Topographic characteristics
The total area of Hai Phong city is 1.519 km2, including island districts (Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi). Mountains and hills account for 15% of the area, distributed mainly in the North, so the northern terrain has the shape and geological structure of the midland region with plains interspersed with hills; The south has low and fairly flat terrain, a typical terrain type of pure plain sloping to the sea, with an altitude of 0,7 - 1,7 m above sea level. The sea area containing Cat Ba Island is considered the pearl of Hai Phong, the most beautiful and largest island in the island complex with over 360 large and small islands clustered around it and connected to the island area of Ha Long Bay. Cat Ba main island is at an altitude of 200 m above the sea, has an area of about 100 km2, 30 nautical miles from the city. More than 90 km southeast of Cat Ba is Bach Long Vi island, quite flat and full of white sand.
Hai Phong's terrain changes very diversely, reflecting a long and complex geological historical process. The northern part of Hai Phong has the appearance of a midland region with plains interspersed with hills, while the southern part of the city has low and quite flat terrain of a pure plain sloping towards the sea.
Hai Phong has a coastline of over 125 km. Offshore in Hai Phong, there are many islands scattered across the sea, the largest is Cat Ba island, the furthest is Bach Long Vi island. The sea, coast and islands have created the unique natural landscape of the coastal city. This is also a potential strength of the local economy.
Due to its geological history and geographical location, Hai Phong has many resources and potential: there is an iron mine in Duong Quan (Thuy Nguyen), a zinc mine in Cat Ba (although the reserves are small); There are coastal placers (Cat Hai and Tien Lang); kaolin mine in Doan Lai (Thuy Nguyen), clay mine in Tien Hoi, Chien Thang (Tien Lang). Limestone is mainly distributed in Cat Ba, Trang Kenh, Phi Liet, and Dun ferry; Mineral water in Bach Dang commune (Tien Lang). Salt and sand are two important resources of Hai Phong, concentrated mainly in the area between the river and the beach, in the districts of Cat Hai, Tien Lang, Vinh Bao, Kien Thuy, and Do Son.
Marine resources
It is one of Hai Phong's rare resources with nearly 1.000 species of shrimp, fish and dozens of seaweed species with high economic value such as dragon shrimp, prawns, crabs, sea turtles, blood cockles, dolphins, etc. Pearls, geoduck, abalone... are seafood popular in the world market. Hai Phong sea has many fish beaches, the largest is the fish beach around Bach Long Vi island with high and stable reserves. In the coastal and island tidal areas and tidal flats in estuaries, the area is over 12.000 hectares wide, both for exploitation and for aquaculture of saltwater and brackish water with high economic value. .
Hai Phong has over 57.000 hectares of arable land, formed from alluvium of the Thai Binh river system and located along the coast. Hai Phong's forest resources are rich and diverse, including saltwater forests, timber forests, fruit trees, bamboo, rattan... especially Cat Ba primeval forest with diverse and rich vegetation, including There are many rare herbs and animals; especially the White-headed Langur - a rare animal in the world that currently only exists in Cat Ba.
Geographical location
Located in the west of the Gulf of Tonkin, in the center of the Northeast coastal region of Vietnam, more than 100 km from Hanoi capital and more than 200 km from the Chinese border.
The main gateway to the sea serves international trade of the entire northern region of Vietnam and southwestern China.
An important transportation hub of the North and the whole country, where all 5 types of transportation converge: road, railway, sea, inland waterway and air.
National class 1 urban center.
Industrial, commercial, service and tourism center of the North and Vietnam.
Center of the western economic belt of the Gulf of Tonkin (Hai Phong, Quang Ninh) and the northern coastal economic region (Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh).
Center of urban corridor chain: Hai Phong - Hai Duong - Hanoi - Viet Tri - Yen Bai - Lao Cai (Vietnam) - Mong Tu - Kunming (China); Hai Phong - Hai Duong - Hanoi - Lang Son (Vietnam) - Nanning (China).
Located on a chain of coastal urban areas in the Gulf of Tonkin corridor: Hai Phong - Ha Long - Thai Binh - Nam Dinh - Ninh Binh.
Located in a key position in "two corridors - one economic belt" in Vietnam and China cooperation.
