Hai Phong Food Guide: Port City Pride And The Three Content Creators Telling Its Story

Vietnam’s biggest and boldest port city, Hai Phong, sits just 90 minutes east of Hanoi – perfect for a weekend getaway and worthy of a place on the tourist route in its own right. It plays the gritty, tasty underdog to Ha Long Bay’s flashy tourist circus next door. Most travelers rush through on their way to those famous limestone karsts. Their loss. Because this is where the real Vietnam eats. And that’s what makes it deserving of our Hai Phong food guide, reflecting the port city’s pride, as told by three content creators relaying its savory story.

In casual conversations here – which always revolve around food – Saigonese, it seems, yearn for Hanoi’s cuisine, while Hanoians pine for Hai Phong’s. Three content creators are telling this story, creating a compelling picture of the port city through their Hai Phong food guides.

Pít Ham Ăn, Son Harry, and Call Me Gigi have all turned their cameras on Hai Phong’s food scene. They’re not just posting shorts – they’re youthful cultural ambassadors for a city whose cuisine deserves the spotlight. Because Hai Phong’s food scene attracts that kind of passionate evangelism.

This Hai Phong Food Guide Reflects A Remarkable Cuisine

“What’s special about Hai Phong’s cuisine?” Pít Ham Ăn asks. “I feel like the flavors of Hai Phong are so bound to its location. It’s hard to find the same taste when trying the city’s signature dishes elsewhere,” she smiles. “What makes it special is not just one or two dishes but an incredibly diverse culinary landscape. Even a one-day visit wouldn’t be enough to explore all the delicacies here.”

Son Harry agrees. “Hai Phong’s cuisine is humble. But it’s bold too. It’s built on fresh, local ingredients and fuss-free cooking,” he explains. “And it’s a place where street food thrives – from bánh đa cua (thick red rice noodles in crab broth) to hearty nem cua bể (sea crab spring rolls), to fresh ốc dishes, bánh mì pâté, and bánh bèo (a savory rice or tapioca flour cake) in a style that’s distinct from Huế or Saigon.”

That distinction is important, Call Me Gigi agrees. “Honestly, every city has its own culinary identity. For Hai Phong, the first thing that comes to people’s minds is always bánh đa cua, followed by nem cua bể, maybe bánh mì cay (a spicy Vietnamese sandwich), and more,” she rattles off the dishes like the names of old friends.

“However, if we’re talking about exclusivity, the true gems of Hai Phong are definitely bánh đa cua and chí chương – Hai Phong’s signature condiment made with chili and seedless fresh tomatoes, mixed with minced garlic, a little salt, and fermented, all according to its creator’s own recipe.”

A City That Moves At Its Own Pace

There are rarely tourist menus here. Just bowls of bánh đa cua that have been perfecting themselves for generations. Red rice noodles thick as your thumb. Crab broth that tastes like the ocean. Hai Phong moves at its own pace. Street vendors set up at 6 AM, sell out by noon, and disappear until tomorrow.

Flamboyant trees line the streets, dropping red petals like confetti. The harbor hums with container ships from everywhere. But walk five minutes inland and you’re in neighborhoods where time forgot to check its watch. This isn’t Hanoi’s refined elegance or Saigon’s buzzing chaos. This is something else entirely. Working-class poetry. It all tastes like port city pride.

Hai Phong’s Food Scene Is One Of The Country’s Most Underrated

What brings Pít Ham Ăn, Call Me Gigi and Son Harry together is their shared belief that Hai Phong, Vietnam’s largest port city, harbors one of the country’s most underrated food scenes. Hai Phong has been quietly perfecting bold, unpretentious flavors that taste like the sea and the streets in equal measure.

Khánh Linh, better known as Pít Ham Ăn, is the creator who cracked the code on YouTube Shorts Vietnam, hitting #1 in 2021 and amassing nearly 6 million followers across platforms. Son Harry is the TikTok explorer who doubles as an interior designer, someone who understands that great storytelling works in both space and flavor. And Gigi is the authenticity evangelist behind ‘Call Me Gigi,’ whose videos help you feel the flavors, not just see them.

