hai van pass guide

The best Bluetooth tracker for Android users. The Tile Essentials set bundles two Tile Mates, the Tile Slim, and the Tile Sticker in a bundle that's more affordable than buying them separately Otodus megalodon, a member of the extinct family Otodontidae (order: Lamniformes), was the largest known macropredatory shark ().Fossil remains of this extinct giant consist mainly of teeth. On the basis of the age, morphology, and worldwide distribution of these teeth, it has been proposed that this species was a cosmopolitan predator that lived from the Miocene to the Pliocene [23 to 2.6 Situated on the top of Hai Van Pass is Hai Van Quan built by Emperor Minh Mang. There is a stone gate with the inscription "DE NHAT HUNG QUAN" (the most beautiful scenery written by King Le Thanh Tong in 15th century. Hai Van Pass is ranked as the national-level historical relics and an appealing Hue attraction alluring tourists in any Hue tours. A mix of mountains, coast, and clouds. Hai Van means, "Ocean Cloud Pass," named so because the mountain road hugs the coastline. It sits 500 meters above sea level making it the highest pass in Vietnam. The pass is full of sharp, hairpin bends, stretching for 21 kilometers and connecting two major cities in central Vietnam: Da Nang and Hue. Hosh jo aaya mujhe. Maine dekha maine jaana. Vo jo kabhi aaya tha, nazron pe chhaya tha. Dil main samaya tha, ja bhi chuka hai. Aur dil mera hai ab tanha tanha. Na to koi armaan hai, na koi mimpi memakai gelang emas ditangan kiri menurut islam. As we have traveled around the world, we have moved on to countless new cities and countries. While there have been many incredible experiences, there are some days we will never forget. Driving our own motorbikes from Hue to Hoi An by traversing the Hai Van Pass was an incredibly memorable day for us as we traveled through Vietnam. Spectacular panoramic views, death defying roads and constantly evolving climates await you on the Hai Van Pass as you proceed along the surprisingly short otherwise known as Ocean Cloud Pass.’ Ultimately, we decided to pay for an individual guide so we could completely relax without worrying about directions and where to stop. We wanted to enjoy the day with no navigational or scamming concerns. The route can be driven without a guide if you are on a tight budget or you already know you way. But our detailed motorbike travel guide from Hue to Hoi An will show you exactly what to expect for your trip. Let’s drive the Hai Van Pass! *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Read more in our disclosure policy.* Brief History Of The Hai Van Pass, Vietnam The Hai Van Pass certainly delivers aesthetics. But historically, this was an important defensive barrier for any army who attempted to march North or South of the pass. Interestingly, the pass marks the boundary between Northern and Southern climates in Vietnam, even shielding Da Nang from harsh Northern winds. The French built bunkers at the summit of the pass to overlook the South China Sea to the East. A gate’ was built earlier by the Nguyen dynasty in 1826 to protect Imperial City Hue. This picturesque gate and bunker complex is popular for wedding photographs today. Some of the bunkers were later used by the Americans and South Vietnamese during the war and Vietcong forces would ambush the bunkers regularly. Once the BBC aired its Vietnam Top Gear Special and Clarkson et al had waxed lyrical about the beauty of the Hai Van Pass, all of a sudden this usually quiet locals only coastal road blew up with tourists. Isn’t it incredible how one single episode of a British television show can have such a meteoric impact on so many people’s lives? Need help traveling from Da Nang and Hoi An? Don’t miss our popular Da Nang to Hoi An transport guide. Gorgeous views coming into Da Nang from our Hai Van Pass tour Hue To Hoi An Route Interactive Map Total journey length from Hue to Hoi An including the scenic Hai Van Pass road is roughly 160km, once off piste adventures along the way are considered. The map indicates a 3 hour drive. Even with no stops at all, you would struggle to drive the distance in that timeframe. Our day lasted over 8 hours door to door. Allow yourself a full day for this unforgettable ride to make sure you see everything along the way. There are 3 ways to cross the Hai Van Pass One is to take the scenic train around the mountain, tightly hugging the coastline and entering a number of tunnels. The second is to drive over the scenic pass, reaching a summit of 496m 1,627 feet of elevation. The best views of all options. And the third is to drive directly straight underneath the pass, through the longest tunnel in South East Asia at miles. It was built in 2005 to alleviate heavy road traffic and accidents on the snaking summit roads. Why Travel From Hue To Hoi An By Motorbike? The sense of satisfaction washing over us as we handed our motorbikes in to the hiring office in Hoi An was an amazing feeling. We had just independently driven motorbikes for over 8 hours from one city to another, over a small mountain pass in Vietnam. Scary? A little. Dangerous? Kind of. Exhikaterating? Hell yes! Never mind the winding snaking roads on the pass itself, there are several highways with lorries trucks and buses overtaking you at high speed. It constantly sounds like a fleet of jumbo jets are tight on your 6. But you have achieved this yourself. You handled the bike. You conquered your fear. In truth, this route can be enjoyed from the back seat of a private car or a minibus. We even saw a few open top jeeps but in our opinion, it just wouldn’t be the same. Maneuvering acutely around hairpin bends in foreign territory releases bursts of adrenaline. Having the freedom to pull over every time you see something interesting means you don’t miss a thing. We also quickly learned motorbikes can go where cars or buses can’t, down narrow dirt roads and through the beautiful rural countryside. Our wonderful guide Mr. Phu getting ready to depart Should You Travel The Hai Van Pass Individually Or Pay For A Guide? Choosing to travel from Hue to Hoi An by motorbike is the first step. We would like to congratulate you on your excellent decision. Now, you need to decide whether it’s a journey you want to make independently or with a guide. Personally, we recommend booking a guide for a few reasons Having a guide eliminates the need for you to navigate using your SIM or offline map you saved when you had WiFi. Trust us, it’s a long journey. A guide knows the quieter roads and deals with all locals at entrances as well as prevents potential scams. Another benefit to a guide is they will clear any traffic in your path and warn others you are coming when necessary. Last and certainly not least, a guide knows all the best places to stop for scenic views, attractions and food. Having a guide made our ride completely stress free. Take a guess how much it cost us to hire a guide for this trip from Hue to Hoi An? We’ll tell you in the next section about hiring a motorbike. You can of course drive this route independently and many people will without any issues. But we would suggest that only experienced and confident motorbike riders go it alone. Prior experience driving in Vietnam is a must. If you don’t feel confident enough to drive your own bike but definitely want to experience this route by bike, you can even ride on the back of a guides bike instead. Traffic in Vietnam is different beast! We saw at least 10 other groups riding with guides on our journey. Our bikes parked along a section of the Hai Van Pass As tourism continues to grow in Vietnam, special trips like the Hai Van Pass become increasingly more popular. So with many options available, we wanted to be sure we found the right tour for our needs. When we asked our hotel owner in Hue about the best companies to use when booking a motorbike tour of the Hai Van Pass, she told us that MotorVina was the best company to book with. Since we had already built up a good rapport with her, we trusted her opinion, but of course being analytical scientists by nature we still checked reviews online. But once we saw the incredibly high ratings and positive reviews for MotorVina, we knew we were in good hands. MotorVina has offices in Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An, which means you can start and end wherever suits your schedule. But what about your backpacks? This is the beauty of booking with Motorvina! They will transport all of your luggage to your final destination. You can choose to simply hire a motorbike with a guide or hire a guide to ride pillion on the back. We hired a guide plus two motorbikes so we could each drive the route on our own motorbike. Our total cost was about US$ 80 per person for both of us to drive our own bikes over the Hai Van Pass with an amazing guide. Our awesome guide was called Phu but went by rhyming alias Dr. Who’ – another BBC show. When you book your Hai Van Pass tour, book it through Motorvina using the link below! >> Book a Hai Van Pass tour with MotorVina Get Your Guide Viator Mark and Kristen along the Hai Van Pass in Vietnam Hai Van Pass Packing Essentials Below is a list of things you need to consider taking with you. Remember you will be exposed on a motorbike for the full 8 hours between Hue and Hoi An or vice versa. The Hai Van Pass is only a small section of the motorbike tour. Reusable Water Bottle – This sounds obvious but you will need as much water as you can fit into your seat. You will stop