2 days 1 night tour to experience the red phoenix flower sea port
Discover the detailed 2-day, 1-night self-guided Hai Phong travel itinerary in 2025, with notable destinations such as Cat Ba, Do Son, and unique cuisine such as crab rice noodles and fish noodles.
Hai Phong, a bustling port city, is an attractive destination with pristine beaches, rich culture, and unique cuisine such as crab noodles, fish noodles, and grilled pork. Only 120km from Hanoi, Hai Phong is easily accessible and ideal for short trips. With 2 days and 1 night on your own, you will explore Cat Ba Island, Do Son Beach, and enjoy local delicacies. This article provides a detailed itinerary for 2025, practical experiences, and cost-saving tips, suitable for beginners, professional travelers, and food lovers.
Why choose a 2-day, 1-night self-guided tour of Hai Phong?
Hai Phong offers a rich combination of nature, culture, and cuisine. From Cat Ba Island with the emerald Lan Ha Bay, to the bustling atmosphere of the port city, Hai Phong is suitable for all types of tourists. With just 2 days and 1 night, you can explore the highlights, enjoy specialties, and enjoy the sea air. Independent travel allows you to flexibly arrange your schedule, save costs compared to package tours, and freely experience it in your own way. In 2025, with the development of tourism and transportation services, Hai Phong promises to bring a memorable journey.
Prepare before your self-guided tour to Hai Phong 2025
To make your trip smooth and economical, you need to prepare carefully. Here are the specific steps:
- Ideal timing:April-June (summer, warm 25-30°C, calm sea) and September-November (autumn, cool) are the best times to swim and explore Cat Ba. Avoid July-August because of storms. Check the weather forecast 7 days in advance via the AccuWeather app.
- Transportation:From Hanoi, take a bus (100,000-150,000 VND/trip) or motorbike/car via the Hanoi-Hai Phong highway (2 hours). From Ho Chi Minh City, fly to Cat Bi airport (1,000,000-2,000,000 VND/way, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways), then take a taxi (100,000 VND) to the center. In Hai Phong, rent a motorbike (100,000-150,000 VND/day) or an electric car in Cat Ba (500,000 VND/day/10 people).
- Finance:Estimated cost 1,500,000-2,500,000 VND/person (transportation, food, accommodation, entrance tickets). Bring 500,000 VND in cash/person and a bank card (ATMs are popular in the center of Hai Phong and Cat Ba).
- Accommodation:Book a homestay (250,000-600,000 VND/night) or a 2-3 star hotel (500,000-1,200,000 VND/room/night) via Booking or Traveloka. Choose an area near Cat Co beach or the center of Hai Phong (Le Hong Phong street) for easy travel.
- Luggage:Bring swimsuit, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 50+), sneakers, folding umbrella, motion sickness medicine, first aid kit. Prepare a small backpack with drinking water (2 bottles of 500ml) and snacks (bread, sticky rice, 50,000 VND) to save money.
- Supported applications:Google Maps, Vietmap for navigation; Traveloka, Klook for booking bus, train, hotel tickets; Foody for finding restaurants. Download offline maps of Hai Phong and Cat Ba for use when offline.
Tips:Book your speedboat tickets to Cat Ba early through Traveloka to avoid running out of seats. Ask for prices before buying food or specialties to avoid being mischarged.
Detailed 2-day, 1-night Hai Phong travel itinerary 2025
The itinerary is designed to explore the center of Hai Phong, Cat Ba Island, and enjoy special cuisine such as crab noodles, fish noodles. Use motorbikes and speedboats to optimize time. Below is the detailed plan:
Day 1: Hanoi – Hai Phong – Cat Ba – Lan Ha Bay – Crab noodle soup
6:00: Depart from Hanoi
Take a bus from Gia Lam station or a limousine from Hanoi's Old Quarter to Hai Phong (100,000-250,000 VND/trip, 2 hours). Stop for breakfast (bun rieu, pho, 30,000-50,000 VND/meal). Arrive at Binh station (Hai Phong) around 8:30, buy a speedboat ticket to Cat Ba (100,000-150,000 VND/trip, 45 minutes).
10:00: Arrive in Cat Ba – Check in and have lunch
The ship arrives at Cat Ba port, check in at a homestay/hotel near Cat Co beach (250,000-1,200,000 VND/night). Rent a motorbike (100,000 VND/day). Have lunch withrice noodle soup with crab(40,000 VND/serving), Hai Phong specialty with sweet broth and fatty field crab.
12:30: Lan Ha Bay Tour
Book a canoe tour to exploreLan Ha Bayat Beo wharf (250,000-350,000 VND/person, 4 hours. Visit the floating fishing village, kayak (100,000 VND/hour), and swim at Van Boi beach. Take photos with the limestone islands and turquoise water. Bring snacks (sandwiches, 50,000 VND) to save money.
17:00: Cat Co Beach – Sunset
Go by motorbikeCat Co beach 1 or 2(free). Swim in the sea, relax on the white sand, and watch the sunset. Rent a lounge chair (VND 30,000/chair) if needed. Tour time is about 1.5 hours.
19:00: Seafood dinner and night walk
Dinner with seafood combo (shrimp, squid, crab, 150,000-250,000 VND/person). Stroll around Cat Ba at night, enjoy coffee (40,000 VND/glass) or draft beer (10,000 VND/glass). Stay overnight in Cat Ba.
Day 2: Cat Ba – Hai Phong – Do Son – Fish noodle soup and return to Hanoi
6:30: Breakfast and visit Than Cong fortress
Breakfast with shrimp noodles (40,000 VND/serving). Ride a motorbike toCannon Fort(ticket 80,000 VND/person). See the panorama of Lan Ha Bay, take pictures with ancient cannons. Visit time is about 1 hour.