Consider them cultural ambassadors for a city that officially published Vietnam’s first municipal Food Tour Map, proof that Hai Phong takes its culinary identity seriously. Through their cameras and commentary, they’ve been answering a question most travelers never think to ask: what happens when a port city with 245 years of history decides to let its food do the talking?

What do you think about when you think about Hai Phong?

Call Me Gigi: When I think of Hai Phong, I picture vibrant red flowers and the steam from a bowl of bánh đa cua. I picture the statue of Lady General Lê Chân and the kick of chí chương sauce!

Son Harry: To me, the city tastes bold, sea-scented, and deeply comforting. To summarize that in a dish, it would be a bowl of bánh đa cua bursting with the sweet brininess of seafood, the richness of crab meat, and the warmth of a homemade broth.

Pít Ham Ăn: A bowl of bánh đa cua is just like the city itself – diverse, lively, and full of surprises. Each component in the bowl tells its own story, but when combined, they create a harmonious and unforgettable experience. The chewy, red bánh đa noodles represent the bustling streets, packed with people and vehicles, yet maintaining a cozy, welcoming vibe. The crab is the soul of the dish – fresh, delicious, and sincere, just like the locals. The broth is rich and sweet, combined with the spicy and aromatic chí chương chili sauce, like the city’s climate – sunny but sometimes windy, which gives it a certain charm.

Where does Hai Phong’s cuisine rank among Vietnam’s best?

Call me Gigi: If not first, then definitely second! Hai Phong is rightfully famous for its food tours, delicious street food, and budget-friendly prices.

Son Harry: For me, Hai Phong easily ranks in the top 3 food cities in Vietnam – along with Saigon and Hanoi. Its flavors are bold, the portions generous, and the vibe is hyper-local and unpretentious.

Pít Ham Ăn: Personally, I believe Hai Phong is definitely among the top food cities in Vietnam. But don’t make me choose! It’s too difficult.

How do you feel the climate and geography influence Hai Phong’s culinary traditions and available ingredients?

Son Harry: Being a coastal city, Hai Phong’s cuisine is naturally tied to the sea. Local seafood is not just fresh – it’s part of everyday meals. The climate lends itself to richer flavors with a hint of spice, making even the simplest dishes feel full of personality.

Call Me Gigi: Hai Phong’s weather is quite pleasant year-round, with cool breezes from the sea in summer and moderate winters. Being a coastal city, there’s loads of fresh seafood, especially shellfish. You’ll find plenty of bề bề (mantis shrimp) in dishes like bánh đa cua and at seafood spots like Ốc Thủy Dương Lạch Tray.

Pít Ham Ăn: As the largest port city in Northern Vietnam, Hai Phong is blessed by its proximity to the sea and several seaside areas such as Cát Bà, Đồ Sơn, and Bạch Long Vĩ. The geography gives it a rich source of fresh seafood, with bánh đa cua using fresh field crabs, cua bể has firm, sweet crab meat that is much better than in many other places, and lots of seafood dishes with shellfish that can be prepared in countless ways. In winter, when the weather gets cold, people crave hot dishes like sủi dìn (glutinous rice balls), crab hotpot, spicy fish noodles, and more bánh đa cua. In summer, when it’s hotter, there are refreshing treats like dừa dầm (coconut dessert drink), coconut coffee, and lots of sweet soups.

Where’s the best place for breakfast in Hai Phong?

Pít Ham Ăn: Hai Phong’s breakfast scene is diverse! There are dishes like bánh đa cua, miến ngan (duck noodles), bún tôm (shrimp vermicelli), bánh mì trứng đánh kem (whipped egg baguette), and phở bò nhừ (tender beef pho). I feel like most locals prefer a warm noodle soup to start their day. After breakfast, it’s common to enjoy trà cúc (chrysanthemum tea) on the sidewalk while watching the city wake up. Do this and become a local!

Call Me Gigi: Yes, most locals prefer noodles in the morning, like bún cá (fish noodle soup) or bánh đa cua.

