1. What Hai Phong Specialties Should You Buy as Gifts?
1.1. Dried Seafood with the Flavors of the Sea
If you're looking for Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts, you'll find plenty of options that reflect the flavors of the sea and the local culinary culture. From easy-to-store dried seafood to ready-to-eat specialties and well-known local products, each item has its own distinctive character and makes a practical gift after a trip.
When it comes to Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts, dried seafood is always among the most popular choices because it is easy to store and convenient to carry. Cat Ba dried squid stands out for its thick meat and naturally sweet flavor when grilled. Processed and dried soon after being caught, the squid retains its freshness and the distinctive aroma of the sea. One-sun-dried mackerel is another popular choice for families. Since the fish is dried under the sun only once, its meat remains tender and develops a naturally sweet flavor and appealing aroma when cooked.
Shrimp floss is a suitable gift for a wide range of recipients thanks to its savory flavor and versatility. It can be enjoyed with rice, porridge, or bread. Meanwhile, dried sipunculus is popular for its high nutritional value and is commonly used to make broth or prepare a variety of other dishes.
Dried seafood is among the most popular specialties visitors choose to take home after a trip to Hai Phong. (Photo: Collected)
1.2. Convenient Ready-to-Eat Specialties
If you're looking for Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts that are easy to carry while still reflecting the local flavors, ready-to-eat specialties are worth considering. Banh da cua rolls have long been a familiar dish in Hai Phong, featuring a filling made with crab, shrimp, pork, and wood ear mushrooms wrapped in the dish's distinctive square shape. Once cooked, the crisp golden wrapper combines with the sweet and savory filling to create a memorable flavor.
Ready-to-eat specialties reflect the distinctive flavors of Hai Phong while being convenient to take home as gifts. (Photo: Collected)
Ha Lung pork and squid skewers are another specialty that many visitors look for. The dish is made with pork combined with one-sun-dried Cat Ba squid and a variety of seasonings, then wrapped around small sugarcane sticks to create a distinctive aroma when grilled.
Hai Phong red rice noodles, known for their characteristic reddish-brown color and pleasantly chewy texture, are also a familiar gift for those who enjoy the cuisine of the port city. An Tho fermented pork rolls are another popular choice, valued for their naturally mild sour flavor and traditional preparation process.
1.3. Local Natural Products and Specialties
A list of Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts would not be complete without distinctive products from the city's coastal and rural areas. Cat Ba forest honey is popular for its natural aroma and mild sweetness. It is suitable as a gift for people of different ages and is relatively easy to store during travel.
Cat Hai fish sauce is another product closely associated with local cuisine, known for its rich flavor and suitability for preparing a variety of dishes for family meals. In addition, yellow-flower glutinous rice wine, known for its distinctive aroma, is also a popular gift choice for special occasions.
Local products add variety to the list of Hai Phong specialties to take home as gifts. (Photo: Collected)
2. Where to Buy Hai Phong Specialties?
After learning which Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts, the next question for many visitors is where to shop for convenient browsing and selection. In Hai Phong, you can find a wide range of shopping destinations, from traditional markets to stores specializing in local specialties.
2.1. Traditional Markets in Hai Phong
Traditional markets bring together a diverse selection of local specialties and food products. Some places that many visitors visit for shopping include Cat Ba Market, Nui Deo Market in Nui Deo Ward, Thuy Nguyen Ward, Cat Bi Market in Hai An Ward, and the food market area along Lach Tray Street.
Here, you can easily find Cat Ba dried squid, one-sun-dried mackerel, Cat Hai fish sauce, shrimp floss, and various types of packaged dried seafood. In addition to food products, many stalls also sell souvenirs and handicrafts inspired by the coastal character of the region, giving visitors more options when looking for Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts.
Traditional markets are familiar places to find a variety of specialties associated with Hai Phong. (Photo: Collected)
2.2. Specialty Stores in Hai Phong
If convenience is a priority, specialty stores are a suitable option before wrapping up your trip. Many stores offer a diverse selection, ranging from dried seafood and ready-to-eat specialties to honey, fish sauce, and other packaged products.
Clearly displayed prices make it easier for visitors to choose products based on their needs and budget. These stores are also a convenient place to buy Hai Phong specialties to take home, with carefully packaged products that are easy to carry when traveling by car, train, or plane.
3. Tips for Choosing Hai Phong Specialties as Gifts
3.1. Prioritize Products with Clear Origins
When choosing Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts, prioritize products with complete information about the place of production, ingredients, production date, and expiration date. Intact packaging and clear labels can give you greater peace of mind about product quality while also making storage more convenient.