8:30: Cat Ba National Park
Go by motorbikeCat Ba National Park(15km, ticket 80,000 VND/person). Short walk (2km) through the primeval forest, explore Trung Trang cave (ticket 40,000 VND). Bring sneakers and water for comfort. Tour time is about 1.5 hours.
11:00: Return to Hai Phong - Lunch with fish noodles
Check out of homestay/hotel. Take the speedboat back to Hai Phong (100,000-150,000 VND/trip, 10:30). Arrive at Binh wharf around 11:30, take a motorbike/taxi to eat Hai Phong fish noodle soup (40,000 VND/serving), a specialty dish with spicy and sour broth and crispy fried fish.
13:00: Do Son Beach
Take a motorbike/taxi toDo Son beach(20km, free). Swimming, taking photos with the long sandy beach and bustling atmosphere. Enjoy Ha Long sausage (50,000 VND/serving) at the beachside restaurants. Visiting time is about 1.5 hours.
15:30: Shopping for specialties and returning to Hanoi
Go to Cat Bi market or Big C Hai Phong supermarket to buy specialties such as Chinese rice cake (50,000 VND/box), Cat Hai fish sauce (100,000 VND/liter), and pork sausage (200,000 VND/kg). Negotiate the price to reduce 10-15%. Take the bus/limousine back to Hanoi (100,000-250,000 VND/trip, 2 hours). Arrive in Hanoi around 6:30 pm, end of trip.
Compare independent travel and package tours
To choose the right form, below is a comparison table between independent travel and package tours:
| Criteria | Independent travel | Package tour |
|---|---|---|
| Expense | 1,500,000-2,500,000 VND/person (transportation, food, accommodation, tickets) | 2,000,000-3,500,000 VND/person (including car, train, food, accommodation) |
| Flexible | High, free to arrange schedule | Low, fixed schedule |
| Experience | Authentic, close to local culture and cuisine | Convenient, with tour guides sharing knowledge |
| Suitable for | Young, experienced, love food | Newcomers, families, large groups |
Tips for choosing:Independent travel is ideal for those who love to explore and want to flexibly enjoy Hai Phong cuisine. Package tours are suitable for beginners or businesses organizing team building (for example: Vietravel, price from 2,000,000 VND/person). Book a tour through a reputable company to ensure quality.
Tips to save money when traveling independently to Hai Phong 2025
To optimize costs, apply the following tips:
- Book early:Book bus, train, and hotel tickets 1-2 months in advance through Traveloka or Klook to save 10-20%.
- Choose the right restaurant:Eat at cheap restaurants (VND 30,000-80,000/meal) instead of high-end restaurants. Buy snacks at Cat Ba market to save money.
- Go in groups:Share the cost of homestay, motorbike, canoe tour to reduce 20-30% of personal expenses.
- Smart shopping:Negotiate prices for specialties at Cat Bi market, buy early in the morning to get fresh products and good prices (10-15% discount).
- Free Points Priority:Visit Cat Co beach, Do Son beach to save on ticket costs.
Note:Bring motion sickness medication when traveling by boat. Check the weather 7 days in advance to avoid storms.
Experience unique cuisine in Hai Phong
Hai Phong is a culinary paradise with dishes that are typical of the port. Here are some dishes that you cannot miss:
- Rice noodle soup with crab:Crab broth, red rice noodles, grilled pork rolls in betel leaves (40,000 VND/serving).
- Fish noodle soup:Crispy fried fish, spicy and sour broth (40,000 VND/serving).
- Key:Fried fish cakes made from squid, price 50,000 VND/serving, eaten at Do Son.
- Seafood:Grilled shrimp, squid, crab (150,000-250,000 VND/person).
- Chinese rice cake:Salty rice cake with dried shrimp, price 50,000 VND/box (Cat Bi market).
Tips:Go in groups of 4-6 to order a seafood combo and save 20%. Ask for the price before ordering to avoid miscalculation.
Fun activities in Hai Phong
Besides sightseeing, Hai Phong has many interesting activities:
- Kayaking:At Lan Ha Bay, price 100,000 VND/hour, suitable for groups of friends.
- Sea bathing:At Cat Co or Do Son beach, bring swimsuit and sunscreen.
- Check-in and live virtual life:Cannon Fort, Lan Ha Bay, and the rocky beach in Cat Ba are beautiful photo spots.
- Explore street food:Stroll around Cat Ba night market, enjoy crab rice noodles and cha chia.
Tips:Book a canoe or kayak tour through the homestay to get a 10-15% better price. Bring a spare battery to take photos comfortably.
Frequently asked questions when traveling to Hai Phong
1. What is special about Hai Phong?
Hai Phong is famous for Cat Ba Island, Lan Ha Bay, Do Son Beach, and cuisine such as crab rice noodles, fish noodles, and cha chia.
2. Is 2 days 1 night enough to explore?
Enough to visit Cat Ba, Do Son, and enjoy the cuisine with a reasonable schedule.
3. How much does the trip cost?
Self-sufficient about 1,500,000-2,500,000 VND/person, package tour from 2,000,000-3,500,000 VND/person.
4. Are there any special preparations required?
Bring swimsuit, sunscreen, and motion sickness medication. Book train tickets and homestays early, and check the weather before your trip.
5. What to do if there is a storm?
Check the weather forecast 7 days in advance. If there is a storm, stay at the hotel, visit the center of Hai Phong (Cat Bi market, Opera House).
Hai Phong 2 days 1 night self-guided tour is a great opportunity to explore Cat Ba island, enjoy unique cuisine, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the port city. With a detailed itinerary, practical experience, and cost-saving tips in 2025, you are ready to start this adventure. Prepare your luggage, book bus and train tickets, and explore Hai Phong today!
