Hai Van Pass: Drive, Train or Stop on the Way
The famous coast road is a choice, and not every group should make it the same way.
Hai Van Pass is the scenic road between Da Nang and Hue, and you can see it by car, by train or by motorbike. Most groups, including families and elders, are best with a car and driver who stops at the viewpoints. Choose the tunnel only when the weather is poor.
Which option suits which traveller?
Match the way you cross to your group.
- Photographers: car with a driver, a slow start and one or two stops.
- Slow couples: car or train, with a long lunch on the way.
- Return visitors: train or a car on a different day from the motorbike crowd.
- Families and elders: car with a driver, not a motorbike.
Hai Van Pass is an approximately 21 km mountain pass on National Route 1 between Hue and Da Nang1. It is short, so the question is the view and the safety, not the distance.
How do the options compare?
| Question | Car over the pass | Tunnel | Train | Motorbike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View | Best road view | None | Coast from the window | Open air |
| Comfort | High | High | Fair | Needs skill |
| Weather risk | Rain and mist hurt | Not affected | Delays possible | Highest |
| Best for | Most groups | Bad weather days | Rail fans, photographers | Experienced riders |
The Hai Van Tunnel, opened in 2005, bypasses the pass and is 6.28 km long2. If you want the scenery, say so before you set off, because a driver may choose the tunnel by default.
What about the train and the motorbike?
The train suits slow travellers. Book through the official Vietnam Railways site, dsvn.vn5, and check timetables close to your trip.
The motorbike is for experienced riders only. Read renting a motorbike in Vietnam: what Malaysians should know before you decide. Non-riders lose nothing: a car shows you the same road.
Where should you stop?
Keep stops few and safe.
- The summit lookout, for the view back over the bay.
- A beach or lagoon view on the coast road near Lang Co.
- A rest stop for lunch before you reach Hue or Hoi An.
If you start in Hoi An, remember it lies some 28 km south of Da Nang6, which adds to the day. See Hue to Hoi An: one road, many possible stops.
How do you plan around Hue?
Hue’s airport has no direct international routes4, and Da Nang, the nearest international airport, is 80 km south of Phu Bai3. That is why the pass road is part of most central routes. Read Da Nang to Hue: choosing transport around your stops to compare options.
What should you check before you go?
- Weather on the morning. The central coast rainy season starts in August or September and peaks in October and November7, so keep a wet-weather backup. See central Vietnam in rainy months.
- Whether the driver will take the pass or the tunnel.
- Your luggage, and whether the stops have safe parking.
- Your time budget, using the travel-day checker.
For the cities at either end, read the Da Nang city guide and the Hue guide. More help sits in Getting around Vietnam.
Tell us your travel month, your group and whether anyone rides a motorbike, and we will suggest the Hai Van option and stops that fit.
Common questions
Do I have to ride a motorbike to see Hai Van Pass?
No. A car with a driver takes you over the pass in comfort, with stops at the viewpoints, and that suits families, elders and anyone who does not ride. Motorbike tours exist, but they ask for confidence on bends and traffic, so choose a car if you doubt yourself.
What is the difference between the pass and the tunnel?
The pass is the winding mountain road with views over the coast. The Hai Van Tunnel, opened in 2005, bypasses it and is 6.28 km long. If you want the scenery, tell your driver clearly that you want the pass, not the tunnel, before you set off.
Is the train a good way to see the coast?
It can be, if you enjoy slow rail travel and a window seat. The north-south railway runs through this corridor, and the coastal stretch suits photographers. Book through the official Vietnam Railways site and check the timetable, since schedules change.
Where should I stop between Da Nang and Hue?
Plan one or two short stops, not a long list. The pass summit has a lookout and old gate, and the coast road near Lang Co has beach views. Ask your driver which stops are open and safe on your day, and avoid stopping in poor weather.
When is the pass hard to drive?
In rain, mist or typhoon weather. Low cloud hides the views and wet roads are risky, especially on a motorbike. The central coast rainy season peaks in October and November, so a trip then should have a flexible plan, or use the tunnel and keep the views for another day.
Sources
- Hai Van Pass is an approximately 21 km mountain pass on National Route 1 between Hue and Da Nang. Wikipedia
- The Hai Van Tunnel, opened in 2005, bypasses the pass and is 6.28 km long. Wikipedia
- Da Nang, the nearest international airport to Hue, is 80 km south of Phu Bai. Wikipedia
- Phu Bai (Hue) airport has no direct international routes. Wikipedia
- Vietnam Railways' official booking website is dsvn.vn. Wikipedia
- Hoi An lies some 28 km south of Da Nang. Wikipedia
- On the North Central and South Central coast the rainy season starts August to September and peaks October to November. Wikipedia
Keep planning
Tell us your travel month, your group and whether anyone rides a motorbike, and we will suggest the Hai Van option and stops that fit.