1. Overview of Hai Phong Snack Market
Hai Phong snack markets are the culinary paradise of the port land. (Source: Collected)
Hai Phong snack markets are not only the culinary paradise of the port land but also a place that vividly reflects the rhythm of life and culture of the local people. From small streets to bustling market areas, each corner of the market brings a characteristic flavor, captivating tourists with the richness, simplicity, and full of attraction of Hai Phong street food.
1.1. Attractions of Hai Phong snack markets for tourists
Hai Phong snack markets originate from local markets, bustling streets concentrating numerous eateries and small stalls selling local specialties. The attraction of these markets lies in the diversity of dishes, from rich crab noodle soup, golden fried crab spring rolls, soft steamed rice cakes, fragrant sticky rice, refreshing sweet soup to fresh snails with rich sea flavor. Reasonable prices suitable for many people, allowing tourists to enjoy comfortably without worrying about costs.
When you step into Hai Phong snack markets, you will immediately feel the bustling, liberal, and dynamic atmosphere of the local people. Cheerful conversations and the attractive aroma from the stalls create a culinary space that is both vibrant and familiar. This is always a preferred destination in any Hai Phong culinary exploration journey.
1.2. Vibrant street food culture in Hai Phong
Hai Phong street food stands out with its bustling atmosphere, where young people, students, and local residents gather after a day of studying and working. Snack markets become lively in the evening, when everyone enjoys their favorite dishes together. Snacking not only satisfies the taste buds but also an opportunity to meet, chat, and connect with friends and relatives.
The stalls here always serve continuously with a stable customer base, bringing a characteristic culinary experience of Hai Phong. Fast-prepared dishes, reasonable prices, and easy-to-eat flavors have helped snack markets become familiar destinations not only for local people but also for tourists. The enthusiastic and friendly attitude of the shop owners further enhances the familiarity and attractiveness of each market.
1.3. Online snack business and the development of snack markets
In recent years, Hai Phong has witnessed an explosion of online sales and home food delivery services through modern applications. Many famous snack stalls in large markets have quickly adopted technology to reach a larger customer base. Shop owners regularly update their menus, adding dishes that suit the tastes of young people, while also livestreaming and introducing live images from the market to attract attention.
Thanks to connecting with popular food delivery platforms like GrabFood, Shopee Food, food lovers can enjoy Hai Phong specialties right at home or at work. This trend not only helps promote traditional dishes but also supports snack stalls in developing more professionally. Thus, Hai Phong snack markets become an ideal bridge between traditional culinary culture and the digital age.
2. Top famous Hai Phong snack markets 2025
Hai Phong is known as the "snack paradise" of the North with a series of famous markets, where the essence of the port's characteristic street food converges. Below are the top famous Hai Phong snack markets in 2025, where tourists can freely explore traditional flavors, enjoy popular local delicacies, and immerse themselves in the vibrant life of the local people.
2.1. Cat Bi Market
Cat Bi Market is a familiar snack destination for Hai Phong people. (Source: Collected)
Located at 34 Ly Hong Nhat street, Cat Bi Market Hai Phong is a familiar destination for street food enthusiasts. It is known as a “snack paradise” with a spacious area, bustling atmosphere, and countless delicious dishes. Visitors can easily spend the afternoon exploring the characteristic flavors of the Port City through dishes like hot crab noodle soup, crispy and sweet stir-fried sea squirt, chewy and fragrant filter cake, or the famous golden crab spring rolls.
The prices of dishes at Cat Bi Market are very affordable, starting from only 15,000 VND/dish, suitable for many customers. The market is open all day, but is busiest between 3 PM and 8 PM, when students finish school and office workers finish their shifts. This is an ideal place for young groups, students, or tourists to enjoy cuisine while fully experiencing the vibrant life of Hai Phong people.
