A few friends of min are up there for a short term teaching contract. I sent them the link to this question.
Steph

It's a total dump of a port city, been there several times, and couldn't wait to get out, worst thing is, i maybe moving to a job there next year :-(

A fair few Japanese and Koreans there, my old boss is living there in Sun Flower Village, which is the best place to live if you have the wedge like. He keeps him self sane by going 1.2 hours away to play golf at Chi Linh.

He has told me, that a guy who use to work at Al'frescos has opened a copy place, which is quite good (Hai Phong standards anyway).

If your going there in a few months, so Jan/Feb time, take something warm, as it turns from a dump, to a miserable cold dump.

Good luck might see you there next year, iam bringing a noose if you already havent.

Sounds dreamy.

Well, I have lived in Hanoi and just came to Haiphong and living here about few months to 1 year for my job and thinking could help your situation.

First of all, there are also many foreigners living here but not as crowded as in Hanoi and life here pretty quiet and NO NIGHT LIFE but peaceful and comfortable. Not many bars or nice restaurants here, and if any so it's just got Haiphong quality and a few customers...

A nice restaurant in Haiphong is inside Tray hotel, food is good but pricey a bit. You also could come over a bar nearby Hai phong Opera house,on the road beside, it's pretty nice and foreigners usually go there. Not remember which road exactly.
There is a disco bar called Hoang Gia club on Lach Tray street, it's open till around 12pm and also could meet expat there,
Another disco bar on Dien Bien Phu str. It's better than Hoang Gia club a bit but not remember the name of bar, far from Opera house around 2 km
Cafe shops, well there are many cafe shops on Minh Khai street, stay between Opera house and Unknown disco bar above, but I like the cafe shop next to that disco bar cause it's pretty nice and looks like Highlands coffee in Hanoi.

And entertainment, have Big C and Thuy Duong plaza. In Big C they have KFC chicken and Lotteria and you could shopping. In Thuy Duong plaza they have Megastar cinema and it's nice and cheaper in ticket than in Hanoi. Go around and take a look...

You also could go to local markets here. There are 3 biggest markets in Hai phong called: Chợ Ga (Ga market), chợ Sắt (Sat market), chợ Đổ (Do market). At Ga market, you could find many kinds of sea fish and it's opposite Opera house about the left side. At Sat market you can see it's a real market of second electric products imported from many sides of world, particularly from America, Europe and China. Hanoian usually go there to buy and take something to home, good ones and cheap prices.

In Do market you will discover local farm products and could enjoy if interested in discovering Vietnam culture.

On weekends, more time to relax that you could spend your meantime in Do son beach or Cat ba island, not bad idea. I guess you have heard some things about Cat ba island, quiet and nice island this season and lovely, I really like to be there. In Do son beach you could find new 5-star resort and could absolutely enjoy your time and get fit there.

Foreigners in Haiphong living focus on around Opera house, not sure which house for rent or hotel here is available but it's much cheaper to rent a house and stay in a hotel here than in Hanoi, just $250 - $500 you would get a big house with full furniture.
Well, hope you get some good information for your new stay...............

Well, selena_nguyen has supported you many good things in HaiPhong city.
In addition, I would like to inform you that you can live in Sunflower hotel(VanCao street) or the area nearly HaiPhong Opera such as Tray hotel(CatDat street), Huu Nghi hotel(DienBienPhu Street)
Many good restaurants are located in HaiPhong center (Le Chan District). They are on CauDat street, Nguyen Duc Canh street and near HaiPhong center language has one Western restaurant...etc.
At weekend, you can visit DoSon beach (by bus or your car), only 18 km from HaiPhong center. If you would like to visit CatBa island, you can come Binh boat station to buy tickets. Everyday, they sell twice to three time tickets (HaiYen speed cano...etc) from 07.00am => 16.00pm to CatBa and return. Price about 100.000VND=>120.000VND/ticket. You can book CatBa hotels and big Junk to visit LanHa gulf.
HaiPhong is also a peace city and i had been there 4 years for studying and working. Hopefully that you will have good living.

Ms Lora Pham
Companion Travel
Email:vietnamchina_holiday@hotmail.com

Thanks all for the useful imformations. im Vietnamese but im a student in Swiss, i left there long time ago. I get those informations for my visit on next june.