Hai Phong is a land with a long-standing history, the cradle of ancient Vietnamese people, rich in both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, deeply imbued with the identity of a coastal culture. It carries a proud tradition of resisting foreign invaders, conquering nature, and building the homeland and nation—truly deserving the title of a heroic city.
About seven thousand years ago, primitive humans on Cat Ba Island left their rock shelters and caves to venture out to the sea for fishing, and into the forest for hunting and gathering, creating the unique Cai Beo culture (named after the archaeological site).
In the following three thousand years, ancient Vietnamese people in the Trang Kenh mountain range engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fishing while crafting jewelry from precious stones. Their products were traded widely across regions both domestically and internationally. The peak of this era was the Bronze Age, represented by the Viet Khe culture, which exemplified the material life and culture of the people. This is evidenced by bronze artifacts such as drums, jars, ladles, knives, jewelry, and cultural elements related to clothing, festivals, and beliefs.
Following their ancestors, since General Le Chan reclaimed the land and established An Bien village, over two thousand years of history, the people of Hai Phong have always looked forward, reclaiming land, expanding the sea, cultivating fields, and building lives; promoting national culture and creating landmarks such as Tuong Long Tower, Van Ban Pagoda, Duong Kinh of the Mac dynasty, and festivals like Minh The, Buffalo Fighting, Swimming Competitions, and Horse Racing. With its strategic location, Hai Phong’s people, along with the nation, achieved glorious victories against three northern feudal invasions at the Bach Dang River in 938, 981, and 1288.
In modern times, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the people and army of the port city, upholding the tradition of their forefathers, bravely and resiliently fought against French colonial forces, achieving heroic feats such as the battles on Road 5, Road 10 uprisings, and the fiery Cat Bi. After the city’s liberation on May 13, 1955, Hai Phong continued to develop as the only international seaport gateway by sea, a major industrial center, and a “steel fortress” on the East Sea coast of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Hai Phong proudly initiated the movement of building Socialist Labor Teams starting at the Cement Factory, the “Coastal Wave” emulation movement at the Duyen Hai Mechanical Factory, and was honored by President Ho Chi Minh’s nine visits. Many factories, enterprises, ports, and individuals were awarded the title Hero of Labor by the Party and State.
During the ten years from 1965 to 1975, the people and army of Hai Phong courageously balanced production and combat, contributing to the victory over two destructive and blockade wars waged by the U.S. imperialists, receiving international aid to support battlefields, and sending tens of thousands of youths to join the southern front. Together with the people of Hanoi, Hai Phong fiercely resisted and crushed the strategic B-52 bombing raids of 1972, achieving the “Air Dien Bien Phu” victory. After the wars, many factories, enterprises, ports, units, neighborhoods, districts, and individuals were honored with the title Hero of the People’s Armed Forces by the Party and State.
Since national reunification, especially during the renovation (Doi Moi) period initiated and led by the Party, Hai Phong has been a pioneer in fulfilling the dual strategic tasks of building and defending the country. The city innovated agricultural contracting mechanisms, popularized the principle of “People know, People discuss, People supervise” in grassroots mobilization, and launched campaigns to “Eliminate mud walls and thatched houses.” Over the past two decades, the Politburo issued two key resolutions (Resolution No. 32-NQ/TW, August 5, 2003 on “Building and Developing Hai Phong in the Era of Industrialization and Modernization,” and Resolution No. 45-NQ/TW, January 24, 2019 on “Building and Developing Hai Phong until 2030 with a Vision to 2045”), laying the foundation for Hai Phong’s continued rise. Numerous units and individuals have been awarded the titles Hero of Labor and Hero of the People’s Armed Forces during the renovation period.
In 2025, the Red Flamboyant City will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its liberation (May 13, 1955 – May 13, 2025), an occasion to reflect on and honor the tremendous achievements over the years and proudly uphold President Ho Chi Minh’s words during his visit on October 20-21, 1946: “With unity and determination, Hai Phong will certainly become a model city for the entire country.”