Table Of Contents
Introduction
National Highway 1A extends from North to South, passing through many beautiful regions of Vietnam, but perhaps nowhere is as majestic and impressive as Hai Van Pass. This is a special place, not only beautiful as a masterpiece of nature but also the rich history behind it.
Honored by the Guardian of England in the “Top 10 most beautiful coastal roads in the world” Hai Van Pass surely makes all adventurous people love it at the first sight.
Where is Hai Van Pass?
Located along the length of Hai Van mountain, is the border between the two provinces of Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang, 80km from Hue city and 20km from Da Nang city. The pass is 500m high above sea level and has a length of about 21km.
If starting from Da Nang, it will take about 40 minutes to reach the foot of the pass. If you come from Hue city, it will take about an hour. The pass is located on the Bach Ma mountain range, which is an admirable masterpiece that nature bestows.
Hai Van Pass Vietnam History
Hai Van Pass Vietnam was formerly known as Ai Van Pass because there is a border gate located on the top of the pass. After that, the pass was renamed May Pass because it was hidden at the foot of the clouds. According to recorded history, before 1306, Hai Van pass belonged to two continents O and Ri of the Champa Kingdom.
Later, when Che Man (Champa Kingdom’s King) proposed to Princess Huyen Tran, Che Man King offered these two continents as a wedding gift. In 1402, after the Ho Dynasty invaded Champa, the pass from the boundary of the two countries became the land of Dai Ngu.
During the French colonial period, although the Hai Van pass road was built, it was still very narrow, dangerous, and prone to wild animals and robbers. So the French built a railway running the whole length of the Hai Van Pass Da Nang.
Nowadays, the Hai Van pass tunnel has been completed to ensure convenience for North-South traffic. Although there is the Hai Van pass tunnel, many tourists still want to take the Hai Van Pass Top Gear route to admire and conquer the most dangerous pass road in Vietnam.
The meaning of the name ” Hai Van”
As you know, the name Hai Van derives from the beautiful views of this pass. Stand at the height of 500m above sea level, this is the ideal place to enjoy the great views of nature.
Because on the top of Hai Van, you can admire the panoramic views of the Ocean and the Clouds above. Sometimes, the clouds will be right on your chest. So Hai Van Pass means the “Ocean and Clouds Pass“.
What makes the Hai Van Pass attractive?
Hai Van Pass Top Gear
The road to conquer Hai Van pass is not easy with winding roads along the mountainside. It stands out among the jungles, like a silk strip crossing the foot of the clouds, like a fairyland.
Standing from Hai Van pass, visitors can zoom out into the distance with one side of the majestic mountains. The other side is the immense sea, all blending together, creating a magnificent natural picture.
The reason many backpackers want to challenge this pass is that it brings many different feelings. When you depart from the city, you will be extremely excited and curious. At the pass’s foot, you are nervous and a little afraid when you are about to enter the winding and dangerous roads.
The higher you go, the more you will be overwhelmed by the beautiful natural scenery. At the peak of the pass, you will feel the smell of the mountains, the wind, and the cold from your feet to your head. All these feelings will bring you an interesting experience.
Hai Van Border Gate
On the top of the Vietnam Hai Van pass, there are still traces of a gate. This gate is called “Hai Van Quan” the border gate built under the Tran dynasty. Under the Nguyen Dynasty, this was an important gateway to the Hue capital from the south. In the 15th century, Le Thanh Tong king came here. Surprised by the majestic beauty of heaven and earth, the king named this gate “the most beautiful border gate in Vietnam”.
Located in the middle of two famous tourist cities, Thua Thien – Hue and Da Nang, surrounded by charming scenery, this place attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to visit. In 2017, the Hai Van border gate was signed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to recognize it as a national heritage.
Van Village nestles under the passfoot
Van village is a small village located separately from Da Nang, right at the foot of Hai Van pass. You can bring food and camping gear to picnic with friends. Van village has many places for you to hold a barbecue or camp overnight.
Hai Van Train Station
From Hai Van Gate, you move another 4km to the ranger station and then follow the concrete road for another 1km to reach Northern Hai Van station. This is an ideal place for you to delight in “virtual life” photography. However, there will still be trains running on the tracks, so be careful when taking pictures.
Don Ca Arch Bridge
Like Northern Hai Van station, the Don Ca arch bridge is famous for its wild and fancy beauty. After getting to Bac Hai Van station, you go a little further to reach the Don Ca arch bridge. The path is quite steep and small, you should pay attention.
Lang Co Bay
Lang Co Bay in Hue is known as one of the most beautiful bays on the planet. This place is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, including rivers, mountains, the sea, and lagoons that captivate people.
In 2009, Lang Co Bay was once rated as one of the most beautiful bays in the world by Worldbays. This place seems to be the convergence of all the most perfect things, from majestic mountains, and stretching white sand beaches, to the immense blue sea and warm, shimmering golden sunshine.
The lonely pine
The lonely tree is a familiar image to anyone who has the opportunity to go down the Ocean and Clouds Pass. Regardless of the angle, you will have sparkling pictures of this pine. You can also take advantage of a break at a nearby drink hut. However, it is necessary to pay attention to safety because this place has many cars passing by.
Some Travel Tips
How to get to Hai Van Pass Da Nang?
To conquer the pass, you can travel by car, motorbike, or bicycle. However, taking by motorbike is the best option! Because this is the means to help you fully understand the feeling of conquering Hai Van Pass Top Gear.
You can actively stop on the pass, rest your feet, take pictures and enjoy the scenery. If you start from Da Nang, after about 1 hour, you will reach this majestic and dangerous road.
In addition, a lot of cyclists would like to conquer the Ocean and Clouds pass. But of course, they must have very good physical strength to dare to do this.
If you stay in Hue or Hoi An/ Da Nang and would like to stop to admire Hai Van Pass along the way, you should book our Hai Van Pass Tours from Hoi An to Hue or Hue to Hoi An private car with an English-speaking driver.
Hai Van Pass Vietnam Weather
Traveling to this pass, you should check the weather forecast to choose the suitable means of transport. If it is raining, we highly recommend the Hue Private Car or Hoi An Private Car because it will be very slippery and foggy. It is very dangerous and not suitable to travel by motorbike or bicycle. There were a lot of Hai Van pass accidents because of the bad weather so you must be careful.
The best weather to admire the Vietnam Hai Van Pass is from April to August. This time of year is the sunny season so there is no rain and the views are beautiful and clear.
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