Hai Van Pass

Viethavvh at Vietnamese Wikipedia · Public domain

'The grandest gateway under heaven' — a pass over the Bach Ma range with mountain on one side and sea on the other.

Hai Van is a real border. The range runs out into the sea here and blocks the north-east monsoon, so crossing the pass means crossing into different weather — steady rain on the north side, sun still on the south. Emperor Minh Mang had a gate built at the summit in 1826 and inscribed it himself: 'the grandest gateway under heaven'. That structure still stands, restored, looking down on the bays either side. Since the road tunnel opened, lorries and coaches all go underneath, leaving the pass almost empty for anyone who wants to drive slowly and stop at every bend. Which is exactly why you should take the pass and not the tunnel.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Hai Van Pass?

March to August, on a clear morning

How long do you need at Hai Van Pass?

Half a day including the drive

What are the opening hours of Hai Van Pass?

All day; cross in daylight

Did you know

The pass runs about 21km with a summit near 500m, marking the boundary between Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue.
The Hai Van Gate at the summit was built in 1826 under Emperor Minh Mang.
The four characters on the gate reading 'the grandest gateway under heaven' are attributed to Minh Mang.
The range blocks the north-east monsoon, giving the two sides of the pass distinctly different weather.

Travel tips

Take the pass road rather than the tunnel — the tunnel is faster and you will see nothing.
Fog can drop over the summit very quickly; if visibility falls below a few dozen metres, pull over and wait.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%E1%BA%A3i_V%C3%A2n_Pass

Updated: 2026-08-16