Haiphong is located in the delta of the Red River. It is approximately 100 kilometres from Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, and serves as the primary seaport for the northern region of the country.

Administratively, Haiphong constitutes an independent municipality at the same level as Vietnam's provinces. It is divided into administrative units. Thuy Nguyen, An Hai, An Lao, Kien Thuy, Tien Lang, Vinh Bao are all districts. Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi, both also considered districts, are islands in the Gulf of Tonkin - Cat Hai is a larger island just off Haiphong's coast, while Bach Long Vi is a small island near the centre of the Gulf. Do Son, officially designated a town rather than a district, is a small settlement within the greater Haiphong area.