for lunch and can refill along the way, but always be sure to have some on hand. Reef Safe Sunscreen – Do not make that mistake! You will have the worst sunburnt arms, legs and face if you do not take sunscreen seriously. Waterproof Layer – Conversely, if the sun is not out, remember a warmer and waterproof layer. Even if the sun is out, temperatures and weather can change in minutes on the Hai Van Pass since it has its own mini microclimate. Swimwear – If you plan to take a dip in either the sea at Lang Co Beach or at Elephant Springs, you’ll need a change of clothes or just wear it underneath your motorbiking gear. Microfiber Towel – A towel will certainly come in handy if you decided to take a dip along the way or need to wipe the sweat from your brow during the day. Kristen relaxing in a hammock on the Hai Van Pass Best Time To Drive The Hai Van Pass Vietnam is notoriously difficult to plan an itinerary due to the ever changing weather system. Always expect a variation of hot, humid, muggy, stifling and raining situations. Additionally, when you’re in the North during Winter it might even get a little chilly. The Hai Van Pass is even more unpredictable than usual for Vietnam. It’s named the Ocean Cloud Pass’ after all! The name alludes to the micro climate where it can be a beautiful day and all of a sudden you find yourself in a dense cloud of mist and rain at the summit. Weather conditions are exceptionally changeable and it will boil down to luck on the day. That being said, if you want to give yourself the best chance of a dry day, February to April is the driest season. Visiting September to December statistically speaking will mean highest risk of rain, with October by far the wettest month. Again, luck plays a huge part because we drove the Hai Van Pass in October and never saw a single drop of rain. Our Hai Van Pass Motorbike Tour Experience From Hue To Hoi An Now that we’ve covered all the preparation, let’s get down to what you can expect on your Hue to Hoi An motorbike tour across the Top Gear’ Hai Van Pass. In the next sections of our guide, we will show you the best things to do along the Hai Van Pass as well as some of the popular stops you shouldn’t miss. Dr. Phu ready to ride and Kristen feeling slightly nervous 1. Hotel Pick Up In Hue The fabulous day began at 900am when we had our backpacks picked up to be driven to Hoi An. Our automatic motorbikes were dropped off with Dr. Phu at our hotel in Hue. Kristen had a pink bike and Mark a white bike. We did the usual safety checks before hopping on. We always recommend taking photographs of the bike exterior before you begin your ride. As always, make sure your helmet is also very secure. Admittedly, we were both a little nervous just look at Kristen’s face. We had driven a little around Ninh Binh and Phong Nha on motorbike but nothing like an 8 hour slog over 160km and on serious highways. However, Phu was amazing from the word go, he made us feel at ease and relaxed immediately. 2. Gassing Up In Hue Getting out of Hue was interesting. We made a beeline for the quickest way to reach the rural countryside South East of the city. Inevitably, there were a few near misses. Well, they felt like near misses to us, but they were standard operating procedures to the locals. But in a surprisingly short amount of time we got the hang of traffic patterns. It’s actually organized chaos that somehow works. The worst thing you can do is dilly dally about. You need to be confident and once you begin a maneuver, make sure you complete it. Drivers will yield once you are in motion, but if you are stopped, anything pretty much goes. Sure, drive defensively, but that does not mean stop at a 4 way junction in the middle of the road. You’ll never get out. It was great having Phu show us how to properly navigate the roads. We felt safe with him and it was worth the money alone just for the extra layer of safety. Dr. Phu filling our motorbikes with gas before our drive Before we could cut off into the countryside, we needed to fill up the tanks. Phu led us into a real gas station and handled the fueling up while we shared a laugh of relief at each other for getting through the traffic in Hue, as our hearts were beating much quicker. We say real’ gas station because you will pass several people buying gas on the side of the road. You never know what is being sold in those “gas bottles” so just fill up at the actual gas stations. Save yourself that drama, trust us. 3. The Countryside And Quaint Rural Fishing Villages Full of fuel and newly found confidence, we followed Phu down some gorgeous narrow dirt roads cutting through waterlogged rice paddies. Swerving left and right alongside fishing lakes and through rural villages, we began to relax as we were really getting the hang of this. Now, in place of motorbikes as potential hazards, we now had to look out for loose chickens, children and rogue goats. Mark and Kristen on a boat in a floating fishing village We stopped to admire some large straw structures with chicken coops inside. We also met a woman catching snails and she showed us her lucky technique. As we rode on, we were blinded by intense reflecting sunlight surrounded by a rainbow of colors. What could this be?! It transpired that a rich local family had built an ornate family temple with colored glass. The building was absolutely magnificent! Coincidentally, the owners now live in New York. From experience, we can say Hue’s surrounding countryside is peaceful and extremely easy to drive around. You never know what or who you will run into. 4. Stopping At Elephant Spring We stopped at a restaurant for a refreshing ice cold drink after a fairly long stretch of straight highway. We had been cruising at a pretty good speed to cover some ground so we were happy for the break. Thunderous trucks howled by less than a meter from our parked motorbikes on the roadside in the makeshift parking lot. Phew, it was sweltering and we were struggling to get our sunscreen to soak in before sweating it off instantly. After our refreshing drink, we only drove a short while until we pulled off the main road and followed a poorly maintained dirt path to Elephant Springs. There was a barrier crossing the track and an entrance fee required. We gave Phu 2,000 VND each to pay for our motorbike parking and he handled the rest. Elephant spring is nothing to shout home about but you will be ecstatic when you get to jump in the plunge pool area to cool off. Other tourists were submerged in the water trying to escape the inhospitable baking sun. Before jumping in, we walked up some wooden boardwalks and over some boulders to check the area out. Phu took some photos of us on elephant rock, which obviously has been man made using wrought iron bars to hold the rock in place. But after a few photos, we both enjoyed jumping in to cool off from the heat and humidity. If its busy when you visit Elephant Springs, there are plenty of spots to explore upstream if the natural pool is full at the bottom. 5. How To Remove A Leech From Your Leg After swimming against the strong river current and walking around a bit, there’s not much else to do here. Except of course if you discover you have a leech on your leg! Mark had to call in the cavalry, aka the guy lighting his cigarette in one hand and lighting the leech on Mark’s leg in the other. There were no screams, we promise. Phu of course oversaw the entire de-leaching process. The moral of the story here is to check for leeches if you decide to take a dip in Elephant Springs. Bamboo raft floating in Lang Co Lagoon 6. Lang Co Lagoon Not far from Elephant Springs is Lang Co beach, which is one of the prettiest areas of the day. We were hungry but before stopping for lunch we drove along the narrow spit of land separating the sea from a small lagoon. Around a dozen lagoon or beachside restaurants made of wood sitting on stilts provided an extremely serene atmosphere. There were some super photogenic spots within the lagoon that were completely unexpected. Be sure to look out for wooden rafts, leafless tree branches rising out of the still water and lifeless wooden boats if you want some great photos. 7. Lunch Stop At Lang Co Beach We pulled into one of the chilled out looking wooden restaurants and picked a table under cover to escape the sun for some respite. The menu looked great. We ordered rice and vegetables then sat enjoying the sound of waves crashing on the beach. The waves provided a nice change from the loud hum of the motorbike engines and traffic. But the calmness was broken up by a faraway sound, like a shriek. As we looked at other tourists on tables nearby, it seemed everyone had a did you just hear something’ look on their faces? Then we heard the sound again, but louder this time. It was someone shouting HELP’ from the sea. A Dangerous Rip Current Instantly all of us in the restaurant jumped up and ran to the beach. It’s interesting to see how we all react differently in stressful situations. A guy on a table nearby did a David Hasselhoff, sprinted for the sea without thinking and was on his merry way out to sea. However, what he didn’t realize was that he was swimming into the same strong rip current the other guy was already stuck in. Unfortunately, Mark had experience from when he got stuck in a rip current in Thailand a few years prior to this incident. He knew the best thing you can do in this situation was to swim perpendicular to the rip current which meant parallel to the beach because you will eventually swim out of it. So we quickly analyzed the beach, wave direction and estimated the edge of the current. We instructed other tourists and restaurant workers who were worrying a lot now to gesture frantically to the left. As both men were now stuck in the rip current and the only chance they had was to swim out of it. Lunch stop during our Hai Van Pass motorbike tour Eventually, the first guy made his way left and finally back to the beach. He was exhausted and really shaken up. Hasselhoff followed a few minutes later in better shape but still extremely tired. The initial guy thanked everyone and said he genuinely thought he was going to die. Our blood pressure dropped dramatically as both men made it out of the water safely. Everyone involved was relieved the situation had not turned out much worse. Travel Tip If you plan to swim at any of the beaches along your Hai Van Pass motorbike tour, be very careful because rip currents are common along Vietnam’s central coast. 