Son Harry: For me too. I’d start my day in Hai Phong with either bánh đa cua or bún tôm. Comforting, full of umami, and energizing.

After that, if you were to take a first-time visitor on a food tour of Hai Phong, where would you go?

Pít Ham Ăn: I’d just throw out my must-try places and let them choose.

There’s Bánh Đa Cua Bà Nghĩa at 17/143 Tôn Đức Thắng, open from 10 AM to 3 PM, then Bánh Đa Cua Chú Dũng at 143/46 Lạch Tray from 6 AM to 1 PM.

For nem cua bể, I’d send them to 92 Trần Nhật Duật at Chợ Cố Đạo Market. Oh, and bánh đúc tàu at 5 Miếu Hai Xã, but you need to get there by 3:30 PM before they sell out.

At Chợ Đổ Market there’s great giá bể xào (stir-fried bean sprouts with seafood) and bánh bèo. Or there’s bánh mì trứng đánh kem at 64 Lý Thường Kiệt, though that’s mornings only.

Son Harry: Definitely Chợ Cát Bi and Chợ Lương Văn Can. These markets are street food heaven. Inside you’ll find the best of Hai Phong in one place, from seafood to snacks, all at local prices.

Are there any must-try drinks and desserts?

Son Harry: If you’re looking for a really good cup of coffee, Cafe 99.33 is my top pick. Their coffee is rich, smooth, and consistently well-made – perfect for both casual meetups and quiet moments alone. It’s one of those places that locals keep coming back to, not just for the drinks but for the vibe, too.

Pít Ham Ăn: For desserts, Dừa Dầm – Cô Tuyết, 274 Tôn Đức Thắng and Coconut Coffee – Cô Hạnh, 148 Lương Khánh Thiện. For something sweet, dừa dầm at Hiền Béo on 124 Lạch Tray. And don’t miss trà cúc hạt dẻ (chrysanthemum tea with chestnuts) at 15-17 Hoàng Văn Thụ.

Call Me Gigi: Absolutely! Top 1 is cà phê cốt dừa (coconut coffee), followed by dừa dầm (shredded coconut dessert drink). The best places for coconut coffee are: Cô Hạnh (148 Lương Khánh Thiện & 102 Lam Sơn) and Cô Hằng (Lam Sơn). It’s rich, smooth, and not overly sweet, with an array of toppings – truly addictive!

For desserts, cà phê cốt dừa is a must-try, but if you prefer something sweeter, go for dừa dầm at Hiền Béo or Cô Vinh, both near the Lạch Tray War Memorial (53 Lạch Tray).

Which place to eat in Hai Phong is so good you’re reluctant to tell anyone about it?

Son Harry: Ốc Cô Lời! Even now, I’m hesitating to mention it because it’s that good. Fresh, flavorful, and unforgettable.

Call Me Gigi: For me, the whole point of finding places is to share them. For me, it’s evening-only bánh đa cua at 42 Hai Bà Trưng and Bún Cá Miền Duyên Hải (227 Văn Cao). Both are absolute gems!

Pít Ham Ăn: Same. The whole point is telling people!

Where’s your favorite place in Hai Phong to hang out with friends?

Call Me Gigi: Trà cúc on Hoàng Văn Thụ is my go-to spot. There’s Insider Hidden Bar for cocktails too (80 Hoàng Văn Thụ). It’s super chill, which the friendly staff help contribute to.

Son Harry: Mostly cafes and local eateries. Some of my favorite coffee spots are Ngụm and Cafe 99.33 – great vibes and local crowd. Or I’d go to Hạnh Bia for some delicious snacks. And I’d go to local-style hotpot at Lẩu Cua Đồng – Ngõ Phạm Hữu Điều.

Finally, where’s the best late-night food in Hai Phong?

Son Harry: Bánh Đa Chiên & Ốc Chiên – Số 1 Lê Chân. Perfect after 10PM.

Call Me Gigi: Bánh cuốn, Vietnamese steamed rice rolls, at 118 Lương Khánh Thiện. It’s open until 4 AM!