Hải Phòng ( listen), also Haiphong, is the 3rd largest city in Vietnam. The name means, "coastal defence". Haiphong also names "The City of the Red Flamboyant", because there are a lot of flamboyant trees which are planted in the city. Haiphong is also the largest 1st-class city, and is an economic, industrial, commercial and educational center in Vietnam. With the advantage of having deep-watered ports, maritime transport here is very developed.

Hai Phong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters (Hai Bà Trưng) in the year 43 C.E. The area which is now known as Duong Kinh District was once known as Hai tan Phong thu ("defensive coastal area"), and served as the second capital of the Mac dynasty (1527–1592). At the end of Nguyen Emperor Tu Duc's reign, the headquarters of An Duong District was also moved to Hang Kenh Communal House, which now belongs to Le Chan district.

In 1881, the city was the site of a devastating typhoon which claimed up to 300,000 lives.