8. A Bit Shaken Up After the commotion, we ate and took a short walk along the beach. Getting back on our motorbikes after what we had just witnessed felt insignificant. We made sure both men were okay again once they had some time to compose themselves. A boat on a beach in Central Vietnam To get the full effect of the beach, we took off our shoes to feel the sand scratch lightly on our feet. We also admired some large wooden boats shaped like bananas that were bigger than us. But it was time to get back on the road. We could see the Hai Van Pass towering ahead of us with thick clouds at its summit, but we couldn’t wait to get up there and shake this off. 9. The Official Hai Van Pass Begins We hit the road having thankfully avoided witnessing someone drown. And what a stunning road it was! The route begins by crossing gorgeous Cau Lang Co Bridge over the lagoon. Gorgeous views of the Cau Lang Co bridge We didn’t fully appreciate the beauty of the view over the bridge until we were further around the headland looking back at the scene. If you’re exceptionally lucky, you might see a train heading for Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City as you cross the bridge. We were not so lucky. Instantly the roads begin to acutely curve out of sight. We were performing 270 degree turns to follow the correct trajectory. Now this was getting fun… Kristen taking in the views during our Hai Van Pass tour There are several hazards and obstacles to keep in mind. These hurdles come in the form of other people either driving trucks or huge buses overtaking on blind corners. There is also the occasional hot headed tourist trying to become the next Valentino Rossi. All we could do is drive defensively and safely without going too slow that we caused an accident. There were temptations to gun it but there are other people to consider. If the road was guaranteed to be clear, it would have been a whole different story. Kristen looking over Lang Co Bay from a hammock on the Hai Van Pass Have you ever seen aerial photos of hairpin roads snaking up a mountain side? This is exactly what you are gliding around on the Hai Van Pass and it’s amazing! Be sure not to get carried away in the moment, stop from time to time to take it all in. One of the stops Phu had us pull over at had some hammocks where we could lounge around for a few minutes. This was definitely the best way to appreciate the spectacular view over Lang Co Bay. 10. Hai Van Pass Summit We knew we had reached the summit as we turned the last corner. There were so many buses, cars, jeeps and motorbikes parked all over the road. The Hai Van Pass is quite touristy, but we only realized this once we were at the top. Luckily, during our journey we had avoided most of the crowds. At the summit, there are a few small places to grab some food, coffee or a beer but don’t expect much. A huge rusting old road sign is the first landmark we noticed, but further up a dirt path right off the road you can visit the old French bunker and Nguyen gate. From this spot, there are more wonderful views of Lang Co beach in the distance. To be honest, we didn’t spend much time at the summit. It was overcrowded and apart from the historical significance of the bunker which we quickly read about, there wasn’t much else to keep us up there. Phu told us the better views of Da Nang were on the way down the other side. His tip was all we needed to get a move on. 11. The Descent Into Da Nang Phu was absolutely correct! The panorama over Da Nang city on the descent closely rivaled the scenes of Lang Co beach on the other side of the pass. We couldn’t decide which was more attractive, so we called it evens. The beautiful views as you descend the Hai Van Pass Descending the Hai Van Pass is easier and more relaxing than ascending because gravity together with wheels do all the work for you. But don’t let your gaze wander too much because you still have to be alert. We stopped a good 4 or 5 times to enjoy the cityscape view of Da Nang, its bay and the headland. It was getting late in the afternoon and the sun was heading West behind the summit so our descent was shrouded in shadow. Bad for photos but good for shielding from the intense sun for a welcome change of temperature. Mark and Kristen on a motorbike during a Hai Van Pass tour Da Nang is Vietnam’s third largest city. Unfortunately, there is a relative amount of traffic to go along with that title. We crossed the awesome and unique Cau Rong bridge, with a gigantic dragon slaloming through its center. We all continued to Da Nang’s beachside road. This road was very popular and stacked full of traffic lights at every block, which meant it took a long time to get to the marble mountains. 12. Final Stretch To Hoi An It was getting late in the day by the time we had reached the marble mountains. We didn’t have enough time to hike any of the small trails which was a shame, but we still asked Phu to show us some of the marble display rooms where locals create huge sculptures. The showroom he took us to had hundreds of marble statues of all shapes and sizes. He told us tourists often have them shipped to their home countries. Now we know where that statue came from in Mr. Smith’s garden!! 13. Hai Van Pass Hue To Hoi An Conquered The final stretch of road towards Hoi An was busy and natural light was failing as night approached. Fortunately, Phu knew a few shortcuts on very narrow roads running between rice paddies in the countryside outside Hoi An town. He took us for a very brief stop off at a friends curated and lush green garden. Before we knew it, we had arrived in Hoi An at the MotorVina office. Sunset over rice paddies in Hoi An We simply signed our document to say we’d arrived and picked up our deposit once we ended at the office. Phu had Kristen sit on his back seat and another guy from the office put Mark on the back of his as they whisked us off to our hotel in Hoi An. We had mixed feelings as we handed our bikes in, picked our backpacks up and said goodbye to Phu. What a day. We were exhausted, but didn’t want the day to end. As the adrenaline wore off, we also quickly noticed our stiff legs and numb butts! Beautiful ending to a very beautiful day We had successfully conquered the Hai Van Pass by driving our own motorbikes all the way from Hue to Hoi An and we had survived to tell the story. Now it was time for a celebratory beer! Hai Van Pass FAQ’s Let’s take a quick look at some of the most frequently asked questions about the Hai Van Pass in Vietnam. How Long Does It Take To Drive The Hai Van Pass?If you drove the Hai Van Pass without stopping, it would take about 3 to 4 hours. But most people make several stops along the way and take about 5 to 8 hours to complete the entire trip from Hue to Hoi An. Is The Hai Van Pass Worth It?Yes, the Hai Van Pass is worth it because you will experience many scenic vistas and have the chance to drive a motorbike over a mountain pass with gorgeous windy roads. The Hai Van Pass is one of the best things you can do in Vietnam and it’s a perfect activity for adventure lovers. How High Is The Hai Van Pass?The Hai Van Pass is 496m or 1,627 feet in elevation. Our Popular Guides For Vietnam Vietnam – Best things to do and places to visit in Vietnam Hanoi Itinerary – Things to do in Hanoi with 2 day itinerary Sapa Itinerary – Best things to do in Sapa, Vietnam Northern Transport – How to get From Hanoi to Halong Bay 3 Week Itinerary – 3 week route for Northern and Central Vietnam 10 Day Itinerary – 3 x 10 Day Northern and Central Vietnam routes Ninh Binh Itinerary – Ninh Binh Itinerary with best things to do Phong Nha Itinerary – Best things to do in Phong Nha Hoi An – Amazing things to do in Hoi An ,Vietnam More From Vietnam Tips – Important things to know about Vietnam Sapa – How to find a guided trekking tour in Sapa Hang Mua Peak – Guide to climbing Mua Cave Viewpoint Trang An – Everything you should know about a Trang An boat tour Halong Bay – How to book the perfect Halong Bay Cruise Southern Transport – How to get from Da Nang to Hoi An Dark Cave – Is dark cave worth visiting in Phong Nha? Hue – How to find the abandoned waterpark in Hue Want more Vietnam content? Head over to our Vietnam Travel Guides to see example itineraries, tips about Vietnam and popular city guides. We hope our Hai Van Pass travel guide helps you plan your motorbike tour! Please let us know if you have any questions about the Hai Van Pass or Vietnam in the comments below. Happy Travels, Mark and Kristen Enjoy This Hai Van Pass Guide? Pin It