2.3. Chu Van An Market
Located on Chu Van An street, this market is one of the most famous snack spots in the Port City. The market attracts diners with its meticulously prepared traditional menu that retains its local characteristic flavors. Must-try dishes include soft Hai Phong steamed rice cakes, rich broth; fragrant, thick stir-fried sea squirt, and attractive golden crab spring rolls. Besides, red bean sweet soup, Thai sweet soup, and khuc bach sweet soup stalls are also very popular with young people for their refreshing sweetness and coolness.
The prices of dishes at Chu Van An Market are quite affordable, ranging from 12,000 – 25,000 VND/portion, suitable for students and tourists. The market is usually crowded during rush hour and on weekends, offering the characteristic bustling atmosphere of Hai Phong street food. If you want to enjoy the most authentic flavors, you should choose stalls located deep inside the market – where many local favorite eateries are concentrated, ensuring the dishes are always fresh, delicious, and true to taste.
2.4. Luong Van Can Market
Luong Van Can Market with many attractive dishes. (Source: Collected)
Located on Luong Van Can street, this market is a familiar destination for foodies who want to explore the traditional flavors of the Port land. The market is rustic and simple but always bustling, especially famous for its characteristic breakfast dishes. Among them, Hai Phong spicy bread is a must-try – the small, crispy bread, rich pate filling combined with a special chili sauce creates an unforgettable spicy taste. Besides, black bean sweet sticky rice, hot rolled cakes, and fresh snail dishes also enchant visitors with their delicious, rustic flavors.
Luong Van Can Market mainly operates in the morning and noon, with dish prices ranging from 10,000 – 30,000 VND, very suitable for a quick breakfast or a culinary exploration of Hai Phong. Visitors should come early in the morning, when the market atmosphere is lively, the calls of vendors mixed with the attractive aroma of food spread throughout the space – bringing a very ordinary but extremely memorable experience.
2.5. Do Market
Do Market Hai Phong, located at lot H13.3-CCQ3 in Hong Bang ward, has long been a familiar meeting point for food lovers wanting to explore the traditional flavors of the Port land. It is famous for its variety of cakes and specialty spring rolls, deeply imbued with local identity. The most beloved dishes include translucent tapioca dumplings with rich shrimp and pork filling, crispy fermented pork rolls, and fragrant crab spring rolls – all meticulously prepared, preserving their natural flavors. Additionally, steamed rice cakes, conical leaf cakes, and banana leaf sticky rice cakes are also attractive choices not to be missed when visiting the market.
The prices of dishes at Do Market are quite affordable, suitable for all visitors, ranging from only 15,000 – 40,000 VND/dish. The market operates all day, but is busiest on weekends, when locals and tourists flock to enjoy the cuisine. To fully experience the traditional flavors of Hai Phong cuisine, you should stop by the cake stalls located right at the market entrance, where the characteristic taste is preserved through each layer of cake and each spreading aroma.
3. "Must-try" snacks when visiting Hai Phong's snack markets
Hai Phong's snack markets are not only attractive for their bustling atmosphere but also for countless delicious dishes imbued with the flavors of the Port land. From fresh seafood, traditional cakes to cool sweet dishes, each dish carries its own sophistication and creativity, making visitors remember it after just one taste.
3.1. Hai Phong Snails
Hai Phong snails are a characteristic dish of the port city. (Source: Collected)
Hai Phong snails have long become a characteristic dish that visitors remember whenever they mention the cuisine of the Port City. The appeal of snails here comes from the richness of types – such as mít snails, bươu snails, scallops, oysters, clams... – along with diverse preparation methods like boiling, tamarind stir-fry, spicy stir-fry, lemongrass steaming, or grilled with scallion oil. Each dish has its own flavor, both rustic and rich with the sea. Thanks to fresh ingredients caught directly from Hai Phong's waters, the snail meat always retains its natural sweetness and appealing chewy texture.
The soul of Hai Phong snails lies in the characteristic dipping sauce, skillfully blended from ginger, lemongrass, kumquat, and fresh chili, creating an unforgettable pungent and subtly fragrant taste. When enjoying, diners will feel the exquisite harmony between the sweetness of the snail meat and the rich, spicy, salty flavor of the dipping sauce, making the dish perfectly balanced. Therefore, Hai Phong snails are always a "must-try" choice on every exploration of Hai Phong street food markets and journey to savor the street food of the Port City.
