# Hai Van Pass, Da Nang > Hai Van Pass is a 21 km mountain road above the sea between Da Nang and Lang Co Bay, topping out at about 496 m. The road is free and always open; Hai Van Gate at the summit charges 70,000 VND. Allow about 1.5 hours up and back, half a day with Lang Co. Go in clear daylight. Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/hai-van-pass - City: [Da Nang](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang), Vietnam - YesGo score: 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - Entry: Road free; Hai Van Gate 70,000 VND - Opening hours: Road open 24 hours; Hai Van Gate during daylight (unofficial) - With kids: Fine with kids - Riding the pass: Free, open 24 hours - Hai Van Gate: 70,000 VND; under-13s free - Gate hours: Daylight; no official timetable - Distance: About 20 km from central Da Nang to the foot of the climb - Time to the top: About 30 minutes by car, 45–60 minutes by motorbike - Tunnel: About 6.2 km; no motorbikes or bicycles - Tours: Easy Rider about $50–70, jeep $65–120 (unofficial) - Paying: Cash in VND at the gate and cafés; Grab takes cash or a linked foreign card - Coordinates: 16.18750, 108.13083 - Facts checked: 05.11.2026 ## Key facts - **21 km** — length of the old road over the pass on Highway 1 (source: English Wikipedia; Da Nang tourism portal (20–21 km)) - **≈ 496 m** — height at Hai Van Gate on the summit (source: Da Nang tourism portal; English Wikipedia) - **70,000 VND** — entry to Hai Van Gate; the road itself is free (source: Hue People's Council decision as reported by Tuổi Trẻ, Tiền Phong and Báo Văn hóa) - **Ocean cloud pass** — what Hải Vân means — the summit is often in cloud (source: English Wikipedia; Da Nang tourism portal) - **1826** — the summit gate rebuilt under Emperor Minh Mang (source: Da Nang tourism portal; Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **2005** — the Hai Van road tunnel opened, about 6.2 km long (source: Da Nang tourism portal; Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **No motorbikes** — allowed in the tunnel — riders always take the pass (source: Da Nang tourism portal; Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **2008** — Top Gear's Vietnam Special made the pass famous with riders (source: English Wikipedia; travel guides) - **2009** — Lang Co Bay joined the Most Beautiful Bays in the World club (source: Vietnamese Wikipedia; VietnamPlus) - **Climate divide** — in winter the north side is cooler and wetter, the south warmer and drier (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia) > **Check the clouds before you go** The name means "ocean cloud pass" for a reason: the summit is often wrapped in cloud, and then the views you came for simply aren't there. Set off **after 8–9 am**, once the morning fog lifts, and aim to be off the pass **by 4 pm**. In heavy rain or strong wind, move the trip to another day. ## Is Hai Van Pass worth it? Yes — on a clear day it's the best coastal view within easy reach of Da Nang, and the ride itself is the point. Plan about 1.5 hours to the summit and back by car, or half a day if you continue down to Lang Co Bay. If the ridge is in cloud, skip it. The pass is about 21 km of the old Highway 1, climbing a spur of the Bach Ma range that runs straight into the sea between Da Nang and Hue. Since the tunnel opened in 2005, trucks and most buses go underneath, so the old road is quiet: hairpins, Da Nang Bay on one side, Lang Co on the other. Top Gear's 2008 Vietnam Special put it on every rider's list. Skip it if you hate switchbacks, if you have one day in Da Nang (the [Marble Mountains](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/marble-mountains) are closer), or if you're heading to Hue anyway — then just ask your driver to take the pass instead of the tunnel. ## How to get to Hai Van Pass from Da Nang 1. **Leave the centre.** From the Bach Dang riverside at the west end of the Dragon Bridge, head northwest along Da Nang Bay through Lien Chieu to the foot of the pass — about 20 km, according to the city tourism portal. 2. **By car or Grab.** About 30 minutes to the summit. Book a return trip with waiting time, or a one-way ride on to Lang Co: getting a car back from the top is hard. 3. **By motorbike.** 45–60 minutes to the summit. Rentals run about 100,000–150,000 VND a day (unofficial). Fill up in town — there are no petrol stations on the pass — and pick a semi-automatic over a small scooter for the climbs. 4. **From My Khe Beach.** Cross the Dragon Bridge to the west bank first, then follow the bay road north; add 10–15 minutes. 