For Later! Not only is it a place associated with many important historical values. Hai Van Pass is also a place that attracts visitors who are passionate about exploring the beautiful scenery captivating people. Admire the majestic beauty of Hai Van Pass along with Hai Van Pass emerged on the blue sea of the East Sea, stretching about 20 km from Hue to Da Nang. It is a high mountain pass along the 1600km coastline of Vietnam. For centuries, this pass has formed a wall between the ancient Cham culture in the south and the inheritance of the Vietnamese tribe in the Red River delta, the dividing line between literary influences from the north and south of Asia. How Hai Van Pass is unique? Today, Hai Van Pass is a climate barrier between North and South Vietnam. There are 2 seasons in the South Dry and rainy season but 4 seasons in the North of Vietnam. Traveling to Da Nang along Highway 1. You will feel the cool breeze while enjoying the wonderful scenery along the way to one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. From Da Nang City, Travel along National highway No1, We will cross Nam O Nam River. It’s very close to a famous village very famous for making fish sauce. Starting from here, the road slopes upwards, like a white thread wrapped in green mountains, until it reaches the top. It’s Amazing Scenery. Because from here you will see the whole bay and the city below appear suddenly, stunningly stunning. In the distance, white sand beach of Non Nuoc beach stretches to the horizon, beyond the boulders of Ngu Hanh Son. At an altitude of 496 meters, the pass of these oceanic clouds gives us breathtaking landscapes of the stretched coastline of Vietnam. This is a small temple worshiping a mountain god. Such as symbolized by a tiger statue – a lord of the forest. It’s located on the top of the mountain. Along the pass you will see some small shrines to commemorate the victims. It is worth a visit Hai Van Pass The moss growing on the bunker – called the first. It was built by the French in 1826 to protect this strategic pass. It has been steadily on the side of the mountain for decades. It can be controlled from the sides of the mountain from both sides. Most witnessed the rise of the Vietnamese people during the struggle against the French. Then transferred to the US Army and the Vietnamese People’s Army once used this ramp to shelling in Da Nang. Travel experience Being present at the top of the pass at sunrise or sunset can own beautiful photos and enjoy the best atmosphere of the day. Along with friends to climb Hai Van Quan, sip coffee bought at the top of the Pass is also an interesting new experience. The road starts down the slope for Da Nang tour package to Hue city. Looking from above, the road looks like a winding thread with lots of turns that make the road feel endless road. But just when you start to lose hope, cars round the last turning point and a very spectacular landscape appears before your eyes Beach and Lang Co fishing village. Whether it is midway or the last point of the Da Nang tour. Lang Co beach is a great destination for the Hai Van Pass. From here onwards, you can comfortably admire the rice fields and tranquil villages along the the road going to Thua Thien Hue. In the journey to conquer the Hai Van Pass , in addition to admiring the unique natural beauty here. Do not forget to record the beautiful “unique” moments. Hai Van Pass with challenging bends and a majestic beauty that captivates people will always be one of the places to be missed in Vietnam for any adventurer lover. How to go to Hai Van Pass? Hai Van Pass is 20km from Da Nang city and 80km from Hue city. For convenience, you can move to Da Nang city by many means such as airplanes, trains, buses … then rent a car to Hai Van Pass. By cars Since most of the current cars choose to go through the Hai Van pass tunnel, the transportation by car to pass the pass is quite limited. By motorbike This is the best means for you to fully experience the feeling of conquering Hai Van Pass. Moving by motorbike, you can flexibly stop at many places on the pass to enjoy the view, take photos, take a rest … If it comes from Da Nang, after about 1 hour, you will reach Hai Van Pass. It’s great for Solo traveller, Family private tour Quick tips Not travel on this pass at weekend The are many young Vietnamese travel by motorbike on this pass Are you searching for? hai van pass train jeep tour hai van pass hai van pass weather top gear to hai van pass blog bout hai van pass is the hai van pass worth it hai van pass wikitravel Are you an adventurous lover? so Hai Van Pass is the best holiday destination in Vietnam. Let’s contact Origin Vietnam for details. Frequently Asked Questions About Hai Van Pass What Are The Most Amazing Things To Do In Hai Van Pass? Which Place Is Must See In Hai Van Pass? Referred locally as Đèo Hải Vân, the Hai Van Pass is one of the most majestic passes in Vietnam which connect Northern and Southern Vietnam. Offering an impressive sight of great mountains, blue skies and green forests, The Hai Van Pass bends around Truong Son mountain range between Thua Thien Hue province and Danang city, and locates at an elevation of 496 meters above the sea level. There are many reasons make this landscape more attractive for the travelers especially backpacker the history, the climate, the graphic and the stunning scenic view. It’s said to be one of the most beautiful stretches of pavement in the country. The twisting road along the pass is very incredible and offers a challenge for drivers. It’s a deserted ribbon of perfection—one of the best coast roads in the world. This is a destination not to be missed when you travel to Vietnam and below article will give you full information about The Hai Van Pass. I. What creates the unique of the Hai Van Pass History or geography 1. Hai Van Pass - The historic misty mountain top Due to having mountains occupied up to three quarters of the territory, Vietnam needs the passes to connect the province together. So Đèo Hải Vân - The Sea Cloud Pass was built as a mountainous sketch of the road in Central Vietnam. The Hai Van Pass’s poetic name based on the image of vapor from the East Sea rises into the forests and clings to the mountaintops. Following the history of Viet Nam, The Hai Van Pass has been of major barrier to any land army that attempted to move between the northern and central regions of the country. During the American War’, it was known as the Street Without Joy’. Back then, the pass connected the two war-scarred cities of Hue and Danang via Highway 1 which is the dangerous and hotly contested. The Hai Van pass became a natural wall from the 1st century when the Chinese general pacified Northern Vietnam, advanced South and established the southern border of Han Empire by setting up the column of bronze, possibly at Hai Van. For centuries this natural barrier divided Vietnam to The Champa Kingdom was to the south of the Hai Van Pass, and the Buddhist Kingdom of Dai Viet was to the north. The two kingdoms disputed constantly to control land either side of the pass. The Cham pushed as far north as the Dai Viet capital of Thang Long Hanoi in the 12th century. Due to getting the liberation from the Chinese Kingdom in and being followed by two strong imperial dynasties - the Ly 1009-1225 and the Tran 1225-1400, The Buddist Kingdom - Dai Viet, was growing steadily. Agricultural productivity and population were increased rapidly, but unpredictable weather and devastating flooding in the Red River Delta was a constant threat to stability. With the risk of China’s continued invasion, Dai Viet - the northland of The Hai Van Pass looked to the south for more area and the more suitable climate for their growing population. After centuries of fighting, Dai Viet finally defeated the Cham, in 1471 which belonged to the Le Dynasty getting the sunny territory south of the Hai Van Pass. That why the Hai Van Pass was known as the Thuan Hoa and Quang Nam frontier in the past. 2. The Hai Van Pass the most scenic hillside road with the weird climate Do you fear when seeing the dangerous bends on the road? Whenever one goes through the Hai Van Pass, there are two emotions at the same time the amazement at seeing the majestic scenery and the fear of passing the dangerous bends of the hills. After driving through several elbow curves for close to an hour, you reach the top of the Hai Van Pass. The pass is the nature wall between North and South Vietnam, and you will see the fortifications which were built by the French and then later used by the South Vietnamese and the Americans. With sudden curves and blind corners, The Hai Van Pass is likened to a dangerous but beautiful girl challenging drivers skills. Therefore, more than 700 years ago, when stopping at the height of nearly 500 meters above the sea level, King Le Thanh Ton named as a gift “Thien Ha De Nhat Hung Quan” meaning the most colossal frontier post. This name “The most grandiose gateway in the world” was later engraved on the gate at the top of the pass by Emperor Minh Mang. This gate is also looking down Quang Nam province and the other gate facing to Thua Thien-Hue province inscribed with the three words “Hai Van Quan”. At present, Hai Van Pass remains some of the fortifications the ruins of Don Nhat built by French troops in 1826 to protect this strategic pass. The most impressive thing about the journey is the sense of isolation you feel as you move further along. A strange happiness for the travelers when