Strolling around the streets of Haiphong in early May, one can’t help but be enthralled by the red phoenix  flowers. Phoenix  flowers flank the main route from the city center to Do Son Peninsula, seemingly extending their arms in welcome of visitors.

Do Son Mountains: Do Son Mountains extend  to the sea in resemblance of dragons attending the jade islet of Dau, hence  its formal name “Nine Dragons Attending the Jade”. The stretchy cordillera crisscrosses alluvial red beaches on which lie various cultural and historical sites dating  back centuries ago, such as Tuong Long Buddhist Stupa or Lady De Shrine. The latter site is dedicated to the injustice suffered by a beautiful lady named Dao Thi Huong.

Tuong Long Stupa Pagoda: Standing  atop Long Son Mountain, Tuong Long Pagoda is a millennium-old Buddhist place of worship. The 9-storey stupa towers and presides  over the sky, draped in elaborate decorative patterns all over its curly gable and brick walls.

Lan Ha Bay: Travelers to Haiphong should definitely jump aboard and head to the sea to explore the wonderful nature  of Lan Ha Bay. Praised  as one of the finest bays of Vietnam, Lan Ha is endowed with sapphire blue waters, white sandy beaches and hundreds of limestone islets scattered around to form Cat Ba Archipelago.

While Hanoi is known for  phở vendors and Hoi An for  bánh mì carts, Haiphong is famous for meaty and steamy  hot crab noodle  served with thick  broth and pale red rice noodles (bánh đa). Crab noodle  is far from uncommon, but the best kind  must still be found in Haiphong since it is home to red rice noodle strands, and with it come a cluster of households who specialize in rice noodles, employing millers who prepare and cut rice sheets day and night to produce the most delicious strands.

In addition to crab noodle , Haiphong is also famous  for a variety of signature  seafood, including shrimps, crabs, Mantis shrimps, squids, and also  other cheap and palatable snacks such as Chinese soupy rice cakes, finger-size baguette and spicy porridge. Haiphong’s finger-size baguette is reputed for its meaty pork pate stuffed in a finger-size baguette that are altogether dipped in chí chương – the local variation of chili sauce.