Greater Seattle Vietnam Association

Phường Thủy Nguyên, Hải Phòng

What a fun place! I went to the boardwalk at Royal Island in Haiphong, and it reminded me a lot of the City of Seattle Waterfront - I think I said something similar about where I visited in phường Đông Hải, but this side of it also was closer to the civic center of Haiphong, where many of the offices are for City employees.

It sort of reminds me, in that sense, of the downtown area in Seattle that's home to the Seattle Municipal Court, Seattle City Hall and Seattle Municipal Tower, all places I visit semi-frequently - when I'm back home, that is!

Phường Dương Kinh, Hải Phòng

Delicious! I went to a restaurant on the large road that connects Dương Kinh to phường Đồ Sơn, and stopped at a restaurant there called "Nhật Linh quán Hải sản đồng quê" - I hope I'm not mis-writing that. I had some delicious chicken and fish with lime and salt, and enjoyed an incredible atmosphere where the family who ran the place was very friendly.

I got to travel a little inwards towards the center of the ward, and I was shocked by how immediately picturesque it is. The farms, agriculture, aquaculture and the way it feels like you're stepping into another world has left a really strong impression on me. As an animal lover, I also loved seeing the livestock and some (sparse) wildlife while walking around.

Phường Hải An, Hải Phòng

Visited phường Hải An, and it has some of the BEST architecture I've seen yet in Vietnam! Lots of old and new French style developments, and a feeling of progress amidst lots of construction. I stopped in at this cafe, Hoà Phương Coffee & Tea, and had a delicious salt coffee to start my day.

Phường Hải An is close to both the airport and the marine ports, and it's obvious how crucial it is as a ward in Haiphong for Haiphong's overall development after the recent merger. I look forward to keeping track of how it develops!

phường Đông Hải, Hải Phòng

Đông Hải has a beautiful waterfront! While the waterfront I visited wasn't the beachfront property you would find in phường Đồ Sơn, it was a lot of fun to go up and down the waterfront, see families spend the day together, stop and grab a coffee and even get to see some of the marine life from the boardwalk.

It reminds me a little bit of Seattle's Waterfront, because it follows sort of the same 'boardwalk'-type construction, but because it's wider, there are a lot more attractions like electric cars kids can ride around in. At one end, there's this massive building that's currently under construction, and a great place for taking photos!

phường Đồ Sơn, Hải Phòng

Đồ Sơn is such an interesting Ward! I went to this amazing cafe here and had one of the best Matcha Freezes of my life at iG.E.M Coffee & Tea. I was able to stop by and see some of the beaches in the ward, but there's also plenty of stuff to do further in-land. I would definitely recommend if you want a chill experience to spend part of your day at the beach, and part of your day closer to the City, because you'll end up finding hidden "GEMS" like this one!

phường Gia Viên, Hải Phòng

Sports! I am happy to see that football (soccer) is as big here as it is back home in Seattle! I got to see on a game day for Haiphong Football Club how fans get together, and how at the main stadium, there are smaller courts for youth to practice. It makes me wonder how we in Seattle can better integrate youth practice with our professional leagues... Especially before the Men's FIFA World Cup in Seattle this year!

Phường Gia Viên is such a busy ward. There are many things to do and see, it was hard to choose a good photo!

phường An Dương, Hải Phòng.

As I get further out from the city center of Haiphong, I am seeing a different kind of environmental diversity! In the city center, there are many different architectural styles that complement and contrast one another, but when I'm out in An Dương ward, I find a really interesting blend of productive agricultural land with the still very diverse architecture.
I stopped to eat at Bánh mì Việt Béo - and the food was delicious!

I had Bánh mì that gave me energy to continue my very busy day, and got the chance to sit down with the chef and enjoy my meal in good company.

phường An Dương, Hải Phòng.

As I get further out from the city center of Haiphong, I am seeing a different kind of environmental diversity! In the city center, there are many different architectural styles that complement and contrast one another, but when I'm out in An Dương ward, I find a really interesting blend of productive agricultural land with the still very diverse architecture.

I stopped to eat at Bánh mì Việt Béo - and the food was delicious! I had Bánh mì that gave me energy to continue my very busy day, and got the chance to sit down with the chef and enjoy my meal in good company.

xã Phú Thái, Hải Phòng.

Super fun day in Haiphong! I got to go to xã Phú Thái and visit Nem Nướng Cô Ba - Phú Thái, where I had a side dish and some of the most delicious Nem Nướng Nha Trang that I have ever had. Being out here in the xã was a different experience from when I've been in the more urban areas of Haiphong, and not for a bad reason!

Kids especially are super curious to see me, and University Students will sometimes practice their English skills with me. There are parts of the experience that remind me of how when you get further into residential and less dense areas, even in a place like Seattle, it feels like you're more likely to explicitly witness strong community ties.

xã Phú Thái, Hải Phòng.

Super fun day in Haiphong! I got to go to xã Phú Thái and visit Nem Nướng Cô Ba - Phú Thái, where I had a side dish and some of the most delicious Nem Nướng Nha Trang that I have ever had. Being out here in the xã was a different experience from when I've been in the more urban areas of Haiphong, and not for a bad reason!

Kids especially are super curious to see me, and University Students will sometimes practice their English skills with me. There are parts of the experience that remind me of how when you get further into residential and less dense areas, even in a place like Seattle, it feels like you're more likely to explicitly witness strong community ties.