you go to the devious area with the seemingly unbroken asphalt road that cuts through a mass of forest. The green trees and forests contrast with the breaking waves in the blue deep ocean, “Sea Clouds” is exactly meaning about The Hai Van pass since the peak of the mountain is in the clouds while its foot is close to the sea. Why the Hai Van Pass has a weird climate? Vietnam's climate is typical for the tropics with the high temperatures and humid weather all around the year. In particular, Vietnam's climate regions include two main regions the North climate with for seasons spring, summer, autumn, winter and the South climate with two seasons dry and rainy seasons with the boundary is The Hai Van Pass. Due to crossing the country from the western border to the East Coast and also being an east-west spur of the Truong Son Animate Range, the pass creates a distinctively different climate. On the North of the slope, the air is usually wetter and colder than the South. It will be no surprise that you are enjoying the sunshine at the foot of the pass and immediately faced the cool weather with foggy when crossing the top of the pass. The sudden change of climate seems to be the disadvantage for the backpacker but if you are the traveler who loves to experience, this will be an unforgettable feeling. Because, the higher you are up, the more the clouds are down to create a fanciful space like the heaven. Actually, the weather on Hai Van pass is quite good, you can travel the Hai Van pass for four seasons. You should be careful or avoid going through the rainy season from October to December because the landslide and the slippery roads will endanger for all transportations on the pass. The ideal time to travel to The Hai Van Pass is from April to July/ because the weather is warm, the pass is drowned early and sunny. If you want to see the sunrise and romantic sunset, you should come here between 6 - 7 am or 16 - 17 pm. The Hai Van Tunnels - A solution for reducing the traffic on the Hai Van Pass The Hai Van Tunnel, the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia at kilometers, is a within mountain version of the Hai Van pass. Hai Van Tunnel was completed and put into operation in June - 2005, which facilitates transportation between Thua Thien - Hue and Da Nang city much safer and more convenient. Therefore, the number of people across The Hai Van Pass today becomes fewer. But if you are the tourists who want to explore the amazing and adventurous stretches of road, The Hai Van Pass is still the best option. II. How to travel to Hai Van Pass 1. The familiar routes to discover The Hai Van Pass The Hai Van Pass is a great way to drive all the way between these three cities Hoi An, Hue, Danang via an extended coastal route, which avoids busy National Highway 1 Road for the vast majority of the way, and uses quiet, scenic coast roads instead. The total distance for the scenic coastal route between Hoi An, Danang, and Hue is 165 kilometers. The journey between the Hoi An/Danang and Hue via the Hai Van Pass is 25 kilometers-165 kilometers depending on which route you choose to take. Ridding time is approximately 3-5 hours, and more for soaking up the scenery, stopping for buying and eating seafood along the coast, drinking coffee at the top of the pass or facing for any unforeseen circumstances, such as bad weather and flat tires. Riding from Hoi An or Danang to the south of the Hai Van Pass - The comfortable way Even you start from Hoi An, you still go via Danang through The Hai Van Pass to Hue. The Pass is more than 25 kilometers north-east of Danang city center. There are two routes leading from the center of Danang city to Hai Van Pass The coastal line From the center of Danang city, you follow the street Ong Ich Khiem. At the end of Ong Ich Khiem Street, turn left onto Nguyen Tat Thanh Street. At the end of Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, you turn left on National Highway 1A. Running over 2 kilometers, you will meet crossroads between National Highway 1A and Nguyen Van Cu. If left turn continues along National Highway 1A will lead to The Hai Van Tunnel, you should turn right on Nguyen Van Cu Street. Going straight to the end of the road, you will see the Hai Van Pass. This is the longer route but is preferred because you can enjoy beautiful scenic of Danang Bay stretching from Son Tra Peninsula to the foot of The Hai Van Pass. The street line From the center of Danang city, you follow Dien Bien Phu street running toward the direction of Hue Crossing. Going straight to Ton Duc Thang Street on the National Highway 1A until you see the junction intersection with Nguyen Van Cu street. Turning on Nguyen Van Cu Street and going straight to the end of the road, you will see the Hai Van Pass. This route is shorter than the coastal route and easier to move because there are not too many turns. You should choose the street line for traveling faster if you are late, have less time, need not enjoy the scenery. Riding from Hue to the North of The Hai Van Pass - The challenging way The nearer the pass is to Danang, the easier you move. But if you stay at Hue, you could go to The Hai Van Pass. The Pass is more than 70 kilometers from Hue city center. The shorter way to The Hai Van Pass from Hue is starting from Hue city center, following the National Highway 1 to Lang Co Town. However, like reaching The Hai Van Pass from Danang, you should choose the coast road to enjoy the stunning landscape as Pho Loi River, Thuan An Peninsular, fishing villages, Elephant Spring, Bach Ma National Park and Lang Co Bay. The coastline direction From the center of Hue city, you follow the Pho Loi river, turn north over a bridge into Thuan An village. The route is notable for the thousands of elaborately carved family tombs, which are scattered across the sandy banks between the road and the sea. At Thuan An Beach, you turn east along a long peninsula, cross a Tu Hien Bridge and turn right. That is QL49B. Continue following QL49B until you see a tunnel on the other side of The Phuoc Tuong Pass. Keep going and turning left to Phuoc Tuong Pass. When you go to the end of the pass, you will stop at T-Junction where having a back-route connected with Highway 1A and a well-paved roads leads over The Lu Bu bridge to Chan May road Alternatively, stay on Highway 1 all the way to The Hai Van Pass. The Chan May road stays close to the coast, where there are several high-end resorts and backpacker campgrounds. Following the Chan May road, you will go through past beaches, trees & fields and Lang Co Bay. The views get even so excited right after you start riding to the pass. Looking over the winding tarmac as it drops towards the long, empty beach of Lang Co. Just after one of the last hairpin bends of the pass, a much-photographed scene opens up over Lang Co bay and fishing village, with a long bridge over the water the exit of the Hai Van Tunnel and the lush, misty mountains behind. This might as well be known as the Top Gear Viewing Point, as it was here that the final scene on the Hai Van Pass from the Vietnam Special episode was filmed, with the three co-presenters all gazing at the sunset, enraptured by the beauty of Vietnam’s landscape. 2. What is the transportation to enjoy the landscapes on the Hai Van Pass Travelling by the local train - Smooth Journey with the stunning view The train journey from Hue to Danang/Hoi An along The Hai Van Pass. If your main purpose to see the Hai Van Pass, you can take the local train with wooden hard seats, opened windows and get off at Lang Co which is the first stop after the Hai Van Pass. Traveling by train is not only cheap but also comfortable. Moreover, the scenery on the way is also stunning, as the train will go over the Hai Van Pass, while most vehicles will go through the Hai Van Tunnel. However, traveling by train is time-consuming, complicated, quite disorganized, especially for people who travel in the big group. Suddenly you want to take pictures of the beautiful landscape but the train cannot be stopped haft way. You will not understand the feeling of blowing wind through your hair or challenging the bends on the road with 15 percentage uphill slope. Travelling by private car/taxi - The most comfortable way to enjoy the view of The Hai Van Pass If you are the person who does not want to take the challenging on the road but still want enjoy the stunning view, getting a private car/taxi with the local driver would be a comfortable and safe way for your experience. Finding this mean of transportation in any tourism provinces like Hue, Hoi An, Danang is not difficult. You can check on google, Tripadvisor or ask the accommodation where you stay. Traveling by private car/taxi have all the advantages that other means of transportation do not have. You can sit comfortably, get the carefree and painless in a private car and enjoy the stunning sight of Hai Van Pass. In addition, you can stop at many amazing sights on the way if you request in advance. Like the train or the others boxed vehicle, you can not feel the natural phenomenon that affects you. You can not know how the smell of pass is, how the slope is on rainy, how the sky is on sunny and how your hair is on windy. Do not keep your soul behind the window of the car because you only really feel the beauty of landscapes when you really touch the air around that. Travelling by Motorbike through The Hai Van Pass -An unforgettable experience The Hai Van Pass - the most scenic hillside in Vietnam is the unique