Haiphong

Haiphong
Name	Haiphong
Native name	Hải Phòng
Settlement type	City
Coordinates	20, 51, N, 106...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Vietnam
Subdivision type1	Region
Subdivision name1	Red River Delta
Established title	Founded
Established date	1888
Government type	Municipality
Leader title	Secretary of the Party Committee
Leader name	Lê Tiến Châu
Leader title1	Chairman of the People's Committee
Leader name1	Nguyễn Văn Tùng
Area total km2	1526.5
Population total	2,103,500
Population as of	2019
Population density km2	auto
Timezone	Indochina Time
Utc offset	+7
Postal code type	Postal code
Postal code	04000–05000
Area code	225
Website	haiphong.gov.vn
Blank name	Climate
Blank info	Cwa

Haiphong. It is a major industrial port city and one of the five centrally-governed municipalities in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Strategically located on the Cấm River near the Gulf of Tonkin, it serves as the primary maritime gateway for the northern region and a crucial economic engine. The city is renowned for its deep-water port facilities, rich history blending indigenous culture with French colonial influences, and vibrant cultural scene.

History

The area has been a significant settlement since the Lý and Trần dynasties, with its modern founding as a major port dating to 1888 under French colonial administration. It played a pivotal role during the First Indochina War, notably as the site of the Haiphong Incident in 1946, a violent confrontation between Việt Minh forces and the French Far East Expeditionary Corps. During the Vietnam War, the city and its vital port infrastructure were subjected to intense aerial bombardment by the United States Air Force as part of Operation Rolling Thunder and the Linebacker campaigns, aimed at disrupting North Vietnamese supply lines. Following the Fall of Saigon and national reunification, Haiphong underwent significant reconstruction and expansion, solidifying its status as a key industrial and logistics hub.

Geography

Situated in the northeastern part of the Red River Delta, the city's core lies on the western bank of the Cấm River, approximately 16 kilometers from its mouth at the Gulf of Tonkin. The municipality's territory includes the scenic Cát Bà Archipelago, part of the larger UNESCO-designated Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, known for its karst landscapes and biodiversity. The topography is characterized by flat, alluvial plains intersected by a network of rivers, including branches of the Thái Bình River system, which facilitate extensive waterborne transport. The climate is classified as a humid subtropical climate, influenced by the East Asian monsoon, bringing hot, rainy summers and cool, drier winters.

Economy

Haiphong is the economic powerhouse of northern Vietnam, anchored by its namesake Port of Haiphong, one of the country's largest and busiest container terminals handling trade with global partners like China, Japan, and the United States. Major industrial zones, such as Đình Vụ and Tràng Duệ, host a diverse manufacturing base including heavy industries, automobile assembly by companies like VinFast, electronics, and textiles. The city is a critical node in regional transport corridors, connected to Hanoi by the National Route 5 and the modern Hanoi–Haiphong Expressway, and is home to the Cat Bi International Airport. Economic development is further driven by foreign direct investment in sectors like petrochemicals, shipbuilding, and logistics.

Demographics

With a population exceeding 2.1 million as of 2019, it is the third most populous city in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The population is predominantly ethnic Kinh (Viet), with small communities of Hoa (ethnic Chinese) and other groups. The city has experienced steady population growth due to both natural increase and significant in-migration from surrounding provinces like Hải Dương and Thái Bình, attracted by industrial and port-related employment opportunities. The majority of residents are non-religious or follow traditional beliefs, with active communities practicing Mahayana Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, and Caodaism.

Culture

The city's cultural landscape reflects its history as a colonial port and a center of commerce, visible in well-preserved French colonial buildings such as the Haiphong Opera House and the Du Hang Pagoda. It is known for traditional festivals like the Coi Temple Festival and the vibrant Haiphong Flower Festival. Local cuisine is celebrated for distinctive dishes including bánh đa cua (crab noodle soup) and sea snail specialties. Haiphong is also a center for traditional arts like chèo (popular opera) and ca trù (ceremonial singing), and is home to several museums, including the Haiphong Museum and the Naval Museum.

Administration

As a centrally governed municipality, it holds equal status to a province and is administered by a People's Committee led by a Chairman, under the supervision of the local Party Committee and the National Assembly. The city is subdivided into 15 district-level units: 8 urban districts (including Hồng Bàng, Ngô Quyền, and Lê Chân) and 7 rural districts (such as Thủy Nguyên and An Dương). It forms a key part of the northern key economic region alongside Hanoi and Quảng Ninh Province, and hosts numerous consular offices and branches of national institutions like the Vietnam Maritime University.

Category:Haiphong Category:Port cities in Vietnam Category:Populated places in the Red River Delta