Vietnam
Hai Van Pass
A Deserted Ribbon Of Perfection
Hai Van Pass Travel Guide
Once you come and experience this little gem, you will know why. During much of history, the Hai Van Pass served as the border between the Champa and Dai Viet Kingdoms, and today it still somewhat divides two different sides of Vietnam, the north and the south.
For adventure lovers, what you will find here is a thrill ride, filled with curves and sudden corners that ascends you 500m above sea level on coastal cliffs, that will offer you at every opportunity amazing, breathtaking views of this coastal scenery. The little village of Lang Co, located at one of the extremities of the pass, is a great example of the blend on traditional and modern Vietnam.
All this perhaps, is what makes the Hai Van Pass so memorable. It shows both sides of Vietnam, north and south, mixed with incredible scenery and a thrill ride, and all this in just 25km road that can be done in a day.
How To Get Here?
Hai Van Pass stands between Da Nang and Hue, and is the route you must take when going from one city to the other if going by motorbike.
Please note, that since the construction of the Hai Van Tunnel, almost all "4-wheel" traffic is forced to go through the tunnel, which means motorbikes are the only way to see the pass.
What To Do?
If you are not a confident driver, or don't have much experience riding motorbikes, you can opt for an Easy Rider alternative. You will find many, many options on either Da Nang, Hue or even Hoi An, and it basically consists in someone driving the motorbike, while you go on the back seat and enjoy the scenery.
Besides the obvious points of interest you will find along the way, there are some spots a little bit off the main path that may deserve a visit, we will list some here. We took the route from Da Nang to Hue, and will be presenting the spots in the order they appeared to us following that direction.
Lang Co Beach
Sitting at the exit (or entrance, depending where you start) of the Hai Van Pass, the Lang Co Village is a great example of a charming, traditional village of Vietnam. The village offers a great scenery from afar, and inside you will find some of the best seafood dishes at reasonable prices.
But without a doubt, the main attraction of the village is the Lang Co Beach. It's a beautiful, calming spot for you to relax a bit after the pass.
If you are enjoying the place, spending a night in Lang Co may not be a bad idea.
Elephant Springs
(photo from localvietnam.com)
On your way to Hue, you will have a chance to make a slight detour to the Elephant Springs. Although, the detour is of almost 15km, what you can find more than justifies it.
Here, the river flows throughout a series of natural pools, where you can go for a swim in its crystal clear waters. The entrance fee to this place costs 15.000VND per person plus 2.000VND per motorbike, and once you are inside, you will have to pay an additional, bargainable fee, to use the poolside huts before entering the pools.
The place also has some stands selling foods and drinks, although the prices here are way more expensive than they should.