There is Cat Ba Island - a pristine pearl in the Northeast, a World Biosphere Reserve - adjacent to the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay.
Climate
Hai Phong's weather is typical of the weather in Northern Vietnam: hot, humid, rainy, with 4 relatively distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Winter in Hai Phong is often cold and dry, the average temperature is 20,3oC; The summer climate is often cool and rainy, with an average temperature of about 32,5°C.
Average rainfall is from 1.600 - 1.800 mm/year. Because it is located close to the sea, in winter, Hai Phong is 1oC warmer and 1oC cooler in summer than Hanoi. The average temperature in the year ranges from 23°C - 26°C, the hottest month (June and July) can reach 6,7°C and the coldest month (January and February) the temperature can drop below 44°C. The average humidity is about 1,2 - 5%, highest in July, August, September and lowest in January and December.
Cultural
Hai Phong was officially founded in 1888 but relics of Vietnamese civilization more than 6.000 years old have been discovered at the Cai Beo and Eo Bua archaeological sites on Cat Ba island.
For a long time, the red poinciana flower (or poinciana flower) has become a symbol of the port city of Hai Phong. The Poinciana tree was introduced to Vietnam by the French at the end of the 19th century, and begins to bloom in the early days of summer. Poinciana flower season lasts for about 1 month (from the beginning of May to the end of June) right at the beginning of Hai Phong's beach tourism season and the city's liberation day (May 5). Hai Phong's Pham Van Dong Street from Rao - Do Son Bridge is officially recognized as the road with the most phoenix trees in Vietnam.
In addition to the symbol of the poinciana flower, Hai Phong Opera House located right in the middle of the city's central square is also considered a typical architectural symbol of Hai Phong. The theater was built in 1904, completed in 1912 according to the design of a French architect with materials brought from France. Along with the Opera House in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, this is one of the few theaters built by the French in Vietnam during the colonial period.
Like all localities across the country, Hai Phong is also home to festivals imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity such as: "Hat Dum" Festival in Thuy Nguyen, Cat Ba Dragon Boat Racing Festival, Do Son Ceremony, Do Son buffalo fighting festival, Vinh Bao earth cannon, Cat Ba fishing village festival, Elephant Mountain Festival, Red Poinciana Festival...
Tourists
Hai Phong is a major tourist center of Vietnam. As a large city and near the sea and islands, Hai Phong is an important link in the economic and tourism triangle Hai Phong - Hanoi - Quang Ninh. Hai Phong owns many high-quality attractions and tourist areas, reaching international standards such as 4-star resorts and casinos, Avani Hai Phong Harbor View hotel, Pearl River hotel, Hai Phong Village. Sunflower International Village, Do Son golf course, eco-resort and Asia's largest seawater wave filtering swimming pool at Hon Dau, 2 resorts Song Gia and Camela in the inner city, Hot spring tourism in Tien Lang, 2 resorts Catba Island and Catba Resort and Spa in Cat Ba archipelago.
Cat Ba Islands – The world nature reserve was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 2004, home to biodiversity with unique ecosystems such as tropical rainforests on limestone mountains, mangrove forests, and reefs. corals, seaweed beds, caves, caves, pine trees, forests... This is an ideal place for cycling, sightseeing, attending fishing village festivals and many other traditional festivals or simply lying down. Relax by the beaches.
Do Son is a famous resort located 120 km from Hanoi city and 20 km from Hai Phong city center. This is a small peninsula surrounded by mountains, stretching out to the sea with fine sand beaches on casuarina-lined beaches. Historically, Do Son was the resting place of kings and mandarins; famous as the "fortified octagonal house" of Bao Dai - the last king of the Vietnamese feudal dynasty. Do Son is also famous for the only casino in Vietnam, along with a golf course system of international standards.
Hon Dau is a small island located 1 km southeast of Do Son. The attraction of Hon Dau is its quiet wilderness with intact flora on all 3 floors. With a system of hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, swimming pools, water parks, amusement parks, golf courses, natural and artificial beaches along with open natural spaces, lakes and trees. , Hon Dau Resort is also considered a "miniature Da Lat" in the heart of the sea and is the most synchronized resort in the North.