Hai Phong Travel Attractions

Travel Guides in Hai Phong
Area: 1,520.7 sq. km.

Population: 1,803.4 thousand habitants (2006)

Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Tay, Nung…

Districts: Hong Bang, Ngo Quyen, Le Chan, Kien An, Hai An, Duong Kinh, Do Son.

Rural districts: Thuy Nguyen, An Duong, An Lao, Kien Thuy, Tien Lang, Vinh Bao, Cat Hai, Bach Long Vi.
Geography
Hai Phong is a large city with an important seaport of Vietnam. Hai Phong is near Quang Ninh Province to the north, Hai Duong Province to the west, and Thai Binh Province to the south.

Climate: Because of the proximity to the East Sea, Hai Phong's weather is affected by inter-tropical monsoons. The annual average temperature varies between 23ºC and 24ºC.
Tourism
Hai Phong has many temples, pagodas, mausoleums and shrines such as ancient Du Hang Pagoda, Nghe Temple, Hang Kenh Communal House… Hai Phong has famous historical Bach Dang River, where the national heroes defeated three Chinese feudal invasions. The third victory over the Yuan-Mongolians was known all over the world. Many of the teakwood pointed spikes have been discovered in this river. Hai Phong is on tourism route: Hanoi – Hai Phong – Halong Bay. Do Son Beach, located 20km from Hai Phong, is a sand strip for bathing. However, during the monsoon season, the Red River's alluvial sands cause the water to turn yellow. From Do Son, tourist can visit Cat Ba National Park, and continue to Bai Tu Long Bay and Halong Bay (Quang Ninh Province). Hai Phong is also famous for many festivals, of which Choi Trau Festival (Do Son Buffalo-fighting festival) in Do Son District is unique.
Festivals
Dong Ly Communal House Festival

Time: 8th to the 12th day of the first lunar month.

Location: My Dong Commune, Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Su Quyen, general of Hai Ba Trung.

Activities: Procession of ancestral tablet, worshipping, Chinese chess, cock fighting.
Giai Market Festival

Time: In the morning of the 2nd day of the first lunar month.

Location: Ha Ðoi Hamlet, Tien Thanh Commune, Tien Lang District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Tran Quoc Thanh (a talented general of Tran Dynasty).

Activities: Festival of the beginning of a new year, selling and buying for lucky.
Ha Lung Temple Festival

Time: 16th day to the 18th day of the first lunar month.

Location: Dang Hai Ward, Hai An District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Ngo Quyen, who started the age of self-control of our country, major victory in against Nam Han invaders on Bach Dang River.

Activities: Sacrifices – offering ceremony, incense offering, visiting the vestige of Bach Dang Stake-Yard.
Pho Chieu Pagoda Festival

Time: 4th day of the first lunar month.

Location: Du Hang Kenh Ward, Le Chan District, Hai Phong City.

Activities: Ancestor’s anniversary death.
Phuc Le Festival

Time: 2nd to 6th day of the first lunar month.

Location: Phuc Le Commune, Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong City.

Activities: Dum singing, vegetarian-cooking contest, weaving, and traditional games.
Prince Consort Temple (Deo Temple) Festival

Time: the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Location: Nui Deo Town, Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: General Lai Van Thanh, talented General Tran Dynasty.

Activities: A sacrifices – offering ceremony in commemorating the merit of the General.
Rowing Festival

Time: 21st day of the first lunar month.

Location: Cat Hai Townlet, Cat Hai District, Hai Phong.

Activities: Boats racing.
Spring Swinging Festival

Time: Tet holidays.

Location: Some regions of Thuy Nguyen and An Lao Districts, Hai Phong City.

Activities: Swinging.

This is an attractive game in spring festive days. It has the martial spirit and it is an opportunity for boys and girls to meet and get to know each other. The most enthusiastic swing is couple swing with a boy and a girl. They have to co-ordinate rhythmically. Swinging is a contest that excites to activity and courage.
Vieing for ball Festival

Time: 6th day of the first lunar month (every 3 year).

Location: Kim Son Village, Tan Trao Commune, Kien Thuy District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Pham Ngu Lao, famous General of Tran Dynasty.

Activities: Competition among the young men in the region to vie for ball. The ball is made from bulb of banana-tree, diameter 30-40cm, and weight about 20kg.

Xua Market Festival

Time: The 1st day of the first lunar month.

Location: Xua Village, An Lu Commune, Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong City.

Activities: The market opens in the morning of the first day of Tet, sell all kind of local agricultural products. People go to the market not only for selling and buying but also for praying lucky in trading all the year.
Tri Yeu Communal House Festival

Time: the 7th to the 10th day of the second lunar month.

Location: Dang Cuong Commune, An Duong District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Cao Son, Qui Minh and Chang Rong – The local genie, assist Hung King against Thuc troop.

Activities: Worship to the genie, contests of chung cake, giay cake, wrestling.
Dragon Boat Race Festival

Time: April 1 (by solar calendar).