3.2. Spicy Baguette
Hai Phong spicy baguette has long been a characteristic culinary icon of the Port City. This small, elongated baguette, with a dense filling, is stuffed with rich pate and homemade spicy chili sauce, captivating countless diners. Unlike ordinary baguettes, Hai Phong spicy baguette has a mildly spicy, fragrant, and rich flavor, especially delicious when eaten hot on the spot. Famous baguette shops on Le Loi and Dinh Tien Hoang streets are always bustling with customers every day, especially in the late afternoon and evening.
To enjoy Hai Phong spicy baguette authentically, you should eat it immediately after it comes out of the oven. At this time, the crispy crust, the hot pate mixed with the characteristic chili sauce create an unforgettable appealing flavor. It is the perfect combination of the crispy crust, the savory richness of the pate, and the spiciness of the homemade chili sauce that makes the soul of the dish. Not only a familiar snack, Hai Phong spicy baguette is also a culinary pride of the people of the Port City, contributing to the unique imprint of Vietnamese cuisine.
3.3. Crab Spring Rolls, Fried Fermented Pork Rolls, Banh Beo, Stir-fried Sea Asparagus
Hai Phong crab spring rolls have long been a famous specialty of the Port City, captivating diners with their crispy golden shell and rich filling of crab meat, pork, wood ear mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms. Each spring roll is neatly wrapped in a square shape, fried to a golden crisp, emitting an alluring aroma, and fully embodying the rich flavor of the sea. Thanks to fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation, this dish is always at the top of the list of must-try Hai Phong delicacies. Besides, fried fermented pork rolls with a lightly crispy shell and a refreshing sour taste are also popular attractive snacks.
Hai Phong banh beo impresses with its smooth, chewy batter, rich broth, served with fish cake, fried shallots, and dried shrimp, creating a harmonious overall flavor. Additionally, stir-fried sea asparagus – a unique dish found only in some long-standing eateries – is prepared from sea asparagus strands mixed with batter and a smooth, thick broth, offering a novel and unforgettable taste.
These distinctive dishes not only showcase the skill and creativity of the people of Hai Phong but also contribute to the unique identity of Hai Phong street food markets – a convergence of rustic yet captivating flavors.
3.4. Sweet Soups, Smoothies, Dừa Dầm, Coconut Coffee
Enjoy attractive che dishes at Hai Phong snack market. (Source: Collected)
When visiting Hai Phong, tourists should not miss the famous sweet dishes that captivate many food lovers. Among them, the fragrant and nutty black bean che, the smooth and cool khuc bach che, or the sweet and refreshing Thai che all carry the distinct flavor of the Port City. Besides, Hai Phong's dua dam (shredded coconut dessert) and avocado smoothie with fresh ingredients like shredded coconut, condensed milk, and chewy jelly offer a rich, cool, and refreshing sensation. Especially, Hai Phong's coconut coffee is a "memorable" drink, blending the slight bitterness of coffee with the richness of coconut milk, creating an unforgettable taste experience.
Famous che, smoothie, and coconut coffee shops in Hai Phong are often concentrated on streets like Luong Van Can and Chu Van An, always bustling with customers every evening. These rustic sweet dishes not only help cool down and relieve fatigue but also serve as an ideal stop after an exciting exploration journey at the Hai Phong snack market.
4. Dining experience at Hai Phong snack market
Enjoy a variety of dishes at Hai Phong's snack markets. (Source: Collection)
To make your culinary exploration of Hai Phong complete, visitors should "pocket" some useful dining tips when visiting famous snack markets. These small tips will not only help you enjoy the authentic taste of the Port land but also ensure a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience.
To fully enjoy the authentic taste, you should prioritize places crowded with local customers, with clearly posted price lists and ensuring cleanliness.
