1. Hai Phong Street Food: Reasons That Captivate Tourists

Hai Phong street food is a distinctive culinary culture. (Source: Collected)

Hai Phong street food is an indispensable culinary culture in the daily life of the people of the coastal city. These are both convenient fast food items and reflect the unique culinary creativity of the Port land. Crispy baguette sandwiches, steaming bowls of crab noodle soup, or cool coconut jelly cups are all made from fresh local ingredients such as field crabs, sweet young coconuts, and fresh seafood, bringing a distinct culinary experience.

The attraction of Hai Phong street food lies in its diversity and richness of flavors. The savory pate mixed with characteristic spicy chili sauce, the creamy coconut milk combined with fresh seafood, all create unforgettable tastes for diners. Prices are reasonable, mostly ranging from 10,000–40,000 VND/serving, suitable for many groups, from students to tourists.

Not only rich in dishes, Hai Phong street food also stands out for its convenience, serving all day with over 20 different dishes, from bread, sticky rice, noodles, sweet soups to snails and spring rolls. Many dishes retain the cultural imprint of the Chinese people or reflect the characteristic coastal charm, such as Banh Duc Tau, Banh Da Cua, and Nem Cua Be. By 2025, Hai Phong's street food is increasingly appearing in vlogs, reviews, and culinary articles, contributing to the trend of exploring local culinary culture, especially loved by young people.

2. Top outstanding Hai Phong street food dishes you cannot miss

Hai Phong street food always has a special attraction for tourists thanks to its rustic, unique, and distinct coastal flavors. If you have set foot in the "city of flamboyant flowers," you definitely cannot miss the top outstanding Hai Phong street food dishes below – flavors that make anyone want to return again.

2.1. Spicy Baguette, Hai Phong Thai Sweet Soup

Hai Phong spicy baguette is a delicious snack. (Source: Collected)

Hai Phong spicy baguette is nổi bật with its small crispy crust, rich pate filling, and especially the characteristic Hai Phong spicy chili sauce. The intense spicy flavor combined with the spreading aroma of garlic creates an appealing sensation from the very first bite. Famous addresses like Ong Cuong (Hang Kênh) or Ba Gia (Le Loi) are always crowded, with prices starting from only 3,000–5,000 VND/piece.

To fully enjoy this Hai Phong snack, visitors should dip generously in chili sauce and can buy them by the dozen to experience the characteristic intense spicy flavor. Besides, Hai Phong Thai sweet soup is also an unmissable choice, a blend of various fresh fruits, coconut milk, jelly, and tapioca pearls, creating a refreshing sweetness, eye-catching colors, and a characteristic fragrant shredded coconut topping.

2.2. Dừa dầm, coconut coffee

Hai Phong dừa dầm is a signature snack with a perfect combination of shredded coconut, fresh milk, coconut milk, and condensed milk, along with tapioca pearls and jelly for a crispy texture and a cool, lightly creamy, non-greasy sweetness. It is an ideal choice for refreshment on hot summer days. Some prominent addresses that visitors should not miss are Hien Beo (124 Lach Tray) and Co Hanh (102 Lam Son), with prices ranging from 20,000–30,000 VND/cup.

In addition, Hai Phong coconut coffee offers a unique experience with a blend of the mild bitterness of coffee, the sweetness of condensed milk, rich coconut milk, and chewy tapioca pearls. The creamy, easy-to-drink flavor makes this dish a perfect choice for lunchtime. Co Hang shop (124A Lam Son) is trusted by many customers for using quality fresh coconuts and providing consistent service, always maintaining its characteristic delicious flavor.

2.3. Crab noodle soup

Crab noodle soup (Banh da cua) has a rich flavor with many attractive toppings. (Source: Collected)

As one of the most famous Hai Phong street foods nationwide, banh da cua attracts diners with its rich flavor and sophisticated combination of ingredients. The broth has a light brown color, cooked from fresh river crabs, rich crab roe, combined with chewy red rice noodles, creating an unmistakable characteristic. Accompaniments such as grilled pork wrapped in betel leaves (cha la lot), fish cakes (cha ca), beef, pork meatballs (moc), water spinach, fried shallots, fresh shrimp, and fried tofu all contribute to making the dish richer and more complete.

Some famous addresses loved by many are Ba Cu (179 Cau Dat) and Ba Hat (1614 Pham Van Dong, Do Son), with prices ranging from 35,000–50,000 VND/bowl. From humble sidewalk stalls to luxurious restaurants, Hai Phong crab noodle soup is always suitable for any time of day, especially when the weather is cool. According to local culinary experience, river crabs are best from April to August of the lunar calendar, helping the broth retain its characteristic rich and fatty flavor, appealing to all diners.

2.4. Crab Spring Rolls (Nem cua bể)

Nem cua bể is a Hai Phong street food dish nổi bật with a crispy, golden-brown fried rice paper wrapper, filled with a fresh mixture of crab, shrimp, glass noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and bean sprouts, all rolled together, retaining a rich flavor. When enjoyed, the spring rolls are usually dipped in a sweet and sour fish sauce and served with fresh herbs, creating a refreshing and pleasant sensation. This dish is widely available on the menus of many eateries, from casual stalls to high-end seafood restaurants, making it an unmissable choice when exploring Hai Phong's cuisine.

