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Hai Van Pass (also known as Cloud Pass) is regarded as one of the most scenic coastal routes in the world. The route with some paved, smooth and wide roads and light traffic has been featured in the third and fourth legs about Vietnam of the world-renown motoring program of BBC named Top Gear: Vietnam Special.
Stars including Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May traveled from Hoian to Hue via this stunning pass. The trio made their way through the extended route that took them to the scenic sights along Hai Van mountain pass. It’s no wonder Clarkson proclaimed Hai Van pass was one of the most scenic coastal roads in the world.
This route takes travelers past stunning sceneries of the breathtaking beaches, lush forest, vast national park, vibrant city, and historical site as well as offers bikers diverse riding experience, thus more and more travelers are taking Hai Van Pass motorbike tour.
Hai Van pass covers some 30 km and stretches over the mountain ranges that connect the coastal Lang Co town and Da Nang city. Since the construction of a road going through the tunnel in 2005, Hai Van pass has been left with two wheels and oil trucks only, the two means of transport that are not allowed in the tunnel. The winding road weaving around the mountain and beach below makes Hai Van pass motorbike tour an exciting and fun journey for any rider. Hai Van pass is like a natural wall that divides the north and south of Vietnam with two different climate patterns.
This pass also bears significant historical value. In the past, if one side can take over the pass then they can control the Ho Chi Minh trail, the only road that connected the north and south of Vietnam at the time. Considered as the highest pass in central Vietnam, Hai Van Pass is like a frontier from which one can look over a vast area of both beaches and lands below.
Nowadays, Hai Van Pass offers adventure lovers an amazing opportunity to experience the road trip and admire the sceneries here. Traveling by motorbike is the best way to explore the mountain pass and the neighboring destinations, helping riders fully enjoy the heavenly beauty of nature.
If one makes their way from Da Nang city, it takes them less than an hour to get to the spectacular pass with exciting hairpin bends of the smooth and wide highway. The route is quite short so spending one day for this exciting route would be ideal. It takes around 4 to 5 hours if you drive at normal speed and have a few quick stops along the way. Riders can stop wherever they want along the way to contemplate the sceneries and take perfect postcard pictures.
The winding road weaving around the mountain and beach below makes Hai Van pass motorbike tour an exciting and fun journey for any rider
We recommend starting the trip at around 9:00 or 10:00 am so we can get back in the late afternoon. Starting or ending the trip in Da Nang will help to shorten the journey and save time. While on this exciting trip, make sure you take a coastal ride in Hue city. Drive along the road 49 to Thuan An direction before getting back to Highway 1A. Make sure you try some different roads (inner city or along the coast) before taking the highway as these roads offer scenic sights along the way and have fewer big trucks.
Depending on the experience of riders and roads’ condition, each rider may have their own choice of motorbike yet we highly recommend bikers use above 150cc dual-sport motorbikes.
Check out: 10 Best Touring Motorcycles for Beginners - Under 500cc
Hai Van Pass motorbike tour is suitable for travelers who already had riding experience before and is not recommended for beginners because the route encompasses some sections with a quite steep slope and hairpin bends. With this tour, we take bikers to experience an off-road route to Bai Chuoi Beach, details of which will be disclosed in the next parts.
Bai Chuoi Beach
Before you make your way to Hai Van Pass, you should go over a pre-ride checklist to ensure your bike is ready for the trip – petroleum, oil, brake, tire, mirror… Make sure you bring along mineral water, raincoat, and quality helmet as well as 2 spare tires of the exact type with the current ones. Tools to change tires are also needed.
Driving on mountain roads or mountain passes is definitely an exhilarating yet quite daunting experience for its dangerous sections and winding bends. Hai Van Pass motorbike tour with beach on one side and pretty high slopes and bends will give bikers thrilling riding experience and it is advisable that motorbikers ride with caution and maintain an average speed.
Before getting to Hai Van pass, one can stop in Elephant Waterfall (Thac Voi) to spend some time for swimming or beautiful sceneries here. We then stop at Lang Co Beach, one of the best beaches in Vietnam. If you have time, you should really spend a day here for camping and relaxing. Staying overnight in Lang Co Beach and eating in a local seafood eatery will definitely a worthwhile experience while you are here.
