Hai Van Pass Motorbike Tour – A Thrilling Off-road Riding Experience

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 the Hai Van mountain pass. It’s no wonder Clarkson proclaimed Hai Van pass one of the world’s most scenic coastal roads Vietnam Motorbike Tours

This route takes travelers past stunning sceneries of breathtaking beaches, lush forests, vast national parks, vibrant cities, and historical sites and offers bikers diverse riding experiences. Thus, more and more travelers are taking the Hai Van Pass motorbike tour. 

About Hai Van Pass Motorbike Route

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 could take over the pass, they could control the Ho Chi Minh trail, the only road that connected the Cross Country Tour from north to south of Vietnam. Considered the highest pass in central Vietnam, Hai Van Pass is like a frontier from which one can look over a vast area of beaches and lands below.

Nowadays, Hai Van Pass offers adventure lovers an amazing opportunity to experience the road trip and admire the scenery. 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.

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Best Time to visit Hai Van Pass by motorbike

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 on the smooth and wide highway. The route is quite short, so spending one day on 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 motorbike trip, take a coastal ride in Hue city. Drive along 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.

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What to know when you travel through Hai Van pass by motorbike:

Which types of motorbikes are suitable?

Depending on the experience of riders and roads condition, each rider may have their own choice of the motorbike, yet we highly recommend bikers use above 150cc dual-sport motorbikes.

Motorcycle riding skill requirement

Hai Van Pass motorbike tour is suitable for travelers who have already had riding experience before and is not recommended for beginners because the route encompasses some sections with steep slopes 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.

Just before you hit the road 

Before going to Hai Van Pass, you should review a pre-ride checklist to ensure your bike is ready for the motorbike holiday – petroleum, oil, brake, tire, mirror… Make sure you bring along mineral water, a raincoat, a quality helmet, and two 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 an exhilarating yet quite daunting experience for its dangerous sections and winding bends. Hai Van Pass motorbike tour with a beach on one side and pretty high slopes and bends will give bikers a thrilling riding experience, and motorbikers should ride with caution and maintain an average speed.

What was our Hai Van Pass motorbike tour like?

Before getting to Hai Van pass, one can stop at Elephant Waterfall (Thac Voi) to spend some time swimming or beautiful scenery here. We then stop at Lang Co Beach, one of the best beaches in Vietnam. You should spend a day here camping and relaxing if you have time. Staying overnight in Lang Co Beach and eating in a local seafood eatery will be 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.

Hue city is the first place you shouldn’t miss while on the Hai Van Pass motorbike tour. After you cross the bridge that looks over Lang Co Beach, you will get to the first destination that offers perfect postcard sights. You can see the 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 toward 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 brilliantly lit up at night make this a perfect place for travel photos.

If you have time, Bai Chuoi Beach is a worthwhile destination to discover and 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 at the foot of Hai Van pass. The route leading to the beach also offers beautiful views.

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Walking in the primitive forest with the majestic Lang Co Bay on the right side is a rewarding experience. One will soon get lost in the green color of the trees and the blue turquoise hue of the water. This place makes travelers feel like they are standing on a mesmerizing far-flung island. Driving on a 12km bending road and another 5km off-road trail covered with gravel will be a once-in-a-lifetime exciting riding experience for bikers. This challenging off-road section 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 hit the worldwide Instagram feed, yet some sections along the pass are untouched by tourists, including Bai Chuoi beach and the road leading to it.

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Best stops and viewing points in Hai Van pass motorbike tour 

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 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 the 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.

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When riders reach the higher elevation in their Hai Van pass motorbike tour, the scenery becomes an incredible sight. The curving bay, the beaches, the forest, and the train snaking through the dense greenish national park make this journey, unlike any others.

With the amazing stretch of sand and turquoise ocean, Canh Duong Bay 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 with a strip of sand running right into the lagoon will serve as a perfect background for one’s Instagram photo. In the morning, travelers can see local people cultivate oysters for food and jewelry.

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Lap An Lagoon

From Lap An lagoon, one can drive past the quiet 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 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, the peaceful, fast-paced city of Danang, and the large national park. It is one of the most challenging and gorgeous passes in central Vietnam.

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Scenic Hai Van Pass motorbike tour routes by BM Travel Adventure

Check out other scenic Hai Van motorbike tour routes designed by BM Travel Adventure, which are best for Dirt Bike Tours. 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!

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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 be doubted 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 of cities here from past traumas and live in the simple daily life of locals with tasty foods. Cross Country Motorcycle via 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 stunning attractions: Mai Chau, Tan Ky, Phong Nha Ke Bang, Khe Sanh, Hue, Hai Van Pass, and Hoi An with a new blast.

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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 cross-country motorcycle trip from 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 make your travel days in Vietnam 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 a thrilling riding experience

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For adventurous travelers, joining a several-day motorbike holiday through different areas of Vietnam is the best way to explore the country. We recommend participating 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 a thrilling experience while we ride on both paved and off-the-beaten-track roads and routes.One of our top picks is the motorbike tour from Hanoi to Nha Trang on the Ho Chi Minh trail. 

Touring Hai Van Pass by motorbike – an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience 

The Hai Van pass motorbike tour works for any traveler. In other words, any tourist can find different things that make this trip worthwhile – 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 nature, its beauty, and the great ambiance this place has to offer. 

BM Travel Adventure is a professional and leading travel agency 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 many motorcycles of various types and powers, which meets clients’ diverse demands. 

BM Travel Adventure is proud to be the only one in Vietnam to deliver a tour with the off-road trail in the spectacular Bai Chuoi Beach. With our professionalism, experience, and great enthusiasm, we are confident we to create a lasting impression on travelers with the Hai Van Pass motorbike tour. Come and join this exciting, fun, and exhilarating journey.