A winding mountain road between Hue and Da Nang with sweeping views over Lang Co lagoon and Da Nang Bay
The pass crosses the point where the Annamite range runs down to the sea, and the name, often translated as ocean cloud pass, reflects the mist that often hangs over the ridge. The road winds for about 20 kilometres of bends through forest, with the North-South railway hugging the cliffs below. Since the Hai Van road tunnel opened in 2005 most trucks and buses go underneath, which has left the old road relatively quiet and a favourite for motorbike and car tours.
At the top stand the remains of Hai Van Gate, a brick fortification inscribed with the words that call it the most majestic gate under heaven, and the remains of later military bunkers. From the viewpoints on the way up, travellers look north over the long sandbar and lagoon at Lang Co, and south across Da Nang Bay to the city, the Son Tra peninsula and, on clear days, the Cham Islands. The ridge also marks a climate divide: winters are often grey and wet on the Hue side while Da Nang is drier and warmer.
The Hai Van ridge has long been a frontier. Between 1306 and 1471 it marked the border between the kingdoms of Dai Viet and Champa, and later it was a strategic checkpoint on the main road through central Vietnam, where travellers had to show their papers at the gate on the summit. The gate was restored under the Nguyen emperors, and the crumbling remains of later military bunkers sit beside it.
The pass became internationally known as a driving road after the BBC's Top Gear featured it in a 2008 special, when Jeremy Clarkson called it one of the best coast roads in the world. The 6.28-kilometre Hai Van Tunnel opened beneath the ridge in 2005, and a second tunnel followed, but motorbikes are not allowed through and still use the pass or a shuttle.
Lang Co at the northern foot of the pass is a beach village on a lagoon, with seafood restaurants catering to travellers. Small cafés and vendors at the summit cater to travellers, while the forested slopes are largely uninhabited. Da Nang's northern suburbs spread out at the southern end of the road.
Most people cross the pass as part of a journey between Hue and Da Nang or Hoi An, by motorbike tour, guided ride or private car, stopping at the summit and at viewpoints on either side. The railway between Hue and Da Nang offers a different perspective, running close to the sea along the cliffs. At the top there are cafés and stalls selling drinks and snacks, and many riders continue north to the beaches and seafood restaurants of Lang Co.
Clear weather matters most here. The drier months from about February to August generally give the best chance of views; in the wet season from September to December the summit is often wrapped in cloud and the road can be slippery. Early morning and late afternoon bring softer light and fewer tour groups.
Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Da Nang, with My Khe beach, the Dragon Bridge and the Marble Mountains, lies at the southern foot of the pass, and Hoi An is about an hour beyond. To the north are the lagoon and beaches of Lang Co, Bach Ma National Park and the city of Hue with its Imperial City and royal tombs.
Vietnam · 11 nights4★ HotelVietnam · 7 nights4★ ResortThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 29 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