Make sure you stop in a few scenic spots during the Hai Van Pass motorbike tour. The pass offers many interesting places for you to explore. We highly recommend the three following destinations.
The first place you shouldn’t miss while on the Hai Van Pass motorbike tour is Hue city. After you cross the bridge that looks over Lang Co Beach, you will get to the first destination that offers perfect postcard sights. From here you can see both the stunning and spectacular Lang Co Beach with blue water and the magnificent mountain ranges from afar.
The second spot is the highest point of Hai Van Pass. It is 496 meters above sea level. The last Instagram-worthy place, among many others, is the slope towards Da Nang city direction. There lies a big stone on the left of the road with which you can pose to have beautiful pictures that hit the Instagram feed. From here we can have a panoramic view over Da Nang, among the top 10 most worth-living cities in the world and serene beaches surrounding the city. Beautiful beaches and bridges brilliant lit up at night are what make this a perfect place for travel photos.
If you have time, then Bai Chuoi Beach is a worthwhile destination to discover and be awed. Da Nang city is fortunate to have a string of beautiful beaches and Bai Chuoi is one of the less-visited beaches by tourists of not only Da Nang but Vietnam. It is about 40km from the city center and is located in the foot of Hai Van pass. The route leading to the beach also offers beautiful views itself.
Walking in the primitive forest with the majestic Lang Co Bay on the right side is such a rewarding experience. One will soon get lost in the green color of trees and the blue turquoise hue of water. This place really makes travelers feel like they are standing in a mesmerizing far-flung island. Driving on 12km bending road and another 5km off-road trail covered with gravel will be a once-in-a-lifetime exciting riding experience for bikers. It is this challenging off-road section that keeps mass tourism from entering this area, thus it is unspoiled and still maintains its great serenity and wonderful nature.
Hai Van pass has become more and more well-known and photos of this scenic pass may have been hit worldwide Instagram feed yet there are some sections along the pass that are untouched by tourists including Bai Chuoi beach and the road leading to it.
From Hoi An ancient town, one can take the coastal road to Da Nang city, passing by Cua Dai and An Bang beaches before reaching Marble Mountain and My Khe beach in Da Nang city. Riders then head to the Dragon bridge which stretches over the Han river to get into the inner Da Nang city. Drive to Nguyen Tat Thanh Street with Nam O beach on the right side and join the highway 1 before meeting the start of Hai Van Road. Along the way, we can stop in Da Nang to get a glimpse of the city life or in Dragon Bridge to take an overview of the city.
One should also stop over the ancient gate in the border area between Hue and Da Nang. After hairpin bends of the pass, a spectacular, majestic and incredible view opens, looking over Lang Co Bay, the little fishing village with small boats, a long bridge stretching over the water, and the mist-capped mountain behind.
When riders reach the higher elevation in their Hai Van pass motorbike tour, the scenery became an incredible sight to behold. The curving bay, the beaches, and the forest and the train snaking through the dense greenish national park are what make this journey, unlike any others.
Canh Duong Bay with the amazing stretch of sand and the turquoise ocean is a perfect place for bikers to take a break, enjoy the tranquility of the beach, swim and try fresh seafood at a local eatery on the beach.
Meanwhile, Lap An Lagoon is truly an Instagramable spot. Without many tourists in this destination, the sand dune road which features a strip of sand running right into the lagoon will serve as a perfect background for one’s Instagram photo. Coming here in the morning, travelers can see local people cultivate oysters for food and jewelry.
Lap An Lagoon
From Lap An lagoon, one can drive past the tranquil Cham May road with rice fields and catch the sight of water buffaloes leisurely grazing before getting to Phuoc Tuong pass, Cau Hai lagoon or further to Thuan An village.
Once you experience the Hai Van pass motorbike tour yourself, you understand why Jeremy Clarkson in this popular BBC car show Top Gear Vietnam Special said Hai Van Pass was one of the best ocean roads in the world.
