Haiphong, Port city in northeastern Vietnam
Haiphong sits at the mouth of the Cam River in northeastern Vietnam and ranks as the country's third-largest city. The administration divides into eight urban and six rural districts that spread across flat coastal terrain.
During the late years of the 19th century, French colonial rulers built their main naval base in Indochina here. The strategic location by the sea made the city a military and economic hub throughout the colonial period.
The name comes from the Vietnamese words for coast and defense, recalling the area's role as a fortress in earlier times. Walking through the older quarters today, you see French colonial buildings alongside traditional temples and modern high-rises.
Travelers reach the city through Cat Bi International Airport or by trains from Hanoi. National Highway 10 connects the surrounding areas to the center and runs through all major districts.
This area was the first place on the Southeast Asian mainland to receive electric power. The early introduction of this technology changed life in the port city more than a century ago.
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