The Hai Phong foodtour map is a must-have pocket guide for tourists to the northern port city. (Photo: Hai Phong municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

At dawn, Phuong, a tourist from Lai Chau province, is taken by her friends to a famous crab noodle soup shop on Cau Dat Street. Phuong is deeply impressed when she first tastes the dish in its place of origin.

"I’ve heard about this crab noodle soup for a long time, but now that I’ve tasted it, I realize just how amazing it is – well worth travelling hundreds of kilometers. The noodles are chewy, the broth strongly flavorful, and the crab meat fragrant. Just looking at the bowl, you can tell it’s high-quality," Phuong recalls.

Locals like Vu Manh Tuan, echo this assessment, "Hai Phong people can eat it every morning. When I’m on a business trip and can’t find it, I really miss it. Every time my friends from other places come, I take them to have a bowl. It’s a local specialty. The best in town, in my opinion, is the shop on Lach Tray street at intersection with Trai Linh."

Another culinary hallmark of Hai Phong is spicy sandwich that’s a uniquely Hai Phong. Small—about two fingers long—with a crispy crust and a spicy pâté filling made from a secret local recipe, this dish is truly one-of-a-kind.

"The spicy sandwich has been around for a long time in Hai Phong. It’s completely different from baguettes elsewhere, from its shape and size to its ingredients. What makes it special is that it doesn’t need many toppings — just pâté and a bit of spicy chili sauce. Though they look small, two or three of them are enough to fill you up," said native Nguyen Thi Van Anh.

Hai Phong’s cuisine is a major draw for both locals and visitors alike.

No Hai Phong food tour is complete without savoring oc – snails – a local favorite prepared with a variety of bold, spicy flavors native to the region.

Hanoi visitor Thu Trang said she came to Hai Phong specifically to eat snails.

"Hai Phong-style snail dishes are diverse – stir-fried with tamarind, infused with coconut, grilled with salted egg yolk. There are tons of other foods, too – from seafood to fried fermented pork rolls – but every time I come to Hai Phong, I make sure to eat snails. I’ve tried many different snail shops here. They’re all delicious. A solid 10 out of 10," said Trang.

The city’s culinary repertoire extends beyond these staples to include fermented pork rolls from Do market, coconut jelly, spicy fish noodle soup, crab spring rolls, and small, round rice cakes.

Tran Thi Hoang Mai, Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said Hai Phong cuisine has long been praised for its simplicity and its expression of the strong spirit of coastal people.

Mai noted, “Hai Phong cuisine distinguishes itself from other regional culinary traditions. While Hanoi prides itself on refinement and elegance, and Hue on royal subtlety, Hai Phong’s food celebrates cultural adaptation and the authentic flavors of the sea.”

To fully enjoy Hai Phong’s culinary treasures, visitors need more than just an appetite –they need an open heart and plenty of time.