What to Eat in Haiphong: Amazing Local Food Experience😋

Hey Leosquad! People often skip Haiphong on their way to Ha Long Bay or Cat Ba Island, dismissing this northern Vietnamese port city as “boring.” But is it really? I went anyway, and I went for one reason, and one reason only: to figure out what to eat in Haiphong. After a few days of exploring, I can confidently say the food alone is reason enough to slow down and stay a while.

I didn’t tackle this massive food scene alone, though. My good friend Terry, a Haiphong local, invited me to his hometown to show me the real, unfiltered side of the city’s culinary culture. Thanks to having a local guide to steer me through the hidden alleyways, I got to see firsthand how Haiphong lets its food do the talking.

Pack your appetite. This port city hides one of the most vibrant, underrated street food scenes in Vietnam. Here is how to navigate a Haiphong food tour like a local, packed with the stories behind the dishes and exactly how to enjoy them.

Because Haiphong is a coastal port city, seafood is woven into the DNA of its culinary identity. Terry took me straight off the bus to a roadside spot to try these two noodle staples.

This is probably the most iconic dish in Haiphong. What makes it special is the Bánh đa—thick, chewy, copper-brown noodles that are locally made and sun-dried with a little cane sugar, which gives them their unique colour and slightly chewy texture.

The rich and savoury broth is infused with the natural sweetness of field crab and tomatoes. It is piled high with toppings: pork wrapped in Wild Betel Leaf (Chả Lá Lốt) , fish cakes, and local mantis shrimp, known natively as bề bề.

📍 Location: Bánh Đa Cua Bể Ngõ 195 Cầu Đất, 195 P. Cầu Đất, Gia Viên, Hải Phòng 180000, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bánh Đa Cua Bể ~50,000 VND ($1.9 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 24 Hrs

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If Bánh đa cua bể is rich and complex, Bún tôm is pure comfort. This dish features thick white rice noodles in a clear, naturally sweet broth made by simmering shrimp shells and pork bones, topped with fresh local shrimp, wood ear mushrooms, fish cakes, and pork.

We had it at a small roadside stall with no shop name—one of Terry’s go-to spots. The aunty was about to add a spoonful of MSG, but I asked her to skip it. Even without the MSG, the broth was light, and I found the fish cakes especially flavourful. If you visit, I’d recommend ordering extra fish cakes—they’re definitely worth it.

📍 Location: Bún tôm Hai Bà Trưng, 76B P. Hai Bà Trưng, TDP số 16, Lê Chân, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bún tôm ~30,000 VND ($1.15 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 18:00

Around afternoon, Hải Phòng’s street vendors set up plastic stools on the sidewalks. This is prime time for the city’s legendary fried and steamed snacks, and exactly where Terry and I stopped for an afternoon fuel-up.

We kicked things off with Bánh Gối, often called “pillow cake” because of its distinctive crescent shape. These deep-fried pastry pockets are packed with seasoned minced pork, glass noodles, and wood ear mushrooms, delivering an incredible crunch with every bite.

The pastry is wonderfully crispy on the outside, while the filling is savoury and flavourful. For the best experience, dip it into nước chấm, the classic Vietnamese fish sauce, which adds a tangy, savoury kick that ties everything together.

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Right next to it on the platter was Bánh Tôm, a crispy shrimp fritter featuring whole, sweet coastal shrimp nestled in a golden, crunchy batter made from shredded sweet potatoes.

The crispy sweet potato adds a mild natural sweetness, while the shrimp brings a fresh, briny flavour that makes each bite light, crispy, and incredibly satisfying.

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To break up the fried dishes, Terry ordered a plate of Bánh Bột Lọc—beautifully translucent tapioca dumplings with an incredibly chewy skin, filled with shrimp and plenty of savoury pork floss. We actually tried bánh bột lọc when we visited Sapa, so it was fun to see how this version compared.

It’s served generously and dip it with a sweet-and-sour nước chấm, which balances the richness of the filling and adds a refreshing tang to every bite.