place for you to discover. Travels can experience all the emotional level. Besides it, Hai Van Pass is a desire to conquer by many drivers. As you drive, ride, cycle even run the Pass, it is hard to imagine this beautiful road ever being known as the Street Without Joy’! Haven’t you ever seen Top Gear? Whether you are a confident rider, or it’s your first time on a motorbike, you should definitely take the opportunity to ride the Hai Van Pass. If you’re not a confident rider, you needn’t worry! The road is not too traffic, and far wider than some of the main roads in Vietnam. Moreover, The Hai Van Pass is well known for its dangerous roads, and accident warning boards carefully appear regularly along the side. Or even you are not comfortable with riding your own bike, some companies do offer tours where you get to chill on the back while someone else does the riding. Because the road is quite short, the danger is the only disadvantage of going through the pass by motorbike. The zigzagging paths appear now and then around mountain slopes or The u-turn sections have been widened are the big challenging for the backpacker. III. Accommodation when traveling the Hai Van Pass Although there’s no accommodation on the Hai Van Pass itself, there are a handful of good and interesting places to stay along the coastal route, as well as an enormous array of hotels and resorts for all budgets at either end of the route in Hoi An, Danang, and Hue. You can make a reservation via the Agoda, with price depending on your budget and style. At all accommodations, they can support all informations you need Map, Means of transport, tours… with fluently English speaking guide. In many of the small towns along the route, you’ll find local guest houses, which offer cheap rooms for a night on the road, particularly around Lang Co and Chan May Beach. If you are in a wilderness, you can bring a sleeping bag or tent to a camp somewhere near the Lang Co Bay or Chan May Bay. Imagine waking up with full vision of sunrise and a cup of hot coffee. What a wonderful experience! IV. Must know tips for traveling to the Hai Van Pass With the total of length 21 kilometers, You completely run and cycle on The Hai Van Pass if you want to take challenging. This idea very suitable for sport enthusiastic and adventurous person For the biker Don’t be afraid of riding in Vietnam’s bike traffic. Please follow the rules When crossing large intersections, it will feel like everyone is coming your way. Don’t panic. The trick is to point and shoot. Pick your line and stay true to it Don’t go swerving around everywhere… it will make it far worse Look around you. Watch what other people are doing and you will know whether you need to slow down a touch or speed up a bit to slot into your gap. Wear sunscreen! Cover your arms, elbows and the tops of your legs carefully Even if you don’t do all the stops mentioned, take little breaks often! Take a minute to refocus, drink some water and check the map. Download your route on Google Maps before leaving your hotel. Because the signal of the Internet is completely lost a few time when you go through the pass, the mountain section Check the weather, but don’t base your trip around it! The day we were planning to do our ride it poured rain the whole night before. The weather forecast also showed intermittent showers, but we ended up with perfect bluebird weather. Buy a raincoat… just in case the weather forecast is right! The Hai Van Pass will satisfy your desire to high peaks and tell you of the glorious history of Vietnam. Moreover, from the pass, on nice days, visitors can enjoy the whole vista of Danang, the Tien Sa seaport, Son Tra Peninsula, Cu Lao Cham Island and long sandy beaches. The 21 kilometers of road that stretch over the Hai Van mountain pass may sound like a challenging adventurous journey, but after having finished, it is certain that you will find it is one worth taking. Rated out of 5 based on 1 customer rating 1 customer review 100% of travellers said they loved this activity. Experience the epic coastal scenery between Hue and Hoi An. Make friends, see the sights, and taste delicious local food! Ride by open-top jeep or cruise on a motorbike drive yourself or easy rider. From $ Currency conversion approx A traveller from Stanmore & 8 others recently booked this activity. Description Operator More Activities Reviews 1 The Hai Van Pass is perhaps the most legendary stretch of road in Vietnam, and for good reason. The scenery is truly incredible! The team at Top Gear declared it “A deserted ribbon of perfection – one of the best coast roads in the world.” To take this breathtaking route on the back of a bike, or an open-top jeep is an experience you will be talking about for years to come. About the Hai Van Pass Linking two of Vietnam’s most important historical cities, Hue and Hoi An, the pass crosses over a spur of the Truong Son Annamite range that emerges from the West and just into the South China Sea, forming the Hai Van Peninsula and the adjoining Son Tra Island. The pass, which once formed the boundary between the kingdoms of Dai Viet and Champa also forms a boundary between the climates of Northern and Southern Vietnam, sheltering the city of Da Nang from the “Chinese Winds” that blow in from the Northwest. Hai Van Pass Tour Options Option 1. Jeep Tour Time 930 – 1630 Open-top jeep + cooler box + new friends = the best possible transfer between Hue and Hoi An! Features Seaside lunch Waterfall Local beaches Lagoon Breathtaking coastlines The impressive Hai Van Pass Ancient Champa Temples Banh Xeo cooking class* *Note on the cooking class on the Hai Van Pass Tour The cooking class is not a full cooking class, but rather a short introduction about how to cook the famous Vietnamese Pancake, Bánh xèo, that originates from Hoi An. It’s a sizzling, crispy rice pancake that’s stuffed with pork, prawns, diced green onion, mung bean, and bean sprouts vegetarian options available. And of course, you get to eat what you have cooked – delicious! Included Pick-up from your hostel in Hoi An/Hue* Transportation Lunch All entrance fees English speaking guide Ingredients & tuition on cooking class Drop-off at your hostel in Hoi An/Hue *Also pick-up/drop-off in Danang is possible. Not included Drinks Personal expenses Luggage transfer Luggage transfer is extra 50,000 VND /bag Option 2. Top Gear Experience Solo or Easy Rider 🏍 Time 900 – 1600 Experience the breathtaking Vietnamese coastline drive by motorbike. This once-in-a-lifetime experience, allows you to take your motorbike through stunning landscapes and awesome stop-offs, all at your own leisure. If you’re an experienced driver these roads are windy! you can choose to drive the bike yourself, or if you prefer, you can ride pillion and let one of the experienced drivers navigate the curves as you sit back, relax and take in the views on the back seat! Features Several photo-stops Lunch at the beach Pause to take in the beautiful views of the Hai Van Pass Drive to Marble Mountains. Included Pick-up from your hostel in Hoi An/Hue* Easy rider optional Lunch Entrance fees Luggage transfer Drop-off at your hostel in Hoi An/Hue *Also pick-up/drop-off in Danang is possible. Not included Drinks Personal expenses Travel Insurance Operator Information Store Name Vietnam Backpackers Operator Vietnam Backpackers rating from 10 reviewsRated out of 5 based on 10 customer ratings Last updated May 2019 Words and photos by Vietnam CoracleThis post was last updated 4 years ago. Please check the comments section for possible updates, or read more on my Updates & Accuracy page. INTRODUCTION GUIDE MAP RELATED POSTS A contender for the most famous road in Vietnam, the Hai Van Pass is a short but scenic route winding around a mountainside above the East Sea, on the central coast. Đèo Hải Vân – Ocean Cloud Pass – is famous for a number of reasons as a geographic and political boundary between ancient kingdoms; as a climatic divide between the tropical south and the subtropical north; and as a strategic military post during times of war, both ancient and modern. But, most recently, the Hai Van Pass is famous, quite simply, as a great road trip linking the popular central Vietnamese destinations of Hoi An, Danang, and Hue. For Vietnamese and foreign road-trippers alike, the Hai Van Pass is a favourite ride, its fame bolstered by the popularity of the Top Gear Vietnam Special 2008, in which the presenters waxed lyrical about the pass, inspiring a generation of travellers to take to the road on two wheels and hit the Hai Van Pass. Although it’s certainly not the greatest road in Vietnam, the Hai Van Pass is still a lot of fun to ride, with excellent views, light traffic, and easy access from several cities. One of the most famous roads in Vietnam, the Hai Van Pass makes a great & relatively easy road trip [Back Top] GUIDE THE HAI VAN PASS BY MOTORBIKE ROAD TRIP DETAILS Total Distance 165km or 135km Duration 1-3 days Route the scenic coastal route between Hoi An, Danang & Hue [MAP] Road Conditions good, smooth, wide highways, paved back-roads, light traffic Scenery high coastal passes, excellent sea views, empty beaches, fishing villages, farmland, cities CONTENTS ABOUT THIS ROUTE ROUTE MAP HISTORY & COMMENTARY DIRECTIONS ACCOMMODATION The Hai Van Pass weaves around a mountainous headland as it meets the sea in Central Vietnam [Back to Contents] ABOUT THIS ROUTE The Hai Van Pass can be ridden as a day-trip from any of the three main cities on either side of it Hoi