Hai Phong is the main port of northern Vietnam and a commercial and industrial centre. It's the 3rd most populous metropolis in the country and a lovely city that retains a colonial look. Nearby provinces include Thai Binh to the south, Quang Ninh to the north and Hai Duong to the west. You can drive the 100 km from Hanoi in a few hours.
Hai Phong is also known as The City of Flame Flowers because most of its streets are lined with flame flower trees. It also serves as a pleasant base when visiting other northeastern spots such as Cat Ba and Halong Bay. Many places worth visiting in the city include temples, shrines, pagodas and mausoleums. There's also a beach and communal house that tourists often frequent. The town is known for a handful of festivals, including one on Do Son Beach, which attract droves of spectators each year.
