Hai Phong Train Station – a historic gateway to the port city
Hai Phong Train Station sits in the heart of the city at 75 Luong Khanh Thien Street, Ngo Quyen District — close enough to downtown that getting there by taxi or Grab takes only a few minutes. It serves as the terminus of the Hanoi–Hai Phong line, a 102-kilometer route that has been running since the French colonial era, and also handles freight trains connecting to Hai Phong Port.
The station opened on June 16, 1902, making it one of the oldest continuously operating train stations in northern Vietnam. It has seen more than just passengers pass through: in October 1946, Ho Chi Minh boarded a train here after returning from France, departing for Hanoi. Weeks later, the station became a site of early armed resistance against French forces — a chapter that locals still associate with the building.
The architecture has held up well. The two-story main building features large arched windows, European-style columns, and a round clock at the center of the facade. Inside, the original greenstone floor and iron roof columns are still intact, along with a wooden spiral staircase leading to the second floor. Old photographs of Hai Phong are displayed on the ground floor, adding some context to what is already a photogenic space. In 2025, the station was officially recognized as a tourist destination — a reflection of its architectural and cultural value, not just its role as a transport hub.
Train routes and connections
Hai Phong Train Station serves a single passenger route: the Hanoi–Hai Phong line. There are no long-distance trains heading south — for destinations like Hue, Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh City, travelers need to connect through Hanoi’s Station B on the other side of the capital.
On the Hanoi–Hai Phong route, four round trips run daily, giving a total of eight services. Trains run under the codes HP1/HP2, LP2/LP3, LP5/LP6, and LP7/LP8. The first departure from Hai Phong toward Hanoi leaves around 06:05; the last around 18:40. Journey time is approximately 2.5 hours. Frequency is reasonable for a day trip in either direction, but it is worth checking the schedule before planning your day — there is no train every hour.
The Hoa Phuong Do luxury train
In May 2025, Vietnam Railways launched upgraded carriages on this route under the name Hoa Phuong Do — meaning Red Flamboyant Flower, the symbol of Hai Phong. These are not a separate service but upgraded carriages running on the existing HP and LP trains, recognizable by their striking red exterior and Indochine-style interior design.
There are three carriage types. The VIP 34-seat car is the standout option: natural wooden floors, stable Wi-Fi, electronic displays, and a complimentary drink included. Tickets cost around 250,000 VND on weekdays and 300,000 VND on weekends. The 56-seat soft seat car features rotating seats that can pivot 180 degrees — useful if you end up facing backward — at around 150,000 VND weekday and 180,000 VND weekend. Standard 64-seat carriages remain available from around 105,000 VND. The VIP car has limited seats and sells out, particularly on weekends and public holidays, so booking ahead is a good idea. For a full breakdown of the Hoa Phuong Do experience, read more about the Hanoi to Hai Phong luxury train.
Getting to and from Hai Phong Train Station
The station’s central location makes arriving and departing straightforward. Taxis and Grab are always available outside the entrance, and the surrounding area has enough services to handle most traveler needs. The more important question for most visitors is not how to reach the station, but where to go next — whether that is into Hai Phong city, onward to Cat Ba Island, or toward a Halong Bay cruise.
Where is Hai Phong Train Station
The station is at 75 Luong Khanh Thien Street in Ngo Quyen District, roughly 2 kilometers from Hai Phong’s main downtown area. It is well within the city, and most hotels and guesthouses in the center are a short taxi or Grab ride away.
Taxi and Grab
Grab is the most reliable option for getting to and from the station. It removes any ambiguity around pricing and means there is no need to negotiate. Taxis from named companies like Vinasun and Mai Linh are also fine when using the meter. Avoid unmarked taxis or people outside the station claiming to be Grab drivers but not using the app — this is where overcharging tends to happen. In the experience of most travelers, taxis are waiting outside even late at night.
Motorbike rental
Several shops renting motorbikes are clustered around the station. For travelers who want to explore Hai Phong independently, this is a practical option: rent a bike on arrival, spend a day or two exploring the city at your own pace, and return it before your train back to Hanoi. It suits the station’s location well — everything in central Hai Phong is easily reachable on two wheels.
Getting to Cat Ba Island
Many travelers arriving from Hanoi by train plan to continue directly to Cat Ba Island. The process is straightforward but involves several steps, and the total journey from the station to Cat Ba town takes roughly two hours.
From the station, take a taxi or Grab to Dong Bai Ferry Terminal in Cat Hai — about 40 to 45 minutes, with fares typically ranging from 250,000 to 350,000 VND. At Dong Bai, ferries to Cai Vieng Pier on Cat Ba depart every 30 minutes from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The crossing takes around 25 to 30 minutes and costs 10,000 to 45,000 VND per person. From Cai Vieng, Cat Ba town is another 30 to 40 minutes by local bus or taxi.
