickets, taxis, meals, and admissions. A larger private group can also benefit from the group discount option.

The main cost is time. You spend around 13 hours on the full experience, including train travel. If your Hanoi schedule is tight, the same day could feel expensive in energy even if the dollar price is reasonable.

Who should book this Hai Phong day trip

I would recommend this tour to you if food is one of your main ways of understanding a place. It is also a good fit if you want cultural explanation at a pagoda and landmarks, rather than simply being dropped at a restaurant.

The private format suits couples, families, and small groups who want to move at their own pace. Most people can participate, the meeting point is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed.

You should think twice if you dislike long train journeys, prefer a short half-day outing, or want a tightly fixed schedule with no choice between markets. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. The experience ends back at the Hanoi meeting point after the return train.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want Hai Phong through its food, railway, markets, and older buildings rather than through one quick landmark visit. The combination of crab dishes, banh my que, fermented pork rolls, Du Hang Pagoda, and the market gives you a fuller picture of the city than a simple transfer would.

Skip it if you have limited time in Hanoi or if a 13-hour day feels too long. For the right person, the $69 cost is fair because the tour takes care of the major moving parts and gives you a private guide, with Geni providing cultural explanation along the way. Just confirm the exact transport and tasting inclusions before booking.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Hanoi Opera House at 1 Trang Tien, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Pickup is also offered from hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter before the transfer to Long Bien Station.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately 13 hours, including travel time. The outbound train takes about two hours, and the return journey from Hai Phong to Hanoi is listed at about two and a half hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Which foods are included?

The planned food experiences include crab soup at 195 Cau Dat, banh my que at Cot Den, fermented pork rolls near Tam Bac Lake, and banh da cua at either Sat Market or Cat Bi Market. Lunch is included.

Are entrance fees included?

Du Hang Pagoda admission is included, and all fees and taxes are listed as included. Confirm the exact coverage of train tickets and each food tasting before booking because the formal inclusion details do not specify every item.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.