The interesting point of Hai Phong street food is that most dishes are prepared right on the spot, creating a vibrant and attractive atmosphere. Visitors can order dishes while observing the chefs prepare them, clearly feeling the freshness and authenticity in every flavor.
For dishes with seafood ingredients such as snails, crab spring rolls, or razor clams, ask carefully about the ingredients if you have allergies.
The ideal times to wander around the market are in the morning from 8 AM or after 4 PM, avoiding peak hours from 11 AM–1 PM and 6 PM–8 PM for a more comfortable experience.
5. Suggested itinerary for a 1-day Hai Phong snack market culinary experience
Experience visiting Cat Ba with Sun World cable car. (Source: Collected)
If you only have one day to explore the cuisine of the Port City, don't worry - Hai Phong is still capable of bringing a journey full of flavor and emotion. The itinerary below will suggest how you can fully experience the famous snack markets in a day, from a rustic breakfast to a vibrant dinner, to clearly feel the culinary essence and the characteristic rhythm of life of the coastal city.
In the morning, start your culinary exploration of Hai Phong at Luong Van Can market - a famous destination for traditional breakfast dishes. Here, visitors can enjoy piping hot crab noodle soup, crispy crab spring rolls, or the famous spicy baguette - flavors associated with the people of the Port City. The bustling morning atmosphere, the lively calls for orders, and the aroma emanating from the stalls make this an ideal choice to start the day.
At noon, you can move to Cat Bi market, where many famous delicacies are gathered, such as Hai Phong style steamed rice cakes, thick stir-fried sea moss, or sweet black bean dessert. The spacious and airy market space allows visitors to rest and enjoy lunch in a rustic and friendly atmosphere.
In the afternoon, take time to visit Chu Van An market to experience diverse Hai Phong snail dishes such as 'oc mit' (jackfruit snails), 'oc buou' (river snails), scallops grilled with scallion oil, or spicy stir-fried snails. Each dish has its own flavor, reflecting the richness of the local street food.
In the evening, you can stroll around major streets like Lach Tray or Chu Van An, where stalls selling fried fermented pork rolls, smoothies, 'che khuc bach' (almond panna cotta), and coconut coffee are always bustling with customers. It's not just a place to eat and drink, but also an ideal spot to feel the vibrant nightlife of the port city.
If you plan to stay longer in Hai Phong, don't forget to spend an afternoon visiting Cat Ba Island by Sun World cable car. The journey is quick and safe, offering panoramic views of the stunning Lan Ha Bay. Here, visitors can enjoy exciting activities such as swimming, exploring caves, kayaking, or savoring fresh seafood – experiences that make the trip more complete and memorable.
6. The Significance of Hai Phong Snack Markets for Tourism and Culinary Business
Hai Phong snack markets are not only familiar destinations for locals but also play an important role in shaping the image of a dynamic and vibrant port city. Each year, tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists come here to experience the rustic culinary space and enjoy characteristic street food dishes with the unique flavors of the Northern coastal region. Gradually, Hai Phong snack market areas have become distinctive cultural and culinary symbols, attracting tourists just as much as other famous tourist attractions.
The strong development of Hai Phong's F&B industry along with the digitalization trend through food delivery applications like GrabFood and Shopee Food has opened up new directions for local culinary business. From traditional stalls in the market, many small brands have learned to leverage online platforms to promote their products, expand their markets, and improve service quality. As a result, Hai Phong cuisine is increasingly spreading widely, not only domestically but also reaching a large number of international tourists, contributing to affirming the city's position on Vietnam's culinary tourism map.
With its bustling atmosphere, diverse delicacies, and unforgettable characteristic flavors, Hai Phong snack markets are truly an ideal destination for those who love exploring street food. From familiar dishes to new flavors, each stall here offers a unique experience, full of the Port City's essence. If you are planning a trip to the city of red flamboyant flowers, don't forget to visit Hai Phong snack markets to fully enjoy the culinary essence and feel the vibrant life of the local people here.
