"Take a Stroll through Stately Haiphong Less than four hours from Hanoi , Haiphong is very much old-school Vietnam and many view it as a reminder of how Hanoi used to be. It is certainly a very pleasant city to explore. Despite being the country's third largest city and a major port, Haiphong has a small-town feel and its French colonial architecture is some of the best-preserved in the country. Highlights include the city's beautiful opera house and its vibrant cafe culture."