2.5. Sea Asparagus (Gia be Hai Phong)

Gia be is a type of bivalve mollusk living in coastal mudflats, with a white body, resembling bean sprouts but possessing a distinct oceanic flavor. When prepared in sweet and sour stir-fries or spicy stir-fries, the chewy, sweet meat blends with the rich sauce, creating an appealing culinary experience. The Chu Van An market in Ngo Quyen district is a famous spot in Hai Phong, where street food vendors serve fresh and quality gia be, attracting a large number of diners who love this unique dish.

2.6. Banh duc tau

Banh duc tau is a delicious specialty dish. (Source: Collected)

Banh duc tau in Hai Phong is a delicate combination of soft banh duc, fragrant dried shrimp, sweet and crispy stir-fried radish, and nutritious wood ear mushrooms. All are topped with a sweet and sour fish sauce and sprinkled with crispy fried shallots, creating a harmonious flavor that is both rich and aromatic. This is an ideal snack to enjoy in the afternoon, bringing a warm and comfortable feeling, while preserving the culinary culture of the Chinese people in the port city.

2.7. Nem chua Cho Do

Hai Phong's nem chua stands out with its moderately crispy outer layer and a pleasantly mild sour taste, often enjoyed with fruit vinegar for a refreshing sensation. When combined with fresh herbs, the dish becomes even more harmonious and appealing. One of the reputable addresses chosen by many Hai Phong locals is Ba Cu shop at 167 Phan Boi Chau, near Cho Do market, ensuring freshness and authentic traditional flavor.

2.8. Snail Dishes

Hai Phong is famous for its rich seafood snail cuisine, including types like razor clams, whelks, mud snails, oysters... prepared in various attractive ways such as steaming, stir-fried with tamarind, stir-fried with coconut, salted egg sauce, grilled with cheese, or grilled with scallion oil. Two prominent places to enjoy these snacks are Cat Bi market and Chu Van An market, which gather many delicious snail eateries with reasonable prices and are always bustling with customers, especially in the afternoon and evening – the ideal times to explore Hai Phong's street food.

3. Authentic Hai Phong Snack Spots

Choose reputable Hai Phong street food addresses. (Source: Collected)

If you want to fully explore Hai Phong street food like a true "local", you cannot miss the city's famous markets and street food streets. From the bustling Cat Bi Market to the vibrant Lach Tray Street, each place has its own unique character, contributing to creating the most attractive Hai Phong street food map of 2025.

Cat Bi Market (34 Ly Hong Nhat, Cat Bi) is a lively destination, nổi bật with many fresh and delicious snail dishes, crispy banh mi cay, cute small banh beo, along with reasonable prices, suitable for everyone.

Lach Tray street food street (located on Lach Tray street) is known as the "paradise" of durian jelly, coconut coffee, and fresh spring rolls, possessing a spacious environment, convenient for travel and experience.

Chu Van An Market (located on Chu Van An street) is an ideal choice for those who want to enjoy fresh sea asparagus, fermented pork rolls, banh duc tau, and many other traditional snacks, carrying a rustic atmosphere.

Luong Van Can – Le Loi local market (located on Luong Van Can - Le Loi street) offers a variety of dishes, from cakes and sweet soups to seafood, serving customers all day long.

Co Dao Market (located on Tran Nhat Duat street) is attractive with crispy banh xeo, fragrant banh da, and many other special fast food dishes, mainly serving in the evening, creating a cheerful and friendly atmosphere for tourists and locals.

4. Tips for enjoying Hai Phong street food

Finding suitable eateries for Hai Phong snacks. (Source: Collected)

To fully enjoy the characteristic flavors of Hai Phong street food, visitors need to understand some tips for choosing eateries and the right times to enjoy them. Choosing the right addresses, dishes, and time slots will not only help you experience the most authentic flavors but also ensure safety and a memorable trip.

When enjoying Hai Phong snacks, you should prioritize busy local eateries, those with clear price lists, and long-standing establishments recommended by locals to ensure food quality.

Regarding food safety, choosing clean eateries, fresh ingredients, and avoiding overly crowded times will help the dishes retain their deliciousness.

The ideal times for experiencing Hai Phong cuisine are: morning for hot banh da cua, noon for refreshing che, coconut jelly, or coconut milk coffee, afternoon for nibbling on banh duc, nem chua, and evening for enjoying flavorful and fresh snail dishes, banh xeo.

5. Suggestions for combining Hai Phong travel and culinary experiences

Easily travel to Cat Ba Island by Sun World cable car.

Besides enjoying the rich Hai Phong snacks, visitors can combine exploring attractive tourist destinations.

In the morning, experience the Sun World cable car to Cat Ba Island to admire the panoramic view of the bay from above.

Returning at noon, immediately enjoy a bowl of piping hot, flavorful Hai Phong crab noodle soup.

In the afternoon, return to the city center, enjoy fragrant and rich coconut coffee, and stroll around traditional markets to try nem chua, gia be, banh duc tau in a friendly and intimate atmosphere.

As night falls and the streets light up, you can explore Hai Phong's night cuisine with fresh snails, cool iced coconut, and feel the vibrant nightlife of the port city.

With its unique flavors and unparalleled diversity, Hai Phong snacks have long been an indispensable part of Vietnam's culinary map. Whether a visitor from afar or a native of the Port City, everyone is easily captivated by the simple yet heartfelt dishes here. Hopefully, the list of top delicious dishes and local Hai Phong snack spots will give you more attractive suggestions for your culinary journey in Hai Phong – the land of "eat and remember, try and get hooked" experiences.

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