9 Must-try Dishes in Hai Phong

If you want to taste the soul of Hai Phong cuisine, we will show you a bowl of Banh Da Cua. What sets this dish apart is the unique red rice noodles a local specialty both in color and flavor.

A full-topping bowl normally comes with a mix of red noodles, cha la lot (grilled meat wrapped in betel leaves), shrimp, mantis shrimp, fish cakes, dried tofu, crab paste, and fresh herbs. The rich broth ties it all together so it’s hard to resist from the very first spoonful.

From a simple breakfast for locals to a must-try dish for visitors, the baguette stick has become a symbol of Hai Phong street food. Do not let its plain outside deceive you, its taste is incredibly enticing. The key ingredient is the pate, crafted from lean meat, pork liver, pork fat, and a blend of spices. Each bite is rich and melts in your mouth. Though it only takes 2-3 bites to finish, the flavor stays with you long after.

The dish can not be full of flavor when enjoyed in itself, but comes well with a special sauce known as “chi chuong”. This spicy addition brings out the flavors, but for those who can’t handle the heat, it’s something to approach with caution.

Ha Lung is a village renowned for its expertise in crafting ham and sausage, with Ha Lung fried minced pork being one of its standout creations. At first glance, it might resemble a dish from Hue, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a unique character.

The key ingredients include finely minced pork and fresh squid, which are skillfully marinated with a blend of spices and wrapped around a finger-sized piece of sugarcane. The secret to a truly delicious squid sausage lies in the careful selection of fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Tourists might find themself jostling or waiting in line to savor an authentic cup of coconut ice cream. But if you’ve made it this far, you’re in the right place.

It takes a little effort to remember the ingredients in your cup of coconut ice cream, but they are all made from just 1 coconut, listed as coconut milk, melon jelly, coconut jelly, shredded coconut, shredded coconut, and crunchy toasted coconut. The result is a fragrant and creamy dessert that might just tempt you into ordering a second serving. During the summer days in Hai Phong, this dessert is a sought-after dish for sweet teeth.

Unlike typical spring rolls, Hai Phong's crab spring rolls are a specialty you won't easily find elsewhere. Tourists can enjoy crab spring rolls at open-air restaurants or sidewalk stalls where is perfect simplicity of it is nearly to beat.

If you visit during lunchtime, prepare yourself to wait in line for your turn. But one thing is for sure, its fragrant flavor will assure you it’s worth every moment. Instead of the usual pork filling, the dish includes crab meat, shrimp, and mantis shrimp. Wrapped into squares, and served cut into bite-sized pieces, they are served alongside vermicelli, sweet-and-sour dipping sauce, and a generous platter of fresh herbs. The result is a perfectly balanced one that words can not quite capture. The dish may be in and out very quickly, so plan your visit early to savor this iconic dish before the rush begins!

Some people have compared the dish to something unusual or unexpected, like a foot covered with onions. Rolled with perilla leaves, cassava leaves, and fermented pork roll in the middle, dipped in fish sauce, that’s how locals try it over something inconsequential.

The fermented pork is crafted from fresh, thinly sliced meat, seasoned with spices, and left to ferment until it reaches the perfect balance of tanginess and texture. While the idea of raw meat might seem daunting at first, the unique flavor quickly wins over anyone adventurous enough to give it a try. In fact, one bite often leads to cravings for more.

Originating from Kien Thuy District - a natural home of sardines, we are excited to recommend a dish that goes perfectly with steamed rice. The dish required precise timing and various ingredients and recipes, which makes it no simple feat to prepare. Each fish batch is braised for 12 to 14 hours until it turns a beautiful caramelized color. Just hearing about it is enough to make your stomach “raise its hands” in excitement.

We have heard a piece of advice: “Do not think of passing through Hai Phong without trying red jellyfish”. Therefore, tourists try soft red jellyfish salad in texture, and for great recommendation. Jellyfish salad is wrapped with sliced coconut pulp, fried tofu, and pineapple. That creates a harmonious blend of flavors that echo the fresh essence of the blue sea.

Tourists can easily find this specialty during Spring and Summer when the weather is pleasant. The food stall stands out in your mind among all the gorgeous street food in Hai Phong. A diverse tray with plenty of toppings and fresh vegetables, perfect treat for those to seek delicious flavors while looking for a healthy dining experience.

Last but not least, seafood may appear at first glance as a must when visiting Hai Phong. While it might stretch the budget slightly for travelers looking to save, every bite is truly worth it. Hai Phong boasts seafood delights including oysters, shrimp, squid, geoduck, and cockles, each transformed into a variety of flavorful dishes.

The seafood here is freshly caught from the sea and displayed alive in the restaurant to keep the best quality. Visitors can handpick their favorites, and skilled chefs will craft them into mouthwatering dishes, a perfect way to indulge in the freshest seafood without any doubt.