An, Danang, and Hue. Alternatively, the Hai Van Pass is a great way to ride all the way between these three cities via an extended coastal route, which avoids busy Highway 1 for the vast majority of the way, and uses quiet, scenic coast roads instead see the blue line on my map. Although this route is slightly longer than taking Highway 1 see the brown line on my map, it’s far more scenic, more rewarding, and quieter not to mention safer. Renting motorbikes in any of the three cities should be fairly easy, and some rental companies even offer one-way pick-up and drop-off services, allowing you to ride in one direction without having to return to your starting point to give the bike back. The total distance for the scenic coastal route between Hoi An, Danang, and Hue is 165km. This can be completed in one day, or you can break it up into 2-3 days, by staying somewhere in the middle see Accommodation. There are several options for side routes along the way see the red lines on my map, including exploring the scenic roads around the Son Tra Peninsular, getting lost on the paved lanes and muddy tracks leading down to the coast from the top of the Hai Van Pass, and short detours to Elephant Springs and Bach Ma National Park. The best time of year is April to September; at other times, the pass can be covered in cloud and very wet. After riding the Hai Van Pass you can loop back via the mountains on the Ho Chi Minh Road, as described in the Golden Loop, or you can continue along coastal back-roads to Dong Hoi and Phong Nha, following the Tomb Rider route. Riding between Hoi An, Danang & Hue via the Hai Van Pass is a great road trip with spectacular views [Back to Contents] ROUTE MAP The Hai Van Pass Hoi An-Danang-Hue 165km or 135km View in a LARGER MAP [Back to Contents] HISTORY & COMMENTARY Đèo Hải Vân – Ocean Cloud Pass – is a mountainous stretch of road in Central Vietnam. On days when vapour from the East Sea rises into the forests and clings to the mountaintops, the pass lives up to its poetic name. But, despite its romantic title, the Hai Van Pass has always been something of a frontier a boundary of kingdoms and climate; often fought over, sometimes tragic but never losing its ability to inspire awe. The Hai Van Pass has a long been a physical barrier; now it is best known for its fabulous views During the American War’, the Hai Van Pass was known as the Street Without Joy’. Back then, the pass connected the two war-scarred cities of Hue and Danang via the dangerous and hotly contested Highway 1. Thanks to a tunnel under the mountains, completed in 2005, the Hai Van Pass today is the Street Without Traffic’. The majority of transport now takes the tunnel, which leaves the Hai Van Pass – one of the most scenic coastal roads in Vietnam – to two-wheeled vehicles and the occasional oil truck both of which are not allowed through the tunnel. The spectacular Hai Van Pass is perfect for a relatively easy, safe and short motorbike trip between the popular tourist spots of Hoi An/Danang to the south and Hue to the north. A tunnel under the mountain takes most the of the heavy traffic, leaving the Hai Van Pass virtually empty The Hai Van Pass is a natural wall a mountainous finger of land jutting into the East Sea. This is an east-west spur of the Truong Son Annamite Range that runs north to south along the western spine of Vietnam. For centuries this natural barrier represented the limit of one kingdom and the beginning of another. The Hindu Kingdom of Champa resided south of the Hai Van Pass, while the Confucian-Buddhist Kingdom of Dai Viet was to the north. The two kingdoms fought constantly to control land either side of the pass. The Cham pushed as far north as the Dai Viet capital of Thang Long Hanoi in 1371.* Partly due to the favourable climate and fertility of the land south of the Hai Van Pass, the Cham in this area were known as the Coconut Palm Group’. The Hai Van Pass sheltered the Cham from strong, cold winds and storms that blew from the north. Known as Chinese Winds’, these still ravage territory north of the pass each year during the typhoon months’, which are usually around September and October. *Historical information in this article is based solely on my reading of various sources and conversations with local people. I make no claims as an historian. The mountains of the Hai Van Pass formed the border between kingdoms; they’re still a climatic divide The good climatic conditions south of the Hai Van Pass helped to build the Cham civilization, which lasted for more than a thousand years, from the 3rd century onwards. It was the lure of the land of the Coconut Palm Cham’ that led to its eventual conquest. Dai Viet, to the north of the Hai Van Pass, was growing steadily thanks to liberation from Chinese rule in AD938 followed by two strong imperial dynasties, the Ly 1009-1225 and the Tran 1225-1400. Agricultural productivity and population were on the rise, but unpredictable weather and devastating flooding in the Red River Delta was a constant threat to stability. With China looming large over their northern borders, Dai Viet looked to the south for more land and a better climate for their growing population. After centuries of fighting, it was the Le Dynasty who finally defeated the Cham, in 1471, annexing the sunny territory south of the Hai Van Pass for Dai Viet. The ruins of the Cham temples at My Son, near Hoi An, can still be seen today. The Hai Van Pass was the border between Dai Viet & Champa, whose ruins can be seen near Hoi An The appeal of the land of the Coconut Palm Cham’ is still obvious today. If travelling from north to south, heading out of Hue on a wet, grey February morning and driving up the Hai Van Pass in thick, moisture-laden cloud, when you arrive at the top and look down on the sun-filled Bay of Danang to the south, it’s easy to imagine how attractive these lands must have been to the Dai Viet from the north. Curling your way up the switchbacks and hairpin bends, the motorbike engine struggling to deal with the gradient, and then rolling down the other side, wondering if the brake pads will wear away before you reach the bottom, it’s also apparent how the pass could have separated two civilizations for so long. Looking over tropical beaches and the Bay of Danang from the southern slopes of the Hai Van Pass Whatever the weather, the Hai Van Pass is always a scenic route. As with other great views, the pass has often inspired wonder, sometimes in the most unlikely of contexts and least likely of people. When Paul Theroux was passing through Vietnam during his Great Railway Bazaar, in 1973, the Paris Peace Accords had only recently been signed by the United States, South and North Vietnam. Direct American military participation in Vietnam was officially over, but the war still had two more long years before the fall of Saigon. As most of the Trans-Indochinois Railway now the Reunification Express that linked Hanoi with Saigon had been blown up, Theroux was only able to travel on short sections of the line that were deemed safe. Fortunately for him one of these safe sections was between Hue and Danang. Danang, seen from the Hai Van Pass a poisoned city’ when Theroux came in ’73; now it’s a boomtown At that time, Hue was a ruin. Having been pounded for years, not least during the Tet Offensive in 1968, the city was all mud and rubble. Danang, formerly a massive American military base, was, according to Theroux, a poisoned city’. But the landscape between these two wounded cities, including the Hai Van Pass which the railway snakes around just below the road, was still majestic. Perhaps because of the juxtaposition between the ugly urban destruction in Hue and the rural peace and beauty around the Hai Van Pass, Theroux, having travelled across Europe, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent by train, was amazed by what he saw from his compartment on the Trans-Indochinois Of all the places the railway had taken me since London, this was the loveliest. Beyond the leaping jade plates of the sea was an overhang of cliffs and the sight of a valley so large it contained sun, smoke, rain and cloud – all at once. I had been unprepared for this beauty; it surprised and humbled me. Who has mentioned the simple fact that the heights of Vietnam are places of unimaginable grandeur? For Paul Theroux, the train ride over the Hai Van Pass was the most scenic of his Great Railway Bazaar’ 35 years later, Jeremy Clarkson, former presenter of the popular BBC car show, Top Gear, had a similar reaction to the landscape around the Hai Van Pass. Famously sarcastic and not one to be easily moved – except by a good car – Clarkson and his co-presenters couldn’t help but be awed by the green mountains rolling down in pleats and folds toward the East Sea. On this strip of tarmac, that he proclaimed one of the best ocean roads in the world’, Clarkson began to enjoy motorbiking. Indeed, the Top Gear Vietnam Special must surely have inspired thousands of travellers to follow in their tyre-tracks, because nowadays hawkers at the top of the pass will often ask, “Are you here because of Top Gear?!” VIDEO Top Gear Vietnam Special skip to 315 for the Hai Van Pass scene Like other borders and frontiers, the Hai Van Pass has seen its fair share of blood and battles. At the top of the pass, by the brick gate built by Emperor Minh Mang in the 19th century, are gun towers that were used by French, South Vietnamese and American lookouts respectively, during the long wars from 1946-75. More