5. **Stop at Hai Van Gate** on the summit: parking, cafés and views both ways. Park only in the car park or on wide pull-outs, never on a hairpin. 6. **Ride down to Lang Co** on the north side to the bay and Lap An Lagoon. Return over the pass, or through the tunnel if you're in a car. ## Motorbike, Easy Rider, jeep, car or train? | Option | Time | Cost | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Ride yourself | 45–60 min to the top, half a day with Lang Co | Bike rental 100,000–150,000 VND a day (unofficial) | Experienced riders with a motorcycle licence | | Easy Rider (pillion) | 5–8 hours | About $50–70 (unofficial) | The motorbike experience without riding | | Jeep tour | Half to full day | About $65–120 (unofficial) | Groups and open-top photo stops | | Car with driver or Grab | About 30 min to the top | Agreed with the driver | Families, and anyone moving on to Hue | | Train Da Nang–Hue | About 3 hours to Hue | Vietnam Railways website or app | Sea views on the way to Hue | Tour prices are unofficial operator rates and change often. Hai Van Gate charges 70,000 VND whichever way you arrive by road. > **Licence and insurance if you ride yourself** To ride legally in Vietnam a visitor needs a **home licence with a motorcycle category** plus an **International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention**; 1949-convention permits (the kind issued in the US, Canada and Australia) aren't recognised. Many travel insurance policies only cover motorbike trips when you're licensed — read yours before renting. Without the right licence, ride pillion with an Easy Rider or go by car. ## Hai Van Tunnel vs the pass For views, take **the pass**. The Hai Van Tunnel, about 6.2 km long and open since 2005, saves around 20 minutes by car (roughly 10 minutes instead of nearly 30), but there's nothing to see inside. Motorbikes and bicycles aren't allowed in the tunnel, so riders always go over the top. Cars and transfers to Hue often use the tunnel by default — if you want a summit stop, agree it with your driver when you book. A good plan by car: out over the pass with stops, back through the tunnel. ## Hai Van Gate entrance fee and what's there Entry to **Hai Van Gate (Hải Vân Quan)** is **70,000 VND**, the same for Vietnamese and foreign visitors, and free for children under 13. The fee is set by Hue's People's Council and collected by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre. The road itself costs nothing. A gate has stood on this ridge since the Tran dynasty; the present gate was rebuilt in 1826 under Emperor Minh Mang. The north face reads "Hải Vân Quan", the south face "Thiên hạ đệ nhất hùng quan" — "the most formidable pass under heaven". Around it are old walls and fortifications along the ridge, now a national historic site, reopened after a long restoration. We found no official opening hours; unofficially it's open in daylight. Pay in cash — Vietnamese dong in small notes. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and bigger restaurants in Da Nang, but the gate, cafés and stalls on the pass are cash places. ## Best viewpoints and stops on Hai Van Pass - **Da Nang Bay switchbacks** — on the southern climb, with the curve of the bay and the city below. Pull over only where there's room off the road. - **Hai Van Gate** — the top, about 496 m. Da Nang to the south, Lang Co to the north and, on a clear day, the Son Tra Peninsula. - **The ridge walls** — climb the old stone walls around the gate for the widest view. - **The northern descent** — the long sandy spit of Lang Co with the lagoon behind it, and the railway clinging to the cliffs below. - **The level crossing near Lang Co** — at the foot of the north side the road crosses the railway; time it right and a train passes by the sea. - **Lang Co Beach** — fine pale sand and seafood cafés, the natural lunch stop. - **Lap An Lagoon** — a calm lagoon ringed by mountains, with oyster farms; loveliest in the afternoon light. ## Lang Co Bay and Lap An Lagoon Worth the extra hour if you have half a day. **Lang Co** is the town and bay at the northern foot of the pass, about 30 km from Da Nang; in 2009 the bay joined the international Most Beautiful Bays in the World club. Behind the town lies **Lap An Lagoon**: still water, mountains all round, wooden jetties and oyster farms. Most tours from Da Nang stop here for lunch. Lang Co belongs to Hue, not Da Nang. If you're going on to Hue, it's the natural halfway stop; if you're heading back, take the tunnel by car or the pass again by bike. ## Best time to ride Hai Van Pass: weather and