Hai Phong is Vietnam's third-largest city and its most important northern port, a working harbour city with a pleasant colonial-era centre and a more authentic atmosphere than tourist-focused Hanoi. The city is the gateway for ferries to Cat Ba Island, the main island of Ha Long Bay, and its airport provides an alternative entry point for exploring the north. Hai Phong is known for its distinctive banh mi style and its bahn da cua crab noodle soup.