💡Tips : If you’re trying bánh bột lọc for the first time, don’t stop after just one piece. I honestly didn’t fully get the appeal at first, but after a few more bites, I started to appreciate the chewy texture and the savoury filling much more.

You’ll find all three dishes at this local eatery, making it a great stop if you want to sample several Hải Phòng specialties in one visit.

📍 Location: DŨNG VÂN, 74 P. Trần Nhật Duật, Gia Viên, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bánh Gối ~18,000 VND ($0.7 USD) | Bánh Tôm ~18,000 VND ($0.7 USD) | Bánh Bột Lọc ~30,000 VND ($1.15 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 1:00 – 21:00

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To balance out the crispy fried treats, locals always turn to bánh cuốn. Bánh cuốn is a classic Vietnamese dish made with delicate steamed rice rolls filled with a variety of savoury ingredients. Terry and I ordered the shrimp version, and it was generously filled with shrimp, plenty of shredded pork floss, and crisy shallots.

The soft steamed rice rolls paired beautifully with the filling, giving each bite a lightly sweet and savoury flavour with plenty of texture. I personally prefer a bolder taste, so I dipped mine into nước chấm (Vietnamese fish sauce), which added a tangy, savoury kick that made it even more enjoyable.

📍 Location: Bánh cuốn Quyên, 222 P. Hai Bà Trưng, Lê Chân, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bánh cuốn ~60,000 VND ($2.3 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 7:00 – 21:30

While you can find these dishes across Vietnam, Hải Phòng puts a completely distinct spin on them that Terry insisted me to try from these streetfood vendors who have been operating for decades.

One of Hải Phòng’s most iconic street snacks, Bánh Mì Pâté is simple but incredibly satisfying. First, they slice the baguette open and spread a layer of pâté made from seasoned pork liver. Then they add pork floss before toasting it in the oven. The result is a bánh mì that’s perfectly crunchy on the outside, with a rich, savoury pâté filling, while the pork floss adds an extra layer of flavour and texture that makes every bite even more delicious.

💡Tips : Add some chilli for some extra kick 🌶️🔥

📍 Location: Tiệm Bánh Mì Ông Bà Cụ, 244 P. Hai Bà Trưng, Lê Chân, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bánh Mì Pâté ~13,000 VND ($0.5 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 7.00 –12.00  and 16.00–23.00

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Next up is Bánh Bèo, a local Hải Phòng specialty made with soft steamed rice cakes filled with minced pork, wood ear mushrooms, and shrimp. It’s served with warm dipping sauce, fried tofu, and a pork meatball. The version I tried is unique to Hải Phòng—you dip the rice cakes into the sauce before eating.

The rice cakes are soft and savoury with a mildly sweet and salty flavour, while the fish sauce adds an extra kick that brings everything together beautifully.

📍 Location: Bánh Bèo Trang Béo, 66 P. Phan Bội Châu, Hồng Bàng, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Bánh Bèo ~36,000 VND ($1.3 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 14:30 – 18:00

When you want a more relaxed, local experience, go to local wet markets and look for stalls with big pots of hot food being cooked.

Hải Phòng serves an excellent bowl of phở gà (chicken phở), featuring a light yet intensely fragrant broth poured over soft flat rice noodles and topped with tender shredded chicken.

A sprinkle of fresh coriander adds a bright herbal aroma that elevates the entire dish. Don’t forget to add a squeeze of lime for that refreshing tangy flavour. The juicy chicken and delicate, flavourful broth make every bowl incredibly comforting and satisfying. I enjoyed this phở gà so much that I had it twice during my visit.

📍 Location: Phở 113, 113 P.Điện Biên Phủ, Hồng Bàng, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Phở gà ~100,000 VND ($3.8 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 07:00 – 21:00

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Cháo Sườn is a smooth, velvety rice porridge slow-cooked with pork rib broth until it reaches a silky consistency, then topped with shredded pork floss, crispy fried dough sticks (quẩy), and fresh cilantro.

