Essentials
- Internet Speed
- Fixed Broadband: 95 Mbps, Mobile: 45 Mbps (VNPT and Viettel fiber is reliable)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 24,700 VND, 1 EUR ≈ 26,800 VND (Vietcombank, Techcombank)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (Thanh Tan or La Vie)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and G sockets
- SIM Card
- Viettel (best coverage), Vinaphone, Mobifone (5GB/day for approx. $6/month)
- Banking for Expats
- Timo (digital), HSBC Vietnam, Shinhan Bank for easy foreign account management
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments in Le Hong Phong area or hotels in Hong Bang district
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; cards used in malls/hotels, but MoMo and QR Pay are preferred locally over plastic
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Somerset Central TD Hai Phong, Mercure Hai Phong
- Budget Accommodation
- May Hostel (approx. $12/night), various 'Nha Nghi' (guest houses) for $10-15
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Hong Bang District (near the Colonial Quarter and City Opera House)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Le Hong Phong Street / Ngo Quyen District (Modern amenities and proximity to Cat Bi International Airport)
- City
- Hai Phong, Hai Phong Province, Vietnam
- Population
- Approximately 2,100,000
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Wecowork Hai Phong (Cau Dat Street) - approx. $5/day or $80/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- No 1986 Coffee (33 Dinh Tien Hoang) - Industrial design, spacious, fast Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Hai Phong Foreigners Group (Facebook), AmCham Northern Vietnam events
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Hai Phong Community Meetups at Tex Rock or HP3 BBQ
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (Cars and Bikes), Xanh SM (Electric taxis/bikes)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Dung Hop Rental (approx. $5-$7/day for a Yamaha Janus or Honda Vision)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Do Son Beach (20km away) or Cat Co Beach on Cat Ba Island (2 hours via ferry)
- Top Regional Airline
- Bamboo Airways, VietJet Air
- Top International Airline
- Vietnam Airlines (Flights to Seoul, Bangkok, and Shenzhen from HPH)
- Highway Access
- CT04 (Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway), connects to Hanoi in 1.5 hours
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hai Phong Railway Station (Ga Hai Phong) for trains to Hanoi
- Public Transport Passes
- Local bus system exists but lacks English support; single tickets approx. $0.30
- Regional Travel
- Hoang Long Bus or Ouibus for inter-city travel to Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Vinmec Hai Phong International Hospital (Vinhomes Imperia) - English speaking
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yogi and I (Le Hong Phong), Akasana Yoga Studio
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Elite Fitness (Vincom Plaza Plaza Imperia), Passio Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Giặt Là Hải Phòng (Le Loi Street) - approx. $1 per kg
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- ShopeeFood, GrabFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Banh Da Cua (Brown noodle soup with crab) - Try at 48 Le Loi
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Com Chay Tu Tam (Chua Hang Street), Loving Hut Hai Phong
- Best Dessert Spots
- Che Thai & Banh Mi Que (192 Hang Kenh), various spots for Banh Tieu
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Cho Sat (Iron Market), Cho Ga (Ga Market) for fresh local produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee.vn, Lazada.vn, Tiki.vn
- Grocery Delivery
- WinMart (via mobile app), Chopp
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Quang Trung Street (Walking street area) and Le Hong Phong
- Local Brewery
- Hai Phong Beer (Bia Hoi spots along Lach Tray Street)
- Wine Bars
- The Warehouse (Cau Dat), specialized wine shops in Vinhomes Imperia
- Street Food Stalls
- Cat Bi Market (Food court heaven), Luong Van Can Street
- Popular International Cuisine
- Texas BBQ (Minh Khai), Indian Kitchen (Le Hong Phong)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Hai Phong Opera House, Cat Ba National Park
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hai Phong Museum (Dien Bien Phu St), Navy Museum
- Historical Sites
- Du Hang Pagoda, Bao Dai Summer Villa (Do Son)
- Religious Sites
- Hai Phong Cathedral (Tran Hung Dao), Cao Linh Pagoda
- Annual Events
- Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival (Sept/Oct), Red Flamboyant Flower Festival (May)
- Cultural Districts
- The Colonial Quarter (Dien Bien Phu and Minh Khai Streets)
- Theater Venues
- Hai Phong Opera House (Municipal Theater)
- Local Markets
- Tam Bac Market (Traditional trading hub)
- Music Scene
- New MDM Club (Lach Tray) for high-energy nightlife and live DJs
- Street Art
- Murals near the port area and various neighborhood alleys
- Cooking Classes
- Often arranged through hotels or private chefs in the Vinhomes area
- Art Galleries
- Hai Phong Exhibition and Information Center
- Historic Buildings
- The State Bank of Vietnam building (Post-colonial architecture)
- Local Heritage
- The Red Flamboyant Flower (Phuong Vi), the city's floral symbol
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Cat Ba Island (accessible by ferry from Got Pier)
- National Parks Nearby
- Cat Ba National Park (Biosphere Reserve)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tam Bac Lake Walking Street, Bach Dang River Path
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Cannon Fort (Cat Ba Island) for sunset views over Lan Ha Bay
- Birdwatching Locations
- Xuan Thuy National Park (Approx. 2.5 hours away in Nam Dinh)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Woodstock Beach Camp (Cat Ba Island)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- VNPost, Viettel Post, J&T Express
- Tech Repair Services
- FPT Shop or Sua Chua Laptop 24h (Lach Tray Street)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Hai Phong Youth Cultural House
- Language Classes
- PEC Vietnam (English and Vietnamese for foreigners)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Hai Phong Science and General Library (Lach Tray)
- Community Centers
- Hai Phong Children's Palace (Palais des Enfants)
- Gaming Lounges
- Vikings Gaming (Tran Phu), modern e-sports centers
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Do Son Casino (Only for foreign passport holders)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $72,000 in Vinhomes areas)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $44,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,650 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $99,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $950 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $57,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $1,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $120,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $850 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $68,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% standard rate (tax incentives available for industrial zones)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5% for individuals
- Tax System
- Taxed on worldwide income for residents (>183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35%
- VAT
- 10% standard (sometimes reduced to 8% for specific recovery periods)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but strict transfer pricing regulations
- Property Tax
- Low non-agricultural land use tax; approx. 0.03% to 0.15% of land value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 0.5% registration fee; 2% personal income tax on sale value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No dedicated nomad visa yet; DTAs exist with 80+ countries