Hai Van Pass: three ways to cross the pass, and no matter which one you choose, someone always gets it wrong

Hải Vân is a mountain pass separating Da Nang from Huế, stretching about 20 kilometers with its highest point at approximately 500 meters above sea level. The name means "sea and clouds" — and that's a precise description, not merely poetic language.

There are three ways to go, and each one suits a different type of person.

Option 1 — Ride a motorbike yourself. This is the most frequently mentioned option online, and also the one most often chosen by mistake. The road really is beautiful, but it has long slopes, constant sharp curves, and trucks still drive on it. You should only go if you're used to driving mountain pass roads, your vehicle is in good condition, and the weather is dry. Fog rolls down from the summit very quickly — sometimes you can only see a few meters ahead.

Option 2 — Hai Van Tunnel. Cars take about 10 minutes through the tunnel instead of nearly an hour crossing the pass. Fast and safe, but you won't see any scenery at all. Motorbikes aren't allowed in the tunnel; there's a service that transports motorbikes through by specialized truck.

Option 3 — Private car with driver, taking the mountain pass road. You get the best of both worlds: you still cross the pass, still stop at the summit to take photos and see the old bunker, without having to grip the steering wheel yourself. For those traveling one-way from Da Nang to Hue, this is usually the most sensible choice, as the driver can also stop by Lang Co fishing village and Lap An Lagoon along the way.

A few practical things:

Best time: early morning, when the sky is clearest. From midday onward, clouds often cover the summit, and during the rainy season (September–December), on many days when you reach the top you'll only see white mist. • Jacket: the top of the pass is windy, and the temperature difference compared to the base of the pass is clearly noticeable. • There are shops and stalls at the top, but prices are higher than in town — that's normal at pass rest stops. Don't stop the car in the middle of the curve to take pictures. There's a parking area at the top, just a few hundred more meters and you'll get there.

Providers running the Da Nang–Hue route over the mountain pass, available on VietSpots, are pinned below.

Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0) — Wikimedia Commons