The porridge is rich and creamy, with a comforting savoury flavour and a gentle peppery kick that makes it especially satisfying.

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Cháo khoái is a unique Hải Phòng specialty that you can only find in the city, making it a must-try when you visit Hải Phòng. This comforting porridge is made with tender pork ribs and has a savoury, salty flavour that’s simple yet deeply satisfying.

What makes it especially interesting is the addition of shaved mung bean (đậu xanh), which gives the porridge extra richness and a subtle nutty flavour.

📍 Location: 115/18 Dư Hàng
💰 Prices: Cháo Sườn ~25,000 VND ($0.95 USD) | Cháo Khoai ~25,000 VND ($0.95 USD)

No food tour here is complete without diving into the sweet, refreshing world of chè (Vietnamese sweet soups/desserts).

This is why chè is my favourite I even included it as one of my top Vietnamese snacks —Every spoonful is different. One glass is packed with chewy glutinous rice balls, red beans, mung beans, sago pearls, crunchy water chestnut rubies, jackfruit, sweetened coconut flakes, and creamy coconut milk.

They also added ingredients like fresh jackfruit and fragrant durian. The water chestnut rubies have a crisp, crunchy centre wrapped in a soft tapioca coating, while the glutinous rice balls are delightfully chewy with a savoury mung bean filling, creating a delicious contrast to the sweetness of the dessert.

📍 Location: Quán Chè Huế, 88 P. Nguyễn Đức Cảnh, Lê Chân, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Chè ~35,000 VND ($1.3 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 07:00 – 23:00

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Tàu hũ Sài Gòn is a light and comforting Vietnamese dessert made with silky tofu pudding topped with creamy leche flan, a rich caramel custard. The tofu pudding is incredibly smooth, while the leche flan adds a rich, custardy texture. It’s not overly sweet, making it a simple yet satisfying treat that’s easy to enjoy after a meal.

📍 Location: Tàu hũ Sài Gòn, 47 P. Nguyễn Đức Cảnh, Lê Chân, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Silky Tofu Pudding with Leche Flan ~17,000 VND ($0.65 USD)
⏰ Opening Hours: Daily, 15:00 to 22:00

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But if you want a truly unique local experience, Terry led me to a quiet street corner to try chè vừng (black sesame soup). This traditional black sesame sweet soup is served warm with pieces of coconut flesh, giving it a slightly creamy texture. It’s a seasonal treat that’s typically only available during the winter months.

It’s mildly sweet, with a hint of natural sweetness from the coconut, while the black sesame delivers a rich, nutty flavor with a subtle roasted finish. It’s incredibly comforting and the perfect dessert to enjoy on a cool evening.

📍 Location: Sủi dìn chè vừng, 34 Kỳ Đồng, Hồng Bàng, Hải Phòng, Vietnam
💰 Prices: Chè Vừng ~15,000 VND ($0.6 USD)

So, is Hải Phòng boring? I’ll let the food answer that.

While other cities rely on neon signs and tourist entertainment, Hải Phòng stays true to its roots. It offers an authentic, affordable, and deeply rewarding culinary adventure for anyone willing to pull up a plastic stool. If you travel to discover the soul of a place through its kitchen, Hải Phòng might just become your favorite stop in Vietnam.

Follow Leotrails for more exciting adventures and insider tips from Vietnam.

That’s it for this blog post! If you found this helpful, give it a thumbs up! See you in the next post! Love you all! Thank you!
As Always, Live the Moments, and Follow the Trails.✈️🍜🔥🌏
Bye Bye!

Where I Stayed: Phong Lan Building and Apartments

From around $26/night

Where I Stayed: Phong Lan Building and Apartments

Phong Lan Building and Apartments is a comfortable mid-range stay in the heart of Hai Phong, making it a convenient base for exploring the city. The spacious apartment-style rooms come equipped with practical amenities, while the central location puts you close to many of Hai Phong’s best local restaurants, cafés, and attractions. It’s a great option for travelers looking for comfort, value, and easy access to the city’s food scene.