Most travelers passing by Hai Van pass will make some stops along the way, especially in the signature hairpin bends to take pictures. The sceneries here will mesmerize not only first-time tourists but also frequent riders who are familiar with this route. Meanwhile, the off-road trails and side routes definitely make this experience worthwhile and memorable for bikers.
For us, Hai Van has been well deserved to be a great wonder with the spectacular, breathtaking views over lush mountains, some of the most scenic beaches and bays of Vietnam, peaceful, fast-paced city of Danang and the large national park. It is one of the most challenging and gorgeous passes in central Vietnam.
Check out other scenic Hai Van motorbike tour routes designed by BM Travel Adventure which are best for off-road riding. To adventure lovers, these are ecstatic motorbike routes to challenge and explore! Just choose the one that suits your plan most and head to Vietnam in no time!
Motorbike Route: Hanoi → Mai Chau → Tan Ky → Phong Nha → Khe Xanh → Hue → Hai Van Pass → Hoi An
Center Vietnam - the rich land on the S-shaped map cannot doubt to be a worthy spot for adventure lovers. Cross through wind-wrapped highways to secluded dirt-roads between miles of rocks and sun-kissed sea, witness the doughty rising up of cities here from past traumas, and live in the daily plain life of locals with tasty foods. Ho Chi Minh trail Vietnam motorbike tour in 7 days via the historical land will drive you through such incredible experiences. You will fully experience through stunning attractions: Mai Chau, Tan Ky, Phong Nha Ke Bang, Khe Sanh, Hue, Hai Van Pass, Hoi An with an absolutely new blast.
Check out the detailed itinerary!
Motorbike Route: Hanoi → Thac Ba → Phu Yen → Mai Chau → Cua Lo → Phong Nha Ke Bang → Khe Sanh → Vinh Moc → Hue → Hai Van Pass → Hoi An → Da Nang
The amazing Hanoi to Da Nang Motorbike Tour on Ho Chi Minh Trail - 10 days is the best journey in Vietnam, with the historic Ho Chi Minh trail, the path of dew, blood and tears of Vietnamese people. This journey will definitely make your travel days in Vietnam become more meaningful. This motorbike trip will take you across Northern and Central Vietnam, from mountains to beaches, forests to highlands, and show you the raw beauty of Vietnam changing from one road turn to another. You'll trace along the open highway, trek treacherous back-roads, scale sky-high mountain passes, and navigate lively jungles.
Hai Van Pass motorbike tour with beach on one side and pretty high slopes and bends will give bikers thrilling riding experience
Motorbike Route: Hanoi → Phu Yen → Mai Chau → Tan Ky → Phong Nha → Dong Hoi → Khe Sanh → Hue → Hai Van Pass → Hoi An → Quy Nhon → Nha Trang
For adventurous travelers, joining a several-day motorbike journey through different areas of Vietnam is the best way to explore the country. We recommend you participate in this 11-day Hanoi to Nha Trang Motorbike Tour on Ho Chi Minh Trail. Our journey will bring you to the main attractions in northern and central Vietnam with thrilling experience while we ride on both paved and off-the-beaten-track roads and routes. The motorbike tour from Hanoi to Nha Trang on the Ho Chi Minh trail is one of our top picks.
The Hai Van pass motorbike tour works for any traveler. In other words, any tourist can find different things that make this trip worthwhile – whether it’s the sceneries, the hairpin bends, the climate, the food, the beach or the whole riding experience. Nothing can beat a short motorbike road trip via the stunning Hai Van Pass with a group of friends. Hit the road and admire the nature, its beauty and great ambiance this place has to offer.
BM Travel Adventure is a professional and leading travel agency in offering excellent Vietnam motorbike tours. We are proud to have a team of passionate tour guides and mechanics who have had rich experience with off-road Vietnam enduro tours. Besides we own a large number of motorcycles of various types and powers, which meets the diverse demands of clients.
BM Travel Adventure is proud to be the only one in Vietnam to deliver tour with the off-road trail in the stupendous Bai Chuoi Beach. With our professionalism, experience and great enthusiasm, we are confident to create a lasting impression for travelers with the Hai Van Pass motorbike tour. Come and join this exciting, fun and exhilarating journey.
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