Restaurants

With the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin lapping the coastline, fresh seafood is the undoubted star in this part of northern Vietnam. In fact, the Vietnamese set great store by the ritual of plucking a delicious morsel out of a giant tank and having it prepared for them—and so should you. Delicious fruits of the ocean can be found all the way along the coast, purveyed in venues ranging from simple family-run establishments to more ostentatious (and expensive) options. Aside from seafood, there are some solid Vietnamese restaurants in the region serving specialties including thit de (goat meat) and other local favorites. Larger cities such as Haiphong have a growing selection of international restaurants with Indian, American, and Mexican among the cuisines available.