One thing worth knowing: if Cat Ba is the destination and Hai Phong is just a transit point, a direct shuttle bus from Hanoi is often faster, cheaper and simpler. These services run door-to-door via the expressway and skip the train-to-taxi-to-ferry chain entirely. The train makes more sense for travelers who enjoy the journey itself or want to spend time in Hai Phong along the way. Also keep in mind that all water transport stops at night — arriving on a late train means staying overnight in Hai Phong before continuing to Cat Ba the next morning.
Getting to Halong Bay cruise ports
Most Halong Bay cruises depart from Tuan Chau Island in Quang Ninh, not from Hai Phong. From the train station, Tuan Chau is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by taxi or private car. As with Cat Ba, a direct transfer from Hanoi is usually the more practical choice for travelers joining a cruise — going via Hai Phong by train adds time and an extra connection without much benefit.
Station facilities
Hai Phong Train Station is a straightforward place — clean, well-maintained, and functional without being particularly well-equipped. For a short wait before a 2.5-hour train ride, it has everything needed.
The ground floor serves as the main ticketing and waiting area. Seating is comfortable and the space is air-conditioned. Toilets are available and kept to an acceptable standard. Wi-Fi is free and, based on consistent traveler feedback, genuinely fast — not always a given at Vietnamese train stations. Small shops inside and around the station sell snacks, drinks, and basic necessities. There is also a car park in front of the building.
The platforms — around six in total — are functional but worth noting for travelers with heavy luggage or limited mobility. The raised platform structure can make boarding and alighting a little awkward, so allow extra time if needed.
One thing the station does not have is a dedicated luggage storage service. If storing bags for a day of exploring Hai Phong is needed, asking at a nearby guesthouse or café is usually the most practical solution.
Beyond the practical side, the station itself is worth a few minutes of attention. The original greenstone floor, iron roof columns, and wooden spiral staircase to the second floor have been preserved for well over a century. Old photographs of Hai Phong line the ground floor walls. The courtyard and facade are popular spots for photos — the soft yellow exterior, arched windows, and central clock make it one of the more photogenic train stations in northern Vietnam.
Buying train tickets
Tickets for the Hanoi–Hai Phong route are easy to get, and for most departures there is no urgent need to book far in advance. The exception is the Hoa Phuong Do VIP carriages, which sell out on weekends and public holidays — for those, booking a day or two ahead is worth it.
At Hai Phong Train Station
Ticket counters are on the ground floor and are generally straightforward to use. Staff are helpful, and some have basic English. Cash is the standard payment method — cards are typically not accepted at the counter. For same-day or next-day travel in regular carriages, buying at the station is usually fine outside of peak periods.
Online
For international travelers, third-party platforms are the easiest option. Baolau.com and 12Go Asia both have English-language interfaces, transparent pricing, and add only a modest booking fee. The official Vietnam Railways website, dsvn.vn, also sells tickets but can be harder to navigate for foreign users. Vexere is widely used by Vietnamese travelers and works well too. Whichever platform is used, e-tickets shown on a phone are accepted at the station — there is no need to print anything.
Through a travel agent or hotel
Most hotels and guesthouses in Hai Phong can arrange train tickets for a small fee, which is a convenient option if the rest of the trip is already being handled locally. For travelers booking a private tour or transfer through Local Vietnam, train tickets on this route can be included as part of a broader itinerary — along with onward transfers to hotels, Cat Ba, or Halong Bay.
Practical tips
- Your ticket shows your coach number and seat number. Find your coach on the platform before boarding rather than searching after the train arrives — station staff can point you in the right direction if needed.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. For the Hoa Phuong Do, 20 minutes is the stated minimum, but earlier is always better.
- Use the toilet at the station before boarding. Train toilets are functional but basic.
- Bring water and a snack for the journey, even though it is only 2.5 hours.
- Always book the Hoa Phuong Do VIP carriage in advance if traveling on a weekend or public holiday — seats are limited and sell out.
- When buying tickets at the counter, have your passport or ID ready. It is sometimes required for the booking.
- For train travel beyond Hai Phong, read more about train travel in Vietnam, the most important train stations in Vietnam, and sleeper trains in Vietnam for longer overnight routes.
Things to do in Hai Phong
The station’s central location makes it easy to drop bags, step outside, and start exploring without needing to travel far. Hai Phong is a walkable city with a genuine local feel — less visited than Hanoi but with its own distinct character, good food, and a compact colonial-era center worth spending time in.
A few highlights worth knowing: the Hai Phong Opera House is a short walk from the station and one of the finest examples of French colonial architecture in the north. The Hai Phong Museum, also nearby, is housed in a well-preserved colonial building. Tam Bac Lake offers a quiet place to walk and watch daily life. The city is also well known for its food — particularly banh da cua (crab noodle soup), which is worth seeking out before the train back to Hanoi.
For a full overview of what to see and do, read the things to do in Hai Phong.