Location: Cat Ba Town, Cat Hai District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: President Ho Chi Minh interested in fishing work.

Activities: Boat race celebrates the day President Ho Chi Minh paid a visit to Cat Ba fishing village in 1959 and that day is also the traditional day of aquiculture.
Opening of the race is tug-of-war item between boat teams on the sea. After that, fishermen from the territorial waters of Central and Southern parts perform coracle shaking. Then the dragon racing starts. The racetrack is 1km long. Signal flags are at two heads of the line. Racing boats will have to race 3 or 4 rounds. The prize will give for the boat comes to the finish first. This is a chance to find excellent rowers and boat commanders. The racing festival is very attractive.
Kha Lam Temple Festival

Time: The 3rd day of the sixth lunar month.

Location: Kha Lam Temple, Kien An District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Princess Chieu Minh – the daughter of King Tran Thanh Tong, who had merit of building bridge, opening market, taking care of old people, assisting people in misfortune, offering all her fields and gardens to people.

Activities: Incense offering, recalling ceremonies, reciting the Buddhist scriptures, celebrating a requiem.
Do Son Buffalo Fighting Festival

Time: The 9th day of the eighth lunar month.

Location: Do Son Dist., Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Water genie.

Activities: Buffalo fighting, the cult of water genie.
The Buffalo Fight in Do Son (Hai Phong City) is officially held every year on the 9th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. There are, in fact, two rounds of elimination before the middle of the fifth month and 8th day of the sixth lunar month.

The preparation for this festival is very elaborate. Fighting buffaloes must be carefully selected, well fed, and trained. These buffaloes must be between 4 and 5 years old, with a good appearance, a wide chest, a big groin, a long neck, an acute bottom, and bow shaped horns. The fighting buffaloes are fed in separate cages to keep them from contact with common buffaloes.

The beginning of the worshipping ceremony lasts until lunch time. A typical procession begins with an octet and a big procession chair, carried by six strong young men. The six clean buffaloes that are part of the ceremony are covered with red cloths and bound with reddish bands on their horns. There are 24 young men who dance and wave flags as two teams of troops start fighting. After this event, a pair of buffaloes are led to opposite sides of the festival grounds and are made to stand near two flags called Ngu Phung. When the right signal is released, the two buffaloes are moved to within 20m of each other. At the next signal, the two leaders release the ropes that are attached to the noses of the buffaloes. The two buffaloes then rush into each other with well practiced movements. The spectators then shout and urge the fighting along.

At the completion of the fight, the spectacle of “receiving the buffaloes” is very interesting as the leaders must then catch the winning buffalo to grant it its reward.

The Buffalo Fight in Do Son is a traditional festival that is attached to a Water God worshipping ceremony and the “Hien Sinh” custom. The most typical reason for the ceremony is to express the martial spirit of the local people in Do Son, Hai Phong.
Earth firecracker Festival

Time: 3rd day of the eighth lunar month.

Location: Tan Hung, Tam Da, Tan Liên Communes, Vinh Bao District, Hai Phong City.

Activities: Earth firecracker contest. Each earth firecracker is refined carefully, 25kg to 30kg in weight. After the starting signal, players lift earth firecracker high then beat it down. Which one has longest piece will win the prize.

Ha Communal House Festival

Time: 20th day of the eighth lunar month.

Location: Hong Bang District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: The Buddha, Tran Hung Dao, Tran Quoc Toan, Chua Lieu, Nguyen Cong Tru.

Activities: Sacrifices-offering ceremony, incense offering.
Phu Xa Temple Festival

Time: The 20th day of the eighth lunar month.

Location: Dong Hai Ward, Hai An District, Hai Phong City.

Objects of worship: Tran Hung Dao, Lady Bui Thi Tu Nhien – who kept food store house of Dai Viet army and had merit of rebuilding Phu Xa Temple.

Activities: Sacrifice-offering ceremony, procession of ancestral tablet, Chinese chess, cock fighting.
Tat Giang Festival (Dum singing at night on river Festival)

Time: 10th to the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.

Location: Phuc Le Commune, Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong City.

Activities: Singers rowing on river, songs are composed by themselves, the contest is taken Location in 3 nights, who cannot make repartees is lost.
Transportation
Hai Phong is served by an important transportation network of sea routes, roads, railways, and airlines.

Road: The National Highway No. 10 links Hai Phong to the provinces of Quang Ninh, Thai Binh and Thanh Hoa. Hai Phong is 102km from Hanoi.

Airlines: There are connecting daily flights with Ho Chi Minh City, departed from Cat Bi Airport.

Railway: There are trains from Hanoi to Hai Phong and vice versa.

Boat: Daily ferries from the dock on Ben Binh St. for other destinations. The ferry runs from Hai Phong to Cat Ba Island several times a day. The hydrofoil boats run between Hai Phong – Cat Ba and Hai Phong – Hon Gai. The high-speed air-condition Thong Nhat Boat leave daily from Hai Phong to Cat Ba.