fog Go on a **clear day between about 9 am and 4 pm**. Morning fog often sits on the summit and usually burns off by late morning; by evening the cloud tends to settle back on the ridge. Check the forecast before you leave. The ridge is a climate divide. In winter, roughly November to March, the north side and Lang Co are more often wet and grey while Da Nang to the south can be sunny. Spring and summer give better odds of clear air, but it gets hot — bring water and sunscreen. It's cooler and windier at the top than in town, so a light windproof layer helps even on a warm day. Ride in daylight only and turn back in heavy rain or strong wind. ## Seeing the pass by train The North–South railway doesn't climb the pass; it hugs the cliffs above the sea through a string of tunnels, and it's one of the most scenic stretches of track in Vietnam. Any train from Da Nang to Hue covers it. For visitors there's the **Central Heritage Connection train (Kết nối di sản miền Trung)** between Da Nang and Hue: the city tourism portal lists two pairs a day, morning and afternoon. The trip takes about 3 hours, and Vietnamese press reports a short photo stop at Lang Co station. Sit on the right-hand side heading north to Hue for the sea. Book through the Vietnam Railways website or app and check the timetable there — it changes. ## How long do you need? **Up to the gate and back:** about 1.5 hours by car with stops, 2–2.5 hours by motorbike. **With Lang Co and the lagoon:** half a day. **Easy Rider and jeep tours** usually run 5–8 hours and often add the Marble Mountains or lunch in Lang Co. Kids are fine by car or train, and under-13s get into the gate free. We wouldn't take a child on the switchbacks by motorbike. ## Before you ride - [ ] Clear forecast, no cloud on the summit - [ ] Leave after 8–9 am, back before dark - [ ] Cash in VND for the gate, coffee and fuel - [ ] Motorcycle licence plus a 1968-convention IDP if you ride yourself - [ ] Helmet with a working strap, closed shoes - [ ] Windproof layer, water, sunscreen - [ ] Full tank — no petrol stations on the pass ## Hai Van Pass, Ba Na Hills or the Marble Mountains? | Place | Entry | From the centre | Time | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Hai Van Pass | Road free, gate 70,000 VND | About 20 km north | 1.5 hours to half a day | | [Ba Na Hills](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/ba-na-hills) | 1,000,000 VND per adult | About 25 km southwest, 40–60 min | A full day | | Marble Mountains | 40,000 VND, lift extra | About 8 km southeast | 2–3 hours | Hai Van is a free road with sea views; Ba Na Hills is a paid mountain park; the Marble Mountains are caves and pagodas near the beach. ## Da Nang views: compare and choose Viewpoints in Da Nang rated by YesGo. - [Dragon Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Love Lock Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/da-nang-love-bridge) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Golden Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/golden-bridge) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 1,000,000 VND (Ba Na Hills ticket) - [Lady Buddha](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/lady-buddha) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Hai Van Pass](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/hai-van-pass) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Road free; Hai Van Gate 70,000 VND - [Marble Mountains](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/marble-mountains) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 40,000 VND + lift 15,000 VND - [Ba Na Hills](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/ba-na-hills) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · 1,000,000 VND; kids 800,000 VND ## Pass in the morning, beach by day, bridges at night Hai Van Pass once the fog lifts, [My Khe Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/my-khe-beach) in the afternoon, then the [Love Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/da-nang-love-bridge) and the [Dragon Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge) in the evening. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the times and rides. 