recent reminders of tragedy on the pass are the small shrines lining the road that mark the sites of fatal accidents. Note most of these date from before the tunnel was built, when the pass was far more dangerous than it is today. As with many famous battle fields and scenic roads in Vietnam, tragedy contrasts sharply with the natural beauty of the surrounds. An old gun tower stands at the top of the Hai Van Pass, a reminder of its historical strategic importance As for me, I’ve always thought of the Hai Van Pass as a point of transition both a boundary and a gate. When riding from south to north, the pass is the point at which I feel I’ve entered more unfamiliar territory. The clouds usually close-in and fierce rain pinches the skin on my face. With this comes a sense of adventure. Being from the south in both my native and adopted countries London in Britain, Saigon in Vietnam, I’ve long associated travelling north with going into higher, wilder landscape and colder climes. Likewise, when I travel from north to south, the Hai Van Pass is the point at which I feel I’ve arrived home’ again, safe in the land of the Coconut Palm Cham’ and the warmth of the tropical climate I’ve become accustomed to. Oftentimes, weather is warm & sunny on the south side of the Hai Van Pass, but cool & wet on the north Located on the 16th parallel, just one south of the infamous 17th parallel that once divided the nation politically, the Hai Van Pass is a permanent natural boundary that will always divide the nation climatically, between tropical and sub-tropical. The Ocean Cloud’ clings to the pass, but this 30km stretch of road is beautiful in any weather, and each time I ride it, in either direction, there’s always the sense of having crossed a barrier. The great divide the Hai Van Pass crawls over this mountain as it meets the sea a great physical barrier [Back to Contents] DIRECTIONS I’ve written these directions going south to north, starting in Hoi An, going via Danang, and ending in Hue. You can, of course, ride this route in the opposite direction. Leave Hoi An’s old town in the morning – the earlier the better if you want to make it all the way to Hue in one day. Take the coast road to Danang, stretching all the way from Cua Dai Beach, past An Bang Beach, and the Marble Mountains, to Danang’s My Khe Beach, once known as China Beach. If you want to explore the Son Tra Peninsular side route, continue along the coast and onto the winding roads crisscrossing the headland see the red line on my map. If not, turn west onto the famous Dragon Bridge over the Han River and into Danang city. Cruise along the river bank before turning onto Nguyen Tat Thanh Street which skirts the ocean along Nam O Beach. At the end of the beach road, turn onto the broad lanes of Highway 1 for a brief stretch before the road starts to climb into foliage this is the start of the Hai Van Pass. After the coast road from Hoi An, take the Dragon Bridge into Danang, and continue to the Hai Van Pass Curling around the mountainside, the pass opens up spectacular views across Danang Bay. At the top of the pass, a collection of overpriced food and drink shacks vie for your custom. The ancient gate and old gun towers are located across the road, offering good viewing points and short, pleasant walks. On either side of the top of the pass, the small paved lanes and dirt tracks leading down the slopes towards the sea, are possible side routes see the red lines on my map, especially if you have a bike that can cope with muddy conditions. However, be aware that you may be stopped from continuing down these side routes due to military presence in the area. Looking down over the Hai Van Pass as it curls down the other side towards Lang Co Beach Snaking down the other side of the pass, the views get even better looking over the winding tarmac as it drops towards the long, empty beach of Lang Co. Just after one of the last hairpin bends of the pass, a much-photographed scene opens up over Lang Co bay and fishing village, with a long bridge over the water the exit of the Hai Van Tunnel and the lush, misty mountains behind. This might as well be known as the Top Gear Viewing Point, as it was here that the final scene on the Hai Van Pass from the Vietnam Special episode was filmed, with the three co-presenters all gazing at the sunset, enraptured by the beauty of Vietnam’s landscape. Looking over Lang Co bay from the Top Gear Viewing Point’ near the bottom of the Hai Van Pass In Lang Co, where you can stop at one of the many seafood restaurants nhà hàng hải sẳn in Vietnamese, it’s necessary to join Highway 1 briefly, before turning off on the Chan May coast road. If you want to continue to Hue on the shorter route using Highway 1 follow the brown line on my map. Or if you want to explore the side routes to Elephant Spring and Bach Ma National Park, see the red lines on my map. Turn off Highway 1 at Lang Co for the pleasant & quiet Chan May road, past beaches, trees & fields The Chan May road stays close to the coast, where there are several high-end resorts and backpacker campgrounds see Accommodation. Veering off the Chan May route, a good paved roads leads over a bridge and along a back-route before connecting with Highway 1 again at the Phuoc Tuong Pass. On the other side of this pass now empty thanks to a new tunnel, weave your way across Highway 1 to join road QL49B, heading north along the shores of the Cau Hai Lagoon. Alternatively, stay on Highway 1 all the way to Hue see the brown line on my map. Pastoral scenery on the road between Chan May & Thuan An, a much better alternative to Highway 1 QL49B crosses a bridge at the mouth of the lagoon and turns west along a long peninsular to Thuan An. This road has been mostly upgraded, but some patches are still in the process of reconstruction. The route is notable for the thousands of elaborately carved family tombs, which are scattered across the sandy banks between the road and the sea. At Thuan An village, turn south over a bridge and follow the Pho Loi River into Hue. For ideas about how to continue this road trip from Hue, see Related Guides. Elaborate tombs & temples line Road QL49B as it crosses the Thuan An Peninsular before reaching Hue [Back to Contents] ACCOMMODATION Although there’s no accommodation on the Hai Van Pass itself, there are a handful of good and interesting places to stay along the coastal route, as well as an enormous array of hotels and resorts for all budgets at either end of the route in Hoi An, Danang, and Hue. *Please support Vietnam Coracle You can support the work I do by booking your hotels via the Agoda links & search boxes on my site, like the ones on this page. If you make a booking, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Any money I make goes straight back into this site. Thank you. Hoi An Danang Hue On the Route Hoi An Hoi An has possibly the best-value and range of hotels in all Vietnam. The sheer volume of hotels, and the continuing popularity of Hoi An as a travel destination, drives prices down and quality up. For budget accommodation check out the cheap but clean and classy rooms at Kiman Hotel, and Hoi An Backpackers Hostel. Two excellent-value mid-range places to stay are Lasenta Boutique and Hoi An Waterway. For luxury it’s hard to beat the Anantara or Victoria Beach Resort. Besides these recommendations there are hundreds more to choose from, which you can browse here. Lasenta Boutique Hotel is one of many excellent-value accommodations in & around Hoi An [Back] Danang Funtastic Beach Hostel is a great budget option by the sea, just 5 minutes from Danang city. Stay Hotel offers good mid-range value, with neat rooms, good views and a pool. The Novotel Danang is very swish and modern with incredible views over the city and sea. Or to really splash out, head to the Intercontinental Sun Peninsular Resort on the Son Tra headland, which is another world of luxury. Danang’s recent boom has led to many new accommodations, like Funtastic Beach, Stay Hotel & the Novotel [Back] Hue Hue Backpacker Hostel is as cheap as they come, and offers all the familiar characteristics of a budget, dorm-based hostel. Villa Hue is fabulous mid-range accommodation with lots of style and charm. The Pilgrimage, just outside the city, is also excellent. The most famous high-end option is the colonial-era La Residence, occupying a prime location by the riverside. Villa Hue is a wonderful hotel in the former imperial capital, offering great value & lots of atmosphere [Back] On the Route In many of the small towns along the route, you’ll find nhà nghỉ local guesthouses, which offer cheap rooms for a night on the road, particularly around Lang Co and Chan May Beach. Budget travellers can spend a night under canvas at Canh Duong Beach Camping or Tan Canh Guesthouse, for example, both on Chan May Bay. But there are also some luxury accommodations along the coastal route which you can stop at for a night or two to break the journey. After Lang Co there are several ultra luxurious resorts spread along the coast, including the Bayan Tree and Angsana. Further down the road, near Phu Loc village, Verdana Lagoon Resort is very good for a night of affordable luxury in a very atmospheric position. There are several places to stay on the road between Hoi An, Danang & Hue, including beach camping [Back Top] RELATED POSTS Questions, updates and trip reports are all welcome. However, please keep comments polite and on-topic. See commenting etiquette for details.

hai van pass guide