Halong Bay
Cruise Trips
Other Junks
Sights
Travelling between Hue and Da Nang/Hoi An
The Hai Van pass between Hue and Da Nang is one of
the most beautiful passes in Vietnam. It's very famous
for spectacular view of mountains, bays and islands.
Along with Hue, Hoi An and Lang Co beach in the central
Vietnam, the Hai Van pass is one of the not-to-be-missed
places if you visit the region.
Some years ago, the Hai Van pass was the only road
connecting north and south Vietnam, until a day a strong
land collapse happened on the pass, it was caused by a
typhoon into the central Vietnam. The whole transport
system in the region was suspended for a day or two, as
a result, a temporary bridge was installed on the pass.
At that time it was really difficult for heavy trucks to
travel on this route. Seeing how important an
alternative route was, the Government decided to build
the Ho Chi Minh highway (using State budget) and the Hai
Van pass tunnel (using Japanese ODA loan). Ater a few
years of construction, the Hai Van pass tunnel was open
for traffic and it saved a lot of time for travelling
between Hue and Da Nang. Built 1,172m above sea level,
the 12km tunnel is one of the 30 largest and most modern
tunnels in the world. Now it takes only 10 minutes to
travel from north to south of the Hai Van pass, using
this tunnel.
There are 3 ways to travel between Hue and Da Nang (Hoi
An is about 30km from Da Nang)
By tourist bus or by local bus
This is the cheapest and fastest means of transport.
Previously, the bus stopped at Lang Co for a short
break, then Cham museum in Da Nang, and maybe Marble
Mountain. But now these buses go through the Hai Van
pass tunnel as I stated above, so you will miss the
chance to enjoy a great view of the Hai Van pass as you
cannot get into the top of the pass.
In an article I read sometime ago, a tourist route along
the central coat was being built. It was approx 60km
long, 4 lanes, starting from the south of the Hai Van
pass tunnel, running along coastal line Lien Chieu -
Thuan Phuoc, turning toward Son Tra archipelago, going
along Non Nuoc - Dien Ngoc beach to Cua Dai beach and
Hoi An town.
By train
The train also cannot go to the top of the pass, but you
will still enjoy amazing scenery. When entering the pass
area, the train travels at low speed up the gradients,
with an assisting locomotive at the rear, and goes
through some dark tunnels (short tunnels). I am not sure
whether it's possible to open glass windows on the train
or not, sometimes they are steadily installed, so you
may need to find somewhere you can open the window for
taking photos.
The train runs between Hue and Da Nang. There is no
train station in Hoi An. From Da Nang you can hire a
taxi (30km, US$10 one way) or take a local bus to Hoi
An.
Hiring a car
This may be the most expensive way if you compare with
bus and train, but much more flexible as you can stop
anywhere on the road for photos. You will enjoy a full
view of the pass when climbing up and down and reaching
the top of the pass. The cost for hiring a car is approx
US$50+ one way (Hue - Hoi An). You can go by taxi from
Hue, or hire a car through some agent or your hotel.
Remember to tell your driver that you will not go
through the newly built Hai Van tunnel (hầm Hải Vân),
but the Hai Van pass (ðèo Hải Vân). In Da Nang, you
should visit Cham museum and enjoy a bowl of noodle at
My Quang restaurant (No. 2, Hai Phong street, near Da
Nang station) before moving to Hoi An.
Other tips
Useful sites
1. Red Dragon
Junk, Cruise Halong Bay: 5 cabin boat on
Halong Bay
All cruises on
Halong Bay Online,
Halong bay
travel guide, Hanoi Halong Bay Tours, Maps to Halong,
2. Prince
Cruise Halong Bay Vietnam: 4 cabin cruise on Halong
Bay
3. Jayavarman
Cruise on Mekong River Vietnam Cambodia: luxury
cruise on the Mekong River
4. Hanoi Airlines:
book flight tickets to Hanoi
5. Halong Bay
Cruise: list all cruise boats on Halong Bay & Bai Tu
Long Bay
6. Hotel
Vietnam, Vietnam Hotels: book hotels and resorts in
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
7. Laos Travel
Guide: book tours in Laos with the New Road Tour
8. Cambodia
Travel: useful guides, hotels, flights, tours in
Cambodia
9. Phu Quoc
Travel Guide: useful information on Phu Quoc Island
Vietnam
10. Travel Sapa
Vietnam: tours, hotels, maps to Sapa Vietnam
11. Mekong
Delta Tours: cruise, hotels, tours in Mekong, Saigon
Other new travel sites
1. Vietnam Travel
Company: First Choice Tours in Vietnam
2. Hue Travel Guide:
guide, maps, tours in Hue Vietnam
3. Sapa Travel Tips:
Sapa guides, tourist information
4. Mekong River
Tours, Mekong Amalotus Cruise, Amalotus Cruise,
Amalotus Boat Mekong River
5. Amalotus.com,
Amalotuscruise.com, Amalotus Indochina Sails Mekong
River
6. Mekong
River Boats: Mekong Tours, Mekong River Tours
7. Hoi An Travel
Guide: Tours, maps to Hoi An