1. [Hai Van Pass](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/hai-van-pass) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Road free; Hai Van Gate 70,000 VND 2. [My Khe Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/my-khe-beach) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free entry, sunbeds extra 3. [Love Lock Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/da-nang-love-bridge) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 4. [Dragon Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ## Tips - Look at the ridge from town first: if the top is in cloud, go another day. - By car, go out over the pass and come back through the tunnel. - Park only at the gate or on wide pull-outs, never on a hairpin. - Carry small dong notes — the gate, coffee and parking are all cash. - On the train to Hue, sit on the right for the sea. - Have lunch in Lang Co: it's where the pass naturally ends. - Be off the pass before dark: there's no street lighting and the cloud comes back in the evening. ## Questions ### Is Hai Van Pass worth it? Yes, on a clear day: it's the best coastal view near Da Nang. If the summit is in cloud, or you only have one day, the Marble Mountains are a better use of time. ### How do I get to Hai Van Pass from Da Nang? By car or Grab, about 30 minutes to the summit; by motorbike, 45–60 minutes. Easy Rider and jeep tours pick you up from your hotel. ### Is there an entrance fee for Hai Van Pass? The road is free. Hai Van Gate at the summit charges 70,000 VND, and children under 13 go free. ### Can I ride Hai Van Pass on a scooter? Yes, it's the classic way, but legally you need a motorcycle licence and a 1968-convention IDP. Fill up in town and choose a semi-automatic for the climbs. ### How much is an Easy Rider or jeep tour? Unofficially, Easy Rider tours run about $50–70 and jeep tours $65–120 per person, usually 5–8 hours with hotel pickup. ### Should I take the tunnel or the pass? The pass, for the views. The tunnel saves about 20 minutes but shows you nothing, and motorbikes can't use it. ### Can you see Hai Van Pass from the train? Yes. The Da Nang–Hue line runs along the cliffs above the sea, below the summit road. Sit on the right heading to Hue. ### When is the best time to visit? A clear day between about 9 am and 4 pm. Winter (roughly November to March) brings more rain and cloud on the north side. ### How long does Hai Van Pass take? About 1.5 hours up and back by car, half a day with Lang Co Bay, 5–8 hours on a tour. ### Is Hai Van Pass suitable for kids? By car or train, yes; under-13s enter the gate free. We don't recommend the switchbacks on a motorbike with a child. ## How we checked Length (about 21 km) is from English Wikipedia and the Da Nang tourism portal (20–21 km); the gate's height of about 496 m from the portal and English Wikipedia, while Vietnamese Wikipedia's infobox rounds to 500 m. Distance from the centre (about 20 km) and travel times (about 30 minutes by car, 45–60 by motorbike) are from the portal; other notes say about 30 km to the summit, so we say "to the foot of the climb". The gate's history (Tran dynasty, 1826, inscriptions) is from the portal and Vietnamese Wikipedia. The 70,000 VND fee, free entry for under-13s and the start of charging come from Tuổi Trẻ, Tiền Phong, Báo Văn hóa and Dân trí reporting the Hue People's Council decision; we didn't open the resolution itself, so it's flagged. No official source gives gate opening hours. The tunnel (about 6.2 km, opened 2005, no motorbikes) is from the portal and Vietnamese Wikipedia. The heritage train's two daily pairs are from the portal; the 3-hour journey and the Lang Co stop are from Vietnamese press; we give no fares or exact times because they change. The Bays club membership (2009) is from Vietnamese Wikipedia and VietnamPlus; Lap An Lagoon's area differs between sources (800, 1,500 and 1,655 ha), so we leave it out. Tour, rental and fog-timing details are unofficial, from guides and operators. Licence rules are from Viet Nam News, Tuổi Trẻ and guides; we didn't open an official Ministry of Public Security page. ## Sources - Da Nang tourism portal danangfantasticity.com (city Department of Tourism) — length, height, distance and travel times, Hai Van Gate, tunnel and the motorbike ban, Central Heritage Connection train - English Wikipedia: Hải Vân Pass; Vietnamese Wikipedia: Đèo Hải Vân and Lăng Cô; Wikidata Q1477078 — length, height, name, climate, gate, tunnel, Lang Co - Tuổi Trẻ, Tiền Phong, Báo Văn hóa and Dân trí — Hai Van Gate entrance fee, concessions, restoration and reopening - VietnamPlus — Lang Co Bay in the Most Beautiful Bays club - Viet Nam News and Tuổi Trẻ — licence and IDP rules for motorbikes - Local Vietnam, Go Asia and Easy Rider and jeep tour operators — stops, fog, tour prices (unofficial) - YesGo shared notes on Vietnam and Da Nang — paying, Grab, motorbike rental --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.