For dried seafood such as Cat Ba dried squid, one-sun-dried mackerel, or shrimp floss, check for a natural color and moderate dryness, and choose products that are carefully packaged. If you're buying fish sauce or honey, carefully check the labels and bottle caps before taking them with you.
Choosing products with clear origins can give you greater peace of mind when buying local specialties as gifts. (Photo: Collected)
3.2. Choose Specialties Based on Your Travel Time
Travel time is another factor to consider when choosing Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts. If your journey is long or involves multiple modes of transportation, dried and packaged products are a more practical choice thanks to their longer shelf life. Cat Ba dried squid, shrimp floss, vacuum-packed one-sun-dried mackerel, Cat Hai fish sauce, and honey are all relatively convenient to carry. Hai Phong red rice noodles and yellow-flower glutinous rice wine are also easy to pack in your luggage.
If you buy ready-to-eat specialties such as crab spring rolls or Ha Lung pork and squid skewers, consider their recommended storage conditions and shelf life, and choose an appropriate way to preserve them so they retain their flavor during the journey home.
4. Suggested Ways to Explore Cat Ba Before Buying Hai Phong Specialties
4.1. Ride the Sun World Cat Ba Cable Car
A trip to Cat Ba becomes even more enjoyable when you take the Sun World Cat Ba Cable Car from Cat Hai Station to Phu Long Station. In around 15 minutes aboard the 3,955-meter cable car route, visitors can gradually take in the distinctive natural landscape of the Cat Ba Archipelago, with successive limestone mountain ranges, deep blue waters, and peaceful fishing villages nestled along the bay. From the ideal vantage point above the sea, every moment reveals a different perspective, creating a relaxing yet exciting start to your exploration of the island.
The Sun World Cat Ba Cable Car offers panoramic views of the sea and islands from above. (Photo: Collected)
Book your Cat Ba Cable Car tickets here!
4.2. Explore Lan Ha Bay
After the cable car ride, Lan Ha Bay is a destination worth adding to your itinerary. Green-covered limestone islands rising from the clear waters create the peaceful natural scenery that characterizes the Cat Ba Archipelago. Visitors can take a boat or kayak through small coves and sheltered waters, enjoy the coastal landscape up close, and capture plenty of memorable moments.
4.3. Relax at Cat Co Beach
As afternoon sets in, Cat Co Beach is an ideal place to enjoy the fresh sea air and watch the last rays of sunlight spread across the water. The soft sand and clear blue waters create a relaxing setting, making it a pleasant stop after exploring the island before returning to the central area to shop for Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts.
4.4. Enjoy Dinner at Sun Bavaria Cat Ba
As the lights begin to reflect across the bay, Sun Bavaria Cat Ba becomes an appealing place to round off a day of sightseeing. Its open seaside setting, combined with a menu inspired by European cuisine and fresh Cat Ba seafood, creates a dining experience that feels both refined and closely connected to local flavors.
If you visit according to the performance schedule, dinner can be even more memorable with a spectacular fireworks display over the bay. Fireworks take place at 9:45 PM on Wednesdays and at 8:45 PM and 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays each week, creating a sparkling scene against the nighttime seascape and adding another memorable highlight to your Cat Ba itinerary.
Sun Bavaria Cat Ba offers a seaside dining setting combined with spectacular fireworks viewing. (Photo: Collected)
4.5. Stroll Around VUI-Fest Cat Ba Night Market
After dinner, you can take a leisurely stroll around VUI-Fest Cat Ba Night Market and enjoy the lively atmosphere by the sea. Handicrafts, local specialties, and souvenirs are thoughtfully arranged throughout the open-air space, alongside artistic activities, creative workshops, and evening performances.
This is also a good time to complete your list of Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts, from products inspired by the flavors of the sea to souvenirs that reflect the distinctive character of Cat Ba, adding more memorable moments to your trip.
VUI-Fest Cat Ba Night Market offers shopping and entertainment in a seaside festival setting. (Photo: Collected)
If you're wondering which Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts, you'll find plenty of appealing options, including Cat Ba dried squid, one-sun-dried mackerel, shrimp floss, Cat Ba forest honey, Cat Hai fish sauce, and ready-to-eat specialties such as crab spring rolls and Ha Lung pork and squid skewers. Each product reflects the distinctive flavors of the port city and makes a thoughtful gift for family and friends after your trip. Along with shopping for Hai Phong specialties to buy as gifts, don't forget to explore Sun World Cat Ba, Lan Ha Bay, Cat Co Beach, Sun Bavaria Cat Ba, and VUI-Fest Cat Ba Night Market to round out your coastal getaway with more memorable moments.
