About Hai Van Pass
Hai Van Pass is a 21-kilometre mountain pass at about 500 metres elevation on the border between Da Nang and Hue, traversing the Bach Ma mountain range. It connects Hoa Hiep Bac in Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, with Lang Co town in Hue. Notable for its winding road, Hai Van Gate and French-era fortifications, it offers panoramic views of Da Nang Bay, Lang Co Bay and the East Sea and is a popular scenic driving route.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a winding mountain road with multiple paved viewpoints overlooking the coastline, forested slopes and bays on both sides. At the summit is Hai Van Gate, a brick and stone gateway built in 1826, along with old French bunkers and fort ruins. The area has small food stalls, souvenir shops and parking areas. Visitors typically stop to photograph the landscape, explore the gate and bunkers, and enjoy the coastal and mountain scenery. Fog and clouds often cover the summit.
Key highlights
- 01
Panoramic views of Da Nang Bay, Lang Co Bay and the East Sea from the summit
- 02
Historic Hai Van Gate at the top of the pass
- 03
Remnants of French-era bunkers and fortifications
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Scenic 21 km winding mountain road popular for motorbiking and driving
- 05
Cloud-covered summit known as Ocean Cloud Pass
History of Hai Van Pass
Hai Van Pass has long been a strategic north-south passage. Hai Van Gate (Hai Van Quan) was built in 1826 under Emperor Minh Mang of the Nguyen Dynasty to control movement and defense. The pass retains French colonial fortifications and bunkers from the late 19th and 20th centuries and served as a military observation point.
Culture & Context
Known in Vietnamese as Deo Hai Van meaning Ocean Cloud Pass, the pass is celebrated for its natural beauty and was historically praised by Nguyen lords and emperors. Hai Van Gate is recognized as a national historical relic and is a cultural landmark symbolizing the natural boundary between former regions.
Route
| By air |
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